Opinions on S&W 3rd Gen 9mm's

I just got back from the range where I had the distinct pleasure of shooting a buddies "new" (to him) S&W 5903 police trade. I brought along my SIG P226 and P6 to compare it to.

I have to say I'm impressed with the Smith. It was equally as accurate as both my SIG's out to 15 yards. My P226 had slightly tighter groups at 25 yards though. We put 300 rounds of 9mm reloads through it (250 FMJ and 50 JHP) and not a single hiccup.

If I was in the market for a new 9mm, I would pick up a $350 S&W 5903 before I paid $500-600 on another used or CPO P226!

I've never had one malfunction, even the 6946 I got well used with the recoil spring hanging like a limp noodle. (A new one was five bucks.) My favorite of this gun "family" is the 3913 and similar models - accurate, light and slim.

I spent just shy of 20 years as a firearms instructor working with folks carrying issued S&W traditional double action '3rd gen' pistols.

I spent a number of years of that time having the opportunity to attend S&W armorer classes. I was responsible for helping maintain the agency's inventory of several hundred S&W pistols, as well as a respectable number of personally owned S&W pistols used as authorized off-duty weapons.

While I was not an 'enthusiast' of S&W pistols prior to the introduction of the '3rd gen' models, I developed quite a bit of respect for them during my time spent carrying various issued models and working as a firearms instructor & certified armorer.

I own a fair number of them and have great respect for their reliability and durability.

If basic cleaning & lubrication user maintenance is done, including replacing the recoil & magazine springs either every 5 years of use or every 5,000 rounds fired, they can offer good service. Naturally, it's recommended that LE armorers set up some periodic inspection schedule to check LE guns, especially since LE guns can be subjected to a lot of conditions which can border on abuse. :uhoh:

Yes, there are a couple of parts which usually require fitting when replacing them for repair purpose, namely extractor & sear release lever. Fitting an extractor does require a couple of specific tools, as well, such as a Go/No-Go bar gauge and a force dial gauge. Obviously not something recommended for the untrained owner/user to attempt.

A broken trigger play spring may result in some folks feeling a bit of a sloppy single action trigger, but a number of folks have never noticed when the springs have broken under normal training/practice conditions. FWIW, I had one break in a well-used early production 6906 which had seen more than 10,000 rounds fired through it ... (just by me, and it had been previously issued before I got it) ... at some point during a couple of range sessions over the course of which I fired more than 800+ rounds, and I never noticed it until I was inspecting& cleaning the gun afterward. The replacement is pretty simple (it's just staked on the drawbar with a soft rivet), but it requires knowledge of detailed disassembly of the frame.

The occasional replacement barrel may require some minor fitting (barrel tab area), and even more uncommonly the rare drawbar may require some filing in the radius behind the drawbar head.

These are fairly simple repairs for a trained armorer, the factory or a licensed gunsmith familiar with S&W pistols.

I continue to carry and use S&W 3rd gen pistols now that I'm retired and I consider them to be generally overlooked and under appreciated as good, solid & reliable defensive pistols.

Just my thoughts.

Fastbolt just about said it all, with his well-worded, thoughtful response.

That said, I think the 39193TSW is one of the finest handguns available. My wife carries one everyday. I'm looking for one myself; if I can find a pre-rail version in LNIB condition.

I sold my LNIB S&W 459 to upgrade to the 5906, cause I couldn't quite get the hang of the straight backstrap and adjustable sights. Depsite some starting difficulties with the 5906 it shot better groups, and feels alot more natural in my hand. Just added Crimson Trace grips to it, another reason for upgrading from the 459. I've checked out several of the 3rd gen Smiths, and have to say I have been biten by the S&W bug. Want to add a 6906 for concealed carry, and would love to find a 4506. Oh well have to keep dreaming. :D

I have observed that the 2nd and 3rd gen S&W's appear to be the most undervalued quality pistol on the used market. The internet has really served to broaden consumer information and deepen the used buying market, so many good deals have been priced away. These are some of the very few left.

Everyone says "third generation" like there's something wrong with the second generation. I have both the 659 (2nd gen) and 5906 (3rd gen) pistols and I like them both. The sights and grip of the 5906 were better, but I also liked the barrel bushing and trigger pull of the 659—also it's polished slide.

