S&W SW99 .45 cal

[spraynpray]

Found a nice Smith & Wesson SW99 in .45 cal that the owner will trade for a couple of my .22 rifles. Guess this is the model that has the Walther frame with the slide and barrel by Smith. Not much experience with S&W autos, had a 5906 briefly, but I like the look and feel of this piece. I know that they have been discontinued by S&W, so I am looking for some feedback from owners re: should I acquire the SW99. While I like my Glocks and 1911s, thought this might make a nice addition. Suggestions?

 

[distra]

I picked up a 9mm version a couple weeks ago. Only reason I didn't get a .45ACP version was capacity. I already have several 8-9rd .45's and wanted something different. So far the 99 has been a great gun, nice shooting pistol with a good DA/SA trigger. The slide mounted decocker is pretty nice gives the pistol a sleek profile. Carries very nice in a Crossbreed Supertuck. I've put ~300-400rd through it already and no problems. Had S&W put the marketing and a little more development into this pistol, the M&P would not exist. I like my M&P's, but there is not a thing wrong with the 99. I'd pick it up if I were you.

 

[Storm]

I find my SW99 in .45 to be an outstanding gun. 100% reliable, very accurate, and surprisingly smooth shooting. If you want a "P99" in .45 this is the only game in town. I shoot both Walthers and SWs (9mm, .40, .45) and I find both types to be pretty much the same: great. Walthers are prettier Some have a decided preference for the 100% Walther, but I do not share that opinion.

 

[spraynpray]

Thanks for the input. I trade for the SW99 today. Can't wait to get to the range. I really like the round in the chamber and cocked indicator as well as the interesting decocker. Field stripping and some functions remind me of my Glocks.
Wonder why this model didn't catch on?

 

[fastbolt]

Would the owner allow you to try it at a local range (and he could try the .22 rifles) before the trade?

While I also like the 99 series pistols I didn't care for the SW99 45 model. I say that after having spent some range sessions shooting one during some T&E a few years ago.

It was acceptably accurate. It functioned normally with the JHP loads used.

It's just that the gun felt a bit big & unwieldy for a plastic .45 and the slide's cycling was less energetic (and the ammunition being used didn't cause this same effect in the other .45's being used). While I'm not particularly interested in the G21/21SF or the USP 45, I actually preferred shooting those models to the SW99 45.

I had been a bit eager to see and try this model SW99, being a .45 owner/user as well as already being a SW99 40 & SW99 9c owner. I was a little disappointed this gun didn't seem to handle and shoot as well in .45 as it did in .40 S&W and 9mm.

That's just a subjective opinion, though. You ought to try it for yourself.

I think it was in my third SW99 armorer class that we were given some background info about the pending release of the SW99 45 and how S&W had really had to work with Walther to get them to design the larger frame for the project. We were told that Walther apparently had no interest in producing their 99 series chambered in the American .45 ACP caliber and had resisted developing the larger frame for a while. The SW99 45 would be a model for which there would be no equivalent Walther model.

I suspect that S&W didn't put as much effort into the SW99 45 because of the development of the M&P pistol project. The M&P project gave them the opportunity to make significant changes when it came to a plastic framed pistol without having to work with another company's ideas of what a particular model design should have in it.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, I happen to like the 99 series models. I carried an issued SW99 40 for several years, and I still own a similar SW99 40 and a SW99 9c (both in the traditional double action, or DA/SA, version).

As with the Glock, I have a personal preference for the 99 series when it's chambered in 9mm, myself. My SW99 9c is a fine little plastic 9mm pistol, and I like it well enough that I have no plans to add a M&P 9c to my collection of 'working' compact 9mm's.

Now, as far as plastic .45's go, I've owned a M&P 45 for about the last couple of years and it's demonstrated itself to be a rather surprisingly good pistol. I like it quite a bit. Enough so that I wouldn't mind having a M&P 45c sometime, just for the half inch shorter slide/barrel and the almost inch less height in the grip frame (.97", I think?).

I own 9 pistols chambered in .45, and the M&P 45 is the only plastic .45 which really interested me enough to buy one, and now I'm actually thinking about picking up another one. Go figure.

Sorry if none of this helps you with your choice, as I tend to ramble a bit in some thread postings.

Try it if you can before making the trade. See how you like it.