S&W base "E" series 1911 VS. performance center Vs. other?

[Bigeclipse]

All,
I was pretty much set on the 1911 e series base model which is about 800. I see the performance centers are just gorgeous and I love the front slots even though some people dont but is the custom fitting you get in house at smith worth the extra 500 bucks (1300). If spending that much is there a whole other brand 1911 I should be looking at? Thanks!

 

[t-bird]

I have the $800 E-series and fit and finish are superb. My E has had thousands of flawless rounds while being scary accurate. It just depends on how deep your pockets and needs are when it comes to 1911's. But the E-series is a lot 1911 for the money. Best of luck.

 

[AveragEd]

My experience with 1911s is only with a few brands and models but I do own both of the S&W models you mention so I might be able to help.

I have the 5" PC gun and can tell you that it is a nicer gun to shoot than the E-Series in terms of trigger function. The E-Series' trigger isn't bad by any means but the PC one is better - lighter and a little more crisp. The two are hard to compare for accuracy as my E-Series gun is the shorter-barreled Sc version so that isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. The PC gun is a tack-driver with my cast 185-grain handloads but the Sc gun certainly does well enough in that department. I bought an E-Series "carry" gun instead of the PC version because the E-Series one comes with night sights and the PC gun doesn't. Also, bullseye competition accuracy wasn't important to me with that gun.

Is the 5" PC worth the extra money over the comparable E-Series gun? Probably not but its resale value down the road might affect that thinking. Can the E-Series gun be improved to handle and shoot like the PC gun? Probably but you might wind up with PC gun money in it and we all know that money spent on modifications is rarely recovered and often devalues the gun.

I've also owned two Kimber 1911s, a Stainless Gold Match II in .45ACP and a Stainless Target II in .38 Super. Kimbers are decent guns - not as nice as an S&W, however - but their customer service is quite lacking. As that comment indicates, I've unfortunately had to use their service (and on multiple occasions) so take that at face value. I sold the .45 but still have the Super however that's only because S&W doesn't offer that caliber in a target model 1911.

You can't go wrong with either gun you narrowed your choices down to. If you're only going to own one of them, I'd go for the PC gun.

Ed

 

[66snub]

I have the 5" stainless E Series, and the trigger as well as the fit and finish are worth the $925 that I paid for it. This may be a situation involving diminishing returns past a certain dollar amount. This gun has everything I need and nothing I don't. It's the first 1911 that I've bought that I didn't run right out and buy a bunch of "custom" stuff for it, or begin to plan and put away money for a trigger job. The only thing I did to it was put a set of Performance Center 1911 factory grips on it and shoot it. It's good to go as it is. Hope this helps you...

 

[Motorsporting]

It really does depend on what you want it for, and where you want to make compromises or not. 1911's are addictive, and once you start down that path don't be surprised to hold a WC Supergrade in some type of unnatural reverence. Chances are, the E series is everything you will ever need, but that doesn't mean you won't want the PC (or a Wilson, Brown, Baer, Nighthawk, etc.) some day. I eventually had to cut myself off - I can't afford a Ferrari as my daily driver either.