S&W 669 9mm

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slow944

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Anybody have one of these? I picked up one today and seems to be a very nice gun. Are they still in production or are they out? Any problems with them that are known?
 
The 669 is a "second generation" model, as denoted by its three-digit model number. It was among - if not the - first of the compact but still high capacity S&W pistols. The Third Generation (official S&W designation, introduced c. 1990) model equivalent would be the 6906. Most of the Third Generation models have been pared in recent years, among them this one.

I think you have a perfectly good gun there. I had a 5904 that ate everything I fed it (unfortunately stolen), and currently have a sweet little 3913.
 
I had both an early Model 469, and a later Model 669. Both were decent enough guns; good DA triggers and acceptable accuracy. But I never quite got used to the overall shape of the grip. It seemed to me to be a little too wide and rounded, like I was trying to grip a softball. Maybe too, because I was more accustomed to the flatter and slimmer grip of the 1911. I also had a hard time reaching the safety up on the slide, but then again, my hands are rather small, so the reach may be quite another thing for someone else. No problems that I ever heard about, or encountered with my own guns.
 
The slide-mounted safety is not S&W's best feature. It is awkward to disengage quickly if used as a safety. I just use it as a decocker and carry the gun "off safe." Your second generation has a firing pin block, so this is OK.

All these pistols also have magazine disconnector safeties; the trigger mechanism is disengaged unless a magazine (empty or full) is in place. Some armchair commandos;) dislike this feature; I view it as benign, since it does not affect the trigger pull.
 
Years ago when I carried a Commander and High Power off duty. A guy picked up a blued 469. He wasn't a cop and was new to guns. He let me shoot it a few times at the range. Seemed very reliable and accurate at the time.

For the price that they want for the 469/669s nowdays, you can get a M&P
Compact..something that is light years ahead of the 469 design.

Unless it is a dirt cheap 469, I'll pass it up.
 
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