performance center worth the extra money?

[qswdef]

10-12 years ago I bought two different barrel length 686's. I've been spoiled ever since. I now need a 2"-4'' 44 mag that goes bo0o0m every time, no exceptions. From what I've been reading lately in different forums and in a couple of magazine articles, S&W may not be making them like they use to(standard model). To get a totally reliable revolver do I have to spend the extra$ for a performance center? Is it worth it? Should I simply buy a standard model and let my gunsmith take it apart and then drag him along to the range?
Thank you

 

[Spotteddog]

You could ask the P/C to install their (full) long length integral firing pin into what ever .44 Magnum you were interested in? You could install one yourself into a standard model. Or you could have the same part in hand, in case your "new" product suffered a FTF? But you'd never "know" whether they'd have a FTF, unless you tried to fire them?
WELCOME (I hope?)

 

[Wayne M]

Welcome! The most important aspect of action smoothness is shoot and clean and lube, shoot and clean and lube.....you get the idea. Since you are getting into 44's a super light trigger may not be that important to you so smooth is probably most important. The Performance Center does good work, it's the new guns that come out of there that are WAY overpriced. And S&W is still making fine guns.

 

[tdan]

My first PC gun is currently back at Smith being worked on. In my opinion, the hammer was poorly fit, resulting in an unacceptably gritty action. We will see what they did to it when it comes back. As to 44 Mags, I would look for an older 629-4. Mine are superb shooters!

 

[Amici]

My first PC gun is currently back at Smith being worked on. In my opinion, the hammer was poorly fit, resulting in an unacceptably gritty action.

I had the same experience with my 625 PC.

Unless the PC model had some specific feature you wanted and could not get in the regular model, save your money and get the production model.

You could always use the savings to pay your preferred gunsmith to do whatever work you wanted.

 

[feralmerril]

I only have one PC gun, a model 66-3. No, I dont think one should really need a PC model, I just lucked into mine. I HAVE heard that might be the case with a colt 1911, though!
The fact of paying extra money from PC or a custom smith really wouldnt give me more confidence then just useing the gun a lot early looking for issues.