952-2 questions

I had a 952-2 that I sold in ‘15, on auction, for just under $2600, cheap aluminum case and all. I bought it for Bullseye competition but never thought it was accurate enough. My model 910 I found to be more accurate than the 952-2. It was probably me and not the firearm, however, while it looked great, I didn’t find it all that accurate despite any ammo I used.
 
This topic of comparison has come up before. Some folks have tested examples and come to strong conclusions that I do not agree with.

One guy's conclusion was that the PPC-9 was more accurate. I am not calling that guy a liar, but I am saying that what I believe he found was two particular examples and he was able to come to a conclusion about those two examples. All well and good, but ludicrous to suggest that it's the answer.

I have posited that anyone who owns at least one example of each has taken them apart to find that the top half is barely different across these models and it's not a correct factual scientific conclusion to claim one model is "more accurate" than another model by testing a single example of two models -- especially when the two models in question are basically using the same top end.

I would think that if you could source FIVE examples of each model and all running the same ammunition, you might find yourself with ten guns that all rank somewhere between 1 and 10 and it's doubtful that one model would show itself as significantly more accurate than another.

Furthermore

If you then took that same group of ten pistols and changed the control ammo, I believe your 1 to 10 ranking would also likely change, and you would again be likely to come to the same conclusion that no model lands heavier in the top 5 than the other model.

I think the question is interesting enough but I would be quite stubborn to be convinced that someone has a real answer backed by scientific methods.

This question would be far more compelling if you wanted to pit a S&W Performance Center pistol against the best that Sig or CZ offered at the time or offers now.

If it matters to anyone, I am fortunate to own four examples of S&W Performance Center Limited 5-inch target 9mm pistols with fantastic single action triggers and adjustable target sights and I'm not sure if any one of the four shows itself as "more accurate" than the other three, but I will tell you this...

I am also fortunate to own four examples of S&W Performance Center Limited 5-inch .45cal single action pistols and I would pick A N Y one of the four .45's randomly to go head to head with any of the four 9mm's randomly in a show down, and that's the basket I would put all my eggs in.

So search our forums about "PPC-9 versus 952" and enjoy whatever results you find but please don't try to pass that off as fact because that idea is ludicrous.
 
The reason I asked , and the only reason , was to see if I NEEDED a 952 . I have a 5 & 6in Target Champion which are more accurate than I am . So it's not really a question of is one better , but should I look for one .
 
Completely different fit in your hands obviously, so a very different experience than a PPC-9 or a Target Champion.

Sits in your hands a lot like a Model 52 but radically different than a 52 when the hammer falls.

“Need” ?! C’mon. Need has nothing to do with this or any of these.
 
Back around 2002 or so I was a vendor for S&W and came by the old Performance Center several times. It was in an old building out behind the main plant. I wanted a 952 to go with my old M52 but all I saw in the retail world were stainless guns and I wanted a blued one. The PC manager built one for me out of left over parts, put it in one of those aluminum cases. I’ll have to look at it but as I recall it’s marked 952-2.
 
Back around 2002 or so I was a vendor for S&W and came by the old Performance Center several times. It was in an old building out behind the main plant. I wanted a 952 to go with my old M52 but all I saw in the retail world were stainless guns and I wanted a blued one. The PC manager built one for me out of left over parts, put it in one of those aluminum cases. I’ll have to look at it but as I recall it’s marked 952-2.

I'd love to see pics, a blued 952-2 would be an extremely rare find!
 
From a PC member

This topic of comparison has come up before. Some folks have tested examples and come to strong conclusions that I do not agree with.

One guy's conclusion was that the PPC-9 was more accurate. I am not calling that guy a liar, but I am saying that what I believe he found was two particular examples and he was able to come to a conclusion about those two examples. All well and good, but ludicrous to suggest that it's the answer.

I have posited that anyone who owns at least one example of each has taken them apart to find that the top half is barely different across these models and it's not a correct factual scientific conclusion to claim one model is "more accurate" than another model by testing a single example of two models -- especially when the two models in question are basically using the same top end.

I would think that if you could source FIVE examples of each model and all running the same ammunition, you might find yourself with ten guns that all rank somewhere between 1 and 10 and it's doubtful that one model would show itself as significantly more accurate than another.

Furthermore

If you then took that same group of ten pistols and changed the control ammo, I believe your 1 to 10 ranking would also likely change, and you would again be likely to come to the same conclusion that no model lands heavier in the top 5 than the other model.

I think the question is interesting enough but I would be quite stubborn to be convinced that someone has a real answer backed by scientific methods.

This question would be far more compelling if you wanted to pit a S&W Performance Center pistol against the best that Sig or CZ offered at the time or offers now.

If it matters to anyone, I am fortunate to own four examples of S&W Performance Center Limited 5-inch target 9mm pistols with fantastic single action triggers and adjustable target sights and I'm not sure if any one of the four shows itself as "more accurate" than the other three, but I will tell you this...

I am also fortunate to own four examples of S&W Performance Center Limited 5-inch .45cal single action pistols and I would pick A N Y one of the four .45's randomly to go head to head with any of the four 9mm's randomly in a show down, and that's the basket I would put all my eggs in.

So search our forums about "PPC-9 versus 952" and enjoy whatever results you find but please don't try to pass that off as fact because that idea is ludicrous.

The above assessment is quite accurate, every PC pistol we made was made in the same way and with the same "fitting criteria" so it is true that all should be good shooters. Some guns did shoot better than others but the scope of that difference was extremely small. Having the unique capability of test firing every gun we made and passing judgement on each, we were able to assess the performance and either accept or reject on an individual basis. Ultimately, we never shipped a gun that we would not want to own personally - TG
 
Hello Mr. Gordon! I don’t know if I ever used the term “gobsmacked” before, but that’s an appropriate term I can use when I see that you are here and posting in these pages. Welcome and please stay!

I feel like I could ask you many endless dozens of questions! :D
 
Bill (wlp624) owns the prototype stainless 952. It is stamped in the same serial number series as the 952-1 and the stamping style is the same as the later dash-1 pistols but it is stainless.

S&W featured it in early catalogs and I believe I once saw it on a “retro” products S&W web page.

It is a true one-of-one and extremely cool!
 
Hello Mr. Gordon! Welcome and please stay!

I'll echo Sevens' sentiments. After reading your profile, I've come to the realization that some of the treasured PCs in our various collections may have actually passed through your hands! Welcome and look forward to reading more insights based on your career experiences within S&W!
 
Blued 952

I just checked it and it’s marked 952-1.

The original 952's were carbon steel / blued, these carried no dash number.
They were carbon steel just like the original Model 52, the model number 952 was given because this is the gun that replaced the model 52 as a centerfire target pistol offered by S&W
9 for the caliber
52 to respect the model 52
 
PC semi-autos

I'll echo Sevens' sentiments. After reading your profile, I've come to the realization that some of the treasured PCs in our various collections may have actually passed through your hands! Welcome and look forward to reading more insights based on your career experiences within S&W!

I was fortunate to be involved in the development and production of every PC Semi-auto pistol that came out of the PC between 1990 inception of PC and when I left in 2006, favorite job of all 46 years at S&W
 
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