Over the last 23 years, Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center has hand-crafted some of the world’s finest shooting firearms. While the division breathes on a wide range of S&W models, their revolvers are the Center’s crowning achievements. For 2014, S&W PC is introducing five new wheelguns: the M929 Jerry Miculek Signature Model (eight-shot 9mm competition revolver with a 6.5″ barrel), M686 (seven-shot .357 Magnum revolver with a 2.5″ barrel), M629 (six-shot .44 Magnum with an 8-3/8″ fluted barrel), M460XVR (five-shot 460 S&W Magnum revolver with a 3.5″ barrel) and the M986 Pro Series (seven-shot 9mm competition revolver with a 5″ barrel). Prices unknown. While I’d be happy to have any of these firearms nestling next to my Smiths, the X-framed M460VXR [above] looks like the backwoods bear protection gun I’ve been hankering for ever since Ruger’s promise to send an Alaska for review withered on the vine. Full press release after the jump . . .
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced that the master gunsmiths of the legendary Performance Center have once again elevated the perception of the classic wheel gun through the introduction of four new one-of-a-kind revolvers.
Blending hand craftsmanship with new-age technology, the Performance Center by Smith & Wesson has broadened its lineup of precision revolvers with new competition-ready, hunting and personal protection models. For 2014, the Smith & Wesson Pro Series has also been expanded with the addition of a new revolver designed to bring a ready-to-go competition package in 9mm back to the companys portfolio of high-end firearms.
Averaging over 23 years of service in the historic Performance Center, the master gunsmiths at Smith & Wesson continue to develop hand-cut, hand-fitted and hand-tuned revolvers with an unmatched level of precision. Known throughout the industry for their uncompromising dedication, experience and meticulous production techniques, the Performance Center continues to bring about new revolver innovations appreciated by the most serious shooters, hunters and collectors.
New introductions for 2014 include:
M929 Jerry Miculek Signature Model A 9mm competition revolver inspired by the mind of world-renowned, multi-record holder Jerry Miculek and built by the legendary Performance Center.
Built to the specifications of Smith & Wesson Champion Jerry Miculek, the Model 929 is a high-tuned 8-shot 9mm revolver developed for the competitive shooter. The revolver has a 6-1/2 inch barrel and an overall length of 12.25 inches. The stainless steel frame and a titanium alloy cylinder help keep the weight down to 44.2 ounces. Other popular features of the 929 include a glass bead finish, removable compensator, chrome trigger with stop, cylinder cut for moonclips, Jerry Miculek signature, chrome teardrop hammer and ergonomic synthetic grips. The Model 929 also features a Performance Center hand-tuned action for a one-of-a-kind single and double action trigger pull.
M686 A classic, time-tested .357 Magnum® revolver enhanced with popular self-defense features made possible by master gunsmiths at the Smith & Wesson Performance Center.
Manufactured as a high-end personal protection revolver, the Performance Center Model 686 is a 7-shot .357 Magnum® revolver with a 2-1/2 inch barrel that features an unfluted stainless steel cylinder. The revolver has a stainless steel frame, custom wood grips, adjustable rear sights and a red ramp front sight. With an overall length of 7.5 inches and an unloaded weight of 34.6 ounces this 7-shot revolver is easily concealed until needed. The Performance Center 686 also features a glass bead finish, chrome trigger with a stop, chrome teardrop hammer, a precision crowned barrel, cylinder cut for moonclips, and of course a Performance Center hand-tuned action.
M629 A purpose built hunting package for those who seek to combine the notorious .44 Magnum® cartridge with the gunsmithing ability of the Smith & Wesson Performance Center.
For dedicated handgun hunters and .44 Magnum® enthusiasts, the Performance Center Model 629 delivers a 6-shot stainless steel revolver with an 8-3/8 inch fluted barrel. The revolver is standard with an unfluted cylinder as well as two picatinny style equipment rails placed on the top of the frame and in front of the cylinder rod. The Performance Center 629 also has a glass bead finish, chrome teardrop hammer, chrome trigger with stop, custom wood grips, adjustable rear sights with an Orange Glow Blade front sight and a Performance Center hand-tuned action. The M629 is designed to handle the heaviest .44 Magnum loads as well as the lightest .44 Special loads. The revolver has an overall length of 14 inches and an unloaded weight of 59 ounces, making it a perfect companion in any hunting situation.
M460XVR A true multi-caliber and multi-purpose revolver built by Performance Center master gunsmiths on the durable Smith & Wesson X-Frame.
The new Performance Center 460 XVR is a 5-shot revolver chambered in the powerful .460 S&W Magnum®. The revolver features a 3-1/2 inch barrel, an unfluted stainless steel cylinder, HI-VIZ® fiber optic green front sight, and an adjustable rear sight. The revolver has a stainless steel frame, glass bead finish, a chrome trigger with stop, a chrome teardrop hammer and a Performance Center hand-tuned action. With an overall length of 10 inches and an unloaded weight of 59.5 ounces, this compact .460 S&W Magnum is a welcome addition while in the pursuit of dangerous game.
M986 Pro Series A Smith & Wesson Pro Series 9mm revolver ready for any course of fire.
Bridging the gap between standard production and the Performance Center, the new Model 986 Pro Series adds yet another 9mm revolver option to the mix. Manufactured with a 5 inch barrel, the 7-shot 9mm revolver has a Patridge front sight, adjustable rear sights, and a stainless steel frame. The revolver has a titanium alloy cylinder, which helps keep the weight of the revolver down to 34.9 ounces. The 986 also features a glass bead finish, a precision crowned barrel, cylinder cut for moonclips, comfortable synthetic grips and a lighter mainspring for an improved double action trigger pull.
