PC 845 Single Action Trigger Manual of Arms

[cherrypointmarine]

Ok Jim , this is getting flipping spooky ! Mine is serial# 43 . But yours is a Lew , mine is a RSA .

 

[RedCardinal]

Here is info from a thread posted by member Grinder. His photos are no longer there so I added some that I have.

PC pistol box or case ID thread

"I decided to assemble a basic pic group for PC pistol boxes and cases to benefit owners.

#1. The blue texture plastic PC case.
These had the label stuck on the side. Most labels fell off over the years. I find a good percentage under the foam if the owner realized he lost it.
The larger were used in the fullsized models and the smaller in the compacts. Used from 1991-1994. The small model was used on the 1997 170091 .40 Tactical also.

#0. The Briley box.
The 170037 .356TSW Briley shipped in this standard S&W blue cardboard box in 1994. Believe this was because the pistols were shipped in bulk to Briley in unfinished condition.

#2. The standard S&W blue plastic case.
These were used for a very short time in 1995.
The 170067 PC 9mm Compact and 170076 Shorty40 MKIIIS were delivered in these, as well as a few revolvers

#3. The Doskocil black plastic case.
Has a gold PC label on the front and the factory label on the side.
Used on a large number of models from 1996-1998.

#4. The ribbed aluminum PC case first series.
A chinese made case used from 1998 - 2002
The case was shipped in a cardboard box with the label on the outside.
No box = no label

#5. The ribbed aluminum PC case second series
A chinese made case different from #4 used in 2003
Also shipped in a cardboard box with external label.

#6. The PC soft case used from 2003-2005.
These came in a cardboard box with the accessories inside and the label outside.

#7. The smooth aluminum PC case.
Used from 2006 til recently.
Also shipped in a cardboard box containing the label.

Please remember S&W didn't throw much away, a the occasional oddball may show up and the years I listed are rounded off. There are models made over several years which may have different cases. Generally the year it was shipped determines the packaging, not the model. Also pistols which were stored in the vault may have a later generation case.
I hope this helped you PC pistol lovers out there."

 

[Sevens]

That’s a great post Red Cardinal and it should be the title of a “notable thread.”

 

[RedCardinal]

Here is another, the PC Grey Plastic case that my 5906 PPC came in directly from S&W in 2009. Also, the standard blue plastic case briefly used by PC approx 1995.

 

[RedCardinal]

AND, I am still looking for this PC 845 Brochure. I hope someone has it and will share the info or scan a copy.

 

[CALREB]

Red Cardinal, great info. I have PPC 9 5" serial 1000, that I got in 2008 or 9. Box is in the attic. I was wondering how that serial compared to yours, when I got my gun the PC said they did not have any others and were only holding that one in the safe due to the 1000 serial number. Have always wondered if they did another run or how high the serial numbers went on the PPC 9s. Most new PPC shooters were going with 1911s at that time. I was only buying the gun to replace the 5" older model I had sold. And later bought back...Thanks

 

[CALREB]

On the subject of trigger weight , remember the PPC 9 models had to comply with the NRA rule 3.5 lbs mininum weight.

 

[RedCardinal]

The serial number on my PPC had a UBZ prefix and was in the 6800s. It was shipped to me in Oct 2009. They must have done something. However, I believe they would have used whatever SN was next or available for small runs. As others have said about S&W, "never say never".

 

[Jim Watson]

I am looking for a manual of arms on the PC single action trigger to learn the proper method of operation.

I don't think the printed owner's manual has much to say about the actual manual of arms for handling the gun in a competition setting.

The basics are simple. Load the gun, engage the safety, holster (if for USPSA or IDPA etc.) Draw, disengage safety, fire. The devil is in the details, hitting the slide safety quickly calls for its own technique which I doubt the company explains. The which I am not qualified in, I looked hard at a 745 but decided I did not want to reprogram my reflexes from the 1911s I had been shooting for so long.

 

[Stentor]

The serial number on my PPC had a UBZ prefix and was in the 6800s. It was shipped to me in Oct 2009. They must have done something. However, I believe they would have used whatever SN was next or available for small runs. As others have said about S&W, "never say never".

One of my PPCs has the same UBZ prefix (UBZ 68XX) and gray case as yours pictured above.

 

[RedCardinal]

Well, it seems that testing the trigger pull on the 845 sent me into hallucination heaven thinking of becoming a bullseye shooter. Searching for information on the SA trigger made me realize that it was an entirely different convention from the traditional DS/SA trigger of the 3rd gens that I have used in LE.

The best trigger pull I have ever experienced and the all American 45APC cartridge without the despised grip safety and magazine disconnect places it above the other Performance Center SA pistols that I have collected at one time or another and then sold.

But I must come back to reality where the most of my training and experience is in defensive shooting. My 3rd gens were decock only or converted to decock only including the 3913, 4006, 4513TSW, 4516-3, 4566TSW and 4506-1. And of course, the 9 Recon, 40 Recon, 45 Recon, and 5906 DPA came de-cock only from the factory. I had my 3566 Compact converted. With all of these pistols setup for defensive shooting, I dare not confuse my old brain with a new convention. Lucky me as I just completed range qualifications with my 3913 and 4006. Therefore, I will soon pass my magnificent 845 to someone else to enjoy whether as a collectible or to shoot.

 

[RedCardinal]

Back to the original question, looking for operating instructions for a single action S&W semiauto pistol. Recently, I traded for a 745, and it included the specific manual for the 745 in which I found the instructions for use. I copied the instructions and scanned to a photo below for those who wish to print a copy. Also included is a photo of the donor 745.

 

[Sevens]

That's neat. I wonder if I have one of those in my 745 box?

 

[Sevens]

The best trigger pull I have ever experienced and the all American 45APC cartridge without the despised grip safety and magazine disconnect places it above the other Performance Center SA pistols that I have collected at one time or another and then sold.

The magazine disconnect in the Smith & Wesson design doesn't interfere with the trigger pull/weight/feel in any manner. The grip safety that was used in only the 952-1, 952-2 and the 945-1 also has no interaction whatsoever in any way with the trigger pull/weight/feel in those pistols.

The Model 52/52-1/52-2 has the magazine disconnect and it's got some of the most phenomenal trigger pull weight/weight/feel of anything that S&W ever built.

I have a pair of 845's and they are exquisite and they might be my most loved handguns ever, but I will note that the 52's trigger along with the 952, 4006 Limited, PPC-9 and 3566 Limited trigger all have adjustable pre-travel and over-travel stops that unfortunately the 845 never got.

And yes, even the 745 got the pre-travel and over-travel adjustment of the elite group listed above that the 845 never got. WHY these were left off the 845 is a curious bit of trivia for which we will likely never see an answer.

As for the magazine disconnect safety, this feature never bothered me on any duty/service pistol that also featured a manual decock lever. But a magazine disconnect on a full target pistol such as the 52 or 952-1, 952-2 is not only silly, it's extremely annoying. If you don't have a magazine nearby, it is simply not possible to easily lower the hammer.

 

[RedCardinal]

That's neat. I wonder if I have one of those in my 745 box?

Here is a photo of the cover of the 745 IPSC Specific Manual.