SPRINGFIELD, Mass.— Smith & Wesson Corp. has announced that after 50 years of production, the legendary Performance Center has introduced its own rendition of the popular Model 41 target pistol. With multiple competitive records to its credit, the Model 41 remains one of the most classic .22 LR pistols ever produced. Now, the coveted handgun is available in an optics ready platform available only from Smith & Wesson.
Delivering pinpoint accuracy and unmatched reliability, the Performance Center Model 41 is ready to take on any course of fire right out of the box. The full-size pistol, chambered in .22 LR, features a carbon steel frame and slide along with a 5.5-inch barrel. Measuring 10.5 inches in overall length, the semi-automatic pistol has an unloaded weight of 41 ounces. Across the top of the slide, the Performance Center pistol has been fitted with an integral picatinny-style equipment rail for easy installation of optics. Other standard features include an external thumb safety on the left side of the frame, custom wood target grips and a blue finish.
To help aid in precise shot placement when an optic is not in use, the Model 41 features a removable front sight and an adjustable rear sight. The Model 41 has been further enhanced with a Performance Center tuned action that delivers a velvet-smooth trigger pull. Comfortable in the hand, well balanced and expertly crafted by the hands of master gunsmiths, the Model 41 remains one of the most accurate pistols ever produced by Smith & Wesson.
The Performance Center Model 41 is standard with a 10+1 magazine capacity along with Smith & Wesson’s lifetime service policy.
More new stuff…
Smith & Wesson Corp. has announced that two new models have been added to the Performance Center’s line of high performance 1911 pistols. Machined to exacting tolerances and custom built by highly skilled craftsmen, the new Performance Center SW1911 models provide feature specific options for both competition and personal defense needs.
At the foundation of each pistol is a package of custom features and the high standards held by the Performance Center for quality and innovation. Available in a traditional stainless steel model with a 5-inch barrel or in Smith & Wesson’s patented scandium alloy frame with a 4.25-inch barrel, the new models combine custom handwork with the venerable 1911 platform. Reliable, accurate, and expertly engineered, the Performance Center Custom SW1911 and Performance Center Round Butt SW1911 continue the Company’s longstanding line of precision built firearms.
Performance Center Custom SW1911 Designed as a specialized option for competition orientated shooters, the Performance Center Custom SW1911 is crafted from the finest components under the skilled hands of master gunsmiths. Manufactured with a stainless steel slide and frame, the custom pistol is standard with a 5-inch barrel and hand-fitted features available only from Smith & Wesson. Chambered in .45 ACP, the pistol shares exclusive custom made Performance Center features with its hand-cut chamber, hand-polished feed ramp, hand-tuned action job and hand-lapped frame and slide rails for increased reliability and accuracy.
Built to the highest specifications, the Performance Center SW1911 is standard with a precision crown muzzle, oversized external extractor and an ambidextrous frame safety. Professional shooters will appreciate the pistol’s competition-based features including a match grade trigger with over travel stop, speed configuration hammer and crisp 3.5 to 4 pound trigger pull. For improved handling, the 1911 pistol has been fitted with blue G10 custom grips featuring 30 lines-per-inch checkering. On the frame of the pistol, the Performance Center has helped reduce overall weight with slide ported lightening cuts, which also give a distinctive look to this classic design.
On top of the slide, an adjustable rear sight and black post front sight aid in precise alignment during competition. Other Performance Center features include a match-grade throated barrel and a Briley spherical bushing for improved accuracy. A glass bead finish, traditional grip safety, plus an 8+1 magazine capacity round out the features of this custom 1911 package from Smith & Wesson. The Performance Center Custom SW1911 measures 8.7 inches in overall length and has an empty weight of 40.5 ounces.
Performance Center Round Butt SW1911 Sharing the same handcrafted and customized features of its full-size brethren, the Performance Center Round Butt SW1911 combines the Company’s patented scandium alloy metallurgy with a commander-length frame. Measuring 7.95 inches in overall length the round butt SW1911 offers a reduced weight of 29.6 ounces. Ideal for concealed carry or recreation shooting, the Performance Center SW1911 is standard with a scandium frame mated with a stainless steel slide and barrel. As with all 1911 pistols offered from the custom shop, the new model has been hand fitted and assembled with the highest quality components and meticulous attention to detail.
Customized features of this specialized design include a Performance Center action job, throated barrel, polished feed ramp and a precision crowned muzzle with a Briley spherical barrel bushing.
The Performance Center Round Butt SW1911 shares other common features of the 5-inch model including a competition match trigger with over travel stop, competition speed hammer and orange G10 custom grips. The pistol’s two-tone finish and slide ported lightening cuts add a distinguished look to this long-standing platform, while its ambidextrous controls and smooth operating features elevate performance. On top of the slide, the Performance Center has enhanced sight alignment with a black post front sight and an adjustable rear sight. Available with an 8+1 magazine capacity, the new commander length pistol provides yet another quality option in Smith & Wesson’s robust line of 1911 configurations.
More new stuff…
Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced that four new models have been added to the Company’s premier line of M&P® polymer pistols. Based on the popular Pro Series line of competition ready firearms, the new M&P C.O.R.E (Competition Optics Ready Equipment) models offer consumers a specialized platform for adding accessory optics to their personal handguns. Engineered to accept six popular styles of competition based optics, the M&P C.O.R.E models are easily adapted to meet any demand.
At the foundation of the new M&P C.O.R.E. resides a specialized mounting platform on the slide of the pistol that can be conveniently changed to match the desired optic. Through the use of removable brackets, consumers are able to simply install the corresponding mounting screws to achieve the precise fit and height required. Designed to work in conjunction with the Trijicon RMR®, C-More STS, Leupold® DeltaPoint™, Docter, Insight® MRDS™ and JPoint™, the M&P C.O.R.E. offers quick and custom sight installation for the industry’s top aftermarket red-dot sight manufacturers.
The new M&P C.O.R.E. models will be available in both 9mm and .40 S&W with either a 4.25 or 5-inch barrel configuration. Engineered as a true competition platform, each model will retain original design features including a polymer frame with a through-hardened stainless steel slide and barrel, ambidextrous operating controls, striker fire action and Melonite® finish. For improved handling the M&P C.O.R.E. models feature a new textured interchangeable back strap with prominent stippling. Three patented palmswell grips are supplied with each pistol, providing shooters the ability to tailor the grip size to their personal preference.
For improved accuracy and precise shot placement during competition, the M&P C.O.R.E. pistols are standard with a Performance Center sear. The specialized sear allows for a crisp 4.5 pound trigger pull along with a faster, defined reset in between shots. On top of the slide, Smith & Wesson has added higher sights that can be used in concordance with the mounted optic. Other standard features of the new pistols include a crowned muzzle for improved accuracy, picatinny-style equipment rail and reversible magazine release.
Internal features of the new M&P C.O.R.E. remain consistent with the original design and include a stainless steel internal chassis designed to reduce flex while also providing a stable shooting platform. The M&P pistol’s low-bore axis helps maintain ease-of-use and a comfortable feel and the passive trigger safety prevents the pistol from firing if dropped regardless of angle. A sear release lever eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble and the simple take down lever is located on the left side of the frame. A loaded chamber indicator is present on top of the slide and rear scalloped slide serrations enable easy firearm manipulation.
The 9mm M&P C.O.R.E. is standard with a 17+1 round magazine capacity and the .40 S&W variant features a 15+1 round capacity. Without a mounted optic the 5-inch barrel models have an empty weight of 26 ounces while the 4.25-inch pistols measure two ounces lighter.
For more information from the Performance Center, please visit www.smith-wesson.com
