thoughts on this handgn? - S&W Mod 915

[Intel486]

I'm staying at my parents this holiday and my dad knows I've gotten back into shooting and has been letting me borrow his handgun. He bought it many years ago when I was in grammar school.

It says on the box it's a Model 915 and it is a 9mm. But, I can't find anything on S&W's webpage. The closest gun on there is a Model 910. I'm wondering if it is the same gun but w/ a 10 round magazine as my dad's handgun has a 15 round one. I'm wanting to find a couple more magazines for it and a holster...

Also, anyone have any thoughts on this handgun? Good gun? Bad gun? Reliable? I know nothing about it. I figure, I'm getting to use it and will probably end up being given it so why not... If I had my digi cam here, I'd put up a pic.

Two other questions:
1) When I eject the clip it falls out but then hangs in there the last inch. How do I loosen that up so it just shoots out?

2) Today the slide was failing to lock back after the last shot. What's the normal cause of that? I field stripped it and cleaned it today after the range and nothing looks broken from what I can see. It works fine now when I operate the slide by hand.

Thanks, Don't know much about semi-auto handguns yet but wanting to learn.

[lendell]

Welp, I don't know much about Smiths, but I do know they're good guns. It's probably what you were thinking, just an old version of a 910. That's how Smith designates their handguns. 9 for 9mm, 10 for ten round. Hence the 910/915. About your problems, the first one could be that the mag is too wide or the grip too narrow, you might have to file on the clip some. The second problem about the slide failing to lock could be a number of problems. I don't know if it's the same on a Smith, but on my Colt, the slide locks back because the magazine follower pushes up on the slide release, causing it to lock the slide. It could be just the magazine, have you tried a new mag in it? I now have a question for you, is that gun single action or double action? Been thinking about a 910 myself.

[Intel486]

Safety on the gun decocks the hammer so first shot is double action. Single action afterwards.

I looked at it and the slide locks like you said, where the follower on the magazine pushes up on the locking mechanism. The follower looks a little worn right on that corner. I'm going to take it out to shoot tomorrow. Are there any safety concerns shooting it w/ that worn follower?

I can't find any place that sells 15 round mags for it... Getting annoyed. I want them... lol

[azroaddust]

Intel486: Something like this?

http://www.fourfourmagstore.com/prodinfo.a...aitem=2&mitem=2 (http://www.fourfourmagstore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PM-SMI01S&variation=&aitem=2&mitem=2)

or for 3X the money:

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayi...itemnum=5789376 (http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=5789376)

[Intel486]

azroaddust, awesome, thanks.

I guess i'm going to have to settle for 10 round magazines unless I want to pay a lot... wish S&W still made the 15round ones.

Edit: idk handgun laws so I have to ask... can they now make hi-cap mags for handguns?

[lendell]

To answer your question Intel, I wouldn't worry if the slide failed to lock. It just makes reloads slower, but I would still want it to, just to know my gun was working properly. Have you tried going to the Sportsmans Guide? They sell aftermarket mags for Smiths.

www.sportsmansguide.com
Then there's Centerfire Systems. Their mags are hi-cap and under 15 dollars I know. I don't know what their website is though. You can go to it by going to ATIgunstocks.com and looking at their purchase link. Thanks for letting me know, I think I'll look into one for my next handgun.

[azroaddust]

Intel; It looks like it's how the "genuine" Ruger magazines for the mini 14 were during the AWB. If you want a genuine 15 rd S&W, they got you by the kahonies! :( Perhaps someone else will start mfg. the 15 rd and get the price down for you.

Good luck!

Manufacturer:
Short Description: smith & wesson 910 15rd mag
High Bidder:
BuyItNow! Price: CLICK HERE
to BuyItNow! for $50.00
Current Price: $49.95
Quantity: 1
Starting Price: $49.95

[Intel486]

Thanks for the links. I'm thinking anything the 5900 can take the 910 and 915 can also use. I might get a cheap mag from someone that sells it for the 5900 to see if it'll work.

How well do you think this gun should group at 10 yards?

