Just purchased a well used 3906 - rifling in barrel is past its prime - thinking I would like to replace barrel. Part number seems to be 334210A same as 5906. Any ideas where I might find such an item - good used preferred.
Thanks in advance, Ed

There are a number of sellers on Gunbroker that sell off “demilled” guns forced in to destruction. Basically all the parts except the serialized frame. The barrel you seek was made across a large swath of models. It might be one of the easiest “out of production” barrels someone could be stuck looking for.

The S&W part number is 200150000. I have seen two of these come and go in the last month or so on Ebay.

Narrow hood barrel (approx. 1/4")?

Wide hood barrel (approx. 3/8")?

It makes a difference.

John

Yeah, S&W changed the width of the barrel hood during production, be sure to get the right one. Early 3rd gen 9x19 pistols had the narrow hood, later production got the wide hood. I am not sure if the 3906 stayed in production long enough to have been "upgraded" to the wide hood.

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

JohnHL and stansdds beat me to it... that barrel hood width issue can be a real bugaboo! If you purchase just a barrel, expect to pay on the order of $75-100 for it, or look for one of the parts kits for half again that much, but you will have lots of good spares in case you need them. Regardless, make sure the incoming barrel has the right hood or it's still wasted. Of course the one piece grip, trigger bow, slide stop, and a couple of other parts will be different if your parts kit originated as a double stacker, but many if not most of the other parts will interchange. Avoid the "Value Series" models (909 & 910) because of their different barrel lugs and Generation 2 models because of their different barrel bushing/front profile. (Don't ask me how I know this! )

Froggie

I believe all 3906 pistols came with the narrow hood - there are no barrel revisions on the parts list.

This is narrow hood - is that p/n 200150000?

Found a couple of parts kits on GB - one from 5904 and other from 5906. Not sure of hood width - both look narrow to me - but if I buy the 5906 kit, presumably worst case could i not change barrel and matching slide?

That is correct.

Yes, you could use entire top end from a 5906 or 5903 on your 3906.

You said worst case, so I’ll address that. Worst case is that the parts kit and top end you get has the adjustable rear sight. Then you are stuck with that abomination but our guy JohnHL would love it!

That’s worst case!

Looked at both of those and they are both narrow hood, so either one will work. Traditionally the stainless 5906 parts kits will sell for more than the blued 5904 kits, so that's something to consider. The 5906 also has adjustable sights, while the 5904 is an earlier model with the pre-Novak sights (though they look to be Trijicon night sights).

Most likely either barrel will work for your 3906, but in the event that it is too loose/ over-fitted for your 3906 slide, either of those slides will work on your 3906 frame.

Also - check your PM's.

Sevens , you wait until you get older , you'll be looking for those adjustable sights . I'm pretty sure they make them for those Taurus pistols of yours you don't tell anyone about .

Wow, just a minute mister. You should know I am also somewhat partial to the winged/adjustable rear sights too.

Maybe you need a little “Forum timeout” for berating AND badgering fellow Forum members interests.

Sorry John if the word members needed an apostrophe between the r and s.

Oh no there I go too.

Jim

Personally I have no problem with either adjustable or Trijicon sights - the 3906 has old sights so in theory I could get relamped and put in old slide if barrel works but if I have to change slides, I would prefer the silver slide with adjustable sights.

So now considering swapping top ends? A 5906 slide would look correct, but a 5904 blued slide would say "custom pistol".

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

First choice replace barrel - looking at 2 options

Second choice replace top end with 5906 parts kit if I win it

Third choice replace barrel and exchange sight for relamped Trijicon from 5904 parts kit.
Would only put blued slide on as last resort

What's not to love?

The absolute best, combat protected and tested, adjustable sight ever installed on actual fighting pistols.

A sight, I might add, that was specifically designed for special operations in Vietnam and saved the lives of many of our troops and accounted for successful interdictions into charlie strongholds by virtually guaranteeing one-shot kills from suppressed pistols on enemy sentries, guard geese and dogs.

I defy anyone to show me a better combat ready, adjustable rear sight.

John

Well I think I am a convert.

All these years in the dark, but no more!

Now I am definitely on the hunt. My search will be relentless until I add guard geese to my collection!

Good choice!

One shot to the head kills are a lot easier on sentries and guard dogs than they are on geese!

Two clicks up, one click left, and this ******, French, 1960s 9mm is shooting to POA.

Tonight we'll take the "Hushpuppie" hunting...

Cue "The End" by the Doors.

John

I had bought a 4506 barrel off midway which ended up being a wide hood. I sent it to a smith who does milling and he was able to fit the wide hood to the narrow hood slide. It runs like a top now. I was at a steel meet and shoot one year and beating guys on the dueling tree with my 4506-1 vs some who had high end custom 1911's.

If you know a good machinist smith you could get it fitted to your slide.