S&w 469,669,6904,6906

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ATBackPackin

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I am in the process of looking for a carry gun and would like to hear some opinions about the Smith & Wesson's 449, 469, 6904, and 6906. I am sure there are some LEO's that have used these in the past and would love to hear your thoughts about them. I know the 4 is blue and the 6 is stainless, but what is difference between the 449 (2nd generation?) and the 6904 (3rd generation?)? These seem like great little guns, so why on earth did they stop producing these?

Thanks,

Shawn
 
To the best of my knowledge, the 3rd gen pistols are more reliable with hollow-point ammo.
I don't know what they did to make them more reliable, but they have quite the reputation for being some of the most accurate semi-autos ever made.
 
To the best of my knowledge, the 3rd gen pistols are more reliable with hollow-point ammo.
I don't know what they did to make them more reliable, but they have quite the reputation for being some of the most accurate semi-autos ever made.
Click to expand...

The 6904 and 6906 ARE the 3rd generation?
 
I was gifted with a 469 upon a promotion that was apparently the very first one available in my area......carried that gun for years without a hitch....and still have it to this day. It has never failed to feed, chamber or fire anything it was fed. An excellent defensive piece that I did, and would continue to stake my life on. That gun has never required the replacement of a single part even after thousands of rounds of mostly plus p ammo.

I know it's not politically correct to suggest, but the design of the '69 series lends them to easily being carried 'mexican'. The larger grip frame rides well at belt level and the length/width factor is sufficient to make that method far more secure than thinner framed autos.

As to just 'why' the design series went away I'd strongly suspect had a lot to do with the age of 'plastic'......Glocks, the Sigma series, et al, ad nauseum became the fad of the time and that trend continues.........Truly, there is a LOT to recommend that Smith design and you'd be well served with any of those series.
 
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I was issued both the 469 and the 6904 for duty carry in plain clothes. I bought the 6904 when we transitioned to another gun and still carry it quite a bit.
Not a lot of difference between the 2. The grips are the most visible change. The 469/669 use a 2 piece grip with a solid backstrap. The 6904/6906 use a 1 piece wrap around grip.
Nothing wrong with either of the guns. Not a lot of difference but individual preference on which feels better in your hand.
 
FWIW:

IF you can stand a double-stack pistol then the 3rd Gen Smith 6906 is, in my opinion, a very, very good choice.

Absolutely reliable, more than self defense accurate.. Using the higher capacity 15rd mags of the all steel 5906 you get more capacity, and the longer mag fits, functions, feels,and LOOKS factory when used with the S&W +2 grip extender.

I bought this 6906 last year NIB from CDNN for $399.99, with one mag and a lifetime warranty..

Best Wishes,

Jesse

P.S.

The photos below show the 6906 w/the factory 13rd standard fingertip mag, and then the 6906 with the 5906 15rd mag.

I actually prefer the "feel" of the 6906 with the 15rd 5906 mag over that of the standard 6906 13rd mag.:)

100_9940.jpg

100_9936_01.jpg
 
Wow, so in other words, they are horrific.:D

Does anybody know the width of the grip?

With Smith & Wesson is the lifetime guarantee for the original owner or for the life of the gun?

Thanks guys, I really appreciate all of your help.

Shawn
 
ADBP:

Just guessing, but I'd say the Lifetime warranty would only be good to the original purchaser..

The only manufacturer that I'm AWARE of that offers a "forever", no questions asked to owners of their firearms, new or used, original owner or number 45 is HiPoint.. :)

I WOULD guess that if you bought a S&W firearm used and something related to a factory defect caused it to quit functioning properly you would have a case for getting it fixed free with S&W Customer Service.

Several years ago I bought a "like new" (but NOT new) Colt Detective Special. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, from the inside, with it, and having 2 other D frame Colts (Cobras) to compare it with, plus several J frame Smiths it was obvious the DS was somehow out of whack.

I called Colt CS and they said to send it in and they'd evaluate it and let me know how much it would cost to fix it.

I paid for shipping TO Colt, but when the little DS came back the shipping was prepaid, and there was no charge for the repairs. Turns out it was "out of timing" or something, and they fixed it, PLUS smoothed out the da trigger pull, as a "customer service"..

