Opinion
So I own a new Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model-19 Carry Comp Revolver. I picked it up at the Camarillo Gun Store in California last month. I keep a revolver on my CCW list. (California allows you only a few guns that must be identified by serial number). Since this is an S&W Performance Center product, the expert in-house gunsmiths at S&W have fine-tuned this K-Comp to make it even better than the already great stock model-19. Their work on the trigger has made it really nice to shoot.
Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model-19 Carry Comp Revolver
Some background from the S&W Product page;
Return of the Model 19 K-Comp
The Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp is designed for concealed carry and includes a tritium front night sight, custom wood and synthetic boot grips, and a 3″ PowerPort™ vented barrel for recoil management. The revolver features a trigger overtravel stop and Performance Center tuned action for a smooth double-action and light single action trigger pull.Other Features:
- PowerPort Vented Barrel
- Tritium Night Sight
- Trigger Overtravel Stop
- PC Tuned Action
ALL BACKED BY OUR SMITH & WESSON LIFETIME SERVICE POLICY.
SPECIFICATIONS
- SKU: 12039
- Model: PERFORMANCE CENTER Model 19 Carry Comp®
- Caliber: 357 Magnum, 38 S&W SPECIAL +P
- Capacity: 6
- Barrel Length: 3″ / 7.6 cm
- Overall Length: 8.0″
- Front Sight: Tritium Night Sight
- Rear Sight: Black Blade Adjustable
- Action: Single/Double Action
- Grip: Custom Wood and Synthetic Included
- Weight: 34.1 oz / 966.7g
- Cylinder Material: Carbon Steel
- Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
- Frame Material: Carbon Steel
Purpose: Enthusiast, Home Protection, Personal Protection, Recreational Shooting.
I like revolvers for self-defense, and this one will replace a 3” 686. This is a tad lighter, and the ported barrel is effective. It makes a .357 feel like a .38 special. The target below is at 10 meters.
I freely admit that there are two groups here; my eye is drawn to the last hit, meaning that I can string my shots unless I’m careful. This is a five shot group. The gun will easily produce an under 1-inch group at 10 meters.
The gun is beautifully finished, and the sights and trigger are what you expect for the price. The gun was JUST south of $1,200. In single action, the trigger was amazing, and the groups tight; in double action, the groups opened up to 3 inches at 10 meters. Still good enough, and if you stage the trigger, you can drop an inch or so off of that number.
As with all new S&W revolvers, they are pretty dry inside, so the 1st two steps for owning any gun are to clean it and lube it. I don’t care what you own or what you shoot; this should ALWAYS be the 1st thing you do. With an S&W, you need to remove the side plate, spray it with cleaner, and then dry and lube the revolver’s guts.
Live Inventory Price Checker
Then reassemble and run a patch through the barrel, then a little lube for the cylinder. You just invested in a gun that you may need to save your life or the life of someone you love. Treat the gun right. Same philosophy for a Glock or 1911. Clean and lube the gun when you take it home.
The Smith and Wesson Model 19 Comp is a joy to shoot; the problem with short-barreled revolvers is always the recoil with a hot round. The comp solves that problem. The smooth trigger makes the gun easy to shoot and easy to stage, too if you need it. While I love the look of the wood grips, she also comes with nice soft rubber grips to make the gun a bit easier to hold.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found only premium guns are relevant to me. I enjoy the feel and fit of a fine firearm. While a Taurus snuby costs a lot less, the feel just isn’t there, and the group size isn’t there; the sights are too rough.
Yes, you pay for Custom Shop from Smith, but the gun itself is a little jewel. A small revolver that is accurate and fun to shoot.
About Don McDougall
Don McDougall is an NRA instructor and member of the Los Padres “Friends of the NRA” committee. If he’s not at the range, you will find him setting the record straight with on gun issues and gun safety on AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
A $1000.00 ? Nah…
Move the front sight forward to the end of the barrel ans the ports to the sides of the sight. Slightly better sight radius and the “photo flash” isn’t EXACTLY where you are looking on a pitch black night, cause you aren’t seeing the target after that first shot for a while !
Re: “With an S&W you need to remove the side plate spray it with cleaner then dry and lube the revolver’s guts.”. That’s good in theory, but from what I’ve seen is a recipe for “bubba” style screw heads and the occasional gouged and bent side plate.
A few drops of one of the lighter oils such as Rem Oil where the trigger and hammer fits into frame and along the ejector rod where it rotates is usually all that’s needed initially. Follow up drops seem to be needed fairly infrequently.
I don’t know why or who put it into your head that the side plate on a new revo (particularly one from S&W’s Performance Center) needs to be opened, cleaned then lubed….but that’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard so far this year. New revos from all manufacturers nowadays leave their factories lived or greased. They aren’t dirty enough inside yet to necessitate cleaning, they’ve only had one cylinder full worth of rounds fired.
I applaud s& w for denying the demanded use of smart gun technology. If you don’t know how to safely use and store a firearm, stay away from them. With that being said, as long as that hole remains on the left side, I will not be purchasing.
For “just south of $1000.00”, I hope the cylinder comes machined for full moon clips. The article and specs did not state so. My Governor is that way and I really like it better than using traditional speed-loaders. I use those on both my Ruger GP-161 and Dan Wesson Model 15.
If it does come “moon clip ready”, then I may have to get myself one.