S&W 6906

[Iggy]

Who has one and what do you think if it.?

 

[GRIZ22]

I carried one as a duty gun for about 10 years and oversaw a couple of hundred my agency used. The original compact AFAIC. Easier than a full size to conceal but big enough to shoot well.

There was a modification to the grips. S&W found that if the gun was dropped hard enough the grip would crack. Being the grip served as the mainspring housing you had a gun that didn't work if this happened. I never saw this occur. S&W made a new grip (reinforced, stronger material) solving this problem. The new grips have two dots on the heel of the grip where the mainspring sits.

Recoil spring needs to be changed out every 5000 rds or so.

Many people would clean the slide by inverting it, slipping it down with solvent, and just wiping it down. The solvent would wash crap down into the firing pin channel and could eventually lock up the firing pin. It takes a few thousand rounds or really dirty ammo for this to occur. I saw this happen twice. Prevent it by blowing the crap out with Gunscrubber.

These are the only issues I ever saw with it. I still have a 469 I wouldn't hesitate to carry.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I use the 6904 (same gun, just blued) as a winter carry piece and year round night stand gun. Great pistol!
The only downside to it is magazine availability. Promag lists them, but.........ugh. I have found Marlin Camp 9 10-rounders work and fit flush with the bottom of the well.

 

[bannockburn]

Iggy

At one time or another I had a Model 469, a Model 669, and a Model 6906. All were decent guns though I felt the DA trigger pull on them was a bit long with some over travel. I also never really cared for the slide mounted safety. The guns themselves functioned fine and I never had a problem with reliability or durability. Overall a well built pistol. As NIGHTLORD40K mentioned magazines and possibly spare parts are the main issues to contend these days with S&W's all metal pistols.

 

[Paladin7]

I had a 6906 and it was a very accurate and reliable pistol. I sold it years ago in favor of the striker fired option. I never got used to the safety.

GRIZ22 posted some very good information on it above.

If you are interested in one, you won't go wrong. They are fine pistols.

 

[armedwalleye]

I've got a 6904 and a 6906 and love them both. Solid, predictable shooters, well built, and way ahead of their time when produced. They'd feed empty beer cans if I could jam them into the magazines!

 

[Iggy]

A friend is bringing one to town in the next few days..I've been doing some homework and the gun sounds like a winner. I sure don't need another gun, but that never seems to make much difference when a nice gun shows up.

Thanks for the input.

 

[SwampWolf]

I have had one since 1989 and, following my agency's transition from revolvers to auto pistols, the Model 6906 was my duty pistol until I retired ten years later. In all the bi-annual qualification drills, while using thousands of my department's cheap reloads over the ensuing decade, this pistol never once failed to function; not once. The pistol is rugged, accurate and dependable.
Of the many different auto pistols I still have in my inventory, including a CZ 85, a Beretta 92, an HK USP 40, a SIG 227, a SIG 226, a Ruger LCP and a couple of 1911s, none have proven to be more reliable than my "Third Generation" Smith pistols. The Model 6906 continues to be the pistol I rely on most for EDC duties.
In my experience, factory magazines, both new and used, are still relatively easy to locate and are comparatively affordable.

 

[262madmike]

Years ago I had a 469 liked it .

 

[Bama59]

I would like a 6906 and had a 469 few years ago , the compact fit great in hand and very accurate.

 

[Shimitup]

In the more than 20 years I've had mine, no malfunctions. Not my range gun so that means only 2-3000 rounds. It is one of my favorites that I carry from time to time.

 

[RA40]

I have the blued variant 6904 that was picked up in '92 or so. Also had the 3913 which was sold. I still enjoy shooting the 6904 though it doesn't get much range time, maybe 400-500 rounds a year. Installed the 5904 spur hammer last year.

 

[RA40]

In my experience, factory magazines, both new and used, are still relatively easy to locate and are comparatively affordable.

Do you come across any of the 10 round mags? Finding plenty of 10 round 59XX and the regular 12 round factory.

 

[hemiram]

Another great S&W 3rd generation gun. I have one and the only bad thing about it is it's hard to find decently priced 12 round mags for it. I found out how hard when a friend stepped on one of mine and I had to look for one. I found them ok, it was the prices that were the hard part. I finally found a couple of them for $22 a pop and grabbed them up.

 

[Danoobie]

Well, I'm a little opinionated, because I like high quality guns, with good balance, that handle well, are a
dependable, safe design, made of metal.

It's the best CC gun I own.

 

[czhen]

Good, solid, reliable, accurate carry and bug pistol. I strongly believe that 3 gen sw are some of the best pistols ever made by S&W.
I have the 3906 ss and the 6906 in black both hammerless.
Only one drawback is the weight. Nevertheless, the recoil in none in my opinion, comparing to others pistols same cal..

 

[SwampWolf]

Do you come across any of the 10 round mags? Finding plenty of 10 round 59XX and the regular 12 round factory.

I haven't checked in a while but CDNN and various gun shows have been my sources for finding Third Generation pistol magazines at affordable prices.

 

[RA40]

I haven't checked in a while but CDNN and various gun shows have been my sources for finding Third Generation pistol magazines at affordable prices.

They had them somewhere around October I recollect. I'd picked up 10 round mags for the Hi-Power and noted to self to buy some for the S&W on the next order...by then they'd cleared their inventory out. Seems that other shops did to so I've not had luck finding factory 10 rounders. The CA implementation of "high cap" mag legalities on Jan 1. We have a stay on the pre-ban mags but we know that is on the agenda.

 

[Big Mike]

They are good pistols, I had a 6906 and a 6946. I agree with what all have said above, but if you pick one up, and have problems, know that spare parts are getting harder to come by.

 

[Iggy]

I let'er slide.. I'll stick with .45s.

 

[Riomouse911]

Im in the minority here, my experience with a 5906 (all stainless, squared triggerguard, adjustable sight version) was a nightmare. If it wasn’t mandatory issue/carry I woulda tossed it off of a pier.

I still own a 4013 so I wasn’t completely poisoned against 3rd gen Smiths, but the constant jams and spongy, lousy trigger of that 9mm was a real turn off.

Hopefully the 6906 you are contemplating treats you better than I was treated by that lemon .

Stay safe!

 

[lysanderxiii]

There was a modification to the grips. S&W found that if the gun was dropped hard enough the grip would crack. Being the grip served as the mainspring housing you had a gun that didn't work if this happened. I never saw this occur. S&W made a new grip (reinforced, stronger material) solving this problem. The new grips have two dots on the heel of the grip where the mainspring ...

Minor correction:

The new pattern have ONE dot. The old type have no dot.

 

[GRIZ22]

Minor correction:

The new pattern have ONE dot. The old type have no dot.

Thanx for the correction.

 

[RA40]

Minor correction:

The new pattern have ONE dot. The old type have no dot.

Thanks for the update. I was thinking, "darn, mine has one dot".