Smith & Wesson 1911PD

[mwt1980]

Anyone have any experience?

how are SW 1911's?...everything else they make is great

[Old4eyes]

I've got the Stainless Steel with tactical rail - model 108303.
I can't speak to the PD line, that's the aluminum with Scandium frames. This is my first 1911, and I have had no problems with it at all. I've gone through several brands of FMJ and one of self defense (Golden Saber) and nary a problem. The have a good reputation for reliability out of the box and for the original owner, life time warranty.

For the 1911 purists, S&W 1911's are blashphemy. They have an external extractor and their own variation of the Swartz safety. Kimber had problems with their external extractor, Smith got theirs working.

Their sights have a unique cut on the dovetail, so getting after market sights is not as easy.

I have really enjoyed this pistol and would not hesitate to get another Smith, probably the 108293 which is the Scandium PD version of the gun I presently have.

Check out the biased opinions at:

http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=29

and

http://forums.1911forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=56

[rgs1975]

No experience with the PD's but my S&W PC1911 is the finest semi-auto handgun I've ever owned and/or fired.

[tiko]

I got a SS full size S&W1911, very excellent. I have to change the recoil spring to a Wolf16lb, I will change the mainspring to 18 lb. The factory springs are too heavy!

[Gregchico]

I have the 5 inch PD railed version and love it. I also have the 4.25 inch PD version, and like it. I also have one of the billboard version stainless version (non PD) and love it.

[dstewart]

When I moved back to CA a few years ago from AZ I sold off all but one of my guns (money issue). I had two 1911's at the time, one a full size stainless Springfield TRP with a full tune from Jeff Mangum out of Phoenix. I shot CCML out of Ben Avery for several years with it and it was a very fine gun. The other was a Smith and Wesson 1911PD Commander size with the Scandium frame.

I choose to keep the S&W 1911PD for several reasons. It's light, easy to carry (at least in AZ it was), perfectly reliable and great trigger out of the box, great balance and it was just easy to shoot well. Its the best handgun I have had based on ease to shoot well and the fun factor. I have more then 5,000 rounds through it, carried for several years, it still looks like new and not one problem. Only very slight signs of wear on the frame rails.

[9mmepiphany]

let me offer this...while i own a S&W 1911Sc and i has been running very well right out of the box, i would highly recommend you go with a Performance Center 1911 if you can afford it

they use hand selected parts and finish machine them to a very high tolerance, they use a different design of external ejector which is superior and they really pay attention to the finished product

[RTE]

Anyone have any experience?

how are SW 1911's?...everything else they make is great

I have one 1911PD full size Scandium frame about 29 ounces.
It's a Quality piece and I have had no issues with it.

[50CalAL]

I have a SW1911DK. Only put a couple hundred rounds through it but fit and finish are great. Accuracy is solid.

Only regret I have is would have bought one of the S&W's w/o the adjustable sights as it's a PITA to find adjustable night sight replacements (still haven't found any).

[stevie]

I have a 4.25 inch PD, round count over 500, no problems.

[eggfriedrice]

I also have the 4.25 length PD and have over 500+ rounds of it. I purchased it a couple of months ago after researching what 1911 I wanted to get for about 6 months. It's solid and pretty much tight except for a bit of play in the trigger. It hasn't had a FTE or FTF and I've fed everything I could find for it (which isn't much right now).

At the range it performs just as I need it to. The safety has a positive engagement and the weight is light but with enough mass to manage the .45 ACP recoil. It simply is a great shooter and if you are considering getting one, you can buy with confidence that its a quality weapon.