I have had a S&W 945 for many years. It was one of the first Lew Horton's. It is a very accurate gun but I cannot shoot it accurately. There's two problems. The first is its size and grip. Actually, I can get around that but adding the second problem pretty well does it in for me. I have never liked the trigger. It causes me to pull the gun. The gun is now a safe queen. I've tried for years off and on to beat this but cannot. On my own, I went as far as lightening the sear spring which helped a bit but I ended-up replacing it after the gun went full auto one time. So now I'm at the point where either the gun goes up for sell or to a 'smith for trigger work. I can out shoot this gun with my Glock 34. Off the bench however, nothing is better except maybe my Model 52. In any case, does anyone have a suggestion of who to send the gun to if I decide the gunsmith route?
Gunsmith For A 945
- Thread starter PeterM
- Start date
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SW CQB 45
Member
Peter, your gun has a lifetime warranty.
send it back to SW PC and with a full explanation (of course call first to get a return label)
and tell them what you want. they should set it right.
also, if you plan on selling it, there should be no issues with the SWPC working on it as opposed to another gunsmith which might make a desirable piece difficult to sell.
good luck
send it back to SW PC and with a full explanation (of course call first to get a return label)
and tell them what you want. they should set it right.
also, if you plan on selling it, there should be no issues with the SWPC working on it as opposed to another gunsmith which might make a desirable piece difficult to sell.
good luck
Thanks for your reply, CQB. I may just give them a call tomorrow to see what they have to say. My understanding has always been that warranty or no warranty, S&W is leery of doing trigger work for the usual legal reasons (read corporate lawyers) but I guess it's worth a call. I had it out yesterday. It was as usual, starting out hitting the X ring from 15 yards with every shot. After 20 or 30 rounds though, I feel like I lose control of the gun because the trigger seems so unpredictable.
SW CQB 45
Member
when I was carrying my CQB on the streets (police) it developed a hitch midway through the trigger stroke on DA. I am somewhat ana? on smoothness for a trigger pull.
I called the PC and told them I am not looking for lighter, but smoothness. The smith who I was speaking to (I think it was Rae) and he was speaking his thoughts and said they could try different triggers, etc.
anyway, when I sent it in, it came back smooth.
since your 945 is single action, it should consistent, crisp trigger pull.
I will say the 945 grip angle does not lend itself well to those with smaller hands or short fingers.
the SW 4500 mag is slightly wider than a 1911 mag and the overall grip is much larger than a 1911.
since you say the trigger pull is not consistent, and you feel its the gun,
I dont see any issues calling SW PC and telling them what you want.
I would tell them what is the purpose of this gun, target, general plinking or home defense or CCW or all. with that in mind, and depending on what # the trigger pull will be set, will be between you and SW.
I recall when i got my 945, I was disappointed as the trigger broke at 5lbs. Since I was not going to use on duty, strickly a range and comp gun, I set it at 3.5#'s.
setting trigger # will bring up many discussions. my comp 1911 is set at 3.5. my comp duty 1911 is set at 4.5. my duty carry 1911 is set at 4.5. my plain clothes carry OACP is set at 5lbs (I carry this one the most).
good luck and tell us what you do.
I called the PC and told them I am not looking for lighter, but smoothness. The smith who I was speaking to (I think it was Rae) and he was speaking his thoughts and said they could try different triggers, etc.
anyway, when I sent it in, it came back smooth.
since your 945 is single action, it should consistent, crisp trigger pull.
I will say the 945 grip angle does not lend itself well to those with smaller hands or short fingers.
the SW 4500 mag is slightly wider than a 1911 mag and the overall grip is much larger than a 1911.
since you say the trigger pull is not consistent, and you feel its the gun,
I dont see any issues calling SW PC and telling them what you want.
I would tell them what is the purpose of this gun, target, general plinking or home defense or CCW or all. with that in mind, and depending on what # the trigger pull will be set, will be between you and SW.
I recall when i got my 945, I was disappointed as the trigger broke at 5lbs. Since I was not going to use on duty, strickly a range and comp gun, I set it at 3.5#'s.
setting trigger # will bring up many discussions. my comp 1911 is set at 3.5. my comp duty 1911 is set at 4.5. my duty carry 1911 is set at 4.5. my plain clothes carry OACP is set at 5lbs (I carry this one the most).
good luck and tell us what you do.
CQB:
I just got off the phone with S&W. They wouldn't let me talk to the PC. I tried both through Customer Service and the operator. The operator was kinda sneaky about it. I'd as for the PC and she would just connect me to customer service. The Customer Service person didn't think it would be a warranty issue "since the gun is so old". I had to do some fast talking to get them to send me a return label reminding him that this was not a matter of wear but had always been that way. I guess if the PC doesn't think it's a warranty issue, I'll just have them go ahead and give me the lightest trigger they can and pay for it. Any idea how much that will run?
I just got off the phone with S&W. They wouldn't let me talk to the PC. I tried both through Customer Service and the operator. The operator was kinda sneaky about it. I'd as for the PC and she would just connect me to customer service. The Customer Service person didn't think it would be a warranty issue "since the gun is so old". I had to do some fast talking to get them to send me a return label reminding him that this was not a matter of wear but had always been that way. I guess if the PC doesn't think it's a warranty issue, I'll just have them go ahead and give me the lightest trigger they can and pay for it. Any idea how much that will run?
SW CQB 45
Member
my dealings with the PC were years ago. I would push this was a PC built gun and should be top notch and age should not matter if its been this way since new.
if you hit a wall, there is some pricing listed here but request on your paper work you send in... that if anything is not considered warranty, you would prefer to speak to the PC gunsmith and pricing before any work is done.
Precision Gunsmithing - Smith & Wesson
good luck
if you hit a wall, there is some pricing listed here but request on your paper work you send in... that if anything is not considered warranty, you would prefer to speak to the PC gunsmith and pricing before any work is done.
Precision Gunsmithing - Smith & Wesson
good luck
