S&W 3913 first impressions

[albanian]

I happened along a nice 3913 at the gunshow on Sat and I had to get it. I have been wanting to try one of these for a while now and when my friend's gun dealer buddy hooked me up with a great deal on one, I couldn't say no.

It is not a police trade in. It is a barely used 3913 of pre-lock vintage. I have not had a chance to shoot it yet but my first impressions are very good. It is not a top of the line pistol like the SIG 239 or Kahr K-9 but it is far from being junk. It is much more refined than the S&W 59 I had a while ago. It came with Hogue grips and a Fobus holster for $275 OTD. I know a deal when I see one so even if I really didn't want this gun, I would have bought it. Luckly, I had been wanting one for a while because I am a sucker for small/medium single stack 9mms. This quite well put together but the proof will be in the shooting.

I just need a finger extension mag because my pinky keeps wanting to slip off the bottom of the gun. The guy said it came with two mags but when he looked, he couldn't find the other one. I have a good number of single stack 9mms and I think this is going to be one of the better ones. I carried it in the Fobus at the gunshow because I didn't want to carry it in my pocket or bag. It was very easy to carry and I think once I am satisfied on the reliability, I may make this one of my carry guns. I alternate between my S&W 642, Kahr K-9 and once in a while, my Beretta 92fs. Most of my guns, I don't carry and probably will never carry, my 4" and 6" S&W and Ruger .357s will not be weighing my down anytime soon. They are too large and don't carry enough ammo to warrent CCW. If I were more of an outdoorsman, they would be great for carry as they are more accurate than most autos and hit hard down range.

 

[Alan Fud]

The 3913 is a very good gun. I own three of the newer pre-rail TSW versions. Congratulations on a fine purchase.

 

[steveno]

I had a 3914 and it was a very reliable gun and never had one problem with it. I just never could get used to the DA first shot. I probably should have sent it to a gunsmith to see if that could have been improved upon and then decided if I should have kept it

 

[OH25shooter]

You chose wisely. Many PD undercover/plainclothes officers carry the 3913. Like an idiot, I traded my PD version away. Couldn't really afford a new one, so I went down a model to the 908S. Just as nice, only the cost is less and it only has a de-cocker lever on the one side. I think many forget about the 908.

 

[mlk18]

Smith & Wesson continues to be highly underrated on my forums. I own or have owned a 3913, 3914, 3953 (DAO), 908 and CS9; all of which were and are great guns. Perfect for concealment in every way, reliable and accurate. But I too am not a fan of a DA first shot and SA thereafter, so I preferred the 3953 to the rest. If they made a 3913 with a frame mounted safety, i.e. cocked and locked, I would be in heaven.

mlk18

 

[NEtracker]

I'm watching locally for a used 3913 myself.

 

[fastbolt]

My personal 3913 is one of the later production models, with the MIM hammer & trigger, and the wider barrel tab. It's been a terrific pistol ... as have all of the other ones I've personally handled, fired and supported as an armorer.

The 3913/14/TSW/LS/NL/908/908S has got to be one of the best compact, single column magazine 9mm pistols ever produced. It's everything the ASP & Devel cutaways were meant to be, and most of the 3913's, & its variations, are very affordable ... unlike the custom guns.

Personally, I've always liked the TDA (DA/SA) transition, but that's because I've carried S&W TDA's for 15 years, and I've spent some significant range time training with them. The TDA systems generally do require some additional familiarization and training, compared to DAO, for many folks ...

I started out my pistol-shooter life as a SA 1911 shooter at a young age, and as a SA revolver shooter at an even younger age ... so it took a while for me to become comfortable and proficient with the TDA pistols.

Some folks really liked the 3953, though. A nice pistol if you like DAO.

Anyway, I think the 3913, and all it's variations, are simply about as close to state-of-the-art as we've seen, produced by a major manufacturer, when it comes to a small single column 9mm defensive pistol.

Aside from a spring-loaded Decock-Only option I fitted in mine, the only other changes I made was to install night sights and the Hogue grips. The 3913 is one of those pistols that really benefits from the Hogues. They make a well balanced, ergonomic, controllable 9mm pistol even more so ...

