Hi Guys, I'm no stranger to S&W revolvers, but know nothing about the Semi-autos. I've wanted a 9mm to play with for a while and today went Christmas shopping and stopped in a few gunshops along the way. Almost bought a Sig Sauer West German import P225, but decided to continue looking. I found and bought what appears to me to be a nice S&W 908. Someone was inside it as the chamber area of the outside of the barrel and feed ramp are nicely polished. Also the sights do not appear to me to be origional, but I don't know what came on these. The sights are blacker in color than the slide and have the 3 white dots. The rear sight is a Novak style. The sights and the white dots look new. I just ran two clips through it in the backyard. One clip of Federal 124 gr. Hydra-shocks and a clip of Federal 115 gr. RN. At ten yards it put all in a 3" group off hand fired quickly. It does shoot about 1 1/2" high at this range. The transition from double action to single action will take some practice to get used to.

Anyway what can you guys tell me about it? Did the 908 come with sights as I described? Anything else I should know about it?

I bought the 908 and an extra clip and got out the door for a little under $400. Good price? Average price? Or "wow you got ripped off" price? Don't sugar coat anything, tell me what you think.

Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas to all.

__________________
Big Fred

Those are the standard Novak sights for the S&W 39XX pistols.

See Hello all, new member proud s7w owner for a recent thread on the 908. You've stumbled upon one of the best single stack 9mm designs out there.

As I posted in the other thread...

As for the price, $400 is a little bit high for a Budget Line model, but not unreasonably so. Especially if it's in excellent condition. You can usually find a 3914, the "fancier" version, for $400 used, and the 908 and 908Ss I've seen sell for around $300.

Fred,
I would say you did fine on price, that's about the going rate around here.

The factory sights on the 908's were plastic, if yours are steel, then they've been replaced.

__________________
Eric

I did a bit better than you on price, $250.00 for the pair of #908's in this photo. The #908 is a great gun, sometimes difficult to find a proper holster for. I know where a NIB #908s is for $450.00, so you did well enough. BTW, when you were still Little Fred, someone should of told you those things are "magazines", not "clips". The #908 uses the same magazines as the #3913/3914, except for the smaller seven shot version.

Second photo shows the two different style of mags.

Attached Images

	00763.JPG (33.0 KB, 784 views)
	03411.JPG (42.6 KB, 463 views)

Hey Guys, Thanks for the quick replys. RogueJSK thanks for the link to the other post. I tried to do a search before I posted but guess I didn't search correctly. I really like that 3914. I'll have to keep my eye posted for one in the future and maybe upgrade.

signsrup, The sights on mine are just as the ones pictured. Could they be aluminum instead of plastic? They just don't seem to be plastic, but are not steel.

ColbyBruce, Your deal just kicks mine in the butt for sure! I was never a "little" Fred. I've always been a big guy. "Big Fred" is my alias for CAS so I just use it for my screen name. And I know better about the magazine vs clip nomenclature, but for some reason I always seen to say "clip". Just as grips are grips to me but to some they are stocks.

The 908 was priced at $349 and I found a "magazine" in the assorted grip and clip box at the gunshop for $18. Add tax and NICS and i got out the door for under $400.

Thanks Guys. Feel free to add anything else I need to know about my 908.

Oh Yeah, almost forgot, do you guys think that the plastic guide rod and mag release button are going to be problematic in the future?

__________________
Big Fred

I don't think the plastic parts are anything to worry about unless the gun will see daily use. I have not fired mine in over two months, I have been alternating between a Sig P228 and a S&W #5946. Mine should last forever, LOL!!

Just a little off topic, but here's one of my favorite CCW pistols, a conversion built on the 908s frame with a 910s slide and barrel.



It was put togeather by our friend and one of the Origional Forum Old Guys, "Short Ranger". Actually, Shorty's goal was the pistol that resulted from the Hi-Cap 910s Frame with the compact 908s Slide.

This gun was put togeather from the 'surplused' parts and upgraded with Hogue stocks and True Dot night sights. Shorty did a fine job. I like it alot better than the gun HE got!

