I keep seeing both of these pistols in the CDNN catalog and looked up some threads on this forum as well as youtube but I still have questions....
If you will, which is considered a better gun? and by better I mean all things considered. I have given up polymer guns and shoot a CZ 75b as my only semi auto and now looking to add more steel or alloy framed guns.
how are they for accuracy,ease of maintenance,availability of parts and mags,holsters,upgrades?
Thank you.

I bought a 5906 in Jan 1993 straight from factory, came with one high capacity magazine, pre-94 ban. Love this firearm - I was in the Army when I got it, and had no place to store it when I went overseas to Korea, so I had it added to my orders so I could carry it as my side-arm while there. I loved carrying her as a sidearm in the field, but she's a bit "thick" to carry concealed, imo.

I've put tens, maybe hundreds, of thousands of rounds through her the past 19 years, cleaning meticulously after each firing, and light oil on the action/rails and recoil spring once a month whether fired or not, and the only time I have issues with jams are with cheap ammo or reloads.

Never had to replace a single part, and still get tight groupings out to 25 yards.

I have seen others at shows that have been worked hard and loved little, and they don't feel as smooth to me.

Red

I have a 2nd gen 659 , I'm unsure as well about the 6906 is it an alloy frame ? Or just a impact model . Either way my 659 was a police trade in I got for 300 bucks . I've put hours of work into cleaning & modifying the back strap insert to fit . Add some wood grips & I'm very pleased . All steel is the way to go

Both are great and functionally similar. The 6906 is just shorter (amiright?) so that's personal preference which is driven by intended purpose. I have a 5906 and love it but I don't carry it anywhere but to the range.

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It's harder if you're stupid

I have a Model 6906 myself that I really like. Its light, compact,
& very accurate. You don't say what your intended use is. I use
mine for range & home defense. Since we have open carry in OK,
I have carried it in a belt holster(still covered by a coat)with no
problems. I have a M&P40C for pocket carry. Accessories(holsters,
extra mags,sights)don't seem to be a problem. Hope this helps you!

The 5906 has a stainless steel frame; the 6906 frame is aluminum alloy. There is a significant difference in weight. The 5906 is also larger. If you are looking for a target/range/home defense gun go with the 5906. If you are looking for a concealed carry weapon, then the 6906 is probably the better choice.

Thank you Gentlemen.
As we have no CCW in New Jersey,size is not a deciding factor,I also have a .357 as a HD firearm. I find that I am a better shot with a heavier gun, with the CZ coming in at a svelte 2.2 Lbs and my 28-2 at over 3, weight is also not much of a factor. I have fallen in love with the permanence and engineering of a all steel weapon and am leaning towards the 5906 which retails in supposed good to very good condition for $329.99 with one mag. The same vendor has the 15 round mags for $33.99 new or $19.99 used and with the price of ammo rising I wish to get the best price I can and still have some cash for upgrades,holster and still afford some ammo.

If weight and concealment are not issues, then the 5906 is the answer. It's a solid gun and even in my hands insanely accurate. I never carry mine because I have a number of lighter 3rd generation guns, but I like mine so much that I bought a 5904 that I know will sit in my safe most of the time.

Agree with everyone on the 5906 - I too liked my 5906 so much that I bought a 4006, then a 6904, then a 6690 RSR... and.... I can't quit... I've got a real bad case of S&WThirdgen Fever....

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Glen

Let us know how it went with CDNN on the 5906 and the mags. I know they are out of factory mags , new or used.I just received a few Mecgar's I ordered a couple of weeks ago. To say they are busy I think is an understatement.

I'm not even going to attempt it right now,I tried to get through last week to see if I could pick up some 15 round mags for the CZ and was hung up on twice. I finally bit the bullet and ordered 2 of the notorious Promag's from Nachez and now hoping for the best.Even those are all sold out now.
If I'm not able to get through or the 5906 are now sold out I have a Beretta 92f that a friend wants to sell me.

I thought I read somewhere, maybe on this forum, that Mecgar was the OEM manufacturer for S&W magazines.

I've never had much luck with non factory magazines from anyone, especially Pro Mag.

Entirely possible. They make OE mags for a number of popular guns and manufactures. As for the Promags.....you spin the wheel and you take your chances. Ironic really since they are all American made.

I had some Pro Mags for my 5906 way back when, maybe 20 years ago. I never got one of them to feed even close to reliably so they went back.

I learned to only trust OEM magazines. I even have two aftermarket magazines that work fine in my 3914 and I will only use them for the range. I'm just superstitious I guess.

I really like my CDNN 6906. It often nudges my Glock 30 out of carry duty. With either, springs are the most like "replacement" items and Wolff carries all sorts of them and replacement kits for complete overhaul.

If carry is your intent, go with the 6906. If for the range or home duty, the 5906 would have the advantage.

