S&W Performance Center

[scruffy]

PC features (trigger action in particular) are worth it to me, but QA can be inconsistent.

M642PC came with a B/C gap of .012"-.014", rough cut forcing cone and some minor cosmetic defects. Sent it in to S&W and it was returned with .004" B/C gap all the way around, properly cut forcing cone, a refinished frame and a butter smooth factory 8.5 lb. D/A trigger. Great shooting piece.

M637PC came perfect out of the box with (again) a butter smooth trigger with 2.5 lb. S/A and 9.0 lb. D/A trigger pull. It shoots like a laser beam.

 

[chief38]

I am a long time member of this Forum and after reading about PC Guns for over a decade, I'd stay clear of them! IMHO you are better off buying a vintage version in excellent condition and do your own mods to it if that is what you want. When I say do your own, I mean exactly that! The days of sending guns out and expecting perfection (or anything close to it) are long gone! Lightly used vintage models should satisfy all but serious competitors. To get into competition, little has to be done and the work that is sometimes required is easy and simply to perform for many.

That said, I'd suggest getting Kuhnhausen's S&W shop manual FIRST! Then before even touching a screwdriver - LEARN what you are doing! There are other books, videos and articles on the subject.

Competent Gunsmiths are now few and far between!!! The few that are still around are extremely expensive and have wait times that are unacceptable to me!

 

[kas9412]

I have had two PC revolvers and they have been excellent guns from the start. However, you do have to watch out for potential issues that seem to plague all production guns. If you are careful, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Shot my 27-9 today, FYI. Couldn't get any .357 so I used .38 spl. Halfway through the box of 50 FMJ, I noticed a piece of the rear end of the barrel had broken off. Dangit. Looking from the rear of the barrel toward target it's a small sliver from 2:00 to 4:00. Didn't affect the shooting and I kept 5" or so grouping. But it has to go back. Good luck with yours, OP.

 

[BillBro]

Shot my 27-9 today, FYI. Couldn't get any .357 so I used .38 spl. Halfway through the box of 50 FMJ, I noticed a piece of the rear end of the barrel had broken off. Dangit. Looking from the rear of the barrel toward target it's a small sliver from 2:00 to 4:00. Didn't affect the shooting and I kept 5" or so grouping. But it has to go back. Good luck with yours, OP.

Not good, not good at all! So part of the forcing cone went bye-bye?? What in the world?
Dont think I would have kept on shooting but Im glad to see youre able to type, and see.
Had tou been shooting mostly 38's in it or more 357? Really doesnt matter because this should not be happening.
Man, that blows, hard.

 

[__steve__]

From what I gather, the once, elite level of experience the PC had all retired and the place went to shißer for a time. It does seem to be getting back up to speed, but not yet where it was though. I had to get a barrel replaced on my PC cannon for forcing cone erosion (no fault of S&W), and it nearly took 8 months to get it back. At the time I believe they were in the middle of a facility move, not to mention the stupid virus bs. The gun however did arrive up to the standards I hoped.

The PC 3.5" 500 when compared to my standard 4" 500 is superior in all regards to the 4". Mostly design, but it does have a few manufacturing related flaws though not concerning to me. It shoots better, SA/DA timing exceptional, it's just a much more fun cannon to shoot. For bonus, it sends perfect fire rings down range (in slow motion I have seen the rings actually hitting target at 25yds man). The only thing preferable with the S&W over the PC is how the hammer and trigger feel on my thumb and finger.

Go for it! Good luck

 

[jeffrefrig]

I'm taking the gun back down to the shop and S&W will receive it from them and do their magic, as needed.

 

[Handgunner00]

Well...today was showtime at the range and my 627PC proved flawless beyond my wildest expectations. Its finish is NRA Museum quality and it fired a mix of 357 Mag, 38SPL, and 38WC without fail and at an accuracy level I've never before achieved with a revolver to include a 2020 Python.

 

[BB4XL]

625 PC. Constantly miss fired with 8 different factory loads right out of the box. Even with reloads with Federal primers. Cylinder was not chamfered at all. Sent it back 5 times each time came back saying nothing wrong with this gun. They did re chamfer the Cylinder. I would clean it in an ultrasonic tank before sending it in. It would come back clean. It was like they fired 6 rounds and said good to go.

On the last time there was a comment saying they were done with it and there was nothing wrong with it. I called and was told it is as good as it gets. I have shot a lot of custom guns. I own 2 Les Baers , a Wilson combat and a Nighthawk. I worked in 2 different gun shops and shot USPSA for over 12 years. I told them that they should be ashamed, they hung up. Finally I fixed it myself by replacing the strain screw. I am not impressed.

When this all happened I posted the story here and was flamed for it. I will not buy a new S&W again, only used older non lock models. This all happened about 5 years ago. Maybe things have changed. Good luck.

 

[Handgunner00]

Let's hope my 627PC is representative of all S&W firearms coming out of the Performance Center today and that no one will ever again be subject to your experience from five years ago.

 

[Old cop]

I p/u a Pro Series no-lock 442 from a private seller a couple of months ago. While the trigger is better than a stock J Frame I would not have paid extra for it. Not enough of a difference to make me pay extra.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

625 PC.
Sent it back 5 times each time came back saying nothing wrong with this gun...
Finally I fixed it myself by replacing the strain screw.

.

I've fixed way more myself than I've had to send back & that's because those returned needed a new cylinder.

If you can fix it yourself it's just prudent to do so & save the aggravation, time & shipping cost.

.