[azroaddust]

I got this from www.handgunreview.com. Makes me think you should be able to punch one big hole with 10 shots at 10 Yds, but I really don't know. Sounds like you have a real decent piece though! (According to one person anyway)

Make: Smith and Wesson Model: 915 Action: Double Action Caliber: 9mm
Rating: (5 stars on the site)
Review: I OWN A GLOCK .40 CAL MODEL 22,AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A CARRY GUN AS LIGHT,AND AS RELIABLE.I CAME ACROSS A SMITH WESSON 915 WITH 2 15 ROUND MAGS MINT CONDITION FOR 400.00 LET ME TELL YOU I JUST CAME FROM THE RANGE,I SHOOT 100 OF 2 DIFFERENT HOLLOW POINTS,AND SHE WAS JUST GREAT.NOT A FAILURE,AND TRIGGER WAS PRETTY GOOD ON DOUBLE ACTION,AND ON SINGLE ACTION.I AM GLAD I SPENT THE MONEY ON THIS LIGHT 4 INCH 9MM.(ALUMIN FRAME,AND STEEL TRIGGER(NO PLASTIC TRIGGER)

[Intel486]

azroaddust, thanks

Reason I asked about the group was I shot like a 6" group of 10 rounds at 10 yards at the range. Maybe I'll try to use a rest next time to see what kind of group she can do.

S&W emailed me back though. The 910 did replace the 915. They sell 15 round mags for it for only $40... :rolleyes: and the gun does not have a mag brake.

[azroaddust]

Originally posted by Intel486@Jan 6 2005, 03:16 PM

Reason I asked about the group was I shot like a 6" group of 10 rounds at 10 yards at the range. Maybe I'll try to use a rest next time to see what kind of group she can do.
Except for my Ruger MK II .22, I do not do well with a pistol but am not too bad with a revolver. I would be happy with 6" freestanding, and I'll bet you do get close to one big hole using a rest!

:2guns: Happy shooting!

[Intel486]

Originally posted by azroaddust+Jan 6 2005, 05:01 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (azroaddust @ Jan 6 2005, 05:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Intel486@Jan 6 2005, 03:16 PM

Reason I asked about the group was I shot like a 6" group of 10 rounds at 10 yards at the range. Maybe I'll try to use a rest next time to see what kind of group she can do.
Except for my Ruger MK II .22, I do not do well with a pistol but am not too bad with a revolver. I would be happy with 6" freestanding, and I'll bet you do get close to one big hole using a rest!

:2guns: Happy shooting! [/b][/quote]
Yeah, with my Ruger 22/45 I can prolly do like a 4" group free standing.

I actually think my 9mm group was bigger than 6"... maybe more like 8".

I plan on going again tomorrow and got 250 rounds of more 9mm. I'll give it a try both freehand and using a rest.

[Intel486]

ahh... I used a benchrest and shot that way. Still not the greatest groups at 10 yards but pretty good. Might just be me.

Out of 10 rounds I hard around 6 in a 4" to 4.5" group and the rest were flyers that opened it up to like 6"

Free hand I can shoot a nice group of 5" w/ my 22/45 and Ruger .22 Revolver...

It's still a lotta fun to shoot this guy and so far no jams on it.

[lendell]

Hey Intel, I was looking at my Sportsmansguide catalog last night and it said that those mags are for the following guns 5900/915/910. So they should fit your gun.

[Intel486]

Originally posted by lendell@Jan 8 2005, 10:11 AM
Hey Intel, I was looking at my Sportsmansguide catalog last night and it said that those mags are for the following guns 5900/915/910. So they should fit your gun.
Awesome, thanks for checking that.

I guess I'll give one a try.

[ksrugerfan]

I bet if you order a new spring and follower for the mag you have it will work like a charm.


Jay

[Intel486]

Well, I ordered two 17rd mags off sportsmansguide. They claim to be for the 915. I'll check them out and see how well they cycle.

I have to get my camera to try to get a pic of this but I think the slide release is bent out a little... doesn't run up close to the frame of the gun so it seems the part that hits the mag follower doesn't go in far enough so only the end is catching it making it tear and wear away at the edge of the follower quicker. Hard to explain. I've been trying to find a mod 910 at a gun store to check out to see if it's the same but no one has them. Did find and see the "new" mini though.

[Intel486]

Originally posted by Intel486@Jan 11 2005, 01:45 AM
Well, I ordered two 17rd mags off sportsmansguide. They claim to be for the 915. I'll check them out and see how well they cycle.

I got these two mags and they are horrible! They lock the slide back... becase the follower is so tall it sticks up and jams the action. The last round will not eject either. The slide will come back, pull the case out of the chamber, and then it'll just sit there ontop of the mag... You have to eject the magazine and operate the slide to get it to eject. I don't know why they don't work. It claims on the bag the magazine caim in to work on the 915.

I'm sending it back and going to see what their two 15rd mags are that are a little more expensive. If those don't work, then I'll see what the 10rd ones from fourmag are like.