S&W E-Series Railed 1911 Review

[plouffedaddy]

I've owned this gun for over a year now and I'm slowly inching toward the 1k round mark so I figured it's time to do a review...

When I got the gun in I was impressed with the over all fit and finish of the gun, especially since it's a production 1911. The trigger was short and crisp as you'd expect with a little overtravel (fixed that), the safety clicked positively on and off, the undercut trigger guard felt good in the hand, and the orignal wood grips were nicer than most facory grips I've handled over the years.

Here's a quick summary of the pros and cons:

Pros:
-Accurate
-Reliable (only 1 malfunction ever which was on the 2nd mag ever through the gun using a Wilson 47D mag FWIW)
-Fit and finish are nice for the price range of the gun
-Comes standard with Trijicon night sights
-Scalloped grip surface on the slide ensure good grip even under adverse conditions
-Top of the slide is serrated to prevent glare when looking through the sights
-Good trigger (consistent pull, crisp)
-Standard 1913 style rail for attaching lights/lasers/ect... (maybe even a bayonet! I kid...)

Cons:
-Cost
-Limited capacity (generally 7-10+1)
-"safety" warning on the frame
-Relatively large roll mark
-Overtravel screw on the trigger (not optimal for defensive guns in my opinion)
-Ambi-safety (personal preference)

All in all I really like this gun and it will be a keeper; not selling this one! Here's a review where we do some shooting on the steel plates, a tabletop discussion with disassembly/assembly, and some chrono testing with some duty loads.


1911 High Definition Video Review Link

Chrono Data:
Federal HST 230gr JHPs: 820fps, 343 ft/lbs energy
Winchester Ranger 230gr JHPs: 872fps, 388 ft/lbs energy

 

[PabloJ]

Patrick Sweeney put couple samples through paces for S&W handgun book. One was PC piece the other looked like SR1911 and both worked very well. If I ever want 1911 I will take long hard look at boxed 945.

 

[SwampWolf]

Enjoyed the excellent review, plouffedaddy. I agree with all of your points, though I personally prefer the original grips over the after-market replacements you have installed.

PabloJ: The Smith Model 945 is probably my favorite semi-auto pistol of the many pistols I own. It, however, is not a 1911; though it possesses many features of the 1911 pistol. The Model 945 is sort of a hybrid mix of 1911 and Smith "Third Generation" design elements; the "best of both worlds" so to speak.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I think I am in love.... I am a huge fan of the "E" series, but the railed one is gorgeous... Great review on a great looking pistol.

 

[EdJennings]

I have a similar gun without the rail. I concur with the OP's findings. There seem to be some issues with the E series, but from what I've read it seems to be primarily with the SC versions.

 

[Jed Carter]

I had a chance to shoot a S&W SW1911SC E-Series pistol, beautiful pistol, really nice fit and finish. It worked flawlessly, But for the nearly $1300 price tag it had the worst trigger for the price I have encountered. But all things can be fixed, with the owners permission, an ED Brown Sear Jig & .020 shim and some conservative stoning, a little adjustment to the sear spring and trigger bow. A light clean up of the triigger bow channels, hammer surfaces with a fine hard Arkansas stone. The trigger feel and pull weight are now what a $1300 1911 should be IMO. Cost of tools from Brownells, about $70, cost of parts I have ruined on my pistols, luckily only about $45, so far, but all things can be replaced. Caution should be used on the trigger bow channel, only a very light stoning should help. I have had occasion to shoot the fullsize E-Series sometime after the first and again was dissapointed with the trigger. I guess I am spoiled by my S&W 945 PC, you know, if you don't expect too much you will never be dissapointed, nice pistols though.

 

[plouffedaddy]

There seem to be some issues with the E series, but from what I've read it seems to be primarily with the SC versions.

The only E-Series gun that I've personally seen not run well was a two tone SC. I'm not sure if it's the scandium or what but there does seem to be more reports of that model having issues than all the others.