This gun functions flawlessly with whatever I put in it.... it really sings with Speer 124 Gold Dot LE Ammo.

I think the 908 is a terrific value for a 9mm pistol and have to wonder why S&W didn't sell more of them. I have two, a stainless and a blue model. The blue one was refinished because its finish was looking a little thin, especially for summertime wear here in the sunny South. I got lucky with the holsters and found a couple to use while I am waiting for my Milt Sparks Executive Companion - a design I have enjoyed for other pistols.

Frankly I think the price you paid was fine for such a hugely sturdy and dependable pistol.

Attached Images

IMG_8266.jpg (77.3 KB, 335 views)

All I can add is I owned a 908S, changed the plastic guide rod to steel, fired it with no problems and enjoyed it. I say enjoyed it because like an idiot I traded it away. For CC it's an excellent choice. Oh, since you are new to auto's, it's called a magazine, not a clip. Enjoy.

New member here, I was able to purchase a 908 from gun broker around Thanksgiving time. Recived it in about a week and gave $215.00 for it. Have had it to the range twice and at 12 yards holds a good group for me of 3 inches. 25 yards I will have to keep working on. I'm sure most know that a 39 model mag. will also work in the 908. it extends about a 1/2" beyond butt, just made a spacer and looks ok. Also have a model 39 & 459. From what I seen so far, the 908 and 39 are a little accurate then the 459. I hope you enjoy your 908 as much as I do mine.

Update, Went to the range today and shooting at 15 yards from a rest I got groups that measured 3/4"wide by 1 1/2" vertical. I know the vertical stringing is me trying to get used to the trigger. I like the little auto but it is going to be a learning curve for me to get used to the trigger. I'll not be giving up my mdl. 36 anytime soon.

About the only things I don't like are the plastic parts. I know I can replace the guide rod but cannot replace the magazine release as the
3913 and 3914 releases are different from what I can tell by looking at pictures. There appears to be a notch at the top of the hole in the frame where the release button is on the 39XX series and no notch on my 908. Maybe I'm worring about nothing, but I just don't like plactic parts.

Anyway it's a keeper but I'll be looking for a 39XX in the future.

__________________
Big Fred

What I find so appealing about mine, is it's simplistic functionality. It carry's well and provides the piece of mind with 9 rounds of 9mm. You did good. Never sell it.

I always steared our troops away from the 908 and towards the 3913s. I think they are more reliable and more durable.

I love to revitalize old threads.......I recently fired my 908 during off-duty quals. Two things, it shoots about 2" below POA. No big deal, I just aim at the throat. Second, if you ever find one, buy it. I had officers ooooing and aaaahing over it, wishing their little Glocks felt and shot as good. And to the gentleman out here that gave me advice on 3M tape for the front strap, right on brother, works like a champ.

old thread but comment on new to me 908. mine was owned by a gunsmith who polished the feed ramp and replaced the guide rod with steel from 3913 and replaced the slide lock with steel piece. this is a great little 9mm

They call that redneck stippling, but it is effective (and cheap) on that otherwise smooth front strap. Since with one roll I have a lifetime supply, I have been experimenting with the tape on other pistols and never fail to find it an improvement (especially on the draw) over a smooth, slick front strap.

Hi all,
I've only been shooting handguns for about 8 months and my collection is up to 3 guns. I am wondering about my 908, it shoots about 5"-6" low and a touch left at 20'. I had the guy at the range shoot it and he said the same thing, he suggested I chat with this group of experts to see if there might be a better sight to install. I would also like some advice on what smithing would make this a better gun, I read that the guide rod could be replaced with a metal one. Thank you in advance!

Old thread! I solved my low-shooting 908 by installing a click adjustable (for elevation) Novak rear sight. Now it shoots right to POA within 25 yds...

Firescout, do you happen to have the part number to that sight. Would like to change out mine.

I'll look it up tomorrow on my old receipt from Novak. I bought it around 2003-2004, IIRC.