945 PC. Is it worth the extra cost?
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I bought this very slightly used 945 no dash for $995 a few years ago. Six years, maybe...
The Briley bushing does seem to add accuracy potential, but you gotta be able to take advantage of it. I have a custom Colt 1911, tuned by Wilson Combat, with a Briley bushing, and in my hands the 945 is slightly more accurate. But I have a lot more than a $1k in the Colt. I really like the arched frame of the 945.
The 945 has been at least temorarily dropped from the S&W line up, but that's happened before. There should be plenty on the used market if you want one.
Good Luck...
The Briley bushing does seem to add accuracy potential, but you gotta be able to take advantage of it. I have a custom Colt 1911, tuned by Wilson Combat, with a Briley bushing, and in my hands the 945 is slightly more accurate. But I have a lot more than a $1k in the Colt. I really like the arched frame of the 945.
The 945 has been at least temorarily dropped from the S&W line up, but that's happened before. There should be plenty on the used market if you want one.
Good Luck...
I've seen some Team Smith & Wesson shooters just smoke courses of fire that I struggled with and thought the 945 must be a lazer pistol. The 945 kind of is, but your question is sort of zen...
paperboy98
Member
Mine was my first S&W semi auto. I love it. Have shot several others and find the 945 superior. Great accuracy and wonderful fit and finish. A really nice one appeared on GunsAmerica today.....
paperboy98
mxbob
Member
I shot 1911's in competition for many years and built custom guns for others. I bought a 945 several years ago and pretty much retired my 1911's, excellent accuracy, trigger, and problem free. I now have two of them and carry the small version. Field strip and reassembly requires a bit of learning but certainly worth it.
Bob Ray 1815
Bob Ray 1815
TSQUARED
Member
On the plus side the S&W945PC is superbly accurate with an outstanding factory trigger - I shoot bullseye psitol 45 stage with it. On the minus side it is not a 1911 and therefore cannot take advantage of the wide assortment of accessories available for 1911's.
My Colt Series '70 Gold Cup outfitted with a Briley bushing out shoots my 945, but not by much. If you do a search for the other threads about the 945, there does seem to be one common trait mentioned, they are fussy eaters when it comes to finding which ammo will perform the best with them.
As previously mentioned, there's not much aftermarket stuff available, but there is one item that I really liked. Speed Shooter Specialties sells replacement grips for the 945 made by Hogue (who also makes the ones that come with it). Each grip panel is 1/16" thicker, adding 1/8" total to the width. Now that doesn't seem like it's enough to make much of a difference, but for me, it made my 945 feel and handle a heck of a lot better.
Is the price of a 945 worth it? That's a tough call, with the proliferation of factory "loaded" 1911's available, it's more difficult to choose.
One of the things I like about the 945 is, if nothing else it's unique... it's a "hybrid", the upper is basically a tricked out 4506 slide, mounted on a 1911 style lower.
As previously mentioned, there's not much aftermarket stuff available, but there is one item that I really liked. Speed Shooter Specialties sells replacement grips for the 945 made by Hogue (who also makes the ones that come with it). Each grip panel is 1/16" thicker, adding 1/8" total to the width. Now that doesn't seem like it's enough to make much of a difference, but for me, it made my 945 feel and handle a heck of a lot better.
Is the price of a 945 worth it? That's a tough call, with the proliferation of factory "loaded" 1911's available, it's more difficult to choose.
One of the things I like about the 945 is, if nothing else it's unique... it's a "hybrid", the upper is basically a tricked out 4506 slide, mounted on a 1911 style lower.
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945-1 PC Must live right
Back in 2001, the agency I worked for had the Performance Center send us a 945 with an added light rail for testing. The idea was to get 5 of them for the entry element of our Tac Team. We ran a thousand rounds thru it without one failure as I recall. It was the most accurate handgun we tested. So the agency bought them.. 5 of us also purchased one for our personal "off duty" use at a slightly higher price. Now the agency (I retired a year ago December and went back part time as a tactical trainer 5 months later) has sold the firearms to those who carried them thru a local dealer for 275.00. The dealer wants 25.00 to do the paperwork and sales tax… Bottom line is I got to buy my old duty gun I carried for nearly 12 years. I am very happy and just had to tell someone that would appreciate a fine piece of S&W PC workmanship.
Back in 2001, the agency I worked for had the Performance Center send us a 945 with an added light rail for testing. The idea was to get 5 of them for the entry element of our Tac Team. We ran a thousand rounds thru it without one failure as I recall. It was the most accurate handgun we tested. So the agency bought them.. 5 of us also purchased one for our personal "off duty" use at a slightly higher price. Now the agency (I retired a year ago December and went back part time as a tactical trainer 5 months later) has sold the firearms to those who carried them thru a local dealer for 275.00. The dealer wants 25.00 to do the paperwork and sales tax… Bottom line is I got to buy my old duty gun I carried for nearly 12 years. I am very happy and just had to tell someone that would appreciate a fine piece of S&W PC workmanship.
rbert0005
Member
More accurate than a high end 1911, I would say no. I will say that they are on par with any of them though.
Some of them sure are purdy !
Bob
Some of them sure are purdy !
Bob
44wheelman
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I luv my 945-1, it was worth the extra $$; but it was only $1000.
I liked it so much I bought the next 945 I found (and a bit more $ than the first one); however, it was a 945 no dash, and I found the trigger to be better on the -1. So not as crazy about the second one.
I liked it so much I bought the next 945 I found (and a bit more $ than the first one); however, it was a 945 no dash, and I found the trigger to be better on the -1. So not as crazy about the second one.
I have owned 20 1911's, including guns from S&W, and I find the 945 to be one of the two most accurate .45's I have owned. The other gun is a Les Baer Bullseye gun with a 1.5"guarantee surcharge. Prices are about the same. I contacted Wolffe spring Co. and got a WolffePack (a complete set of springs....light to heavy), and this gun is compatible with every load I have tried....bullseye to combat.... It is INCREDIBLE! I bought it when it first came out and it is, without doubt, my favorite handgun. I would like to be able to fit a Marvel .22 conversion, but the cost to fit the frame would be significant. It was bad enough, having a gunsmith fit the scope frame to clear the front sight. The "racker" is form a Les Baer, but it slides onto the sight frame dovetail and secures with two setscrews.
Terry
Terry
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