From: ole@delab.sintef.no (Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Smith & Wesson Autos
Date: 12 Dec 92 22:50:51 GMT
Organization: SINTEF DELAB, Trondheim, Norway.

In article <jrh.2b29689a-e@mustang.dell.com> jrh@mustang.dell.com writes:
   From: jrh@mustang.dell.com (Randy Howard)
   Date: 12 Dec 92 17:15:46 GMT

   baechler@lia.di.epfl.ch (Emmanuel Baechler) writes:
   ###      Satisfactory accuracy. Not match grade, but still
   ###      quite good enough for the intended purposes.
   ##
   ## The SIG has superior accuracy, and, IMHO, superior fit and finish
   ## compared to the Smiths. I'd like to have a full-size Smith in 10mm, 
   ## but the grips are horrible (IMHO) and the thing just feels like
   ## it's cheaply made. I also can't stand those paper-thin barrels
   ## they use. But your mileage may vary, and obviously does.

   #In addition of their superior accuracy, fit and finish, the SIGs have
   #another advantage. While the triggers of the S&W PISTOLS is at best
   #mediocre, the ones of the SIG are really excellent. I would even say
   #that they are as good as the ones of many revolvers. That's very important
   #even in self defense.

< Stuff deleted >

   I don't mean to really flame S&W; FOR THE PRICE, they make a decent gun.  But,
   for making premium handguns, they are clearly beaten by a lot of other 
   manufacturers.  Unfortunately, some of the others are in financial trouble, 
   because high quality guns move in radically lower volumes due to the higher
   prices.  I don't ever stop wondering why people would by a S&W .357 magnum
   revolver for example, with folks constantly warning "Don't shoot too much 
   Magnum through that gun, use .38 special instead".  IMHO, if you buy a S&W
   .357 Magnum, you should be able to fire .357MAG through it EVERY time out
   without hurting the gone (more than any other .357 out there anyway).


At least I can tell you why I bought a S&W 586 (for competition, not defense)

1. Not too expensive.
2. Easy to get parts, the importer is downtown.
3. I liked the balance, and I only needed to modify the sights a
   little to suit me.
4. The trigger wasn't too bad out of the box.

After having shot some 4000 shots through it, the experiences are:

* After some polishing, and a new spring set, the trigger is now good enough.

* Accuracy is excellent (at least better than me). It will easily hold
1" groups at 25 meters with jacketed ammo (shot off sandbags). 
At 100 meters (with a scope), it tends to produce 4" - 7" groups.

* General fit and finish do not impress me. Tool marks are abundant
inside, and the rebound slide was rather rough before I polished it.

* The cylinder gap is also on the large side. 

* The forcing cone is rather rough, although it does not seem to have
an adverse effect on the accuracy.

* The hand is starting to wear down the extractor star, and the gun is
on the verge of not locking up before the hammer falls.

* There is no appreciable wear on other parts.

* The trigger has too much side play, and is in obvious need of some
washers to decrease the amount of play. The pin holes (on which the
parts rotate) in the trigger and the hammer also seems to be
unnecessarily large, adding to the sideways slop.


Altogether, not a bad gun, on the other hand, I will probably start
shopping for something which does not come as a kit sooner or later.
A Manurhin MR73 immediately comes to mind... Or perhaps the newer
model, which is also supposed to be cheaper. (I haven't seen it yet)