S&W 659 and 5906

For range use, the S&W wonder nines are great. Even for defensive use, I’d say they are just fine as long as the manual of arms and DA/SA trigger suits you.

I’ve had several models and have kept a couple of 59’s (1st gen), a 669 & 6906 (2nd & 3rd gens), a 5943 (DAO), and a CS40. A couple of those are project guns with wear and finish issues, but even those are fun shooters.

If you like the Beretta 92FS, these are IMHO just as good with similar weight, size, & manual of arms.

Love my 5906 as a big, heavy, comfortable handgun but when carrying I find I actually carry the at the time "Compact" 469 far more often.




But these days it's the BG 380 that gets more WalkAbout time than either.

Test fired 5906 used police guns years ago. Get guns. All steel is my preference over plastic for plinking. There are much better carry guns. Adjustable sights a plus.

Owned 3- 645 autos . Son has the 1 i kept. The 2 fixed sight models shot real low.

I've got a number ot the third gens, in various sizes and model numbers, and have never had a problem with any of them. Some I bought new, some used, but all get their range days. These things will feed empty beer cans into the chamber if you can get them into the magazine first. I think, in various sizes, calibers, and models, I've got 9 of them, and have never had so much as a hiccup from any of them. Wish other lines of guns had that sort of reliability. That said, by the third Gen, they had it pretty well figured out. The actual NUMBERING system though, is quite the challenge....

I have a 5906. great gun. only dislike is the grips being integral to the gun sort of.

Mine is an inexpensive LE turn-in.

It shoots just fine.

For a range toy or SD or a OWB belt pistol, there is nothing that I dislike about it.

5906 my second handgun bought several years ago , good and hefty wouldn't want to carry it all day . No need to change springs unless dirty nasty and malfunctioning, Wolff springs has recoil springs and service kits. Mine was rarely fired with no holster wear , only thing replaced was corroded mag release spring and plunger.

2nd gen S&W's sadly now are unrated by those who profess to be in know, they served well on the agencies I was associated, with, some needed to run bullet profiles closer to FMJ's , but they ran. I preferred the 1086 in 10mm, if I ever find another it will not leave until death

A 5906 is a pleasure to shoot at the range. Given the number bought by law enforcement, they are easy to find and very reasonable, particularly in comparison to current all-steel firearms. The later TSW models have a rail, which makes the 5906 an excellent choice for mounting a light to use in the home defense role. Models with adjustable sights are plentiful, although the fixed, low-mount Novaks were dialed in perfectly for my eyes.

The second generation guns were prone to have frame rails cracking. We had a bunch of 669's and a few 659's crack. Smith will not repair under warranty any longer.

I have an odd model 6690 (ser no. RSR xxxx) which as I've read is a "transitional" 3rd gen 6906 frame with a 2nd gen 669 slide. The RSR serial number prefix is reference to the RSR Group, who S&W contracted with for these guns for distribution. I've had this since it was new back in the early 90's. I originally had 2 of them and really enjoyed shooting the 1st one until I got a great offer to sell it (at the time anyway). The trigger is actually phenomenal for it's time with a reset that is exceptionally short and crisp. By far the best trigger of any smaller compact defensive pistol of the 80's-90's I've ever shot or owned. This (pic) was/is my 2nd one that I kept, and is still unfired. I may have to revisit that part!

I own a 5906 and a 469. I favor the model 5906 because it fits my hand better and the Gen3 grip works better for me than the Gen2 grip on my 469. Either of your options would make good range guns if they fit your hand. IMO, both models seem to be well balanced and absorb recoil better than more modern options.

I once fed my 5906 some weak , inconsistent reloads. The action got so slow that you could hear it go ka.....chunc...click . I got my hands on a chrono and found out that the muzzle velocity ranged from 950 down to 550 fps --- and the 5906 was able to process the stuff!
The 5906 is utterly reliable. Fun range gun ; excellent for home security.

I have a 5903 (alloy frame) that was a like-new reimport from Israel. It’s a super nice shooter and not quite as heavy as the all-steel guns.

My 3rd Gen Model 6906 is still my every day carry gun, has been for over 25 years. Bought it used, still runs without ever a hiccup. When I travel to states that ban “high cap” mags, I swap that 6906 out for another 3rd Gen S&W: my 8-shot Model 3913. I also have a pristine, former PD-owned Model 5906 with adj sights which is a fun range gun. But for EDC, I think the 6906 is the best compromise of size and mag capacity; I can carry it in an IWB holster all day without discomfort. I’m well used to DA/SA guns (having regularly carried one every day since starting with a Beretta 92F in the mid-‘80s) so that first shot DA doesn’t bother me. I much prefer these guns to modern striker fired plastic guns.

I’ve always been a really big fan of 3rd Gen S&W 9mm pistols, still am! (I like my .45 cal Model 4516 too, just rarely carry that one.) For the OP, if you can get a clean 5906 at a good price, you’ll have a great shooter.

Go for the 5906.

Seriously- go to a gun shop, and try to price a new full sized DA/SA with stainless steel frame and slide. My best guess is that you won't find one under a grand. Sure, it's heavy. So what?

I was issued a 5906. I disliked the DA/SA trigger. I wasnt unhappy to see it go. I wouldn't want another.

I much prefer the 5906. Much more ergonomic IMHO. The 59,559,659 grip frames remind me of a 2X2. And thousands of 5906s were used in LE, as witnessed by the police trades offered over a period of several years. I still have a couple, and have no intention of selling or trading them no matter how many wonderful tacticool plastic pistols in decorator colors come along

ColtPythonElite said:

I was issued a 5906. I disliked the DA/SA trigger......

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A DA/SA gun takes a fair amount of practice in order to get used to that first-shot trigger pull vs. the subsequent shots. I carried an original S&W Model 39, and later, a Model 59, as off-duty guns, back in the mid-to-late 1970s, when the issued duty gun was a S&W Model 15 revolver. I shot both of those off-duty carry DA/SA S&W 9’s a lot. So I was pretty used to the DA/SA trigger by the time my Dept switched to the Beretta 92FS around 1987. My original 1st Gen Model 39 eventually sort of fell apart after about 15000-18000 rds; after awhile, the Model 59 got a bit too heavy for me for every day off duty carry, so I sold that; but the 6906 and 3913 seemed perfect for a guy like me who had grown very comfortable with DA/SA pistols over the decades. My Dept switched to the S&W M&P a few years ago, but they let us old guys keep carrying the Beretta 92FS if we wanted to. I was one of those who wanted to. I dislike striker fired plastic guns.

I love 3rd gen S&W guns. I have a almost new 5906 LE trade in from Puerto Rico that I got a good deal on about 6 years ago. I have a nice 4506 and a VG 6906 that I got super cheap when nobody else bid on it. I had a 4006 TSW that I really liked too, but I sold it at a nice profit when I decided to get out of .40 guns.

I have a 5904 it shoots poi with 124 gr bullets.
There is a used 6906 for sale near me in good condition for under 500. Pm if you are interested.

I acquired my, used, EXC-condition 659 in ~1987 from a laid-off LEO.

It was never in my conceal carry rotation as it is a CHUNK of metal.

Other than casual use I did use it for years as my loads-test 9x19 pistol, as it was reliable, accurate and HEAVY (steadier from the bench).

There has always been something indefinable about that 659 that really appeals to me.

I have a 5906. It's a massive chunk of stainless steel. The single action trigger pull is very good. The pistol is accurate. I just wish I had gotten one earlier.