As I posted earlier, I have owned a S&W 1911 for quite a while now and couldn't be happier with it. After reading a lot of posts by some very knowledgable members about the 3913, I decided to look into finding one for my wife. She shoots everything that I own from .22 to .44 mag, but I wanted her to have a semi that she was comfortable with as an alternative carry and/or home defense weapon (she has a 642).
We looked at a new 3913 LS model last year, and she really liked the feel of it. The price, however, was crazy, IMHO. Then we found out S&W was discontinuing it. So we started searching for a nice used one. I found one for a pretty good price, bought it, did some detail work, put a set of Hogues on it and gave to my wife. I was kind of hoping she wouldn't like it, because I REALLY liked the way it carried and shot. Man, that is one convenient, accurate, powerful little gun. No such luck, however. She latched onto it like it was a pair of diamond earrings. Oh well. That was last year.
So now I am on the hunt for a single stack DA/SA 45 for me to carry. I too have an airweight .38, and was wanting something a bit more, um, substantial for "special occasions" but I did not want a full size weapon. I wanted a full size round in a compact frame. Recoil was not an issue.
I again turn to this the S&W Forum for some sound, experienced advice. I read some great posts about the model 457. Sounded like I needed to look at one. The search was on.
So I'm in my local gun store the other day and don't see one in the display case. No surprise. I ask the friendly man at the counter if he has one, not expecting him to know what I wanted much less have one. He proceeds to go in the safe and pull one out, like a magician with a rabbit in the hat. It is nearly new, and comes with box, papers, and 2 mags. $400 out the door, including tax, title, license, and dealer prep. No kidding!
I took it to the range and was thoroughly impressed and very happy with the way it shot. Not one burp, hiccup or complaint from anything I put in it. Hollow point, RN, reloads...whatever. What a GREAT carry gun. I ordered a set of Hogues and a couple of extra mags (had to go aftermarket...S&W's are in short supply, apparently).
I wasn't crazy about the "plastic" sights with the white dots painted on them, so I carefully center marked the dots with a vary sharp awl, and then took a 3/32 drill bit and twisted it between my fingers to make a slight indentations that I could put a drop of paint into. It worked fine. At 3 - 10 yards, my groups were great doing controlled pairs and failure drills.
The best part of this story is that my wife really likes the fact that I bought the 457. I think she was feeling guilty about being so possessive of her 3913.
Life is good. Thanks for the info!
PS - Any good IWB holster recommendations?
We looked at a new 3913 LS model last year, and she really liked the feel of it. The price, however, was crazy, IMHO. Then we found out S&W was discontinuing it. So we started searching for a nice used one. I found one for a pretty good price, bought it, did some detail work, put a set of Hogues on it and gave to my wife. I was kind of hoping she wouldn't like it, because I REALLY liked the way it carried and shot. Man, that is one convenient, accurate, powerful little gun. No such luck, however. She latched onto it like it was a pair of diamond earrings. Oh well. That was last year.
So now I am on the hunt for a single stack DA/SA 45 for me to carry. I too have an airweight .38, and was wanting something a bit more, um, substantial for "special occasions" but I did not want a full size weapon. I wanted a full size round in a compact frame. Recoil was not an issue.
I again turn to this the S&W Forum for some sound, experienced advice. I read some great posts about the model 457. Sounded like I needed to look at one. The search was on.
So I'm in my local gun store the other day and don't see one in the display case. No surprise. I ask the friendly man at the counter if he has one, not expecting him to know what I wanted much less have one. He proceeds to go in the safe and pull one out, like a magician with a rabbit in the hat. It is nearly new, and comes with box, papers, and 2 mags. $400 out the door, including tax, title, license, and dealer prep. No kidding!
I took it to the range and was thoroughly impressed and very happy with the way it shot. Not one burp, hiccup or complaint from anything I put in it. Hollow point, RN, reloads...whatever. What a GREAT carry gun. I ordered a set of Hogues and a couple of extra mags (had to go aftermarket...S&W's are in short supply, apparently).
I wasn't crazy about the "plastic" sights with the white dots painted on them, so I carefully center marked the dots with a vary sharp awl, and then took a 3/32 drill bit and twisted it between my fingers to make a slight indentations that I could put a drop of paint into. It worked fine. At 3 - 10 yards, my groups were great doing controlled pairs and failure drills.
The best part of this story is that my wife really likes the fact that I bought the 457. I think she was feeling guilty about being so possessive of her 3913.
Life is good. Thanks for the info!
PS - Any good IWB holster recommendations?
