I just purchased one of these pistols with two hi-cap mags yesterday for $495. I believe it was a police trade in but appears to have been fired very little if at all. It is in excellant condition. I know many of you can find this gun cheaper though I live in Maryland and it seems that all guns without an internal trigger lock have recently increased in price. What are all your opinions on this handgun and what ammo would you recommend for personal protection ?
S&w 5906
- Thread starter thor745
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Matthew Courtney
Member
I carry Federal 115 gr +p+ (9mmbple) in mine. The only problem I've had with mine has been a nicked extractor had to be replaced after 12 years and thousands of rounds.
stans
Member
I have a Smith 439 and I carry it daily with Remington 115 grain JHP +P. This ammo is reasonably priced and readily available in my area. I did replace the factory 14 pound recoil spring with a Wolff 16 pound spring for use with +P ammo.
Hkmp5sd
Member
I bought a 5906 back when they first came out and pumped several thousand rounds through it with no problems over the years. There was a recall about 10 or so years ago where if you had an early version, S&W shipped you a new grip. The original design could, if dropped at the right angle, crack the grip, which would render the gun incapable of firing. You might check with S&W to ensure yours is OK.
It took a long time, but I'm finally appreciating the 5906. The one I've been shooting has, by far, the smoothest double-action trigger pull of all time. I like the heft of the pistol too, as it absorbs most of the diminutive recoil of the 9mm round making it quick on the double-tap.
A few grumblings:
I hate the safety/decock lever. It's backwards, like the PPK/Mak, Beretta.
I don't like the funky rear sight. Wish it could be replaced with something more practical.
A few grumblings:
I hate the safety/decock lever. It's backwards, like the PPK/Mak, Beretta.
I don't like the funky rear sight. Wish it could be replaced with something more practical.
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
I have also - equipped with a Surefire light, it's my HD gun. I think these 4th gen S&Ws are sleepers. Mine shoots very well and I stoke it with 124 +P Gold Dots.
So far this year I've buzzed three rounds of the Gold Dots through wild hogs heads and it seems to perform fine. Exit wounds are about the size of nickels.
So far this year I've buzzed three rounds of the Gold Dots through wild hogs heads and it seems to perform fine. Exit wounds are about the size of nickels.
Chainsaw
Member
I have the 5904 and use reloads in mine without problems. Nice s/a for my wife as well. We have the availability to use the magazines in our Kel-Tec P-11 as well. I put a Hogue slip on grip on the 04 and it made it even better handling.
Can't help with the ammo as all I now use is reloads from factory S&B brass. The S&B factory works well in this as does the Winchester white box in both FMJ and hollowpoint 115's
From reports I have read on the S&W forum, these pistols are not fussy on the ammo used---------Chainsaw
Can't help with the ammo as all I now use is reloads from factory S&B brass. The S&B factory works well in this as does the Winchester white box in both FMJ and hollowpoint 115's
From reports I have read on the S&W forum, these pistols are not fussy on the ammo used---------Chainsaw
I had one of these for about a year. My general take on them is very so-so. I didn't have any problems with it but it wasn't anything special either. About all I can say is, its a gun.
BTW, I paid about half of what you paid. I'm sure you didn't want to know that. Sorry.
BTW, I paid about half of what you paid. I'm sure you didn't want to know that. Sorry.
AndABeer
Member
I too really dislike slide safeties so I went and found one of these:
It is one of my very favorite 9mms. Extremely tight and yet it has never jammed. The trigger is really nice and the thing is pretty accurate to boot. Little heavy for a 9mm but I don't think they made a 5923 so I will just live with it.
It is one of my very favorite 9mms. Extremely tight and yet it has never jammed. The trigger is really nice and the thing is pretty accurate to boot. Little heavy for a 9mm but I don't think they made a 5923 so I will just live with it.
fastbolt
Member
They're real workhorses ...
If your pistol has a "stainless appearing" carbon steel, flash chromed hammer & trigger, square trigger guard, and a narrow barrel tab, then it's an early 3rd generation pistol ... and you should check your grip to make sure it's the current one, and not involved in the early recall.
