S&W 3953 questions

[sidheshooter]

For those in the know on 3rd gen S&Ws:

What is a good price for a minty 3953? Does 400 sound reasonable?

How do any of you owners get along with the DAO pull on that particular model on longer range days? I'm a long-time K-frame fan, but I've read that the 3953 and 4053 pulls are shorter (probably good) and heavier (maybe not so) than the old standby wheelies.

Will the single stacks fit the same holsters as a double stack (I have a 669 already, with a couple of old-school IWB holsters; it would be cool if I was already set up for carry without having to do the "vintage holster scavenger hunt"... am I correct in thinking that the difference is in the grip, but not so much the frame)?

Any readily available sources for spare 8-rounder magazines out there?

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[Dot_mdb]

What is a good price for a minty 3953? Does 400 sound reasonable?

I think $400 is a little high for the 3953. They generally sell for less than the 3913 models. If I were buying a 3953 I would try to get a nice one for about $350 with two mags.

How do any of you owners get along with the DAO pull on that particular model on longer range days?

I own a 3913 DA/SA and also a 4046 DAO. Of course the two guns are very different in weight and size. I find that the DAO will do good work out to 25 yards.

but I've read that the 3953 and 4053 pulls are shorter (probably good) and heavier (maybe not so) than the old standby wheelies.

The DAO pulls in the Third Generation guns are generally not heavier than the revolvers. I think that in at least some models Smith used a lighter main spring in the DAO than in the DA/SA guns. My DAO 4046 has about a 10lb pull and it is reasonably short and very smooth. That combination is what makes it so nice. Note, the 4046 weighs about 12 ounces more than the 3953 and that might contribute something to what makes it a good shooter out to 25 yards.

Bill

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The reach and stroke of the DAO trigger on 3rdgen Smiths is quite a bit shorter than the first DA pull of a TDA model. I would estimate the pull weight at around 8-9 lbs. I had one, a 6946, but never really warmed up to it, only achieving a rough "center of mass" accuracy. (It should be noted that this gun has a much fatter grip than a 3953.) I might have worked with it some more as it was 100% reliable, but money issues intervened and I had to sell it.

 

[Runningman]

$400 sounds way high to me for that model. I like the 3rd generation S&W DA/SA but never really cared for the DAO ones. They are not as easy to shoot well compared to the DA/SA models. They due use a lighter hammer spring on the DAO models to help the DA trigger pull out. Thing is you can get lighter Wolff hammer springs for the DA/SA models and end up with a much more shootable pistol.

 

[Jim PHL]

Slick pistols and I love 'em. I have 2 3913's and a 3953 and none of them are going anywhere without me anytime soon. Many people have larger guns for range fun and smaller ones for carry but I feel these are big and small enough to fill both needs in one gun. Shoot what you carry/Carry what you shoot and all that...

$400 might be a bit high but not "way" high these days. Probably just about right in decent shape with two factory mags. I've seen them go on the web lately for that price and higher - but also lower. I recently sold one to a friend for $325. Think I would have held out for more than that and gotten it if it wasn't going to a friend. You can always find a deal if you are willing to wait long enough for it to present itself. I don't need another right now, but if I didn't have one and really wanted one, I'd probably pay $400 for a nice one.

Factory-new mags are still available but pricey; around $40 or so as I recall. Used mags are cheaper but still will usually cost you at least $20 or more each. If the one you're looking at has more than two mags included, consider that in your "worth it?" equation.

 

[Landric]

I recently purchased a pristine 3953 for $450 with 3 magazines. That was more than I wanted to pay, but IMO the 3953 is the best 9mm carry gun there is, and there seem to be less and less of them for sale. At least is was a FTF sale so I didn't have to pay tax or a transfer fee. I'd buy another for $400 in a heartbeat if it was in nice shape. I'd like to get at least one more, and perhaps two more before they go up in price even more.

$400 would have been high three years ago, now its on the low end of the prices I have seen.

My preference is for the pre-TSW DAO 3rd Generations, I'm actually willing to pay more for a nice DAO than a similar condition DA/SA.

 

[joe_security]

Im with Landric on this one. Excellent carry guns. Very safe to carry and quick to respond to a threat.

 

[SIGLBER]

I don't own one but have shot several. Although the DAO trigger pull is long on them it is very smooth and not heavy feeling either. Like shooting a nice DAO revolver. The folks that own them usually hang onto them.

 

[sidheshooter]

That's good info from all, thanks folks. I'll probably try to do a little bit of negotiating, but it's a clean one and I've always sort of wanted a 3953. Stay tuned for the obligatory new gun pics...

 

[18DAI]

Locally, $400 would be a fair deal on what is widely considered to be one of the best CCW single stack 9mm's.

I prefer TDA, so I own a 3913.

 

[obiwan1]

I don't know about the price, but If I were buying a 3rd Gen Smith for a carry gun, it would be a DAO. Since my agency went DAO a few years ago I got hooked. I shot quite a few rounds out of a 4046 and liked it. It was much better shooting than our Beretta 96Ds (I don't know about reliability). I've gone to the "simple is best" frame of mind. No safeties, no decockers to remember (or forget). Constant trigger pull. I like them.
The same time that I was shooting the 4046, I also shot the Sig DAO (NOT the DAK) and the Glock with a NY1 trigger. I liked the Smith much better!

 

[joe_security]

I went shooting with a cop, several years ago. He brought along a 5946 (his duty gun) and a CS 45, both DAO . I was very skeptical until I fired them. They impressed me with smooth trigger pulls. I had no problem scoring hits with the pistols.

 

[KurtC]

$400 for a minty 3953 is a steal. Finest single stack little 9mm ever made, and they won't be making anymore. They sell for considerably more on GB, AA and GA.