You can order the magazines directly from S&W, and you can order either the flat baseplates or the curved (finger rest) baseplates separately, if you wish, to figure out which you prefer on all of your magazines.

If you don't mind me offering another personal perspective ... if it were me ... and I bought a used S&W pistol ... I'd order a new recoil spring, and new magazine spring for the used magazine that came with the pistol, at the same time. S&W has started recommending that magazine & recoil springs be replaced by L/E armorers every 5 years or 5,000 rounds, whichever comes first.

Use quality factory ammunition, properly clean and lubricate the pistol, and enjoy it.

Properly maintained, and in good condition, using quality ammunition ... these pistols are generally boringly reliable. Monotonously reliable. Tiresomely reliable.

Acceptably accurate enough for their intended purpose, too.

I've used mine to occasionally challenge a couple of the other instructors to informal 'clothespin' competitions, where we start at 5 yards and 'call' hits on small wooden clothespins, and see how far we can move backwards and distance ourselves from the targets before one of us misses. Hitting small wooden clothespins, alternately positioned vertically, horizaontally and diagnally ... to challenge trigger control, flinching and vertical stringing tendencies ... out to 11 yards with these little guns has got to make them accurate enough, don't you think?

Nice gun. Good price. Congrats.

You might occasionally visit the S&W Forum to read some other owner experiences and opinions ... http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/cgi-bin/sandwcgi/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true

 

[joegerardi]

I just got what is basically the double-stack version, the 6906 at a gunshow yesterday for the 2nd time. I had one, and like a dummy sold it. I regretted it ever since, so when I was able to get one in extremely nice shape for $380.00 OTD with 2-15 rounders, I jumped on it. I'm happy to add it back into the stable. That period of S&W's semis (3rd gen, I think?) are all very nice pistols.

..Joe

 

[albanian]

The 6906 was also on my list of guns to get but after holding one, I felt that it was too wide for me. They seem like nice packages and the price on the police surplus guns is very tempting.

The more I look at my 3913, the more I like it. It think S&W just about as nice a CCW as they could make with this one. When it first came out, it was probably about the best CCW auto on the market. This came out before the Kahr so it must have been ahead of it's time.

The only changes I would make on mine are, I would prefer the safety de-cock to be a de-cock only as on the SIGs. I also wouldn't mind some night sights and the finger hook mags. The trigger could use a little smoothing up as well. These changes would make this into my second favorite CCW. The Kahr K-9 is my fav but this 3913 is growing on me more than I expected. I wish Kahr had made an aluminum frame K-9 instead of that plastic thing they made. The Kahr K-9 in an alloy or Titanium frame would be as close to perfect as I can imagine.

 

[cstuard]

Fastbolt-more about that decock only option pls.Is that from S&W? Our Beretta 92's are all DC only and I would really like to match out 908 to them. But I'd only do it if it's factory.Thanks

 

[Super Trucker]

My 3913 is about 10 years old. I carried it when I lived in Fla and I still carry here in MI. Great gun. Call S&W and order the finger rest for your mag, they are less than 3.00 plus shipping. Good Luck and enjoy

 

[Gunz]

$275 for a nice 3913 is a steal of a deal for an amazing little 9mm. Forget the weirdo $1200 HK P7 or the P210 to send a chunk of 115gr lead down the line. AMerican engineering is not all bad. I love my 3913 in regular form and the no-rail TSW versions. The 8rd factory mags with or without finger hook can be found used for $15-20. I bought some from CDNN a few months ago. I cannot get over how well you did with that price. I usually see them for around $400 flat. I like the ones I have because of the double sided safety levers. Kahr DID make an alloy frame 9mm: E9. I have one. It is very nice. Still, the SMith has the safety lever, incase you want to have that extra level of comfort. My 3913 and E9 pistols get carried and shot a good bit. I can get 3 inch groups off hand at 15yds with no problem. S&W mini autos are great. You should taste the 4013 series, also.

 

[fastbolt]

cstuard ,

Factory option.

The current TSW pistol slides have already been machined to accept the spring-loaded Decock-Only assembly as an option (unless they've changed something very recently). The factory can install and fit this part on pistols which have been modified to accept it.

