S&W 5906

Compared to recent production pistols, quite heavy with a limited capacity... triggers not typically great, but not as bad as everyone says.

But still, one of the finest DA/SA service pistols ever made. Built like tanks, durable, feed everything, dead-nuts reliable. Usually good accuracy.

And cool. Great looking pistol. A classic in my book. Especially the versions with the original hooked (recurve) trigger guard and arched backstrap.

Reliable and bomb proof.
Feels like a real gun and not airsoft.
15 rounds is limited capacity?

I don't like flip up safeties, that's my opinion of it.

I wish I had purchased several when they were going for under $300 a few years ago. But then again their is a lot of stuff I wish I had purchased when it was cheap.

Like them a lot.

I was issued one in the early 90s. Hated the DA/SA trigger. Was glad when it was gone.

Really wanted to like that Smith family of pistols, but they suck in MY hands.

I had a 59 I had no problems with. I was issued a 69, all steel. Heavy but that sucked up all the recoil. I have 2 69s now if that tells you something.

As far as flip up safeties, I was always a fan of PPs and PPKs. I also was a fan of 1911s. I trained to swipe my thumb alongside the slide. Push a S&W safety up or a 1911 safety down. My Glock's have slide wear there.

FWIW a friend went to S&W and they taught to use the safety only as a hammer dropper. The Federal LE agency I worked for taught the same. The DA is not great but if you're looking at a range of 10 feet it doesn't make a difference.

It all boils down to what you're comfortable with and willing to train yourself with.

I never read an account of a real life shooting where the officer or civilian survived and complained about the trigger The all steel S&W's were well made, and will last a lifetime, dunno about what they sell nowadays.

I don't like flip up safeties, that's my opinion of it.

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I don't much care for that either, but I just wouldn't use it for anything but a decocker. Once decocked I'd flip the saftey into the up position and forget about it. No reason to use it on a gun with a heavy DA 1st trigger pull.

They are a little heavy, but are tanks. Our local city PD bought a bunch of them in 1994 and carried them until about 5 years ago. They liked them, but after 20+ years they were getting pretty ragged.

Not my favorite pistol, but I do respect them. If the price were right I wouldn't mind having another.

Super reliable, accurate at SD distances, easy to shoot.

They’re solid pistols with interesting bloodlines (USN requistioned & rejected) & if the 5906’s trigger reset is anything like that on my no-dash Model 59, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find a quicker trigger.

.455_Hunter said:

15 rounds is limited capacity?

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"Compared to recent production pistols."

Originally, the 5900-series magazines held only 14 rounds; a later version tweaked the follower and increased capacity to 15 rounds. However, most full-size duty pistols now all have magazine capacities of 17 to 19 rounds standard, but have plus-2 or plus-3 mags that hold up to 21 rounds (example: Beretta 92FS/M9, SIG P-226, P-320, S&W M&P).

As others have noted, the safety on these was typically used only as de-cocker (like the Beretta) and most folks carry these in Condition 1 for a DA first trigger pull.

Old Dog said:

"Compared to recent production pistols."

Originally, the 5900-series magazines held only 14 rounds; a later version tweaked the follower and increased capacity to 15 rounds. However, most full-size duty pistols now all have magazine capacities of 17 to 19 rounds standard, but have plus-2 or plus-3 mags that hold up to 21 rounds (example: Beretta 92FS/M9, SIG P-226, P-320, S&W M&P).

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If so desired, you can get 17 round flush fit mags from Mecgar for the 59-series platform, and slightly extended 20 rounders.

Many people like them, some love them.

Im not one of them.

I had one issued to me that was not reliable (A jam almost caused me to fail the final academy qual), the trigger sucked in both DA and SA and it was heavy as hell to carry all day. I don’t think I was the only one who didn’t like them, as soon as admin gave the ok to buy our own guns at least 2/3 of us switched within a week. (That was in 1993.)

Not that I hate on Gen 3 S&W autos. I have a 4013 that I carried for many years, the trigger wasn’t fantastic but it was 100 pct reliable for me and served its role very well.

Again, mine is but one experience among many, so take it at face value...but Unfortunately mine wasn’t a very good experience with the 5906.

Stay safe.

A bit on the heavy side, but I would get one if it came available, or a nicer 5903, or another 5904, or another 5946, or another 6906, or another 6904, or even another 908.....

The full size stainless 5906's, again, are a bit heavy, but the sweetest range shooters you'll ever meet.

I had one briefly. It was reliable and accurate, but it was not as effective an IDPA SSP for me as a Sig P226 or CZ75.

No worries about limited capacity anymore. Mec-gar makes a superb 17 and 20 round mags for the S&W 5900 series guns. My nightstand gun at my condo is a 5906 with 17 round mag and +2 adapter. Here is a link to the Mec-Gar +2 adapter.

Besides all the above. I found the 5906 extremely accurate and rock solid. Trigger has a clear break, ergonomics are ok and shot where you want all the time.

Great shooters...

C0untZer0 said:

I don't like flip up safeties, that's my opinion of it.

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What's a flip up safety?

Are you referring to the decock lever?

Smiles,

A mystery to me why they put the PPC series on double stack actions when the match is shot in six round strings.

I always thought those older generation S&W autos were underrated.

Mine points well and has a decent trigger. It's been reliable.

I shoot it as well as most service pistols.

They're a bit heavy and unfashionable, but they work just fine.

I like most everything about "Third Generation" Smith & Wesson pistols but, in my experience, the best thing about them is their unsurpassed reliability.