I've joined the 3rd Gen S&W cult, kinda

[Nico Testosteros]

Just got back from the range from firing my police trade in 5903 from Bud's guns that I got this week.
Fired about a box each of Blazer aluminium, Monarch steel cased Russian stuff, and Federal $10 a box FMJ from Wally World.
It's been a while since I've had a long range session with pistols (also took my P11) but once I got used to it, the gun shot pretty well.
It had absolutely no reliability issues.

It's the early, "square" trigger guard version with no MIM parts.
It does have some holster wear but that's to be expected and I won't have to worry about dinging it up.
All in all, I'm pretty pleased with it. Not saying it's the best pistol in the world, but it works well.

 

[capttom]

I can't think of a 9mm pistol that does its job better than my S&W 908: Dead-on reliable, better than combat accurate, easy to carry. The 6904 stablemate does almost as well, just being a tad more difficult to conceal due to the double stack magazine. The 3rd gen rock.

 

[Nico Testosteros]

There was a 3913 at a local pawn shop for a while.
I diddled around and let it get away. That was a mistake I won't make again.

 

[Kenpo]

I have a 4043 that I really like. I bought it because it was 250 bucks, police trade in and in great shape. I later learned that it was a 3rd gen and those were known for being quite good.

 

[Stringfellow]

Nico, I feel your pain. There was a pristine 3913 sitting in consignment for months, for about three hundred or so. I couldn't make a move until I ironed out a job situation. Of course when I was in a position to buy last week, it was gone. It would have been my first and only 3rd Gen. It still hurts...

 

[Onward Allusion]

I really wish S&W would bring back a slightly updated (still all steel) version of the 3rd gens. S&W recently dropped the 910 from its line. Last nail...

I think the last all steel pistols left are their 1911s and Model 41.

 

[wrs840]

I'm hooked: 3913, 4013, 5904, 4006, 411, 908, ...in my stable so far... I can't stop buying them.

I think I enjoy shooting the 3913 and 5904 best of all of my 3rd gens... ...Maybe because those are the ones my wife took from me as "her own".

But the 411 is my daily work-day-carry CCW.

I'll buy any pristine-condition, non-rail, 9mm or .40 SA/DA S&W 3rd gen I run across.

Without hesitation.

Les

 

[wnycollector]

Very happy owner of a M910 here. Mine is a wonderful, reliable, accurate pistol that can be found cheap...whats not to like about 3rd gen S&W's?

 

[wow6599]

3rd gen S&W are some of the best firearms ever made, IMHO.
$1 says you'll want/get more. I have a 1006 and (2) 4506-1. a 9mm will be next.

 

[samurai]

I'm also hooked- 3913NL, CS9 and 6906. I just hopes it ( urge to buy) stops for a while.

 

[wbwanzer]

I like my recently purchased 3913. It's intended use is for concealed carry, but I can't carry in my home state of Merryland. So I've never actually carried it yet. I can carry it in my neighboring states but have not had the opportunity.

 

[Nico Testosteros]

That's a beautiful picture!
I deliberately didn't post a picture of my 5903.
It's not nearly (at all) pristine.s

 

[wbwanzer]

Thanks Nico. It's not quite as pristine in person, but it is a nice example.

 

[indykappa]

already own a 5904 and absolutely LOVE IT!

i saw a few 3rd gens at my LGS...as soon as i get my M&P40c out of lay-a-way, i'm putting one of the 3rd gens on lay-a-way.

niiiiiiiice

 

[DukeNukem]

5904 here. I've liked mine well enough to hang onto it for over 20 years. Great gun.

 

[ir3e971]

I have a 5906 and a 645. Both are outstanding. I think they grow on you the more you use them.

 

[spur0701]

Ditto.....I used some tax refund money to pick up a couple of 5906 police trade-ins that AIM has on sale.......I had always heard people po-po-ing S&W semi-autos, but I can't believe the bang for the buck I got with these. They are so solid, well made, smooth....I love the short trigger reset and the all stainless build. I was thinking about picking up a 5904 but am worried about my expectations being too high because of these 5906s.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Rarely will you go wrong with any of the 3rd gen Smiths. The 5904s are slightly lighter but just as dependable as the 5906. My least favorite are the 59x3 series. They seem off balance a bit because of the alloy frame and stainless steel slide. My absolute favorite is the 5946 & 5946TSW. They are surprisingly accurate for me, but I think I'm better with the DA only trigger.

spur0701
Ditto.....I used some tax refund money to pick up a couple of 5906 police trade-ins that AIM has on sale.......I had always heard people po-po-ing S&W semi-autos, but I can't believe the bang for the buck I got with these. They are so solid, well made, smooth....I love the short trigger reset and the all stainless build. I was thinking about picking up a 5904 but am worried about my expectations being too high because of these 5906s.

 

[Topspeed]

I love 3rd Gen Smiths. I have a 4506 and a 3913. Both super reliable, straight shooters.

 

[Storm]

With me the OP is preaching to the choir. I had early 5906 and 4506 back in the late Eighties and foolishly sold/traded them in the Nineties for more "exotic" stuff. Then, over the past three years as police trade-ins have come back on to the market I have bought them up, numerous 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen guns. To say that I own and shoot several would be an understatement. It all kinda snuck up on me. Then one day I was in my main gun shop where I bought most of my Smith semis and revolvers when a customer asked the clerk a rather obscure Smith question. The clerk, who had handled most of my sales, pointed to me (I was busy fondling a 1st Gen P99 that I was about to acquired) and said "that's the guy that you need to ask.

Before you know it you will have bought the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (the best $30 that can be spent on a gun book) and all hope will be lost.

While I love the 3913, 5906, 3906, 645 and Model 39 (to name but just a few), I think that my favorite is my 4516-6. That doesn't surprise me as I have yet to replace my 4506, and the 4516 does everything that it did but does it in a smaller package.

 

[SwampWolf]

Though not everyone shares my (our) enthusiasm for third (and second) generation Smith & Wesson pistols, for the doubters and nay sayers, I always challenge them to do a search and see how many people who've had direct experience with them ever called them unreliable. Not very many I submit. And what factors are more important than extreme reliability in a semi-auto being depended on for self-defense? Again, I submit, not very many, if any.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've never had a 3G Smith malfunction, even the one I bought well used with a recoil spring that hung like a limp noodle. (A new one was five bucks from Midway.) The 3913 (and its variants) is my personal favorite of the family.

 

[Racinbob]

Old but new to me, a 1006. I had the bug up my rear for a 10mm. Got one. Havn't fired it yet but will soon. Definitely quality.

 

[slick6]

915

Don't forget to add the Model 915 to the list of great third generation pistols!

 

[AJChenMPH]

6906 here -- it warms the cockles of my heart to see young NYPD officers carrying 5946s. I'm currently in Puerto Rico (I'm on my way home), and just about all the cops I've seen (especially the PR State Police) carry 5906s (seen a few female cops carrying 3913s or 6906s). Saw my first cops carrying M&Ps on this trip...hadn't seen them prior to this.

ETA pic of my 6906 (was having problems connecting to Photobucket earlier):