Smith & Wesson SW1911PC Part 2

I’m at an age where watching Olympic athletes brings a feeling of admiration and just a little remorse that I never achieved a noteworthy level of athleticism. Still, I have never abused my body with an exhaustive training regimen so my body is hardly used. Sometimes I listen to songs from the 60s and wish I had maybe pursued a singing career. Unfortunately, I am tone deaf and age and life have me croaking like frog. That said, last night I heard Kris Kristofferson sing on Austin City limits… Vocally, very different paths, very similar destinations.

One of the reasons I like firearms so much is that the interest evolves over a lifetime. In early years the interest can be physically demanding, whether competing or hunting, and performance can challenge the best hand – eye coordination. As we mature, an interest in firearms can also be quite cerebral and emotional. There are designs to understand and appreciate, there is an artistry of wood and metal work, there is history to research, There is science, material and manufacturing technology, drama, personal stories, a sizeable component in the story of man. Firearms are also a heck of a lot of fun.

The S&W SW1911PC is culmination of good ideas…

How do I know? It works. Load it up, rack the slide, pull the trigger and it discharges… always, so that gets added to the positive things covered in Part 1.  That would seems like little to expect but, based on some of the industry introductions, that seems to becoming an exception. The most noticeable part of the SW1911’s personality is that it is easy to shoot; easy on the hand, easy to grip one or two handed, soft in recoil for a lightweight, compact 45 Auto.

The three type of ammo were selected because each represents a different 45 Auto philosophy; high velocity expanding, slow and expanding and new tech very high velocity with no expansion.

The Remington Ultimate Defense, far left will expand to nearly 3/4″, the Ruger composite near left will not expand at all. Still, both with stop in ballistic gel within  15″ to 16″, the Federal 185 JHP will penetrate about the same.

Shooting was done from fifty feet, with a two handed hold, sitting atop sand filled shooting bags. I did shoot seventy five feet and I did shoot fifty years, but I didn’t have an acceptable round butt insert for the Ransom rest so the results would have been an assessment of my eyesight and shooting skills and not the mechanical precision of the SW1911. I will say that the seventy five foot groups were good enough for me to try fifty years and that rarely happens.

Is the S&W SW1911PC a pistol for me? If I were shopping for an accurate, concealed 45 Auto, yes. It is a lot less costly than semi custom 1911s out there and probably more accurate, especially as a light weight, Commander length pistol. Is there anything I would change if it were for me? Sure, I’d want a black slide that matched the texture and finish of the frame and a pretty pair of highly figured, satin finished smooth sided grips. All aesthetics. Other than that it would remain as delivered.

Smith & Wesson SW1911PC Part 1
Smith & Wesson SW1911PC Part 2