[garrettwc]

OK, politics aside (because we know they are still weak in that area) what are your experiences and opinions with S&W autopistols?

[George Hill]

Politics and Ergonomics aside... I think they are on the same level as SIG.

[Tamara]

My only real beef with (Third Generation) Smith autos is that they're pretty bland.

The triggers are usually nothing to write home to mom about, the grips are a little chunky, takedown and reassembly is somewhat eccentric, and they have that goofy monkeytail safety/decocker. However, they tend to be reliable and reasonably accurate and some models (xx13, 10xx, and 45xx, as well as all the TSW guns) are real "diamonds in the rough"...

[10-Ring]

The one I two I've owned were nice shooters. My only gripe is w/ the grip. If the grip fits you, GREAT, if not, I'd keep looking.

[benEzra]

All I can speak of is the 3913LS (compact 9mm), but mine is FANTASTIC. I've never had a single jam, FTF, stovepipe, etc. in ~2000 rounds. Accuracy is as good as a Glock 34 (longslide 9mm on full-size frame) with identical ammo--I shot them both in the same range session at the same target--and I've hit a 24" steel plate at 100 yd shot after shot, shooting from a sandbag. Not bad for a compact CCW pistol!

Fit and finish is first-rate, trigger is good, and I like the DA/SA action. Not as small as a Kahr, but small enough for me to conceal (5'6", 150 lb), and probably more accurate than any micro-compact. In short, I love it.

[Bowlcut]

All above is true about most s&w pistols....

expect the sw99 :D

I love my sw99. feels like it was poured into my hand then let dry. It feels so good to hold. Shooting is done lickedy split. Trigger is great. Only complaint is lack of accessorys for it

[Mike Irwin]

Politics aside (which is very tough for me...)

They're far over priced for what they are and what they offer.

They're ergonomically challenged balance wise.

The location and operation of the safety stinks.

Reliability continues to be an issue when it shouldn't be, given the price.

Fit & finish is an issue for a gun that costs this much.

The above comments apply more or less to the entire line. Obviously, specifics will vary, but overall, I think the S&W line of pistols is not really a good value for the money.

[Preacherman]

They have that :cuss: magazine disconnector safety, which I will not have on any weapon that may have to be used to save my life. Also, in my hands, many of the S&W pistols feel "blocky" and uncomfortable. I've also seen many, many feeding failures with the earlier-generation S&W's... enough to say that even though the 3rd-generation pistols are supposed to be much better in this regard, I'm afraid I won't use them.

[MikeJ]

I have a 5906 purchased in 1988 that is a great pistol. The DA trigger is better than any of my other guns, including my Sigs. It has been 100% reliable and as far as ergonomics are concerned, it fits my hand perfectly. It has the curved backstrap which I find to be much more comfortable than the straight style. I also find the machining to be excellent, internally and externally. I took it to the range last week with two shooting buddies and they too were highly impressed to say the least. I wanted to get a 4516 and tried to get used to the grip but always felt it was way too blocky. Bottomline for me is that some of their models are as good as anything out there and others are lacking in one regard or the other. Then again, I think S&W has developed more variations on a theme than any other company. Mike

[HankB]

S&W pistols have improved from the days when a buddy of mine bought an S&W M59 Jammamatic. The newer ones seem to be generally reliable, with the probable exception of the Sigma.

The SW99 is a collaboration between S&W and Walther, and is generally looked down on by Walther fans as inferior. (Of course, Walther worshippers get a bit upset when I mention I'm not a Walther fan myself - as nice as they balance in one's hand, their guns have not proven to be reliable in local IDPA circles. Some work well, but a fair portion don't. Especially in 9mm.)

But I digress . . . back to S&W.

Subjectively, ergonomics suck - these points have already been mentioned, but the safety moves the wrong way, the pistol doesn't actually point where it "feels" like its pointing, trigger action is mediocre, and it has the aforementioned %$#! magazine disconnect. Fit and finish seem to be highly variable - I sometimes wonder if the guns produced on Monday morning and Friday afternoon are the worst.

The S&W M41, a .22 target pistol, is nice, but "picky" as to what ammo it digests . . . which shouldn't be an issue with a gun that costs this much. The old S&W M52 was a decent bullseye target pistol, set up for .38 Special wadcutters. The SW1911 looks like it may be the best of the current bunch of centerfire S&W autos.

[M1911]

I don't care for the location and direction of operation of the decocker/safety.

[LAWDOGKMS]

I think S&W makes some good looking and practical autoloaders..

My experience with them is short, but not that great..

Two incidents come to mind..

-The only time I shot a S&W auto was a rental .45 at a range in Long Beach, CA.........That .45 was the loosest , jammingest, sloppiest pistol I've ever shot. After about half a box of jams, I carried it back to the counter and got a Glock 21 I believe..... There's no telling how many rounds had been through that S&W causing it to jam so bad.....