If forced to make an absolute choice, I'd go with the 5906. Both are wonderful guns, though. The first generation had multiple problems, but I recall liking the looks of the Model 59. I was really disappointed when most of them turned out to be clunkers.

I'm sure there are some out there who have had a bad experience with a Smith third (or second, for that matter) generation pistol but there ain't many. In my estimation and experience, these are some of the finest pistols ever made but, as Oro pointed out, for whatever reason, they are the most under-rated.

Great guns. Between the wife and I we now have 3 of the 3rd gen autos and they are all flawless in function. Easily some of the most underrated handguns ever.

JMOfartO:

I'm quite fond of 3rd gen Smiths, and I've had Glocks, Sigs, Walthers, HK's, in the past, all of which were fine pistols, but I prefer the tda Smiths..

I carry an LWS380 daily because here in SE GA the heat and humidity make it difficult to cc a larger firearm much of the time, but when circumstances allow I generally pick up my CS9..

Never had (knock on wood) 3rd gen Smith fail me in any way.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

P.S. Sorry about that ugly P7 in the photo. I just keep it around for when I need the tightest groups when plinking with my buddies.. :D

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_9996-1.jpg

Interesting which failed & which didn't...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh9JhCyFFxA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsewsolPyBU&NR=1

I carry a 3953. Its on my belt right now. Very thin. DAO. No levers anywhere except the slide lock. 100% reliable with every PD round I have tried, and I have tried many. Not sure what is the equivalent in a hi-cap, but it should be just as good.

I hear people badmouthing the 1st-gen, but my 59 has never malfunctioned.

I carry a 3953. [...] Not sure what is the equivalent in a hi-cap, but it should be just as good.
6946.

I had a 639 years ago and always regreted trading it away. IMO the police trade-ins we find in places like Gun Broker are some of the best values out there. My first 639 never once failed to run. This past year, I purchased a 4006 and a 4566. Both are LE trade-ins. Both show some moderate holster wear but are mechanically perfect with very crisp bores. I paid $319 for the 4006 and $297 for the 4566. Two months later both versions were going for prices in the $400 range on the auction sites. Purchased an almost like new 639 last month with adjustable sights on Gun Broker for $415. This was not a LE gun and looks to have been fired very little. I have fired several hundred rounds through all three pistols using bullets of a number of weights and configurations. All three ran without a hitch. I carry a pistol in my work on occasion and find that the slide type belt scabbard made by Don Hume pulls these pistols into my waist making them ride high and very well out of sight with a wind breaker or coat. I would trust my life to any of these pistols. I know that they will fire all the time and every time. Best of all they offer the advantage of being stainless. These are excellent values for the money. My advice is to get one or several before they are gone!

But he used the word underrated; I quite agree; I have owned 9's and .45s of second and third gen and really think they are a sleeper. I shouldn't say so (more for me) byt it's a measure of the respect I have for them that I have to say so. I own a 4506, 4516, 4513 and am buying a 457. I have owned a
59, 6904 and 6906 (actually, 2 or 3 of each) if I were going back to a 9, I would seek one out before buying anything else. Always completely reliable and satisfyingly accurate.
Cheers, TF

I was so impressed with the 5903 that I just bought a model 910 (VG condition for $340otd)! When I pick it up...pics will follow:)

I only have a few: 2 CS9s, 6906, 6946, 3913TSW (prerail), 3953TSW (prerail), Shorty Forty, 1026 and a 909.

+1 Smartwolf et al

Well, thank you! Swampwolf has been called a lot of things before but never smart. :o

3rd generations rock, although 669 is a good choice, too. I see a fellow in San Antonio has a 908 and 910 reasonably priced on the trading post. This is a terrible time financially for me to be tempted. A 908 is my primary ccw; the 910 works for me as a primo bedside gun.

I've owned a number of them and they are very capable and reliable guns. I'm not a huge fan of the triggers (any DA/SA trigger for that matter), but they go bang when they should. Generally a very good value on the used market as well...

I have a 5904, which I believe is same as a 5906, but with a black alloy frame. It's a police trade-in. I've put probably 400 rounds through it and have had not a single problem. The decocker/safety disables the trigger when "on safety". I understand a lot of LEOs didn't like that. I do.

Les

They are addictive.

A 4506 was my intro to S&W 3rd gens. Was my only .45 so I got rid of it.

Found a 3953 and its the only pistol I carry now.

