S&W 945 Compared to High End 1911's

[Nalapombu]

Hey,

How would you all say that the S&W 945 compares to the high end 1911's that are out there on the market? I know it is not a true 1911 and there are differences, but some people who have had them prefer them to the 1911.
I have never had the chance to handle one, I have handled and owned many 1911's over the years, never a semi-custom though. I have read several times that owners of the 945 say that they perform better than many of the high end 1911's currently produced. What has been your experiences with them? Do you have any or have you shot one?
Performance wise, how do you think the 945 compares to a Springfield TRP, STI Trojan or similar priced 1911's?
From what I have seen, those that have them love them and wouldn;t trade it for any 1911. You have to admit, it is a strinking looking pistol.

What'cha think about the 945 vs. High End 1911 shoot-off?

Nala

 

[tex_n_cal]

They are a finely made pistol - I nearly bought one, the same with the 952. Due to their size, though I tend to think of them as being a pure target gun.

 

[Tamara]

It may not technically be a 1911, but it's close enough that I have the serious hots for one. Every one I've handled and/or fired has had a very high level of fit and finish; very impressive pistols.

 

[Fed168]

I think the best way to tell is have a master class shooter shoot them side by side. The guns will shoot very well- a shooter in our pistol league uses one and usually shoots 595+/ 600 everytime. It's a darn accurate pistol.

 

[jdkelly]

S&W 945 and 952

I have both the S&W 945 and S&W 952 they are great handguns.

The 945 is very well fit, accurate, and a very reliable 45. Its draw backs are it's 8 round mag as well as its proprietary parts. You're not slipping anything, off the shelf, onto a 945.

The 952 is even smother then the 945. It has been an incredibly accurate handgun that has shot everything I asked it to, very well. I bring this gun to the range, as a back up, if I need to shoot better then the guy next to me and the gun I using isn't doing the job.

I don't have a full size 1911 to compare the 945 with, but I have a Para Ordnance P-16 as well as a Colt defender. Bot are accurate but take a back seat to the 945 and 952.


Respectfully,

jkelly

 

[10-Ring]

I have a shooting buddy that got a 945 a couple years ago and has let me put a few rounds down range w/ it. You know, it's a sweet pistol & very unique in its appearance & handling. In short I like it alot. As for high 1911s. I like those too. One of these days, I'd like to have me one of each

 

[Nalapombu]

I have some extra cash stowed away for a 1911 purchase and I had been looking at different ones trying to make up my mind and I decided to try and get some opions on the 945. I read a lot of reviews in years of past magazines that I keep and also on the S&W forum. I have to tell you that I have read almost no negative comments about them other than the mags are expensive and parts will not interchange with the 1911.
The people that have 'em, love 'em. I am wondering if I should get me some of that mojo?

Nala

 

[Randy63]

There's a 945 sitting in the case at the local Gander Mountain. I've handled it and the fit and finish is second to none. I think it's marked $1150. I don't have a 1911 and really have no desire to own a .45 acp but the S&W 945 could change that. It's that nice.

I've been wanting a 952 though.

Randy

 

[Robert inOregon]

You'd have to spend almost twice the price on a 1911 before you can match the features, fit and finish of a 945 Smith.

 

[Tamara]

Oh, I dunno... There are plenty of STI, Wilson and Baer 1911's that fall in the same price/quality category as the 945. None of them have those funky, funky fish scales, though...

 

[Swamprabbit]

I own a 945 and it is a great shooting pistol. You'll find it feels somewhat different in your hand because of the size of the pistol being a little bigger than a 1911. It also won't fit in many holsters made for the 1911 unless the holsters have a lot of adjustment.

I have shot only a few hundred rounds through mine but have had "0" malfunctions as far as feeding and ejecting. It did tend to occasionally drop the hammer when I released the slide (though it never fired when this happened) but S&W fixed that problem at no expense to me.

 

[Robert inOregon]

None of them have those funky, funky fish scales, though...

Actually buyers can now choose between fish scales and waves.