The 'original' TSW slides didn't receive this machining operation. My 4513TSW, for example, which has the cutaway grip frame, lacks the additional machining. My newer 4013TSW has the necessary machining.

Once the part is installed, the decock 'timing' has to be checked to make sure it falls within the proper tolerance range, and this might require installing and fitting a new sear release lever.

Back before it was a 'standard' option, someone wishing this option on an older '3rd gen' pistol had to send their slide back to the Performance Center for it to receive the additional machining necessary for the slide to receive the spring-loaded decocker body assembly. This work generally included the cost of the new decocker body assembly, the installation of the part and any fitting of a new sear release lever.

My 3913 came from the factory with the slide already having received the necessary additional machining required to accept the spring-loaded Decock-Only assembly, which was a bit of a puzzler. When I asked a couple of folks back at the factory why this standard 3913 might've received the machining for the 'then new' optional part, the best explanation I could get was that maybe my slide had been slated for some PC pistol project, had received the extra machining at the PC, but then for whatever reason (cancellation of the project pistol) the modified slide was returned to the regular factory parts inventory ... and it was used to assemble the 3913 I eventually ordered.

I suppose if you call the PC, they can tell you whether they still offer this modification to older pistols, or the latest Value Line pistols.

PM sent

 

[albanian]

Gunz,
The only reason I got that price was because my friend knew the dealer. There were about 3-4 other 3913s at the gunshow and they were from $395-475 in about the same condition. I know it is a heck of a deal. When he said the price, I knew it was my chance to get one.

KY Imports has some police surplus 3913s but they are $289.99. After shipping and FFL fees, I am looking at about $340. Those are going to be luck of the draw and I doubt I would get one in as nice condition as the one I got. It also came with a Fobus and a set of Hogues. I would have bought the Hogues anyway so that saved me another $20. The fact that I could pick it up in person is also worth something to me. I consider $50 extra to be able to hold it before I buy it is about right. When you factor in all that, I really feel like I was given a gift.

 

[NEtracker]

Hi fastbolt,
I picked up a used pre-TSW plain jane 3913 today.
Looking at Wolff springs, there's the std factory 15lb recoil spring, or the extra power ones from 16 to 20 lbs available. I'm definitely getting a 15 lb spring anyways, but have you ever gone with say a 17 for +P stuff?
Reason I ask is that's what I did with my Hi-Power, std lb for non +P, and extra power for +P. I have not detail stripped it yet. I'll plan on replacing the mag spring as well.
One other question, is there an S&W serial number lookup somewhere?

 

[NEtracker]

Installed the new 15 lb spring, std. What a difference!
I also received my Hogue grips, so I replaced the std plastic grips (plus the two Ranger bands I had slipped on). Shot lead for one indoor session, and worked at cleaning it for some time with a Lewis clone kit. So, my next session (after grip replacement), I tromped through some snow to use the outdoor range, so I could use FMJ. First outdoor range user since mid-Dec.! We've been getting rain & warm temps bringing that snow level down.

 

[fastbolt]

I did try the 16lb springs in my 3913 & 6906. I couldn't notice any difference in perceived recoil, although naturally the slide was harder to manually retract. Since using heavier recoil springs can sometimes introduce more of a potential for shooter-related grip stability issues, especially in the smaller guns, I've returned to using the standard rated factory recoil springs ... and simply changing them out more frequently.

If I'm using a lot of +P/+P+ ammunition over any given period, I'll often replace them in as little as 2,500-3,000 rounds, give or take. I tend to replace them more often than even the latest factory recommendations, anyway. In my little CS9 I'll replace them even more often ... around 800-1,200 rounds. I don't use +P/+P+ ammunition for regular training very often, though (cost & availability), just occasionally. The bulk of my training and practice is done with standard pressure 147gr loads.

I don't reload anymore. Haven't in many years, actually. I don't use lead in my 9mm's anymore, either. The most problems I ever observed was many years ago when we were first using some lead RN in our 9mm pistols. After a casehead failure and blowout in the commercial 'remanufactured' qualification ammunition, we sucessfully made the argument for new factory ammunition for training & qualification ...