Confederate
Member
I have one and it's always shot very reliably. Just wondered if anyone else had one and what overall experience has been....
Thanks!
Thanks!
Anyone Own a S&W 659/5906?
- Thread starter Confederate
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jayp
Member
Love my 5906. 100% reliable, I think it looks great. I just ordered a couple of extra factory mags from S&W. I have a lifetime warranty, after all!
I'm gonna be shooting my 5906 for a long time.
I'm gonna be shooting my 5906 for a long time.
5906
Had one for a while but the trigger was REALLY bad. I probably should have had it worked on but in a moment of weakness I traded it for one of those Smith WWI revolvers that shot .45ACP out of half moon clips. SWEET trigger, killer accuracy, all over finger-lickin good. Maybe not worth the same $$$ and certainly not a concealed carry gun but . . . hey, you know, this is turning into a revolver thread. . .
dave-o
Had one for a while but the trigger was REALLY bad. I probably should have had it worked on but in a moment of weakness I traded it for one of those Smith WWI revolvers that shot .45ACP out of half moon clips. SWEET trigger, killer accuracy, all over finger-lickin good. Maybe not worth the same $$$ and certainly not a concealed carry gun but . . . hey, you know, this is turning into a revolver thread. . .
dave-o
OH25shooter
Member
The 5906 is the standard issue duty auto for many PD's. Mine was always reliable. Never heard any complaints from other officers. Of course, the new M&P40 is now becoming standard issue for departments keeping the S&W brand.
aguyindallas
Member
I had a 5906 with the square trigger guard just like you have in the pic...even had the adjustable rear sights. It was a great gun. I got rid of it because I wanted to simplify and move to a Glock focused platform. I bought it for $225.00 about 6 years ago and traded it in this year. I got $325.00 for it in trade towards a Glock 19 with factory night sights...selling price was $509.00.
MachIVshooter
Member
Pretty tough to beat the 5906 for a combat type 9mm. Accurate, robust, reliable, ergonomic. I love mine.
Rating: 10/10.
Rating: 10/10.
MD_Willington
Member
I have one, ran ~400 rounds through it a few weekends back. It's a used gun, but it works very well.
I even mailed a letter to S&W asking them about it mainly regarding the grips that were on it, I was not aware if they were the newer designed, aparently some of the older ones could crack and the gun would not function as the stirrup sits in the base of the grip.
They sent me a brand new curved grip... how's that for service, even on a USED gun, now that's cool... I'm thinking of maybe getting a 69xx.
The gun came with 3 different capacity magazines. 15, 14, & 10... well a quick fix to 1 spring and 2 followers and I now have 3, 15 round mags that function just fine.
It looks like a bit of a beater, but the trigger is pretty smooth. I can't really complain.
MD
I even mailed a letter to S&W asking them about it mainly regarding the grips that were on it, I was not aware if they were the newer designed, aparently some of the older ones could crack and the gun would not function as the stirrup sits in the base of the grip.
They sent me a brand new curved grip... how's that for service, even on a USED gun, now that's cool... I'm thinking of maybe getting a 69xx.
The gun came with 3 different capacity magazines. 15, 14, & 10... well a quick fix to 1 spring and 2 followers and I now have 3, 15 round mags that function just fine.
It looks like a bit of a beater, but the trigger is pretty smooth. I can't really complain.
MD
That is correct. There was a grip modification made. S&W would provide the new grips free of charge. Newer grips can be identified by the small indent on the bottom of the grip. There will be the open hole but then just a small indent between the hold and the mag well.
You can have adjustable sights installed on a 659. If you want the winged factory sights it will take a bit of milling but nothing any competent smith couldn't handle. I've seen 2nd Gen S&W with Bomar sights which looked nice. I'm sure there are other sights which could be installed.
As far as arched grips, S&W use to make an arched backstrap for the 459/659. Makes a world of difference in the feel. Makes it almost SIG like. Easy to install.
I carried this 459 for several years including while on SWAT and when in plain clothes. I got the backstrap from Ray O'Herrin, Danville, IL in the early 80s. Don't know if he still carries them or if S&W still has any.
As far as arched grips, S&W use to make an arched backstrap for the 459/659. Makes a world of difference in the feel. Makes it almost SIG like. Easy to install.