I would consider the Trojan line at STI in the same category, but finish quality on their entry level gun compared to the Performance Center. Its not there! And things like Stainless steel finish and custom CNC machining start to add up quick. Trojan line guns are not as tight, no Briley bushing and lack cool factor.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

I hope the 945 is a good gun. I have an all steel, 5", black, with scales that should be in next week. RSR has the silver guns for under $1100 NIB last I saw, so they run less than most name brand 1911's, even the Valtro is more expensive.

 

[minnesota oldie]

I now have about 400 rounds through my 945 and I'll take it any day over my Kimber gold match. I like my glocks, I love my Kimbers, but this gun is in a class of it's own. I'm sure that you would have to shell out a lot more then the 1100 or so dollars for the 945 to get a 1911 of it's quality.

 

[PCRCCW]

Id say the 945 is a stellar gun....shot 1 in my lifetime. The accuracy was and still is much better than I can shoot.

As far as the STI comparison...Ive had 2 of those and Id say the fit and finish on the Trojan is a very very equal comparison with the S&W......

The Trojan is the gun I miss the most................

Shoot well.......

 

[SnWnMe]

There is no comparison. The 945 rules them all. I feel sorry for all the folks who bought something else. If I wasn't from Kali I would be selling my Colt and Kimber now. As it is, I want to hold on to every gun I have.

If you want your 945 small, there's this alloy framed 3.75 bbl baby:

First group I ever fired out of it. The flyer was from the unexpected kick of the lighter frame

 

[DennisE]

Just saw this old thread and wanted to add that over the years I've had 3 945s and have never seen another handgun that equals its good looks, quality workmanship, accuracy and reliability. I almost passed out with joy this week when I found and reacquired my 4" SS 945 that I'd foolishly sold several years ago. Dennis

 

[Gixerman1000]

The highest grade 1911 I have is a Custom Shop Kimber Gold combat but I will tell you out of the seven 45's I own or any that I have shot thus far the PC945 is without a doubt the most accurate (as is my 952 for 9mm).

I also find it smoother shooting than a 1911 and very easy to keep on target when firing at a quick pace due in part to a lower bore axis and more mass to the slide.

I love 1911's and have many more on my to get list so please don't anyone take this wrong; one of the things I like most about the 945 is that while styled similar to a 1911 it's not just another 1911, with more manufactures of 1911's out there than I can count the 945 is a welcome change along the lines of an extremely accurate 45.

 

[Mute]

They're nice guns but I don't like the grip angle. I guess I'm too used to the true 1911 platform.

 

[BigG]

945 -The Roll Marks blow chunks.

Aside from that and the lacerate your fingers fish scales on the 945, they are a super nice handgun. Assume the same with the 952, although I haven't examined one. I have the Model 52-2, which is the blue steel single action 38 Special Wadcutter. You cannot outshoot that gun, I don't care who you are!

Your friends will be envious if you get either one, imho.

 

[Sean Smith]

Trojan line guns are not as tight

Based on the Trojans I've handled, I'm not sure that's really possible, without the gun not working at all.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

None of the guns mentioned are what I'd call HIGH END guns.

That's not meant as criticism of the guns mentioned or of the 945. The 945 compares favorably with most of the guns I've seen and shot that can be bought for less than $2000. I think in that sense, they're a bargain.

(But I'm also beginning to think that the SIG GSR I bought recently is maybe an equally good deal. The 945 is prettier, though.)

 

[Sean Smith]

None of the guns mentioned are what I'd call HIGH END guns.

The "high end" does go pretty high.... some people drop $4,000 on more elaborate custom jobs.

None of which is to say that the S&W isn't an excellent gun for the money.

 

[Father Knows Best]

O.k., I'm not familiar with the S&W 945. From the pics, it sure looks a lot like a 1911. Can anyone tell me what separates a 945 from a 1911, in terms of design, dimensions, operational characteristics, etc.?

 

[DT Guy]

Note the grip angle, and the difference in the tang. Also, it takes a different magazine (probably the only downside to the whole gun) and many internals are different.

IMHO, they solved enough of the 1911's inherent weak points (plunger tube loosening, hand size issues) and improved the 'feel' of the gun enough that it could never be accepted by dyed-in-the-wool 1911 fans.

I still plan to acquire one when the opportunity presents.


Larry