If things go right I'm planning to buy me a S&W pistol next month, and I was considering a M&P. But, a friend of mine contacted me to see if I'd be interested in his 6906. I have no experience with S&W pistols, but I've fondled the M&P and I like the way it fits. However, I like metal frames as opposed to polymer.

If you had a choice between the two, which would you pick, and why?

I do not like polymer frame guns. A handgun is a weapon, it should function as such empty as well as loaded. A metal or alloy frame gun makes a better club than a polymer gun.

As an owner of a 6906, I personnaly would prefer this gun to that of an M&P. However, this is certainly a subjective decision. Compared to my 4006, the 6906 is much lighter and a smaller foot print with the 3.5 inch barrel. Even with its alloy frame, the 6906 might be heavier than the M&P. I prefer the alloy over polymer, but if you like the feel of the M&P then I would go in that direction.

Now there's a difficult question, two of my favorite Smiths...

For carry purposes, a 6906 is very comparable in size and weight to a compact M&P. My M&P40c is probably the best fitting gun I've ever held and shoots pretty well. Dad's 6906 is probably the best shooting semi-auto I've shot and feels pretty good in hand. The 6906 will undoubtedly hold a higher value if kept in good condition.

If I wanted a gun to carry and not really care about how it looks/what happens to it/messing it up, I'd go with an M&P (which is my I did). If I wanted an excellent firearm to hold on to as well as use, I'd go with the 6906.

Too bad "both" isn't one of the options...

__________________
Fast is fine;accurate is final

IMHO, the m&p is far and away the more 'shootable' design. I'm not much of a fan of da/sa autos and believe the short striker cock and fire of the M&P is much easier to contend with.
Additionally, the slide being lower in relation to the hand on the M&P is an advantage in recoil control.
The changable back straps of the M&P and its general design make it one of the most ergonomically pleasing pistols on the planet.
Nobody loves traditional steel and walnut more than I do, but in comparing those two the M&P is simply the more modern, better design.

if things really go well, "both" may be an option

it would be for carry, and the more I research it I really like the 6906. I've told my friend I'll take it...now I have to wait and see if it's all going to work out, which I'll know in a couple of weeks.

Oh, the horror of the decision! :-) Both are excellent choices and you won't go wrong with either one. What is your friend asking for the 6906? Price may be the determining factor.

Also consider this - the M&P will be a new firearm, with S&W standing behind it 100%. While S&W will service the 6906, they are under no obligation to provide that service for free; the warranty on that pistol ran out long ago. Additionally, there is a wider range of accessories available for the M&P, particularly holsters.

Don't worry about the metal vs. polymer framed issue. I LOVE S&W 3rd Generation pistols and have a nice 6906 sitting in my safe. However, I also LOVE polymer framed pistols and have a number of Glocks in my safe, too. They all seem to get along just fine.

I own both of the two guns in question. In short the M&P 9c
is presently up for sale. Nuff said on my opinion.

6906 hands down. Thinner slide than the M&P. Very accurate, reliable, and a trigger head and shoulders above the M&P. And the 6906 is not plastic AND is a good looking pistol. Regards 18DAI.

The M&P is a very nice striker fired gun, and feels great to hold, but I hate plastic guns. For me, a semi auto must have a safety, DA/SA operation, and a mag disconnect. I have a 5903 and a 6906. I have owned 4 plastic guns (2 Glocks, a taurus, and a Beretta PX4), and sold them all. No more plastic for me.

I own both of the guns in question. 6906 and a M&P9c and I love them both. They both carry well and are easily conceled with a good holster. The ammo capacity is the same. I would say get both but if I had to choose 1 I would say get the pistol that you shoot better with and feels the best in your hand

__________________
Shot placement is key!!

This is a question I've been going around about in my own mind. While I don't have a 6906 anymore I do have two Shorty Fortys. I traditionally carry in an ankle holster, at present it's my tried and true M60. I have been looking for a nice compact auto in 40 for this purpose. The Shorty Forty is just a bit too heavy for this application. The weight difference in the M&P40c is just different enough to make it acceptable. There is about 5 ozs. difference in the two pistols.

I prefer the TDA guns to the striker fired guns, if a cap doesn't go bang on a TDA gun all you have to do is pull the trigger again to see if it will, much like a revolver. However on a striker fired pistol you have to reset the striker (rack the slide) before trying again.

Both pistols fit my hand very well, the plus goes to the M&P with the changable backstraps.

I still haven't made my mind up on this delima, it's my bull headedness and love for the 3rd gen guns that prevent me from getting the M&P.

Cheers,
Sam

__________________
Beware the man with one gun...

Link to pics of the 6906 please?

__________________
For God and Country

don't have them yet

I have the M&P and regret the day I sold my 6906...they're both great...go for both if you can!

buy the 6906 if it's a good buy, they aren't made any longer and seem to be in demand you likely could get + your money in a sale.

From the perspective of personal preference there's not really any wrong answer to this question ...

That said, a nice late production 6906 is on my list of guns I'd like to add to my collection someday.

I carried a couple of issued early production models (not at the same time, of course ) for several years. I once estimated I fired upwards of 45,000+ rounds through one of them before retiring it from service and checking out another. Both were produced circa '89-90. I used those guns in my regular plainclothes assignment and as my primary training guns when working as an instructor (hence the high mileage).

I really like the 6906, almost as much as the 3913.

While I own half a dozen different plastic framed guns, and they're fine for 'working guns', I still have an affinity for a good traditional double action, metal-framed semiauto.

The only reason I'd prefer to find a late production example is to get the Novak rear sight, MIM hammer, trigger & sear, the wide barrel tab & straight-cut breech face and the rounded trigger guard. I could update any older model with newer internal parts but it would be easier to just get one of the newer models in the first place.

The 6906 had a lively feel in the hand and great balance, in my opinion. I liked that model a lot. Plus, it also had the S&W TDA trigger I've come to like after carrying one or another of the S&W TDA guns as issued & personally-owned guns for 20 years.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer