S&w 5906

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Big Bad Bob

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So I went to my local blue label dealer the other day, cash in hand to buy yet another Glock. As I was browsing the counter I saw a very nice S&W 5906, internally looked awesome, some holster wear as expected. The backstory was that a certain very small department had them for a minute, bought polymer and put these in the back of the arms room until recently they were found and traded in. This one has the novak style night sights not the hooded rear sight.

I have been intrigued by this pistol model since I saw a Jerry Miculek video overviewing his performance model 5906. The price was normal range of LEO trade in.

So my question is those who have shot or used them what the consensus of the 5906?

Thanks
 
I'm a fan, but being an all steel gun they are quite heavy. I have a 5903 (alloy frame) that I would prefer if I were looking for a carry gun. A 5906 would really make your pants sag.
 
This isn't carry gun, I was thinking IDPA SSP, range fun. Part of me says get it, because I will only see less and less of these since they are no longer made.
 
The real question is you do like DA/SA? I had the blued aluminum frame variant 5904. Never an issue. Didn't care for the decocker/safety or the direction and decided to stay striker based.

These 3rd gens have a positive reputation. If I had extra money id totally keep a 5906 around. Too heavy for carry IMO. Well built solid.

Get one a relive the early 90's TV and movies all x-files haha
 
If you don't buy it, post a location.

Third gen smiths are becoming scarce. Their quality was head and shoulders above anything of their time, but not a lot of folks realized it until the plastic fantastic generation.
 
Go for it, you won't be disappointed. If I could only keep one of my 9mm pistols, it would be the 5906, chosen over some other really nice ones like my Beretta 92FS & Baby Eagle.

It is my belief that the 5906, along with the other 3rd gen S&W stainless guns, are among the most, if not the most, durable pistols extant. They are also pleasant to shoot, and very accurate as duty pistols go.

This isn't carry gun

Nonsense. It carries just as any other "full size" would. My 5906 is a dead ringer in length, width and weight to my Witness Compact 10mm. Though heavier, it is considerably smaller than my Glock 20, so when I feel like I'm going somewhere that my pocket guns are inadequate, but don't want to dress around the G20, I frequently carry the 5906.

I also have flush fitting 17 round Ram Line mags for it, and some extended 20 rounders.
 
It should make a fine IDPA gun, and even if there are not really a lot of aftermarket parts out there, you or someone could probably improve the trigger a lot with just some springs and polishing, if you are so inclined.

I have a 1006, and they really do ooze quality for the price, at least right now.
 
I would agree that they are great guns, but quite heavy at somewhere close to 40 oz. That's the same weight as a the Baby Eagle I sold because it was so heavy, but some folks are fine with that. I think my 34 oz Beretta is plenty heavy.
 
You should buy it, if you don't like it you could sell it quick and easy, probably for a profit too.

The weight doesn't bother me, I'm young and don't have any difficulty holding a steel pistol in front of me long enough to empty the magazine.

Speaking of which, magazines are only available through a few locations, and the 3rd gens have a magazine disconnect which might be annoying for competition.
 
The mag disconnect is a concern for me, does anyone know if it can be removed easily like the Hi Powers?
 
i know that the likelihood of S&W bringing back any of these 3rd Gen guns is practically nil. So when you come across a nice example, you pounce on it, it's as simple as that!
 
It isn't the weight for shooting that matters, it is the holster weight. Heavy guns shoot great.
 
The mag disconnect is a concern for me, does anyone know if it can be removed easily like the Hi Powers?

I think it involves drifting the rear sight out and removing a plunger or some such from the slide. Probably less work than a BHP, but thats just a guess because I haven't taken the trouble to do it on the 5906.
 
So I went to my local blue label dealer the other day, cash in hand to buy yet another Glock. As I was browsing the counter I saw a very nice S&W 5906, internally looked awesome, some holster wear as expected. The backstory was that a certain very small department had them for a minute, bought polymer and put these in the back of the arms room until recently they were found and traded in. This one has the novak style night sights not the hooded rear sight.

I have been intrigued by this pistol model since I saw a Jerry Miculek video overviewing his performance model 5906. The price was normal range of LEO trade in.

So my question is those who have shot or used them what the consensus of the 5906?

Thanks
Solid guns I would take one over FN High Power or CZ75 or CZ75B any day.
 
After the 1911, the 5906 was the pistol I thought was the coolest-looking thing out there (I especially liked the older version with the hooked trigger guard and curved backstrap) ... After finally picking one up after a few years of looking for just the right specimen, I became a huge fan of the 3rd-gen S&W pistols. Reliable, accurate, durable and good-looking (yeah, a bit on the heavier side if one is used to plastic pistols, but way more pros than cons).
 
A well made carry belt and holster mitigate the weight issue.
The 3rd gen Smiths were expensive guns when they were new.
They were the best of the best. They cycle HP ammo and even empty brass like it's FMJ.
I've always hated slide safeties, since I don't have freakishly long thumbs.
I currently own 4 3rd gen Smiths and one Smith 52.
The trick to the slide safety is to use your support hand thumb to flick it on/off.
Or, carry it with the safety off and hammer down. It's just as safe as a DA revolver that way.
The 3rd gen Smiths have a nice, very short trigger reset.