For more information on these and other models from the Smith & Wesson Performance Center and Pro Series line, please visit www.smith-wesson.com.
About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, delivering a broad portfolio of quality firearms, related products and training to the consumer, law enforcement, and military markets. The company’s brands include Smith & Wesson®, M&P® and Thompson/Center Arms. Smith & Wesson facilities are located in Massachusetts and Maine. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.
There are a lot of sportsmen in New Jersey who enjoy hunting, but when I lived there up until three years ago there was silence from groups like the NRA, GOA and GRAA. These organizations need to start spreading the word to the people of New Jersey and stop treating it like a lost state.
I’m going to get flamed for this, but if the government stopped sending troops to places they had no business being in the first place then maybe there would be less battlefield injuries to treat. I also can’t see any government doing this testing terribly efficiently. That’s not to say I’m against killing animals if there is a purpose, such as food.
Ck. — for the 10/22 look at tactical solutions they have a great mag release
I can’t tell for sure but this looks like their regular receiver. For a 233 I want to see a mini Mauser action.
Remington 51 works in a different delay system called “Hesitating Blowback”.
The barrel does not move as locked with slide and recoiling mass is lesser
than true “Recoil Locked Breech” and therefore, it is impossible giving less
felt recoil than that. From the mass value standpoint, the felt recoil should be
in a par with usual “Simple Blowback”.
In “Hesitating Blowback”, at instant of highest pressure within chamber, the
shell case recoils unsupportedly, approximatelly, 3mm as propped against
with very light breechbolt to the stop shoulder on the receiver. This distance
is equal to the distance needed for the projectile to go off out of the barrel,
therefore, continueing movement thought to delay the slide opening for same
purpose is useless and only creates to slow the slide speed as cushoning
the strike of the same to the receiver at end of recoiling action which is
acceptable as a help for recoil spring.
According to the Chinn’s ” Machinegun” which accepted as a masterpiece,
4 meter/second slide speed for all calibers is needed for a safe opening of
back of chamber and calculations are made to assign the suitable mass of
breechbolt for only 2 milimeters backward travel to permit the projectile’s
way out of barrel. For 9mm Parabellum round, the necessary weight is near
to 750 grams and this is roughly equal to the twice of common value which
is ın need of twice of backward travel which should be 4 milimeters. But, Chinn’s
9mm round initial velocity is over of 400 meter per second and 3 milimeters
backward unlocked breechblock travel can roughly be accepted as equal to
the needed time for projectile’s way out of barrel. This means, on the time at
starting the semi locked travel of slide and breechblock begins after the
unsupported shell case and breechbolt travel ends, the bullet has gone off
out of the barrel and all the intriqued mechanism consisting “Hesitating Lock”
is useless.
What is this, the Weekend Caption Contest?
…’Cause I’m lovin’ it!
It’s a Glock, fachrisake. Just shut up and buy it.
You all can laugh at me and whine it is not the perfect pocket Gun, but I like it. I also think it is going to be a great Gun for women and novice shooters just starting out.
I will not make fun of you, but I think full size 9mm with interchangeable grips make a better choice for new shooters.
Good.
These types of junkies are the scourge of the farm towns in the irrigated west. They go out into fields in the middle of the night and cut the span cables off pivots. They amount of money they get for melting down the copper wire therein? I dunno. Maybe $150.
What it costs the farmer to replace the span cables for seven towers? Over $1200.
I read the rest of the article, and it states that there is an “automatic five-year minimum prison term for possessing a gun.” So, as I understand, that’s just unlicensed possession, not committing a crime of any type using a firearm. This, in the same country where a convicted child molester can be sentenced to only two years in prison, and that’s only after an outcry over a suspended one year sentence he was originally given. Unreal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24464975
I’m from Marshall county, Al. My mothers family are the Kennamers that Kennamer cove is named for. I know the families of both of those men. Lets just say the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.
JM Browning never took his orders from Marketing, sheep dogs do not take orders from sheep, apparently a lesson not taught at Glock Central Command
Anyone who thinks that you could control the flow of guns any better than you can control the flow of immigrants or drugs needs to fly by their local Cuckoo’s Nest for a visit.
Nicest S&W I have owned is a Model 57 in .41 Magnum. Purchased it slightly used in 1980 for a little over $300. That gun got me into hand-loading when, 30 years ago I had to pay $36 for a box of 50 rounds. I had the 6 inch barrel Magna-Ported. Barrel is pinned and cylinders are counter-bored. Gun shoots flatter than a .44 Mag and kicks less. My oldest son adored that pistol so much I gave it to him. I found the perfect load to be 18 1/2 grains of 2400 powder and a 210 grain hollow-point. I gave the younger son my Model 29 but I had to throw in a few other items to prove I loved him just as much.
I love that unfluted cylinder. Speaking of that, is the cylinder on the Performance Center the same mechanically speaking as the .460v? This is relevant for me since I dont see this gun on the CA DOJ list, But the .460v 5″ is, and for whatever reason I have always disliked the fluted cylinder look. So if I could order the .460v with an unfluted cylinder I would be nearly as happy as if this made it onto the DOJ list. 🙂
I know I am being picky, but you should see my quivel over wood stocks on rifles.
Both my wife and I have been carrying the BG380 for some time and it is amazingly accurate. It is easy to conceal but there is another reason to choose this great little handgun. You can choose as we did the green laser option which allows quick acquisition of your target from any position without raising and extending you arm even in bright sun light. This can mean the difference between life and death…