I have two DAOs a 4586 and a 6946 and have several
TDAs. If I could choose again I wish they all were DAOs.

After trying and discarding:

A 3913 - double decockers -MEH..

I finally scored a 3953.

Perfect. Being a revolver shooter primarily, I think of it as being a slim 9 shot 9mm revolver. Fits perfect IWB.

Awaiting a new Lobo IWB holster that should arrive any day.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Congrats!

I have owned and carried a 3953 since I bought it new in 1991, perhaps the finest handgun I own.

I think you will enjoy it, and if you don't, let me know!

I just watched a cherry 3953 with box and two mags go at auction for $555.00!

I would love to have a 3953 and a 4586.
I bought a 5946 and love it.
When I bought my 4566, I almost bought a 4586 instead.
Trouble was, the 4586 had been carried and shot a LOT more.
It was pretty rough, and the 4566 was in sweet condition, for the same price.

As far as double strike capability goes, I like it.
I've had rounds that failed to ignite on the first strike, quite a few of them, both hand loads and different brands of factory ammo.
Every one of them fired upon a second pull of the trigger.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Hi, New to the forum. Finally have a reason(s) to join. It's actually my wife's fault. No, really! she started it!
When she wanted to carry, I had her shoot everything I had in all calibers and rented some more. I wanted her to pick out the gun she wanted and would carry. So she ended up liking a 3953 DAO better by far than anything else, including the modern plastic stuff. She likes revolvers too and took over my Ruger 2 3/4 in. speed six as well. Anyway, if you have a carry gun, you need a backup as well, right?! So that's where the first 6946 comes in.

I was a revolver guy only for decades as I lived in places like Minnesota and Alaska where it is really cold, like -50F cold. Revolvers always went bang. Autos did not, at least in the 1970's. I had an airplane back then up in Fairbanks area and you had to carry a gun and food with you when flying. If you survived the crash and didn't get eaten by a Grizz, it might take you 2 years to walk back out... so the bias toward revolvers.

About 9-10 yrs ago I relooked at the auto scene and ended up with M & P's, XD's and mostly Sig's, tried 1911's too. Apparently I am too dumb to know that you can't shoot any type of trigger system as well as the 1911, cause my targets all look the same no matter the caliber or gun. Teaching my wife to shoot with those 3rd gen DAOs was fun and my targets still looked the same...hmmmm. On occasion I would forget to decock my Sig's after shooting. Also, something you don't hear all that often is gun compatibility between household members. You don't have time to think about how to operate the gun during an incident, if you want to live that is. So, I reconsidered that and got my own 3953 DAO and love it. It is now my EDC.
The problem now is that I "need" more. I am retiring from Pathology and wanting to work in a gun store, so I needed something to carry there. Hence the next two 6946's with the 59 series mags and spacer. Now I found a 5943 at Cabela's in Indiana that is coming to Cabela's in Minnesota. Told the wife these are hard as hens teeth to find and could also wear at the gun store while working. She said ok. Of course I have bought her various guns as gifts just because...Next up is maybe a 4586...so now we have five with the 5943 on the way. Have gotten rid of almost everything else except a nice Sig P228 with factory action job and a .22LR top end.
The "proper" treatment for a gun addiction is more guns, not take away the addiction I say (medically speaking).
Anyway, good site with lots of info. Thanks

I was never a real fan of the DAO 3rd Gens. I must confess, frankly, that I considered them "sort of" 3rd Gens. However, last fall I stopped in at my LGS and happen to see a lovely 4586 on consignment for what I considered a good price. I decided to take a look. I was allowed to field strip it to better examine it. It was truly like new. It was one of those 3rd Gens I've purchased on consignment over the years that begs the question, "Where the heck is the box?" Anyway, they knocked a little off the price and bought it. I was really impressed by the double action pull and feel.

I now proclaim that I am a fan of the DAO 3rd Gens. My new 4586 is not only a true 3rd Gen, but a really nice pistol, period.

I humbly stand before you a true convert.

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1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70

I like DA revolvers and TDA pistols but I have a factory DAO M64 that I had customized.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/members...ng-2016-a.html

Personally, I don't see the difference between DAO and today's love affair with all things polymer and striker fired. The machine runs differently but the effect is the same, consistent trigger pull, etc.

