Performance Center PPC 9 6"

[CALREB]

I had no idea they existed either until I saw them listed in the 3rd Standard Catalog. I used to search high and low for one for years to shoot the off duty matchs I was shooting the 6906 compact in. Thought the added weight and better grip would be awesome. Just never found one. Lots of the SSV 5903 variant, just not the PC version.

Back when I had more PC autos ( all the wifes competition guns) I found you could switch slides on the service type models and they worked fine. But all the switches that worked had something in common. Either the slide came from a well used gun and would fit on a newer frame or the frame of a well used gun would accept a newer slide. So as long as there was some wear they would switch . Tried new slide switched onto a new frame and only had one swap that went on, but tight. So these guns do have slide/frame that are mated and fit at the time they were made. No new news there.

 

[colt_saa]

I had no idea they existed either until I saw them listed in the 3rd Standard Catalog. I used to search high and low for one for years to shoot the off duty matchs I was shooting the 6906 compact in. Thought the added weight and better grip would be awesome. Just never found one. Lots of the SSV 5903 variant, just not the PC version.

I know it is too late in the game now for you to pick one up for competition, but as an alternative to the full size gun you could have used a 3566 Compact with the optional Performance Center 9MM barrel. These were available in the mid 1990s

These firearms have a stainless frame, not a light weight alloy one. The weight difference is noticeable

As to the grip, there were the 15 round magazines with the spacers.

These magazines could have been used with your 6906 to provide the longer grip

 

[toddcfii]

I Still have roughly a dozen 952s including two of those two-tone 6" guns.
.

I can't believe everyone let this go without comment.
STILL have have ROUGHLY a DOZEN 952s including TWO of those TWO-TONE 6" guns. Let's unpack this. So you had more than a dozen 952s at some point? How many (roughly)? And the roughly part. So you have so many that you can't keep track? And two of those two tone guns? Weren't there like only 17 made? So you have like 12% of the total production run of those guns? Absolutely amazing! Good for you! How did you manage to collect these? All fun questions. Would love to hear the answers.

 

[CALREB]

Colt SAA, OH I thought of that many times , but since that gun was not produced in 9mm it would have been disallowed. Unless you shot 356 in it. If you look at the photo above I have used the PGS +2 on my carry gun for years, but it doesnt lend itself to speed reloads too well. I just used and still do the regular 6906 mag with the CP Bullets extended pad. So that extended the grip a bit.


A 5906 model would have been nice not only the weight, length of grip would have allowed the use of the same 15 round mags I used for the other P/C guns. Really these things would have only added up to a small advantage over the 6906 compact but the matches are usually won or lost by 1 point or even 1 X so you need all you can get. Plus wouldnt mind another different P/C auto.

I just have wondered if they really exist. The short description in Cat 3 doesnt give a product number. I still look at most auction site on a regular basis and have never seen one. And yes I probably would still like to have one, why ? BECAUSE !!!

 

[cherrypointmarine]

CALREB , why do any of us want one of these PC guns ? Because we do and that's enough to start the chase . I'm still chasing some , I at least just completed my trifecta , a Recon 9 , 40 and 45 . Still , there's others out there calling my name .......

 

[KAC]

Bob, Just got back home from shooting the matches in Raton. Hot as blazes this year. My 6" PPC9 still shoots X ring groups...on the Ransom Rest. I'm just not able to shoot that well anymore. The 5" sits in the safe, with a red dot attached. Still enjoy the sport of PPC, but it's a little tougher at 72.

 

[CALREB]

Al, man great to hear from you. We finally have the place straightened out here. No more building to do. I swear Im goning to start going places. Raton only a 1 day drive from me it was always so much fun and so beautiful. Thinking about going to NPSC , just to do short guns, dont want to do the medical thing for sitting or prone. Plus that would give me more time to visit. Hope all is well with you. Ever out toward Weatherford, 50 west of FTW, please come by.. Only 110 already today here, HA!

 

[KAC]

MHP is holding a Regional 9/14 & 9/15. NPSC will be 9/16 & 9/17. All at the Pearl Range. will be driving through Weatherford on the way there and back. If I don't see you in MS we might just stop by.

 

[CALREB]

Sounds good, I plan on being there. Will let you know if something changes.

 

[malph]

I can't believe everyone let this go without comment.
STILL have have ROUGHLY a DOZEN 952s including TWO of those TWO-TONE 6" guns. Let's unpack this. So you had more than a dozen 952s at some point? How many (roughly)? And the roughly part. So you have so many that you can't keep track? And two of those two tone guns? Weren't there like only 17 made? So you have like 12% of the total production run of those guns? Absolutely amazing! Good for you! How did you manage to collect these? All fun questions. Would love to hear the answers.

