952-1 Accuracy

[Bullseye 2620]

I just watched a nice, but used, 952-1, blue, five-inch, sell for $2,624 on a popular auction site.

What kind of accuracy do these guns produce at 50 yards? At 25 yards? Is there a factory accuracy guarantee for the 952s like there was for the Model 52-2s (five consecutive shots into two inches at 50 yards)?

Thanks in advance for your knowledge and expertise!

 

[toddcfii]

Not sure what the 952 did but the PPC9 came with a guarantee of a one inch group. The example I have seen gave the kind of ammo used to test the one inch accuracy but not the distance!!??

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Not sure what the 952 did but the PPC9 came with a guarantee of a one inch group. The example I have seen gave the kind of ammo used to test the one inch accuracy but not the distance!!??

So, it could have been 15 yards or 50. . .

 

[9146gt]

25 yards on the PPC 9.

Tom

 

[silverstateS&W]

952

two ways to look at this.
mine shoots superbly- WAY better than i can shoot or see.
In a gun like this you can shoot cheap ammo very well or better ammo superbly.


i have a 52 as well and enjoy both guns-the 52 has a feel all to its own while the 952 feels "bigger"in some indistinct way.
will probably sell the 952 someday as i have enought wadcutter ammo to last for years.
the blue 952's dont come up for sale very often.

 

[fuzzymcnab]

Blue ridge boy,
Mine is a 6", but I am guessing the numbers for the 5" are very similar. Here are the results from my one and only bench rest session. These groups are 5 shots from a sand bag rest at 25 yards:

1) Federal American Eagle – Accuracy: 1.98”. Best 3, 0.46”

2) Hornady 147 grain XTP – Accuracy: 2.21”. Best 3, 1.24”

3) Black Hills 124 grain JHP – Accuracy: 2.84”. Best 3, 0.96”

4) Federal 9BP (115 grain JHP) – Accuracy: 1.86”. Best 3, 0.89”

5) Black Hills 115 grain FMJ – Accuracy: 2.21”. Best 3, 0.82”

Hope that helps a bit,
fuzzy

 

[colt_saa]

I was very disappointed in my Model 952 as well as the other two that I have shot

Now my expectations were probably too high since I have been shooting Model 52s for several decades.

I was expecting a 9MM Model 52, what I feel that Smith and Wesson produced was an accurized, single action, Model 39

I think the firearm is attractive but I own several 9MMs that out-shoot it

 

[toddcfii]

Outshoot

What 9mm guns do you have that out shoot the 952?

 

[colt_saa]

What 9mm guns do you have that out shoot the 952?

This is kind of thread drift bringing up other pistols.

The 952 is good for what it is, but it is not a 9MM version of the Model 52

If the OP is expecting a Model 52 kind of feel and performance he will be let down.

If the goal is to get a very accurate SAO version of the Model 39 he will be pleased

 

[toddcfii]

Drift

First off I see nothing wrong with thread drift. Second you are the one that brought up other pistols so I see it as relavent to ask what Pistols. BAC123 did a pretty good review on this forum I believe of some high end 9s and their accuracy compared to the 952. I think his testing revealed the 952 to be as accurate as SigP210s of any stripe. I shoot PPC and the order of the day there is pretty much a Custom 1911 by Springfield but the S&W PPC9 and 952 are definitely in the same accuracy department as those guns. I have heard one member on this forum speak of highly accurate Hi-Powers but I have not seen one in the circles I run in and if they were good enough accuracy wise I would have seen them. The Sig X-5 and X-6 are probably in this field but being relatively new and twice as expensive as a Springfield Custom Shop 1911 I have not seen them on the firing line yet but probably will. So what else is out there? Whatever it is I bet the 952 is real close or better.

 

[fordson]

I sold a 952-2 SS model last year. Great gun; Bought it new. It did not come with a stated guarantee of accuracy. It was however, accurate for a 9mm in my hands but no more accurate than my model 915 ... again in my hands. I used quality factory ammo as well as my hand loads shooting it from 7 to 25 yards. It was good but for me, my 1911s in 38 Super and 45 ACP we’re just as accurate .... again in my hands. Your experience may be different.

 

[loeman]

Drift 2

Continuing with thread drift...sorry. This may or may not be relevant.

I recently bought a like new Md 745 which is basically an upscale 645 in .45 ACP but in single action designed to compete competitively with the 1911s in IPSC competitions in the 1980s. Well, I finally had time to take it to the mountains and do some function testing and plinking, thinking that this baby is going to be a true can killer. I can't tell you how disappointed I was. I kept thinking that my plain Jane 4506 is far better than this ***. OK, I know I need to get it to the range and see what I can do under more controlled circumstances. But the point of this post is perception. We all have our pre-conceived ideas about what our "new" gun should be but often it is not what we expected.

BTW, I have never seen a 952 for sale in any of my LGS's or pawn shops. If I do, I know I will be tempted.

 

[Ed Fowler]

What 9mm guns do you have that out shoot the 952?

None, my 952-1s out shoot my Sig P210's by about 20% using my best hand load for them, shooting at 88 yards 124 grain lead swc. Put over 30,000 rounds through them last year or so, not one problem.

 

[bdgotoh]

I had a 952, bought it new and had very high expectations. It shot better than I do but I never really got comfortable with it - the grip was a little thin for me. I found a PPC9 a few years later and wow do I love that! The wider grip feels perfect to me, I shot it much better than the 952. I recently sold off the 952 and I don't miss it.

 

[H Richard]

Do you feel the $2000+ price tag of the 952 is warranted?

 

[Ed Fowler]

Absolutely, I have 3. I put over 30,000 rounds through the most used one last summer and had absolutely no problems. It shoots more accurately than the Sig P210's I have and will hold 3" groups with my best handloads at 88 yards.

She is a delight to shoot, dry fire and just hold, easy to clean and great sights, love the grip angle, all is perfect for me.

If you ever find your way to Wyo, stop by and shoot her.

 

[bdgotoh]

Do you feel the $2000+ price tag of the 952 is warranted?

Based on the fact that they aren't made anymore and the build quality is top-notch I'd say yes. I wouldn't pay that because I know they don't fit me but with 845s and PPC9s going for $2000-3000 I'd say the 952 prices are fair.