I carried this 459 for several years including while on SWAT and when in plain clothes. I got the backstrap from Ray O'Herrin, Danville, IL in the early 80s. Don't know if he still carries them or if S&W still has any.
boalex207
Member
I own a 5903 (alloy frame variant of the 5906). I adopted it when it became an Atlanta Police trade-in gun. It's a little banged up from holster and seat belt wear, but completely reliable. Thought about selling it a time or two, but I have become attached to it.
joab
Member
I've got the .40 version 4006
It has become my favorite and the one gun I own that I ill probably never sell
A friend has the 5906 that he bought at the same time and has not had as good of luck with his
HE is inaccurate with the gun and is thinking about selling it for $300
I may be buying it
It has become my favorite and the one gun I own that I ill probably never sell
A friend has the 5906 that he bought at the same time and has not had as good of luck with his
HE is inaccurate with the gun and is thinking about selling it for $300
I may be buying it
daBear
Member
I just scooped a near new condition 659 and wondering if any members can tell me its date of birth? Ser No A8686XX
Thanks in advance for any assistance
dB
Thanks in advance for any assistance
dB
The Lone Haranguer
Member
My first autoloading pistol was a very similar gun, a 5904. This one had a blued carbon steel slide, a blackened alloy frame (hence much lighter than a 5906) and adjustable sights. It was utterly reliable, with not a single malfunction or part breakage, but I found the SIG P228 to be more accurate (which it should have been for $200 more).
).Mr Kablammo
Member
If you want grips or other parts for the S & Ws, order the Brownell's catalog. It has loads of stuff for all kinds of stuff.
OP
OP
Confederate
Member
Man, am I glad I checked in, as I have the old grips.
You say they had a tendency to break, or crack? I know that going from my 659 to my 5906, I can feel the grips shift a bit when I pull the trigger. I don't much care for the feel of it, but could live with it. Still, I'll get the redesigned grips.
Two more questions, fellas.
Have any of you broken a firing pin or any other part? An early change they made in the 659 was the little round stop just behind the slide release. Apparently those round ones would occasionally fall out, but I've checked mine and it's tight as a cold tick on a warm dog's hairy...well, you get the point.... I also heard something about firing pins, but haven't had any problems with any of mine, even though I've got three spares.
The round stop can be seen in the 659 (bottom), at
the end of the slide release.
Finally, how long can I keep my hi-cap mags loaded without worrying about spring fatigue? Should they be changed every six months? Every year? And should they be loaded full capacity?
Thanks!
The mags I currently use have been fully loaded for more than 5 years and all feed perfectly. I have read over and over that springs are fatigued by use - compression and decompression - not simply by being in either state (compressed or not). The only time a spring would wear out when compressed would be if the spring is being used beyond its design limits.
ImARugerFan
Member
I have a 639 with adjustable rear sight. Only takes an 8 round clip though Bought it on a whim because it was cheap $~250. I like it, but really want something with a higher capacity.
Bought it on a whim because it was cheap $~250. I like it, but really want something with a higher capacity.
The first semi auto I ever shot was a 659. The first semi auto I ever purchased was a square trigger guard 5906. I liked them both although the 659 felt a bit boxy. They were both heavy fully loaded. I sold the 5906 to fund the purchase of a Walther P88 Compact. I currently satisfy the S&W urge with several single stacks (39-2,639,3904,3906). They just feel better to me.
Phil DeGraves
Member
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- Aug 24, 2006
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Great gun
jjohnson
Member
Original Mod 59
I've had my M59 for - what, 25 years? I've shot thousands of rounds through it, and it's never been at all finicky about what sort of ammo it eats. The only modification I've felt worthwhile were Pachmayr grips and adjustable sights. Never felt the need to "upgrade" it to one of its later generations, though I did pick up a M3906, and am very happy with that, too.
Oh, about the springs - mine are original S&W issue, all 20+ years old, and often get left fully stacked. They still have enough 'oomph' to reliably load ammo. Mine is a 'range gun,' so I don't carry it anymore for self defense. If I did have to bet my life on it, I'd replace the springs with Wolff springs maybe once a year - just to be safe.
I've had my M59 for - what, 25 years? I've shot thousands of rounds through it, and it's never been at all finicky about what sort of ammo it eats. The only modification I've felt worthwhile were Pachmayr grips and adjustable sights. Never felt the need to "upgrade" it to one of its later generations, though I did pick up a M3906, and am very happy with that, too.
Oh, about the springs - mine are original S&W issue, all 20+ years old, and often get left fully stacked. They still have enough 'oomph' to reliably load ammo. Mine is a 'range gun,' so I don't carry it anymore for self defense. If I did have to bet my life on it, I'd replace the springs with Wolff springs maybe once a year - just to be safe.
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