Buy it. Enjoy it. Join the Smith & Wesson forum. You will find very knowledgeable people there.
 
PC 5906s.JPG Bob, I had a regular production 5906, and have the 4" and 5" Performance Center 5906s for several years. I've had a number of other 3rd. gen s&Ws too. All reliable and nothing ever broke, even with use of very energetic ammo. They share the common characteristics of weight, robustness and reliability. I have not removed a magazine so don't know about that. Very much wish the 3rd. Gen guns were still in production, but obviously there were not enough buyers that shared my opinion........
 
I'd like to have one as a collector. I've never heard anything bad about them. Besides, the 5906 was Sarah Walker's carry piece. Colonel Casey usually had a P229 Equinox, and Chuck of course had a tranq pistol.
 
Coincidence? About a month ago I was going to buy another G19 and an acquaintance of mine, who knew I was looking for one, turned me on to an excellent condition 659.

I was issued one back in the 80s and carried it on the job for about 5 years. Always ran 100% and accurate. The weight is a big advantage shooting it and the carrying aspect can be dealt with by a good holster and belt. I use a DeSantis Speed Scabbard.

The mag safety can easily be deactivated. There are a few situations where this makes sense. An Army pilot friend of mine had the mag safety deactivated as he carried a 59 as a "backup" to the 38 revolver they issued at the time.

I carried the 659 for about 5 years and a 6906 for about 10. There is a way to easily defeat an installed mag safety on a S&W auto of these types when doing a tactical reload. I'm not going to tell anyone how as some would consider it dangerous.
 
My 4006 TSW is by far the heaviest pistol I own, but as mentioned a good belt and holster mitigate this somewhat. Still, I prefer something lighter for all-day carry. That duty is currently held by my 909. I am fond of the 3rd-Gen pistols.
 
I was intently waiting for the CMP to release more 1911's when reality hit - they would be $800 an up, same as those on the open market. And hearing one AZ senator's plan to scrap all 100,000 didn't set well, as that would certainly complicate matters. I moved on in search of a .45 I could afford and shoot now. I'm not getting any younger.

So I started researching and looking into S&W 3Gen guns, and there are quite a few models out there. In direct comparison to the 1911, the 4506 is the closest, weighing 1 oz more. Keep that in mind when you read of someone who declares they carry a 1911 - for all intents and purposes, a 1911 isn't described as a "tank," "heavy," or too much for concealed carry. But the innerwebz will tell you the S&W is. Go figure.

Now take into consideration whether it has an alloy frame (5904) and don't forget the significant difference in construction needed for 45 vs 9mm. A 3Gen can be significantly lighter than a 1911 or full sized .357. It's the ammo that can make up the difference. Plenty of people carry all steel guns - ask the average HK P7 owner. At one time, all steel was the norm, an alloy framed gun the rare lightweight, and the generation from the 1950's to the 80's never gave it much thought. It was the increasing belt load out of cops stuck with more gear - and soldiers - which forced the move to lighter weight pistols.

So now we get the advantage of buying LEO trade ins at half the cost of new while the taxpayers finance the search for ever more lighter guns - which largely has proven problematic, as the double stack ammo capacity and carrying to reloads has completely wiped out any weight savings. It's the consumer carrying CCW crowd who is focused on that, and why polymer pocket pistols are popular. For the most part, tho, they aren't .45. More like .32, .380, and 9mm. Move up in calibers and you have to accept more weight, which isn't complained about. It's given reasoned thought and taken care of. I would no more attempt to drop my 4566 in my pocket than I would $75 in quarters. It belongs in the proper holster, with an adequate belt, in pants suitable for an adult male. Which is where the comparison seems to get cloudy, as I read more and more trying to wear basketball shorts to their job with no pockets at all. There is a lot of lifestyle choice in clothing wear now and some of it is just not compatible with firearms carry - so they blame the gun, not their pants.

As things cool down carrying a 4566TSW in a Safariland 1090 shoulder holster under a coat wont be too heavy. I've carried 1911's and M9's on duty in the past, you do it for two weeks and you get used to it. Add a level III vest to the M9 and the gun isn't the problem, especially in August. In Georgia. Some people make too much about gun weight.

Definitely buy the 3Gen guns as now is their lowest current pricing and few are aware of their value. Some rare variants are bidding up past $1000 but that is comparable to new stainless 1911's on the market. It's no worse than HK P7s - but the S&W's can be had for as low as $250 in a LEO trade in, still. You just have to pay attention to the most likely sellers.
 
I love the 3rd Gen S&W's. I bought my 5904 in '89 and still have it. I don't shoot it much anymore. Once or twice a year. I've also got a 3913, 3913TSW, and a 457. Very reliable autos. They'll chamber empty brass. I say you should get it and enjoy it. My 3913 was my main carry gun until I bought a Shield. I still carry the 3913 on occasion.
 
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