The 845 afield: PC Limited out hunting!

[Sevens]

This was the tenth year I've gone on a 3-day prairie dog hunt and it's been a blast to see how my equipment and my skill and success has evolved since that first ever attempt.

And when I first started, my sidearm was on me simply because I always go armed… but by the second year I came to realize quickly that I needed a sidearm for rattlesnakes and shortly after that, it became a goal to get a prairie dog with a handgun. Now if you know anything about hunting these particular creatures you might understand that getting one with a handgun is a small percentage of experience and then a larger share of marksmanship ability but the big humdinger is pure luck.

So when I decided that I wanted my best chance at getting one with a handgun I began taking my three-alpha Model 52-2 and I did well with it. A few trips with two dogs down to handgun… but other trips where I was shut out.

This year was the first time I took my PC 845 Limited second run Model of 1998 on the trip. Why the change from the 52? Two reasons… first is that .38 Wadcutters just are not as effective on rattlesnakes. And secondly just because I REALLY wanted to because I love this pistol so much.

Roaring success! Three dogs and one rattlesnake down to the 845!

I have pictures but I'm only sharing the tame ones because I'm not sure if the better pictures are appropriate for this site. Moderator, please advise — the other pictures are not over the top but they are obvious. I'd love to add them but I don't need to run afoul of the rules.





The true Performance Center Limited series of pistols are the core of what I love most about our hobby. Taking my 845 out on this hunt was a massive success and also the first time I've ever taken two dogs in one day with a handgun.

Distance of the shots were 33, 25 and 20 yards.

 

[captain92]

Damn I want an 845, but the prices......

 

[clang444]

Congrats.

They must be some pretty tough snakes that don't die when shot with a .38.

 

[Sevens]

845 price… you could argue that it's all relevant. These were never low in price 25+ years ago when they were available. $1,500 in 1995 or 1998 money is a LOT more today. Yes, you can't grab an 845 for cheap but my personal opinion is… I've been buying handguns for 35 years and of all the different guns I have ever owned, this one is my favorite.

As for .38's and rattlesnakes… Well I'm not a skilled outdoorsman and my experience with rattlesnakes is limited to roughly three days each year. In that limited experience, these creatures are quite averse to dying.

We tend to head shot them… I want to think when his jaw is missing, less chance he's gonna bite me.

 

[Old_Cop]

Good shooting but where were you hunting? I hope that Ohio isn't loaded with rattlers.

 

[CALREB]

Sevens, You the man. Thats so cool. I was about 5 seconds late on getting a NIB one in CA,(Calguns) 15 years ago or so for 1K, I almost cried....

 

[s&wchad]

Nice shooting!

Photos of dead rattlesnakes and prairie dogs doesn't bother us in the least!

 

[Sevens]

Haha, hunting out in the great open west. I don't know where rattlesnakes live and do not live, but we don't have prairie dogs in Ohio, I can tell you that!

Ouch on missing the 845… can you buy and get one in to Cali these days or does it need to be an in-state gun? I'm sure I'll never quite get my head wrapped around the intricacies of CA gun regs.

Hey, good deal, I'll add the other photos, thanks Boss!

 

[hberttmank]

Congrats on the kills with the 845, it is a super fine handgun. Post some pictures of the carnage, we are big boys we can take it.

 

[CALREB]

There were 2 pistol teams on our department. The PPC team and the action pistol team. I shot on the PPC team but had good friends that shot on the action pistol team. And the jokes went back and forth they called PPC "Practicing Pistol Comatose" and we would reply, "oh your shooting the
I Dont Practice Anymore discipline".
Anyway they hosted an action pistol match at the LA Academy. It was on American Shooter. The match had a host of sponsors including Smith and Wesson, who donated 4 PC 845s for the winning team. A team from San Diego P.D. or Sheriffs won the guns. Fast forward 10 years and one Sunday while watching football (still watched then) I log onto Calguns (a california gun forum) go to their sales part and wham PC 845 listed in San Diego. Hit the I will take it so fast your head would swim, but when my post went up there was another in front of it from San Francisco. I went ahead and asked the seller if it was one of the prize guns and he said yes. He never fired it and wanted the money for something else. If it fell through it would be mine. It didnt. I contacted the buyer and offered him more money, new DPA 5906 and money, ammo, first child, etc. NO ! he wanted the 845. He drove down TWICE to do the paperwork and pick up the gun, guess he WAS serious. Close as I ever came to owning an 845.
As a LEO you could get guns into the state, if there was a reason. I could have claimed I needed it for competition and got one but I was never one to push the envelope on getting guns.
If you were a civilian the off list guns had to be in the state. Thats why for PC guns people wanted a fortune. Another reason I was shocked on this 845 , 1K was a steal...

 

[Sevens]

Ugh, sorry to bring back memories of "the one that got away!" The 845 showcased in this thread was my first ever Performance Center gun and while I had been buying/owning/loving handguns for 20 years before, never did my collection have any kind of a "focus" or center until this one. I've been smitten with them ever since. The story of how I got this one is detailed in other threads.

So now with the specific blessing of a moderator, I will add a couple pictures!



^^two other dogs that fell to the 845


^^he's trying to hide and blend in, so apologies if it isn't obvious but that is a severed snake head proudly showcasing a .452" hole "dead" center


^^he's not needing this rattle anymore and I have a friend that will be happy to get this

And my entry in to "artistic photo"

^^this antelope was here before we arrived on the last day of hunting. She was extremely relaxed and rifle fire not only didn't make her skidaddle, she didn't even feel the need to stand up from her comfy lay. We set up 120 yards from her and kept the shooting lanes well to her left. She casually chewed some grass for 45 minutes before choosing to stand and casually walk away. And I watched her walk away for 350 yards until she came to a fence and limbo'd under it. She was the epitome of calm, cool and collected.

I was thrilled that I got my phone's camera to focus through my scope.

That scope was new this year and one helluva addition to my kit but alas, this is the semiautomatic forum, so I'll cease and desist.

Yes, I have a few kill pics from rifle but they are completely horrendous and just don't belong here.

Thanks to all who have commented, I hope you enjoyed (virtual) hunting with a S&W Performance Center 845 Limited, second series Model of 1998.

 

[Erocksmash]

Hunting with a 845!?!? How awesome is that !

 

[Sevens]

Pretty awesome! A good buddy gave me the idea, it planted a seed and a number of things came together to get my 845 in to the lineup for this adventure. When the trip closed down last season, my 52-2 had taken one dog for sure, another dog that I could not recover -- word is out on whether or not I tagged him and it had also taken down one rattlesnake. And last June, I had all intentions to bring the 52-2 again on the 2022 trip.

But that all changed at some point during the off season. And for certain, the 845 is going on this trip in 2023. Three dogs down with handgun is one heckuva precedent to try and follow. As with every trip, my goal with handgun is ONE dog, and all the rest is gravy.

 

[CALREB]

Very nice headshots. Looks like a heck of alot of fun trip..