S&W has a pretty good external extractor design. It's worked well on their guns for many years, including the SW1911, which was originality designed and built during early production by the Performance Center (before being moved over to the regular factory for production).
I suspect that some folks may have different expectations for extractors than some other folks, even when it comes to traditional 1911 extractors.
In the regular 3rd gen guns the extractors could sometimes start to become work hardened and brittle by the time anywhere from 10-12K rounds had been fired, resulting in eventual chipping or breakage. The extractor springs might become weakened and create the potential for failures-to-extract by that time, too. In addition to being fired a LOT, leaving a round chambered could start to weaken the extractor spring at some point. Once our aging inventory of S&W 9mm's started to reach 12-16 years old, for example, we started to notice extractor springs offer tension below the recommended ratings (measured by a force dial gauge), resulting in some failures-to-extract. A new extractor & extractor spring and the guns were up and running again, though.
Personally, I'll be well pleased if my SW1911 extractor runs 15K rounds before it requires replacement. I've had regular Colt extractors run less than that before requiring at least adjustment, if not replacement.
Now, the standard SW1911 uses one of the typical 3rd gen extractors (a .40, as I recall) and has a standard rated spring and a heavier one available. (There are quite a number of extractor springs available for 3rd gen guns so an armorer can make any particular gun meet the recommended weight specs, as well as help resolve any special needs.)
Yes, the extractor is also typically installed like the 3rd gen guns, meaning a bar gauge is used to check fit (extractor hook depth into breech face area) and a force dial gauge to check for tension/weight. However, I've been told on a couple of occasions that the slides are being made to such tight tolerances now in the SW1911 line that the extractors are often dropping into them without requiring fitting (which is done by filing on the adjustment pad of the extractor). I haven't had to replace one yet, so I don't know from personal experience, just that of someone from the factory. I have the armorers manual and the SW1911 extractor bar gauge, as well as the regular force dial gauge and my fair share of experience replacing 3rd gen extractors, so maybe I'll try a SW1911 sometime to see for myself. My own SW1911 is running just fine, however, so I'm disinclined to remove the extractor just to satisfy my curiosity.
The new Pro Series SW1911 subcompact uses the oversize external extractor. Presumably the same one used in the PC guns nowadays. Again, though, I haven't specifically asked about it. Considering the small size of the new gun and the usual things that can make it harder to design and build a great running ultra small 1911 .45, I'm not surprised they're using the heavy duty PC design in the littlest offering, though.
Something I've heard being discussed from the factory is that they're apparently in the process of redesigning the existing SW1911 extractor to make it even more durable and reliable. Not that it isn't now, but S&W is throwing their design and manufacturing expertise & experience into the SW1911 model line in a big way ... and it's not because it's a popular LE/Gov gun, either. It's a really popular commercial market gun.
I don't have any details of what changes are being considered for the standard SW1911 extractor. I'd hope, and suspect, that it would involve something that's applicable to all the existing SW1911's already flooding the market. After all, all the existing slides were not cut for the oversize PC extractor, so it would seem that something else might be in the works. Guess we'll find out at some point.
Maybe they're revising the 3rd gen .40 extractor again and changing the hook's profile and height inside the breech face area (like with the M&P). Dunno. It's just that considering the new and rather robust design of the M&P extractor, and how the hook is larger than the extractor slot, I wouldn't be surprised to see S&W give us something that's a slight revision of the existing, well established design, but one that takes the design a step again into the future. They've been doing it with the external extractor for several decades, you know.
These are just some of my thoughts. I'm not an expert on this subject and I haven't been keeping up on the rumored changes to the continuing revision and improvements to the SW1911 extractor.
In the meantime, mine runs well with any of the assorted duty & training ammo I've tried in it.
Oh yeah, the FPS ...
The early revision of the firing pin safety was the result of the first version being susceptible to owner/user damage during incorrect assembly (what I was told by the factory, anyway). The revision required a machining step to the slide (under the rear sight) so a stepped fps could be used which would protrude so far that it could be caught and as easily damaged by an inattentive person reinstalling the slide. Fewer parts than the Colt Series 80 design and it doesn't have an effect on the trigger pull. Easy to check for proper clearance of the firing pin (like on the Series 80).
There's always going to be folks who detest anything remotely resembling a FPS on a 1911-style pistol. There's going to be folks who probably dislike having a .38 Super firing pin in a .45 pistol, too (and many folks who have a couple of big name 1911's may not even know this applies to their 1911's
).
I'm not interested in trying to influence anyone one way or the other in these matters. I run the guns how they're built and maintain them according to factory specs. Of course, my guns aren't game or sporting guns, but are simply used for LE training/qualification/carry ... and in my case retirement carry ... so I don't like to stray outside of what the manufacturers recommend. Reduces the potential for unnecessary exposure to liability.
