Homerboy
Member
The funny thing is I have almost grown to prefer the DAO models. I carried a 5946 years ago on duty and now I have 3, along with a 6946, a 3953, and a 7 shot 3953TSW. Only have two TDA models, a 5906 and a 4566.
Would you or wouldn't you? S&W 5906
- Thread starter d31tc
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OP:
You have already justified buying it because you created this topic.
You don’t need our confirmation.
You are absolutely correct, I am definitely here to get some biased confirmation
. If I had my gun budget back where it was before I bought the last 2 on “The List”, it would be a no brainer. I keep buying things on the list and I never have the money to buy the one at the top.However, without interjecting my personal issues of items available and what’s on the list, in general I was wondering how everyone else handles buying new guns. List/no list. Prioritized? Disciplined/no discipline with prioritized items. Or, do you say “Screw all that, if I see something I buy it. I don’t need no stinkin’ list!”
Ignition Override
Member
D31tc:
Did you mention whether ‘gun money’ can burn a hole in your pocket?
This has allowed me to buy guns but the desired guns usually have been due to:
a) Changing interests and/or
b) Discovering types which I had never before seen or handled.
Did you mention whether ‘gun money’ can burn a hole in your pocket?
This has allowed me to buy guns but the desired guns usually have been due to:
a) Changing interests and/or
b) Discovering types which I had never before seen or handled.
Those DAO models are pretty smooth. The only thing I never liked is they dont have double strike. You have reset the slide. They hit primers pretty solid and hard. It was just kind of annoying for dry fire/snap cap practice. My 4043 trigger is like butter. The DAO pulls are a lot smoother than the DA/SA model pulls on mine.
Homerboy
Member
Yeah. But not a deal breaker and I think if they did have double strike capability the trigger wouldn’t be as smooth. Racking the slide pre-cocks the hammer.
My old department, the NYPD, authorized the 5946 for a duty gun, and the 3953 TSW and 3914DAO for off duty. Funny thing is the 5946 had the mag disconnect removed and the slide was marked that it would fire without the magazine. The off duty guns still had the mag disconnect.
I had the 3914DAO. It was a regular 3914 with the single action notch removed so it had double strike capability. The trigger pull in the DAO is far smoother and lighter than the DA pull on a standard 3rd Gen gun.
As for light strikes, as a reloader I’ve had a few, but only on .38 special ammo, and only with S&W revolvers. Never any on my Ruger revolvers even shooting the same reloads. I gave my friend 100 rounds of my .45 ACP reloads (he insisted. I never let anybody shoot my reloads but he’s a good friend) and he had two light strikes out of a hundred using his 4506-1. A second trigger pull and they went off. I just shot 200 rounds through my NYPD 5946 and all fired first try.
They might have been able to make it as smooth but it would definitly be a little longer pull. Given the choice I most likely would rather have the full DAO with restrike but they didnt design it that way. I was just supprised because the Other hammer fired DAO pistols of the era all had it. Never had a light strike on the 4043 though but I upped the hammer spring weight a bit to slow the slide down and protect the frame more. Nice thing about the 3rd gen smiths is you can tune them how you want.
I never tried to convert a SA/DA 3rd gen into DAO. I might look into that. Bob the hammer and it could be just what I want. Now you got me thinking!
Homerboy
Member
I do like the option of double strike but I wouldn’t want a longer trigger pull to pay for it, especially since it is needed so infrequently.
As much as I prefer DA/SA, I’ve always shot better in SA or striker fired than in DA. The DAO trigger is a good compromise. I wish I let the 3914DAO. I collect NYPD guns and it was unique, but I never shot it that well.
Understood. I have a thing for DA Revolver style triggers on pistols even though SA are easier for me to shoot. I just like the feel of really smooth DAO on a semi auto pistol. I dont do a whole lot of rapid fire though. If I could get a full DAO and keep it as smooth as the DAO 3rd gens it might very well be my favorite carry pistol. Then again it I would want it in 357sig and I have not seen those barrels for quite a while. Seems like there were some 357sig 4006 barrels (Jarvis Maybe) out there at one time unless it was a dream I had.
jar
Contributing Member
Take a look at the 469 or 669. I've seem some 669s showing up lately at an almost reasonable price.
Take a look at the 469 or 669. I've seem some 669s showing up lately at an almost reasonable price.
I noticed that. I looked around a little after seeing your post the other day. All of my 3rd gens are full size. Seems like every time I bid on a 6906 somebody wanted it more than me. As much as I wish ...I cant buy everything I want....Priorities after all.
armedwalleye
Member
I’d buy it, and it is on my list.
Well, I sold my beater car on Saturday, went in today to buy the 5906. It apparently sold last Thursday. I’ll be looking for pictures of it on the “What was the last gun you bought thread” 
You snooze, you lose; although I have a general policy that I buy the guns with cash in hand, so wasn’t really snoozing, just a matter of timing. Like the guy who wanted to look at my car today vs the guy who bought it on Saturday.
Now to debate myself on a 686 vs Garand.
You snooze, you lose; although I have a general policy that I buy the guns with cash in hand, so wasn’t really snoozing, just a matter of timing. Like the guy who wanted to look at my car today vs the guy who bought it on Saturday.
Now to debate myself on a 686 vs Garand.
Well, I sold my beater car on Saturday, went in today to buy the 5906. It apparently sold last Thursday. I’ll be looking for pictures of it on the “What was the last gun you bought thread”
You snooze, you lose; although I have a general policy that I buy the guns with cash in hand, so wasn’t really snoozing, just a matter of timing. Like the guy who wanted to look at my car today vs the guy who bought it on Saturday.