To do this, simply take your EMPTY pistol and turn it upside down so you can see the bottom of the grip. Locate the "U" shaped notch in the grip material ... look to the immediate rear and front of the notch ... you should see a small "dimpled" spot, which almost looks like someone poked it with a heated ball point pen. If you can see a small indentation, or dimple, in the grip material at either of these locations, then you have the upgraded grip. No problem. If you don't, call S&W Customer Service at 800 331-0852, ext 2904, and tell them you need the upgraded grip. 59XX grips are available in either the original arched shape, or a flat backed grip ...
If your pistol has the early narrow dovetail rear sight, you can still find some optional sights. If it has the slide cut & milled for the longer (front to rear) Novak Lo Mount dovetail sight, then there are a LOT of optional sights you can have installed ... if you don't like the standard sights.
I've carried a couple of 5903's, and then 6906's, for a number of years since we adopted them about 1989. I still carry the 6906 often for plainclothes, although I also carry a SW99 .40 S&W.
I've fired thousands & thousands & thousands of rounds through these 9mm pistols. I've watched somewhere between 750K-1M rounds fired downrange through ours. Last time I checked, I was somewhere between 12K-15K for my current 6906. I replaced a sear release lever (LOTS of decocking) and recently noticed my original extractor was starting to chip. This isn't uncommon on high mileage pistols, as the extractors can become "work hardened" over time, and therefore brittle. I replaced the extractor because I could, not because the pistol had malfunctioned, though, as it was still extracting & ejecting totally reliably. I just noticed it during a detail strip and decided to head off any future malfunctions. I also replaced almost all of the springs around the 12K mark, just because ...
Check out the Smith & Wesson Forum for some other info, and really great folks ...
http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/cgi-bin/sandwcgi/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true
If your pistol has a "stainless appearing" carbon steel, flash chromed hammer & trigger, square trigger guard, and a narrow barrel tab, then it's an early 3rd generation pistol ... and you should check your grip to make sure it's the current one, and not involved in the early recall.
To do this, simply take your EMPTY pistol and turn it upside down so you can see the bottom of the grip. Locate the "U" shaped notch in the grip material ... look to the immediate rear and front of the notch ... you should see a small "dimpled" spot, which almost looks like someone poked it with a heated ball point pen. If you can see a small indentation, or dimple, in the grip material at either of these locations, then you have the upgraded grip. No problem. If you don't, call S&W Customer Service at 800 331-0852, ext 2904, and tell them you need the upgraded grip. 59XX grips are available in either the original arched shape, or a flat backed grip ...
If your pistol has the early narrow dovetail rear sight, you can still find some optional sights. If it has the slide cut & milled for the longer (front to rear) Novak Lo Mount dovetail sight, then there are a LOT of optional sights you can have installed ... if you don't like the standard sights.
I've carried a couple of 5903's, and then 6906's, for a number of years since we adopted them about 1989. I still carry the 6906 often for plainclothes, although I also carry a SW99 .40 S&W.
I've fired thousands & thousands & thousands of rounds through these 9mm pistols. I've watched somewhere between 750K-1M rounds fired downrange through ours. Last time I checked, I was somewhere between 12K-15K for my current 6906. I replaced a sear release lever (LOTS of decocking) and recently noticed my original extractor was starting to chip. This isn't uncommon on high mileage pistols, as the extractors can become "work hardened" over time, and therefore brittle. I replaced the extractor because I could, not because the pistol had malfunctioned, though, as it was still extracting & ejecting totally reliably. I just noticed it during a detail strip and decided to head off any future malfunctions. I also replaced almost all of the springs around the 12K mark, just because ...
Check out the Smith & Wesson Forum for some other info, and really great folks ...
http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/cgi-bin/sandwcgi/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true
kalibear45
Member
Aside from the mag disconnect, the 59 series Smiths (59, 659, 5906) are nice pistols. All stainless makes them heavy and durable and the availability of cheap hi-cap mags makes it worth owning one.
