Smith and Wesson 6946 DAO

[SteadyD]

I have been on the hunt for a DAO semi auto and know very little about the 3rd gen S&W autoloaders. Can anyone share anything about this and other DAO Smiths? Are they quality guns? Are they known for being reliable? Can I find recoil springs or magazines for them? Thanks as always.

 

[Riomouse911]

The 6946 I haven't had an opportunity to shoot. I have shot a (rare) DA/SA 3906 many times, they're easy on the hand but heavy compared to poly guns of similar capacity.

I was issued a 5906 back in 1991. Very heavy, all stainless 9mm with adjustable sights. It had a bit of a mushy trigger pull, but it wasn't the worst one I've fired. The gun jammed on me really badly in the academy and I never trusted it again. As soon as I could carry my Robar-tuned SIG Sauer P226 I did.

I still own a 4013 (Single stack DA/SA) in .40 S&W that I bought in 1992 I believe....it too has a bit of a mushy trigger pull but it feels good in the hand. Recoil is a tad snappy with the SS slide and alloy frame, but the checkering on the front strap seems to hold it in place well.

IMHO these guns are built like tanks even with the alloy frames, so a 6946 will last you a long time with proper care. The larger DAO 5946 were RCMP and NYPD guns back in the day, so you may be able to find one of them as a trade in somewhere if you can't find a 6946.

Good luck and stay safe!

 

[gc70]

Third generation S&W pistols are quality guns and built like proverbial tanks. The 3rd generation DAO models used a partially pre-cocked trigger mechanism; in fact, two slightly different DAO mechanisms were used (see post #12).

Springs are readily available from Wolff for the 6946. S&W sold enough of the 6900 series pistols that magazines are not hard to find.

 

[SteadyD]

Third generation S&W pistols are quality guns and built like proverbial tanks. The 3rd generation DAO models used a partially pre-cocked trigger mechanism; in fact, two slightly different DAO mechanisms were used (see post #12).

Springs are readily available from Wolff for the 6946. S&W sold enough of the 6900 series pistols that magazines are not hard to find.

Interesting. So these are not true DAO actions? Do I understand correctly that they don’t have second strike capability?

 

[Robbins290]

Interesting. So these are not true DAO actions? Do I understand correctly that they don’t have second strike capability?

Not sure about the TSW, but the S&W dao i had, did indeed have the second strike. Cant exactly rememeber, but i think it was a longer pull on the second strike.

 

[gc70]

The basic 3rd generation DAO pistols had a partially pre-cocked action and no restrike ability. Some variants that were made with restrike capability to meet NYPD requirements.

 

[SteadyD]

The basic 3rd generation DAO pistols had a partially pre-cocked action and no restrike ability. Some variants that were made with restrike capability to meet NYPD requirements.

Is the action partially cocked on the NYPD variant? Or is it fully at rest?

 

[gc70]

Is the action partially cocked on the NYPD variant? Or is it fully at rest?

I don't know how the NYPD versions worked. I will ask my neighbor (a retired NYC officer) to see if he knows.

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm not a fan of dao autos (I much prefer classic da/sa formats for pistols intended for self-defense use but to each their own) but I'm a big fan of everything "Third Generation" Smith pistols. Very rugged build and good design, workmanship and materials. I carried, qualified and competed with a Model 6906 for many years after my agency transitioned to autos from revolvers and it's one of the few autos I've ever shot for any length of time or expended large numbers of bullets sent downrange that I never experienced a malfunction of any kind with, even when qualifying with my agency's cheap reloads.

 

[gc70]

Is the action partially cocked on the NYPD variant? Or is it fully at rest?

My neighbor's response: "Who knows, I had a Glock."