It just sort of happened. I didn't set out to do that.

My first PC gun was a 952 "no dash". I like it so much that I had to buy another.

Then the PC came out with the -1 version and I had to see what that was about.

I was mostly a shooter but at some point with the 952 I veered into collecting.

I "think" I have a sample of every 952 variant Smith sold stateside but I am not 100% sure of that.

That first 952 was my gateway drug into PC semiautos.

I also managed to pick up two 845s and a "Shorty 9".

Somewhere along the line I bought a "Super 9" also which is a nice gun but was not built by the PC.

The attached file is another rare one. It's a PC double action only gun with a 4" bar-sto barrel.

I believe it's a very early PC gun as they were still using bar-sto barrels.

 

[9146gt]

I know Tom Gordon built and test fired all the early PPC 9 guns.
He was also the person that confirmed that he built the fixed sight 5" 945 that i have.
Tom

 

[Sevens]

I would love it if some of the legends from that shop as Tom Gordon would show up here and regale us with stories from the inside of that lightning filled bottle!

 

[BAM-BAM]

I know it is too late in the game now for you to pick one up for competition, but as an alternative to the full size gun you could have used a 3566 Compact with the optional Performance Center 9MM barrel. These were available in the mid 1990s

These firearms have a stainless frame, not a light weight alloy one. The weight difference is noticeable

As to the grip, there were the 15 round magazines with the spacers.

These magazines could have been used with your 6906 to provide the longer grip

Interesting.... I've got an all Stainless steel DS-9 ( "Stocking Dealer"; one of 179) but it has a 4 1/4" slide/barrel. It was/is a great gun.... shot a lot in match games in the 90s with 12 and 15+2 mags.

The SD-9 was my inspiration to build a "FrankenSmith 6915" for CC. The 6915 as I call it is a 6906 lower mated to a 4" 915 slide/barrel. Squidsix here also built one of these CCO guns which I ended up buying from him as a backup!Actually carry his more than mine cus he added a cool Hi-Power bevel to the front of the slide and added a night sight ( mine has a fiber optic FS) Great IWB carry guns long(er) barrel but a short butt. Backed up with a15rd +2 mag., spacer shown above.

 

[Bustedup]

I shot one back in the late 90's. A Gulfport, MS PD instructor had it. They shot the Bianchi Cup and the NRA PPC matches every year. Freaking scary accurate! Was such a sweet pistol.

 

[Thies]

Just to recycle an old thread. I still have a 5906 PPC from Performance Center including all paperwork and Performance Center Box.
Slightly new, just shot less that 20 rounds with it.
Has 6" barrel and aristocrat PPC Sights. Could anybody tell me how much they are actually worth?

 

[Sevens]

The market for PC pistols peaked a few years back and they have declined since.

There is truly only one way to determine the worth of your pistol — find a buyer and agree on a price.

The best way to get the highest sales price is easy…

Listing it on Gunbroker yourself is NOT it. Contacting a well established and popular consignment seller that specifically uses Gunbroker is exactly the way. Consignment sellers will typically take 12-15% of the hammer price, but believe me when I say that they are earning that cut.

They take phenomenal pictures. Folks trust them and will bid on their guns while they ignore low feedback no-name sellers. Consignment sellers also deal with the worst part of the sale… collecting money from the buyer and shipping the gun to them.

I believe if you had a big name consignment seller handle the sale of what you describe, the lowest hammer price might be somewhere around $4,000. If the right couple of buyers are in the mood, it could go higher.

If you listed it yourself with a low feedback personal Gunbroker account… well, good luck.

 

[Shutthefrontdoor]

Are all the 6" long slides the same, or was there an evolution along the way?

 

[4T5GUY]

Listing it on Gunbroker yourself is NOT it. Contacting a well established and popular consignment seller that specifically uses Gunbroker is exactly the way. Consignment sellers will typically take 12-15% of the hammer price, but believe me when I say that they are earning that cut.

Again, excellent thought out and well expressed input.

As you know, (Sevens,) mine was offered here first by a member. I didn't think it was an outrageous asking price but no one here bought it so off to GB it went.

I was happily high bid but was kinda bummed the seller didn't get what he should or could have. He sold it himself and although many of us "know" him here, no one else in GB world did.

Jim

 

[CALREB]

Finally saw a photo of one of the first 6" PPC9s. These were sent out to some of the top shooters. In LA, Pride had one and I believe Cobb from Long Beach. When the rest of us got orders in, the design had gone to the full-length dustcover model. I believe this one was Phillip Hemphill's. He loved those Nill grips. I know he also had a full dustcover one.