Good evening guys and gals. I own many of the single stack 645 and 4506's in 45 ACP. As I grow older I have a hankering for a high capacity 9mm in steel. Any suggestions would be appreciated. As always thank you for your input and advice.


Sonny.

5906 is your answer. All Stainless and drop dead dependable.

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Glen

+1^^^^ The best all Stainless Steel 9mm S&W ever made. Great accuracy, highly dependable and inexpensive. Most go for under $400 now. All used of course.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I like the CZ guns as far as new ones are concerned-espacially the stainless model with decocker. Also the 5906 as above, but the originator-the mod 59, if you can find a nice one. I have 2 in stainless/nickel and they are superb 9's.

If you are talking about S&W you would have to find some older firearms. The 559 & 5905 is carbon steel the 659 & 5906 would be stainless steel full size pistols.

The 669 & 6906 would be a compact stainless. There were a few Romancer Center offerings but the production was quite low and they are hard to come by

SIG has offered all steel framed versions of the P226 and P229 at various times, both production and the Sport series. 229s would need 9MM conversion barrels

Again, you would be looking at a used firearm, but not as old as the S&Ws. The newer SIG X5 and X6 pistols are in production. These are mastershop pistols and bear a higher price than production guns.


EAA has the Witness series of pistols. These are currently in production. There are quite a range to chose from.



images courtsey of EAA

There is the CZ75B. It is availble in a few configurations.


There may be more, but they are not coming to mind at the moment

Model 59s are alloy based pistols, not steel.

If steel is what you want then you should be looking for a 5905 or a 559. Both are great pistols.

5905


559

Many of the pistols listed above are factory with alloy frames not steel. To the OP, Do your research on all of the above - you'll find the 5906 and 5904 are the all steels. I can't speak to the European models.

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Glen

With the exception of the model 59 mentioned above and the 5904 in your post, they are all available in carbon or stainless framed versions.

The 59 and 5904 are alloy framed firearms

Whether steel or not, the model 59 is the original classic that all of the others were modeled after.

I have 2 blue 59's that I use for concealed carry or nightstand guns. Add to that a 9mm shield in an ankle holster and I am all set. Also nice to share ammo.

You can find a used 59 for around $400 if you look.

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James Redfield
LM #497

"Whether steel or not, the model 59 is the original classic that all of the others were modeled after."


For me, that would be the Browning High Power.

There are some 5906 LE trade in's out there that are pretty easy to rehabilitate. (all stainless slide and frame) After a thorough cleaning, new OEM springs, grips and a silica shower......

Attached Images

IMG_2092.jpg (151.3 KB, 43 views)

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

59XX
Older Sig 2226
CZ 75/85

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

Calling the Model 59 the first steel high capacity 9mm might be acceptable to S&W fans, but since production on it began in 1971 it is hard to overlook the Walther P-38 and the Browning P-35 as latecomers. Perhaps there is something in the numbers I don't understand. To the OP, the earlier all steel BHP is hard to beat for ergonomics or accuracy IMO.

P-38 is a single stack 8 round DA/SA. The BHP is a 13 round double stack SA only. IMHO, the 59 family is an almost perfect fusion of the two.

Ya but this is a S&W forum.....

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James Redfield
LM #497

Thanks everyone. Great choices there, but I am leaning on keeping it in the Smith family. I think that 5906 sounds like a good fit for me.

I know you specified a 9mm, but don't you think you are reducing calibers too quickly? From 645's and 4506's to the 9mm, not that a 9mm is anything to scoff at!

I recommend you seriously look at an all stainless .40 caliber as a more smooth transition. The .40 caliber will still give you a near .45 cal feel in a slightly smaller pistol such as the 4006. All the same features as the 5900 series while still carrying a double stack 12-13 rounds of ammunition.

The 4006, slightly smaller and shorter than the 645/4506's yet really absorb the .40 caliber recoil very manageably. With the latest drought of ammunition, .40 caliber is also much easier to find than 9mm has been.

Just a thought....

Hi folks,
There is the Armalite AR 24 C. I have one and have shot it for some time.
It is reliable and accurate.
It does tend to sit more than it used to after the 659 showed up.
All around I prefer the 659 but for out and out shootablity I give the AR-24 the edge.
Thanks and enjoy your search.
Mike

5906
5946
5926

All steel all full capacity all fun.

Next question?

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Good Choice, 5906 accurate great trigger reset, little recoil. Heres mine with big dot night sites.

Not to be picky, but 5904 has an alloy frame, not a steel frame. 5906 is, of course, stainless steel frame and slide.

Hard to go wrong with a 5906....of course I also love the CZ 75 and the many clones, as well as a Browning Hi Power.....what the heck.... just get them all!!
Randy

5946 is the all steel stainless DAO. It is a pre-cocked no second strike capability DAO. A lot of these were recently available from Bud's and Robertson's and CDNN. I think they are out of them. But check their sites. Usually available cheaper than the 5906. Most of them had dim to dead night sights. I saw one at a local gunshop in Leb/Lanc within the last week.

Get you a police trade 5906 and some Mother's mag polish and come up with this:

I liked it so well I bought another one for a spare if parts get scarce.

Wow that is a beautiful tool. It looks great!

I bought a new M59 in 1980. Has never missed a beat with ball and after a ramp polish she's fine with XTP's. Steel slide...aluminum frame. I have read that the very early ones were all steel. Never held one but heard ????
I love all steel, take steriods and am in the gym everyday so I can carry them like a real man.
Just kidding.