S&W 5906..thoughts?

[JLman]

I have a law enforcement friend who is selling his 9mm S&W 5906 & I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with one & what are your thoughts on it? I will probably be taking it out for a test run this weekend but just wondering what others think about it. Thanks

[Mr. Beretta]

Damn good gun!

Those 3rd gen S&W autos were outstanding. The 5906 has a steel frame making it a little heavy than most. The adj. slights were 3 dots IIRC. Straight back-strap grip. The grip wasn't too wide for a double stack 9mm. I shoot the cousins (5904, 915). Never any problems & easy to clean. If the price is right, go for it.

Good Luck.

[SoCal Bob]

I have a 6906, not an exciting gun but I have found mine to be very reliable and fairly accurate. If it feels good and shoots well, and you like the price, buy it.

[JTROKS]

I will have to agree that they are a darn excellent guns. Mine has the stainless steel frame with adjustable sights. It is very reliabe like a glock and the accuracy is very good. I had this pistol before all the stupid bans and I have a Marlin Camp 9 and a 6906 that excellently compliment each other.

[Mr310]

I want one really badly. They're awesome shooters. My next fun gun is between a 5906 and a baby GLOCK.

[Jonathan Doe]

5906 is a fine gun. I went to the S&W armorer school in June and discovered that it is a good gun. I just picked up mine couple of weeks ago, and I like it.

[echo6cavedog]

Excellent gun! I have a 3rd gen pre-ban and just love it. It's my HD backup. If the price is right, I say go for it. You won't be disappointed.

[ThortheDog]

As mentioned, the 5906 is heavy but built like a tank. They have a reputation for cycling any kind of ammo (I've run a wide variety through mine and never experienced a problem).

The only thing I don't like about the 3rd gen. Smiths is the magazine disconnect. If you don't mind living with that, it would be a fine range and home defense pistol.

Incidentally, both straight back and palm swell grips are available, and are pretty easy to switch if you have a preference.

[JTROKS]

Just be advised that the 5906 came with aluminum frame and stainless frames. For me I don't mind the extra weight of stainless just for the long haul durability. If anyone has a stainless frame 6906 that would prefer an aluminum frame please let me know - I'm willing to trade my excellent condition 6906. Sorry for being off topic.

[ThortheDog]

Just be advised that the 5906 came with aluminum frame and stainless frames. For me I don't mind the extra weight of stainless just for the long haul durability. If anyone has a stainless frame 6906 that would prefer an aluminum frame please let me know - I'm willing to trade my excellent condition 6906. Sorry for being off topic.

Yeah, there is a bewildering array of variations in the S&W 3rd generation pistols. The first two digits (59xx, 69xx, 39xx etc.) designate the series while the last two digits (xx06 for example) designate the variation within the series. 06 is the all stainless model, 04 (like 5904) is the steel slide alloy frame model (I think).

[skyking13]

Recently gave my 5906 to my kid when I picked up a Para Slim Hawg .45. The Smith was a hugely reliable gun and accurate with most all ammo. As I have a medium sized hand I was less pleased with the double stack 14 round (my kid has a larger hand). The ambidextrous safety/de-cock is a big plus for lefties too!

[BillPear]

Just be advised that the 5906 came with aluminum frame and stainless frames. For me I don't mind the extra weight of stainless just for the long haul durability. If anyone has a stainless frame 6906 that would prefer an aluminum frame please let me know - I'm willing to trade my excellent condition 6906. Sorry for being off topic.

Not Correct 5906 is Stainless frame/slide.

Yeah, there is a bewildering array of variations in the S&W 3rd generation pistols. The first two digits (59xx, 69xx, 39xx etc.) designate the series while the last two digits (xx06 for example) designate the variation within the series. 06 is the all stainless model, 04 (like 5904) is the steel slide alloy frame model (I think).

Correct 5906 is stainless/stainless 5904 stainless/aluminum

I have one to match my 1006 and I also have its predecessor a the 659 love them all solid goto guns that will not let you down!

[JLman]

I will have to agree that they are a darn excellent guns. Mine has the stainless steel frame with adjustable sights. It is very reliabe like a glock and the accuracy is very good. I had this pistol before all the stupid bans and I have a Marlin Camp 9 and a 6906 that excellently compliment each other.

Nice collection! Is the top one the 5906? I believe he said his was the stainless steel frame which is what I would prefer. From all the feedback it seems that this is a pretty good & reliable gun. Hopefully I will be able to test it out this weekend!

[JTROKS]

The top one is the 5906 and it has a stainless frame, compared to the 6906 that has an aluminum frame which has a different finish to it. I did change the grip of the 5906 to a straight back strap of the 4006 and roughened it up with a soldering iron.

[Apec]

If the price is right, go for it. The only thing keeping me from getting one is my unwillingness to SSE a police-trade-in gun that usually goes for 300-400, on top of DROS and all that.