Another was at a combat course put on in Jacksonville, FL..
I was there representing my PD, and Jacksonville PD's SWAT Team was also there.. It was very nasty out, and we were all wearing parka's and such...
Anyway, out of about 8 Jax SWAT guys, 3 of them had lots of trouble with their S&W's on the range that day, and their armorer had to break a couple of them down during the shoot.. I had a Beretta 92 at the time, was dropping my mags in the mud and slop when reloading, shaking them out before topping them off again and just plinking away... The same went for those on the range with Glocks and Sigs that day. No problems

This is my very limited experience with them, but you can see they were not very good experience..Maybe things have improved, but I 'm a little hesitant to buy one..

[buzz_knox]

Ditto what Mike and Preacherman said. The only Smith auto I ever liked was a friend's 5906. It was fairly ergonomic, reliable, and very easy to use. My 226 beats it cold, though. I don't care for the larger frame pistols, although I'd still like to get a 1076 for nostalgia purposes.

[Marko Kloos]

I've had nothing but good experiences with my S&W third-generation autoloaders. Between a 1066, a 411, a 908, and a 4513TSW, I have never had a failure of any kind.

[JoeHatley]

Just picked this up a little over a week ago. I've only had it to the range once, but I'm favorably impressed so far.

http://elwood.pionet.net/~hatley/sw1911_l.jpg
http://elwood.pionet.net/~hatley/sw1911_r.jpg

Joe

[Erich]

Police trade-in 3rd Gen S&W autos are some of the most unbelievable bargains out there. Check CDNN and KYImports to see what I mean. (And full-cap mags are easily available and not all that pricy.)

[cslinger]

Preacherman said...

"They have that magazine disconnector safety, which I will not have on any weapon that may have to be used to save my life. Also, in my hands, many of the S&W pistols feel "blocky" and uncomfortable. I've also seen many, many feeding failures with the earlier-generation S&W's... enough to say that even though the 3rd-generation pistols are supposed to be much better in this regard, I'm afraid I won't use them."


Can I get an AMEN.

I like some of their offerings and I think they make great range guns but I will not have a magazine disconnect on a serious social firearm. Is this an unfounded fear, maybe, but I like reloading with one in the pipe already just in case.

Other than that I can't say I have ever really seen or heard of a really bad example of a Smith Auto with the exception of the early SW99s which seem to have had their bugs worked out and those heinous SIGMA offerings that are really an affront to all that is good and natural.

[George Hill]

DISCLAIMER:
My previous comment has nothing to do with the SIGMA series.
Those, I consider just a small step up from a High Point.

[ElAlumno]

Depending upon when made they can be great or junk. S&W seems to have gone through several changes in ownership/production quality in the last 25 years or so and some of their stuff is worthless. Yet, you can find some excellent, servicable, reliable S&W.

[BigG]

I've got a Mod 52 "38 Master" that I dearly love.

[keithernTN]

I like my 5906 alot. It shoots everytime I pull the trigger. Never had a jam. It is very accurate if you do your part. I would buy another in a heart beat.

That 1911 looks pretty nice, how much are they going for?

[Erich]

Again, I wholeheartedly agree with George!

[Mute]

Love their revolvers. Never took a fancy to their autos. I think there are better choices in the latter department from other makers.

[Correia]

I think that they are decent guns.

I've always kind of liked that little 4513 TSW.

Kind of expensive though.

[M1911]

Just picked this up a little over a week ago. I've only had it to the range once, but I'm favorably impressed so far.The SW1911 is just a whole different kettle of fish than the S&W third gen. As you might expect from my handle, I'd probably enjoy getting my mitts on an SW1911:D

[gharsh]

I used a model 910 once in an IPSC shoot. It shot well, but I did not like the feel of it. As has been mentioned, it seemed too blocky for my hand.

I also agree with the comments about their price. Seems to be an awful lot of green for those guns. Police trades may be a different story, but seems the name costs more than the gun. Like so many other things these days.

[Big Mike]

I just recently go a police trade-in from KY Imports, a 6906. Once cleaned, it looks virtually brand new. Can't wait to shoot it!

Mike

[Serpico]

I had a 6906...great gun...never jammed...magazine disconnect never bothered me....I never really worried about having a live round in the tube while changing mags..especially on a non-duty piece....I sold it to a very good friend who carrries it daily and he in turn helped fund my P7....

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I have two; a ex-FBI 1076 and an early 4516 no dash. I like my Glocks but there's something reassuring about a great big hunk of stainless steel.

I had a little frame battering with the 4516 but a heavier Wolf spring took care of that. I really like the 1076, and as the FBI spec'd their guns to have no magazine disconnect that's not an issue for me. Though the big 'this firearm is capable of firing with the magazine removed' on the slide is a detractor.

[Penman]

Have a 3913 that I really like, especially since I put a Hogue grip on it. Nothing else in their line of autos looks interesting, except for their 1911, but I really don't think of it as a S&W.

[garrettwc]

Comparable to a Sig? That's high praise indeed Mr. Hill.

Several of you mentioned the grip and how it feels. I'll have to handle a few and see. I had one of the first 645s that came out back in the mid 80's and they really didn't feel all that bad to me.

Mike Irwin said "Putting the politics aside is tough for me".

Mike, I agree with you. That is precisely why I specified that in the subject. I didn't want this to turn into a "The agreement stinks" thread.

For the record, I would prefer a used one for that reason, and the fact that the new ones with the cheesy laser engraving and the "tactical" toy attachments look like crap.

Erich mentioned that police trade-ins are a bargain. That's what I'm looking for a reliable, but cheap truck gun/range toy. It would never be a carry gun without a trip to Novak's for an overhaul.

The two most popular so far in this thread are the 3913 and the 5906. I like both of these as well as their .40 cal counter parts the 4006 and 4013. I'm also fond of the 1006 10MM and the 4506. The latter two being so humongous that they would be purely for fun.

[Mike Irwin]

Interestingly enough, Garrett, it's the big and the small of things that work best for me in the S&W semi-auto line up -- the 645/4506 and the 3913.

[George Hill]

I generally call a Spade a Spade when the situation requires it.
S&W does excellent work putting these guns together and even finishing them.
Reliable, smooth, and accurate. I can't fault them.

Ergonomics, to me, totally suck.
And Politics?
:rolleyes:
Let's just say that I will never own one. Period. The 945 and the 1911 are most tempting, but not enough to make me break my personal vow. I am on record for giving the requirements for S&W to enter back into my good graces.

[mini14jac]

I bought a 457 a few weeks ago, after trying a Ruger P97 and a Daly ECS.
The Ruger was just too much like my P95 to get me excited.
Nothing really wrong with the gun. I think it would have fed rocks.
The recoil was a little more than I bargained for.

I got the S&W 457 after doing a lot of reading and research.
I handled the CS45, and though the grip feels "chunky", I think it would have helped with recoil, and I could have gotten used to it.
The 457 is a single stack .45, and to me, the ergonomics are superb.
The gun does remind me of a Sig in the looks department.
This gun also appears to feed anything, and appears to be more highly finished than the Daly that I had.
The recoil is less than the Ruger, but the takedown is a pain.

Overpriced? Well, that is in the eye of the beholder.
To me, a Sig or HK is overpriced.
I did feel that the CS45 was too pricey at $540, but the 457 is very close to the price of a Glock. ($459)
I consider it to be a good value for the money.

[PCRCCW]

3rd gen guns are all fairly nice and very dependable. The 3953, 3913 and 5943 Ive had have been 100% reliable. The 5943 will be back home with me soon......
shoot well

[mattk]

I never heard of SW's 3rd generation autos having reliablitly problems except the SIGMA.
Like others have noted the Ergonomics leave something to be desired for me.

I have a Smith 1911 and its a great gun. Very good trigger out of the box, reliable and very accurate.

I really wish Smith would drop the SIGMA pistols. I hated selling them when I worked at a Gun Emporium.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

You will get a lot of arguement with this thread; but the
"best" Smith & Wesson self-loader I ever owned was a
model 39-2 9m/m. :) :uhoh:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[agtman]

In my experience with pistols from S&W's 10XX-series and 45XX-series, reliability was flawless and accuracy excellent - out of the box. A couple of times the accuracy was "tack-driving," but more often stock accuracy was significantly above "service grade."

If you get the chance, try shooting a 4506, 4566, 1006 or 1076/1066. I think you'll like these pistols. The DAO 1086s and 4586s are reputedly very fine pistols too. By the way, these models were manufactured PRE-sellout, so you can buy one guilt-free (especially the 10mms :D ).

But be advised that pistols in the 45XX/10XX-series are big, thick, stainless, relatively heavy and utilitarian. And because they exude a distinctly American look, these guns will never be mistaken for the latest Euro-flash-in-the-pan just off the boat. Be further advised that large-frame Smiths are purpose-designed "street" or working guns, not pretty-boy "tactical" toys. No need to "baby" them one bit. :)

:cool:

[Island Beretta]

I find their quality and performance to be inconsistent!

As for their revolvers, I prefer the Rugers.

[stevelyn]

Never really cared for their auto pistols. Although I do love one little gem......the Model 41 in .22. A real handheld tack driver.
I have been caught drooling over the SW1911. Everything I've read about it is favorable and I'm considering getting one.
S&W has done a better job with their revolvers than their auto loaders in the past. Wish they would offer the M-25 in .45 Colt again.