Maybe the polymer love affair is because so many shooters started on that. Glock's been around since the 80's and that may be all they really know. Cops influence what the public does as well as gun mag writers. It's not cool to write about old stuff that is still useful.

I have a 1086, 4043, 4046 and a 4053. I used to have a 4586 but like an idiot I traded it. The 1086 was the first and still my favorite. It is smooooooth.

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NRA Endowment Member

I change out the recoil spring to a new factory std. weight and the hammer spring to one 2lbs. lighter than stock all from Wolff Springs. This makes a nice trigger even better with confidence that the new recoil spring should keep the reliability going. Never had any problems with our 3rd gen guns. Nice shooters. Even new folks/guest shooters like them.

Had a 4043 and 4053 when I was into 40 s & w and a 5946 that one of my brothers has. A niece also got a 6946 that was mine and had a 45 acp compact DAO model I can't remember. Now mostly shoot 9mm as my joints are getting tired. All my past and present 3rd gens are great reliable guns which is why they are on duty as carry and home defense weapons.

I don't have any problem with training or familiarity with my guns. But there are people around me that I've taught to shoot that don't appreciate the differences between actions, safeties, decockers, etc. All I need to tell them with my DAO guns is that if there is a cartridge in the chamber, pulling the trigger will fire the pistol. Sp. I concentrated on DAO pistols or DA/SA revolvers. Same rules for each one. Now that my son is grown, I'm getting more into hammer fired pistols with DA/SA actions.

I have a 5943 DAO that I dearly love, probably 2nd to my 686. The trigger is SMOOTH. I bought my son a Taurus that is hammer operated that I like to shoot, but I'm not hot on Taurus. I hope to get a good pistol with a hammer to round out my collection.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

THEY ALSO MADE A 4 INCH VERSION OF THE 3953 MARKED PERFORMANCE CENTER 'CLASSIC SERIES'. MY BUDDIE HAS ONE. DAMN IS IT SMOOTH. JP

Ok well I found my CS45D but also found a 3914LS and a 5905 and I couldn't pass them up! So now I'm broke for a bit, but happy!!

Being broke for awhile isn't sooo bad, as long as you have the guns to mess with. My recent, almost like new, 5943 acquisition from Cabela's is rapidly becoming my favorite 3rd gen DAO. I may shoot it the best of all our 3rd gens (3953 -our carry guns, 6946 and now 5943). We are now looking for a 3rd gen. 3953 or 6946 for daughter and hubby. I guess we will be infecting another generation with the 3rd gen bug. Heh heh heh.

This thread needs pics. I've posted these here already but the DAO lines are mentioned a lot. The DAO works for me but we all have different 'strokes'.

1086


4043

I own (5) Gen 3 pistols and all are DAO ! I much prefer the same trigger pull and no other levers to fumble around with. They make perfect "house" guns for anyone can pick it up and be able to handle them. I'm still looking for my first DAO .45 though !

Here's an older pic of 4 DAO pistols.

This is the latest addition to my Gen 3 family.

Attached Images

S&W 4046TSW (VJF5266).jpg (118.4 KB, 30 views)

OK I've got photos posted before but not in this thread:


6946 found at LGS $450 after a little negotiation


3914DAO bought from a member here


3914DAO with Big Dot tritium sights


4046


340 Pro Series Centennial style DAO

digiroc

With some crafty searching on our site right here... you can find an older post AND picture of a member who took one of the rarest Smith & Wesson Performance Center target pistols ever made... and he either did the work himself or shipped it to the PC and paid them to make it DAO.

The pistol is trhe 6" Long Slide version of the most excellent PPC-9.

On one hand, I have always given full support to anyone who wishes to enjoy their gun in any way they choose, I just don't believe that guns are "too special" to be altered... for the most part, anyway. And it isn't like we are talking about a pristine example of a 100-year old gun in it's original box. But I have to say that the very idea of taking the ridiculous PPC-9 trigger and willfully turning it in to a DAO is somewhere far beyond "questionable" and swiftly approaching HORRIFYING to me.