Slimmer than a P239. Very reliable. Never had any malfunctions of any kind. Fed cheap reloads, wally world stuff, 147 ranger stuff.

S&W 3rd gens DAO pull leaves something to be desired. After a lot of snap cap practice and I don't notice it though.

I have a 6906. I borrowed a 226 for a while. I couldn't say that it was any better than what I had.

To go somewhat further back than the 3rd generation, may I please ask for opinions on the S&W model 39.

That said, I think the 39193TSW is one of the finest handguns available. My wife carries one everyday. I'm looking for one myself; if I can find a pre-rail version in LNIB condition.

I'll drink to that... I carry a 4013 with a spur hammer installed. :D

Now... WHY oh WHY has smith discontinued these fine pistols?
Corporate greed... they can belch out 5 plastic framed pistols to one aluminum frame pistol. :banghead:

Smith is forcing us to shoot these plastic turds....:cuss:

If I had a dime for every customer that came in here bitching that smith dropped these fine pistols I would retire to sweden. :D

The 3gens are getting extremely hard to find... we used to get a steady supply from texas, but not anymore!:uhoh:

I have a 908S. It's been flawless. And I like the DA/SA action. Seems to bother some guys, though. I wish my M&P had it.

may I please ask for opinions on the S&W model 39.

I've never fired one. But I held one once in a gunshop and almost drooled on it. ;)

DuncanSA-

I can't tell you about the 39, but my 59 has been great. They're mechanically very similar.

To go somewhat further back than the 3rd generation, may I please ask for opinions on the S&W model 39?
The initial issues of both the 39 and 59 really gave S&W a black eye when it came to autoloaders. To put it mildly, they jammed repeatedly, and with all kinds of ammo. I first heard about the pistols back in the late 70s or early 80s when a redneck publication called HANDGUN TESTS appeared on newsstands. I was just getting into guns and was attracted to the Ruger Security-Six .357. But I'd never heard of Ruger, so I set out to learn a little about the gun and the company.

The first magazine I bought had a big B&W spread entitled, "Why a $49 Raven .25 is Better Than a $220 S-W 9mm Model 59." As I began reading it, I saw that they were also including the Model 39 as well.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh198/jriler/HandgunTests.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh198/jriler/AAAGunMag_2.jpg

Some years after the publication of this magazine, I began hearing rumors that S&W had fixed the problems with both the 59 and 39. What exactly they did to fix them, I don't have a clue, but about 1986 people began saying that their 39s and 59s were working, but only with FMJs. The second generation pistols (459) fared very well in the military trials, but even their excellent redesigns couldn't compete with the Beretta 92. The malfunction rate for the 92 was an average of once every 2,000 rounds, while the rate for the 459 was once every 952 rounds. Both were excellent, but the Beretta's lack of a feed ramp and ejection port gave it the distinct advantage with all the varying types of rounds being fired.

The subsequent 559/659 and 639 pistols were champs. They had steel frames and could eat JHPs without problems. Production prices were a bit high and the third generation pistols featured some improvements and were a bit lower in cost to produce.

The 39 should be test fired before any reliance is placed on it. I wouldn't bet my life on the 39 unless it had been thoroughly tested.

.

I like them. I did the shooting portion of CCW class with a 3913... and the 6946 "police trade" I bought has never glitched once.

The 39-nothing was my issued sidearm for several years. My dept was the first agency in the nation to issue autos in 1968 and it was the 39 and later 39-2. We carried the 39 until 1981 when it was discontinued and the 439 replaced it. We had very good luck with the 39. The changes made to the 39-2 and 439 were the result of recommendations made by our range officers.
Many find the grip angle and design of the 39 to be near optimum. With the right ammo they will be tack drivers. Mine has an exceptionally smooth trigger and with a good load will keep them in the X ring all day long at 25 yds.
When we went to the 439 we were allowed to buy our issued guns. Mine is not for sale.
As far as the 3rd gen S&W they are some of the finest guns you'll find. We issued the 3rd gen S&W until 2000. I still carry my 6904 quite a bit and on occasion will tote my 5904. While I've never had a 2nd or 3rd gen S&W that was as accurate as my 39 they will still run under 3" at 25 yds and have all been 100% reliable.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c125/ispcapt/guns/39.jpg

That's a nice 39 you got there. It has a lot of character.