I think Smith would do the same with a firearm, even used, that had a problem that could be traced to a defect from the factory when new.

IMO Smith & Wesson has one of the best Customer Relations Departments in the firearms business.

FWIW, 3rd Gen Smiths are built quite well, and I don't think you'll ever have a problem with it unless you somehow abuse it.

Best Wishes,

Jesse
 
I had to send something back to Remington and they never even asked if I was the original owner or not.

I would be surprised if S&W wasn't also a "no questions asked" sorta deal.
 
I just picked up a police trade-in 6906 recently, and am still learning how to shoot it...I've only put three mags' worth of rounds through it so far, and I'm a little all over the place, but it was more for reliability testing than for accuracy.

FWIW, I know an FBI agent that still carries a 6906, he's been around long enough that he was "grandfathered" to carry one. He hates shooting the Glocks they now issue, and plans to retire before they force him to carry a Glock.
 
I have heard that S&W's CS is very good and I do not abuse my tools, so I agree that there shouldn't be a problem.

PX, your 6906 looks NIB. I don't know if you can't tell from the photo or not, but it doesn't look like it has a scratch. Looks like you got a fine deal. Can you guesstimate how wide the grip is?

AJ, Well hello neighbor. Do you mind if I ask where you got it, the condition, and how much you paid for yours? The 6906 looks like nearly the perfect ccw.

Thanks again gentlemen, I truly appreciate it and I believe as soon as I can find the right 6904 or 6906 I will be the proud owner of a S&W firearm.

Shawn
 
ATBackPackin said:
AJ, Well hello neighbor. Do you mind if I ask where you got it, the condition, and how much you paid for yours? The 6906 looks like nearly the perfect ccw.
Click to expand...
Oops, sorry -- didn't even pick up that you were just down the pike a ways.

I got mine from Classic Pistol for $399 with one extra mag, plus tax and paperwork fees. Alas, I got the last 6906. :D But they did still have a 669, as well as a few good 5906s.

The 6906 as the perfect CCW? That would depend on what you're looking for -- a lot of people like the 3913 better as it's slimmer through the grip since it's a single stack, so it's easier to conceal. I have a Taurus 709, so that's my deep-conceal pistol. But I prefer the grip width of the 6906, not to mention that it holds more rounds, so I plan to carry that more than the 709.

For comparison:

pix792530953.jpg
3953 (which is the DAO version of the 3913)

pix886130703.jpg
6906
 
I sold a 1st generation Sigma to a friend of mine, he's sent it back twice for warranty repair with no problems (and I had bought the gun used). I think S&W supports their products pretty well.
 
Just for kicks, I shot the last class i took with my ancient "LEO-trade" 469. Still a great little 9mm.

Third gen is very similar; some say a better trigger, the above mentioned grip difference and no screw on the decocker. Oh, and the sights are novaks on the 3rd gen vs. old-school fixed on the 2nd gen.

no matter, mine hits what it's aimed at...
;)

If you find a clean one cheap, you'll not likely be dissapointed, IMHO.

Still easy to get springs and mags, too. Holsters (especially the modern kydex makers) can be a bit harder to ferret out though.
 
The 6906 is an inconsistency in S&W's model numbering system. The "06" on other models represents all stainless steel (both slide and frame), but the 6906's slide is stainless and the frame aluminum alloy. A trivial matter, really, but it might prevent confusion.
 
PX15 said:
Using the higher capacity 15rd mags of the all steel 5906 you get more capacity, and the longer mag fits, functions, feels,and LOOKS factory when used with the S&W +2 grip extender.
Click to expand...
Anyone know where I can find just the grip extender? Used 15-round mags with the grip extender on GB seem to be going for about $40 each, whereas brand-new Mec-Gar 15-round mags without the grip extenders seem to run about $23 each...
 
AJ, I have no idea. Sorry.


I just called Classic Pistol and they said they still have the 669. He told me though that it was DAO. Is that true? Every thing I have read has said they are DA. Have I been mislead or is he mistaken???

669 DA or DAO???

Thanks.

Shawn
 
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