SouthpawShootr
Member
Do I like the 5900 series? Well, let's put it this way. I have 2 of 'em. I have a 5906 and a 5943TSW. Both are exceptional. As long as they're well-lubed, Smiths are happy. I also have 6906, 3913, 4013, 457, and 4046. The only guns I have more of are Glocks. Of these, however, my faviorite is my 6906.
Ammo? You can run just about anything short of sub-gun loads through a 5906 and not hurt them. I have never fired +P+ loads in any of my autos and am not about to start (if I need more power, I'll move up to the next most potent caliber). Most of the time my 9mm carry guns are stoked with Federal Hydrashok Personal Defense ammo or Starfires if I can get them.
As far as personal defense use, I don't think you could do better. There are several designs that are as good, but not better IMHO.
Ammo? You can run just about anything short of sub-gun loads through a 5906 and not hurt them. I have never fired +P+ loads in any of my autos and am not about to start (if I need more power, I'll move up to the next most potent caliber). Most of the time my 9mm carry guns are stoked with Federal Hydrashok Personal Defense ammo or Starfires if I can get them.
As far as personal defense use, I don't think you could do better. There are several designs that are as good, but not better IMHO.
I've had my 5906 for about 15 years and think it is a fantastic gun. Mine was from a special run where the flats were a high polish and it came with fake wood grips which I replaced with the standard black ones. I have never had a malfunction with it and of all my autos is the easiest and smoothest in transitioning from DA to SA mode. Mine is strictly a range gun for recreational shooting but I would trust it implicitly in a defensive role. As far as I'm concerned the 5906 is as good as they get. The quality of machining is second to none. You've got an excellent pistol. Mike
Dave Williams
Member
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- 377
Another vote for 3rd Gen Smiths
Reliable guns, although my experiece has been with the .45s(4506,4586,4566). Some of the biggest depts in my area have issued Smiths for a long time.
fastbolt, I really appreciate your detailed knowledge and replies on this topic and others, on this forum and on others.
Dave
Reliable guns, although my experiece has been with the .45s(4506,4586,4566). Some of the biggest depts in my area have issued Smiths for a long time.
fastbolt, I really appreciate your detailed knowledge and replies on this topic and others, on this forum and on others.
Dave
redhead
Member
I bought a new 5906 in October, and so far really enjoy shooting it. It was an impulse purchase - I was looking over a number of 9mm's that were in the case, and I liked this one, and decided to go ahead and write the check. New, and in California, it wasn't cheap. Still cost less than my Kimber, though.
Kahr carrier
Member
I like S&W autos they seem well made ,and reasonably priced.
5906
I picked up a police trade made in 1995 for $300..........I really wanted to like this pistol. It was VERY reliable, but I never could get it to group well. I tried every combo of my reloads I could think of and the best groups I could get were in the 4.5" range from a rest. I also ordered a wolff spring kit and polished the trigger group but never got the trigger to my liking. Double action was not bad toward the end. I went to a SIG 225, and never looked back. My take on the 5906 is if you want a rugged and reliable semiauto for self defence, this is a GREAT weapon. If you like to punch paper, look for something else, maybe in a different caliber as I feel the 9mm really isn't a tack driver in any of my handguns. Remember this is just one opinion.
I picked up a police trade made in 1995 for $300..........I really wanted to like this pistol. It was VERY reliable, but I never could get it to group well. I tried every combo of my reloads I could think of and the best groups I could get were in the 4.5" range from a rest. I also ordered a wolff spring kit and polished the trigger group but never got the trigger to my liking. Double action was not bad toward the end. I went to a SIG 225, and never looked back. My take on the 5906 is if you want a rugged and reliable semiauto for self defence, this is a GREAT weapon. If you like to punch paper, look for something else, maybe in a different caliber as I feel the 9mm really isn't a tack driver in any of my handguns. Remember this is just one opinion.
Spackler
Member
For S&W pistols with questionable accuracy, a quick and inexpensive fix is to have the barrel crown re-cut. Find somebody who knows how to do it, though. Typical charge for this work is $25 - $35.
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Thor, mine shoots very well with Gold Dots. You can also order different grips from the factory. They make both a straight "backstrap" or a curved "backstrap".
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