Now to debate myself on a 686 vs Garand.
No worries. They are not rare so a deal will turn up again if you are patient and keep an eye out. They made a gazillion of them and a whole lot of the new generations only care about polymer strikers. As the more traditional minded folks exit the scene 3rd gen smiths will continue to show up for many years to come. They have their following of course but I wouldnt say its largely hard core like Colts or older HKs. Most people find them pretty vanilla as good as they are. I am kinda like that with modern stuff...most of which I find boring.
Your average new gun owner looks at pistols more like tools than anything else. All steel DA/SA duty size 9mms are more of an enthusiest type desire and those numbers are pretty small all things considered. Doesnt seem like it when you come to a place like this but I have only known a handful of hard core firearm enthusiests through the years.
Some of the match grade target 3rd gens can really command REALLY high prices though thats for sure. The duty style pistols not so much unless they are collector grade....a little pricey there
686 vs Garand? I am a pistol guy so I would go 686. Never really got the Garand bug. I would probably just save up for an M1A/M14 type. 686 is a very, very nice revolver though.
gc70
Member
Been there - done that.
Everyone is different, but I could have saved myself some money and grief by going to a John C. Garand High Power Rifle Match and putting 50 rounds through a borrowed M1. Instead, I went through the process of buying a Garand from the CMP and was never satisfied that my rifle had a new replacement stock rather than a beat-up original.
Luckily, it is hard to not break even or make a profit from reselling a CMP Garand. The money from my Garand bought a 686 that was not a passing fad.
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sevt_chevelle
Member
M1 all day and every day.
Got 2 M1s, don't shoot them much but they are my favorite.
CMP is dwindling down on numbers.
Got 2 M1s, don't shoot them much but they are my favorite.
CMP is dwindling down on numbers.
Hangingrock
Member
Being Left-Handed I never developed an appreciation for the M1 issued at ITR. At Parris Island we were issued the M14 which in my opinion was more left-hand friendly in regards to loading. As for Vietnam the M14 was the issued rifle for my tour 65-66. I closed out my enlistment tour of duty at GITMO Cuba. Part of my duties was instructing members of the Navy in the employment of the M1 of which had been converted to 7.62mm. We of the Marines were still being issued M14 rifles at that time. The sailors comprised part of the defense battalion at that time period. That's my story
I’d go with the M1, but I’m not much of a revolver guy. I don’t shoot my M1s (I have two) much anymore, and joke I have a lifetime ammo supply for them, but they are cool pieces of military history. I also know no one is ever going to make more of them, whereas the 686 is still in production.
SwampWolf
Member
He really should be sorry that he lacked any semblance of good sense. Magazine disconnects are no substitute for making safe gun handling an absolute priority.
Oh, he’s sorry about his lack of good sense, too. Clearing requires a visual check. Failure to do that and it’s not clear. Pure complacency.
bassjam
Member
d31tc I had an almost identical wish list (in no particular order):
1. S&W 686-4 (I could also be fine with a GP100 or Blackhawk) Still waiting for the right deal.
2. S&W 617. I was ok with either a 617 or 17. Found a 17-3 last year. It wasn't as accurate as I'd hoped and I didn't enjoy shooting it as much as I'd thought. Traded it away last month.
3. M1 Garand - Picked up an Expert grade in 308 from the CMP around Christmas last year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that gun!
4. S&W 5903 or 5906. Actually the Beretta 92fs was on the list for me. I'm on a kick to have the famous metal framed wonder 9's used in the world militaries, but the 5906 gets honorable mention since so many LEO agencies used it. So far I have a CZ75b, SIG 226, and Hi Power. Berretta 92fs was next on my list (I've shot one and loved it) but the 5906 popped up and I knew it was a good price. Out of the 4 I own, it's my least favorite. Trigger, accuracy, and ergos are the worst compared to any of them. I'll keep it, but it didn't wow me by any means. I'd turn it into my garage gun but I already have a hi point in that role.
So like you I have a rolling list of guns that I want at any given time. But I'm OK to wait years for them until the right deal shows up, and if a REALLY good price on something that's not on my radar shows up I'll buy it instead, knowing if I don't love it I can at least get my money out of it, and maybe a little extra to put me closer to my goals for something else on my list.
1. S&W 686-4 (I could also be fine with a GP100 or Blackhawk) Still waiting for the right deal.
2. S&W 617. I was ok with either a 617 or 17. Found a 17-3 last year. It wasn't as accurate as I'd hoped and I didn't enjoy shooting it as much as I'd thought. Traded it away last month.
3. M1 Garand - Picked up an Expert grade in 308 from the CMP around Christmas last year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that gun!
4. S&W 5903 or 5906. Actually the Beretta 92fs was on the list for me. I'm on a kick to have the famous metal framed wonder 9's used in the world militaries, but the 5906 gets honorable mention since so many LEO agencies used it. So far I have a CZ75b, SIG 226, and Hi Power. Berretta 92fs was next on my list (I've shot one and loved it) but the 5906 popped up and I knew it was a good price. Out of the 4 I own, it's my least favorite. Trigger, accuracy, and ergos are the worst compared to any of them. I'll keep it, but it didn't wow me by any means. I'd turn it into my garage gun but I already have a hi point in that role.
So like you I have a rolling list of guns that I want at any given time. But I'm OK to wait years for them until the right deal shows up, and if a REALLY good price on something that's not on my radar shows up I'll buy it instead, knowing if I don't love it I can at least get my money out of it, and maybe a little extra to put me closer to my goals for something else on my list.
Hear ya! The DAO models seem to have pretty good triggers all around!
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