S&W Autoloaders - Which Is Best ?

The only S&W auto I've ever owned is a Model 41, and that is one sweet gun.

I own several M&P Pistols. I think they're great. They're available in 9MM, .40, or .45 with a lot of different features and as a full size or compact.

Be warned it is a good pistol, but the trigger is not as smooth as a nice Mdl 65 or 686.

I love my 39-2s. I have one of each - solid hammer, and pierced hammer. Great to shoot, solid guns. Almost no felt recoil to me. Accurate, good-looking and reliable.

1006/76

Smith & Wesson 945 Performance Center - One of the Best Ever

gm, 12/7/13

You have the choice of another plastic SW pistol or the classic metal 3rd generation pistols. Plastic is cheaper and usually has DAO triggers. The 3rd gen. pistols usually have a TDA trigger but can be had with DAO triggers as well. I much prefer the 3rd gen. metal pistols- the steel or stainless steel framed for range and home defense and the alloy framed for carry.

Some examples: .45acp- the 4566tsw is tough to beat, as is the 4516. Both are stainless steel framed, reliable and accurate. For an alloy framed .45the 4513tsw or 457 are great.

In 9mm: the 5906 is the classic stainless framed hi-cap auto; the alloy framed compact, the 6906/04 is a great carry piece. In flat single stack compact you have the 3913/14.

There are a bunch of other models but the above are a good sample of .45 and 9mm calibers. I'm sure others will be along to help as well.

Merry Christmas- oldandslow

I'd take a 2nd or 3rd gen over the new plastic M&Ps any day. I own the 2nd gen 469, and despite the Krunchenticker trigger, it is a very reliable pistol. Rugged, accurate, 12+1 with a factory mag, and can use any 59 series double stack 9mm mag.

The plastic M&Ps are fine, but I prefer a gun with some character.

Model 41, hands down. A pleasure to shoot.

'Best' being subjective, I think you'll find 99% of S&Ws semi autos are pretty darned good and you can spend some serious money or not so serious money in your quest for your definition of 'the best'.

41 = top notch .22 as others here have noted. Their best. The 422 and variants are good plinkers as well. Kinda homely IMO but who cares if it works well?

9mm? 39 and 59, heck the 69 series too

.45... I've yet to meet a bad one. Before they joined the 1911 club, their 3rd gens were the bees knees and still are (bees knees... where did that come from? )

.40/10mm... 3rd gen again. No real bad ones made.

Look up S&W 52s. Bulls Eye target made for competition. No slouch, those. Designed to shoot .38 spl wadcutters. The 952s shoot 9mm.

Which is best? I think you'd need to own one each, shoot the heck out of them and then come back and tell us which one you prefer that day or that week, knowing your answer might change tomorrow or next week... and that's a good thing.

New: M&P
Old: 3913

The one 3rd generation that I kept is the 4506. If memory serves me correctly I've had it since 1987. I like the current MP series. Under continuity of purpose my current MP examples have the magazine disconnect just like the 4506. Yes I acknowledge people in general do not like or want this feature. I'm not looking for converts on this subject or criticism either.

I had a 41, a 52 and 952. As a target shooter, the only one I was disappointed in was the 41. I tried 3 different barrels on the 41 and still it was just OK for a target pistol. I sold the 41 as I could never get it to perform to the level of good .22 target pistols but still have the 52 and 952. The 52 and 952 are top notch and I don't ever see me getting rid of them.

My DAO 6946 is my favorite...followed closely by 908 single stack. I have Trijicon night sights on these.





39-2 ain't too bad either...got some cool factor to them.



I'm carrying a S&W Shield just because it is so flat and thin. I've never been inspired to take a picture of it...black plastic = yuck.

I agree with Oldandslow. Cocked & locked you have some really nice hardware there!

S&W Autoloaders

First was the first USA made 9mm with DA/SA trigger action
in the early 19950s -Model 39

however after the 39 was adopted by the Illinois State Police in
'68/'69 [roblems were resolved with the Model 39-2
which was later succeeded with the 3913

S&W Model 59 around 1970, like the 39
in 9mm but a double stack magazine of 15? cap.

S&W 4006 - firms first .40 S&W

& the S&W 10XX series of 10mm

Just a sampling of out of production steel frame
S&W line of semi-autos

Perhaps you should get a book of some sort
to give you some historical prerspective

Then there's the S&W 1911s, since mid 2000s

R-

Which is "best?"

What do you want to do with it, and how much do you want to spend?

I suppose a used 3rd generation 9mm is a good compromise of price and function.

I have a full size 9mm mp, and a 9mm shield. They are very nice guns, but the full size sits in my safe. I carry the shield. For a full size pistol i have other preferences.

Smith's entry into the 1911 market has been well received despite the flap about the external extractor. I have owned and carried Colt 1911's for years but recently purchased a Smith Performance Center round butt Commander. I have been thoroughly impressed by the quality and "shootability" of the pistol. Their ad says only 4 people touch the gun from the time the parts arrive in the custom shop until the finished product is ready to ship.Five hundred trouble free rounds so far and it's a tack driver. Suggested retail is a little steep but they can be had for a good bit less. It's a semi-custom 1911 with a lot of extras at a standard model price.

I've been very impressed with my S&W 1911 SC, this is the scandium frame government size pistol, very accurate, very good trigger, very well finished. For a carry gun I tried the M&P's but wound up liking the feel of the Springfield XDm better so went with a couple of them.

I'm pretty fond of the 39 series. Especially the 39-2.

I really respect S&W's overall quality and design. I used to have a slightly more negative view towards them since my first experience with an M&P 9mm (a friends) wasn't stellar... early on they had, I believe, steel slides (they're stainless now) and his had a tiny bit of rust after a few months.

As you might expect, despite early troubles, S&W took care of my friend and replaced his slide, and it seems that the whole line has been improved a lot since it's introduction.

I now own a M&P 9c and it's fantastic. The trigger is not particularly light or smooth but it is very clear where the break is and thus I can adjust to it no problem. That said I might have the trigger swapped with the previously mentioned aftermarket trigger at some point.

I would not call it a "fun" shooter like my CZs or my 1911, for me it's a SHTF gun, similar to what I like about Glock, but with a slicker design, better ergos, and thus is not meant to be anything other than 100% practical. It has never had a hiccup of any find, which is what I need. Although the M&P line does not fit my hand as comfortably as my XD, I think because there is a little bit of widening on the back of the M&P grip, which isn't ideal, but it's far better in my hand than a Glock and that is just personal preference anyway, so YMMV on ergos.

My local shop showed me the 1911 lineup from S&W and it's pretty attractive. I'm currently thinking about a 629 revolver, which I've had my eye on for several years.

So I don't think you'll go wrong with an M&P or one of their metal framed semi-autos. It just depends on your sensibilities and what you enjoy shooting and shoot the best. Maybe to help the discussion you can clarify what you intend to use the gun for. Range fun? Hunting? Concealed carry? A nightstand gun? Do you want a 9mm, a .40, or a 45acp, or something else?