Exactly what I was going to say. I have both the 6906 and a 5906. The 5906 is a fun gun at the range: the relatively heavy weight really soaks up recoil, which is pretty mild from the 9mm, anyways. It is my HD pistol, too.

My 6906 has CC duty about 99% of the time. It's a little smaller, and considerably lighter than the 5906, so it's very nice for CC use. I get a little better accuracy from my 5906, but at reasonable distances, the 6906 is certainly plenty accurate for self defense purposes. It holds 12+1, making it a good choice for CC duty.

If you can only afford to buy one, I would strongly recommend the 6906, for it's smaller size, and especially it's lighter weight.

Once you get the 6906, you'll probably want a 5906, as well, though. Get them while the prices are still good: there are only so many of them in the world. Once the surplus supply dries up, prices will climb quickly.

I am not very good at deciding between the 6906 and the 5906. I have 2 of each. I don't carry so I can't give an opinion. They both are good shooters. I would be satisfied with either.

As my handle name says... I own a 5906tsw (tactical series model). Bought in NIB years ago. This is my best shooter of the bunch. It is heavy when loaded. I use it when camping and out in the woods. This pup, all steel, IMHO is the real deal for a semi auto pistol. Groupings are great and it is smooth when you shoot it. Keep it clean and it will treat you right for years to come. Lots of luck in your decision!

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5906tsw,MP15,Shield9/45,39-2

You can get 14+1 in the 6906 with a mag extention on the 5906 mag.
I like it. It extends the compact 6906 handle 1/2" longer making it the same length as the full size 5906. I find the 6906 easier to shoot set up like that.

I recently bought S&W mags from Midway for my 5906, and as a first-time customer got a significant discount.

I think the 5906 is as good as it gets for home defense. That big steel gun soaks up the 9mm recoil. It will last forever, it is not likely to rust. Put night sights on it and a 20 round Mec Gar magazine. Almost nobody grabs an extra mag for a bump in the night. The double action first shot is great for, what Mas Ayoob calls, threat management. You are about 20 times more likely to point a gun at somebody than you ever are to actually fire the gun. I want a 12 pound, 7/10s of an inch pull trigger when I am half awake. The DA/SA trigger can be learned, unless you are a whiny, 20 something year old glock kid. :-) The trigger reset for single action is as short and crisp as any factory pistol I have ever tried. You can also relatively safely stick that pistol in your waistband if you have to. I do not normally wear a holster at 2AM. Always holster with your thumb on the hammer and/or flip the safety on. I would NEVER stick a glock in a waistband, I don't even like to holster those things. I would not trade my two 5906 house guns for anything.

Not a big fan of Midway,They don't ship ammo to NJ,asks a mess of asinine questions to get other peripherals shipped, nickle and dime you to death. I'd rather pay a little more and not give them the business. But thanks for the tip.

Everyone does have their own preference, as to which is the most comfortable and the ease of concealment(if thats what you intend to do with it). I've went through numerous S&W automatics and have concluded, in my own opinion, that the 457 was perfect for me. I love the compactness of it as well as it being a .45 all rolled into one. It may only have 7 rounds in it, but it works for me. Thats what matters. What works for you?

I'm not a very big guy, 5'10" 140lbs, and I conceal the 5906, loaded with 17 round mag and a 17 round mag in a case without any problems. The safety is wider than I'd like, but that is about it.

I used to carry a Sig P6(P225) which is a single stack 9mm not much smaller than a 5906.

During the winter months, it's much easier to carry since I normally at the minimum wear a jacket anyway. I have a nice Bianchi holster that hugs pretty well. During the summer, in the waist band with larger shirts so I don't print much.

The 6906 is a mislabeled gun from S&W. It should be called the 6913. It is the double stack version of a 3913. Compact, alloy frame, stainless slide.

The replacement is the M&P9c.

Lost Lake, with the 69xx being it's own series 6903 would be correct. 'I' think it should have been called the 5913/14 and what a shame they never made a 5916 or a 3916.

If you're looking for a compromise between the two try a 5903 or 5943, mine is a 5943TSW, I usually carry it daily, just depends
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I have both guns and love them equally. The 6906 is a great carry gun and works well with those folks who have smaller hands, the 5906 is a fun range gun that really soaks up the recoil with it's beefy weight. My 5906 is one of my home defense guns and is great for the task. Both weapons perform very well, in my experience, with Mec Gar mags of all sizes. I got one 15 round factory mag with the 5906, so I bought the base pad kit from S&W and converted it to use as a 15 rounder with the 6906. I now exclusively use Mec Gar 15, 17 and 20 round mags in the 5906 with 100% reliability. They are also flawless in the 6906, but do extend a bit from the frame.

A very close friend has the very same pistol and after firing it always remembered the feel, so that is why I started this particular tread, The weight does not bother me in the least and it just felt right. Now if only I can get through to the dealer before the stocks are totally depleted.

I don't think the problem is with Midway as much as it is with New Jersey. I order stuff and they send it, period. No questions or nickel and dime stuff.