I don't know if I mentioned it, but when I'm in SC the week after next, I've arranged to take the CCW permit class.

I don't own land there yet, but my son and I are looking at properties for investment purposes.

I figure it's better to have the class done now than weight.

There's a live fire component which I discussed with the instructor. It's not too difficult at it involves a B-27 target at 15 yards. I normally use a B-29 target at 21 feet, so it should be fine.

The instructor requires a Kydez IWB holster and OWB magazine holder. Looking over my pile of gear I determined that a FIST IWB holster and Fobus double stack 9mm magazine holder will fit the bill.

Which meant using my 5906, 6906, or 6946.

I decided that this would be a good opportunity to wring out the 6946.

I took it to the range today to see if it had any preference for ammunition. I brought along 124gr S&B FMJ and 124gr Maxxtech FMJ.

The 6946 isn't at all fussy, it shot both to point of aim without any issues. I'll flip a coin and take one of them with me.

I have new magazine springs on the way from Brownells. I suppose I'll have to go to the range once I put them in to make sure all is still fine.

Tough job, but someone has to do it.

The 6946 is a pure joy to shoot. Very smooth trigger and my accuracy with it is very good. I may have to bring it to the range more often and might even look for a single stack DAO to start carrying.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I switched from a 3913 to a 6946 as my carry gun this past summer. I found that the 6946 is only slightly larger than the 3913 and shoots as good or better than the 3913. I feel safer with the DAO feature and the 12+1 round count is a plus. I've also took to carrying one of my 5906 15 round magazines as my extra backup mag.
If I need more than 28 rounds, I figure I'm in deep poop.

Does anyone else have issues with this type of overly specific holster and mag pouch requirement?

Why not just say something like "A belt holster with covered trigger guard", and exempt things like shoulder holsters and appendix carry due to lack of muzzle awareness among newbies.

The DAO's are great guns that are reliable and accurate. Some folks are scared by the thought of DAO but usually change their mind once they try one. My son-in-law carries a 6946 (which I gave him) for the same reasons as 3wire. I know you will do well at the class and will probably have to answer a few questions about that strange gun you are shooting! I have never found a type of ammo these guns don't like.

I prefer the grip of a single stack so I have to make do with a 3954...poor me.

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One of the club range officers, at least that's what his hat said, stopped by while I was setting up to shoot.

He'd never heard of or seen any 3rd Gen. I gave a quick intro and let him pick it up. He really liked the way it felt in his hand.

I'm more of a single stack guy as well, and have two single stack DAO Smiths. Maybe I'll switch over.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I have never taken any CC or gun safety class that even allowed drawing from a holster. Always on the bench, mag out and slide open pointed down range. Seems most ranges (indoor anyway) don't allow holster work at all. Good reasons for it! I would be surprised to hear of a CC class drawing or even holstering guns as part of instruction. It could be a topic of discussion but that's about it.

I worked for a police department that issued the 6946 as a duty gun. The size allowed off duty carry with ease. I shot it very well and later got a 3953 for daily carry. (could not find a reasonable 6946 at the time)

From what he told me, SC requires a demonstration of safe handling. I don't think it will be draw and fire, just draw and safely reholster an empty gun.

I'll find out soon enough.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Yes. Would be a flaming red flag to find another instructor that realizes his way is not the only way.

I have carried a Model 6946 for over a decade now. I found the DAO trigger of the 6946 to be an almost perfect duplicate of that on my Model 640-1 revolver. Having learning handgun shooting with revolvers, I had no trouble learning how to accurately shoot the 6946.

I do take exception to instructors who require a certain type of material be used for holsters and ammo carriers. Such things should be left up to the discretion of the shooter, not the instructor. I do fully understand the requirement that the handgun holster be on the hip and not even of a cross-draw variety as cross-draw and shoulder holsters result in the muzzle sweeping parts of the range that are behind the firing line, but dictating the holster and ammo carriers be made of Kydex? Also dictating the holster be IWB, but the ammo carrier being OWB? Does this guy also require you to stand at attention and salute as they walk by?

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Here I thought that I posted a nice thread about a very nice 3rd Gen and all of a sudden a Mrs. Kravitz Konvention broke out.

I'll keep it short in terms of commentary at the risk of being zapped by a moderator.

Who and why I picked this instructor is a question of mind over matter. I don't mind, and no one else's opinion matters.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

It is a very nice post. I meant no criticism with my replies. I'll try to phrase my comments better in the future.

In face to face conversations a people can clarify immediately if questioned and be more clearly understood. Not so easy in this format.

I meant no criticism towards you and I apologize if my post was offensive in any way.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I took the SC course on Monday. Good course, I learned a bit. Since I've been shooting for a long time and have been a NRA instructor in the past, we went through the basics as required by SC, then on to other stuff.

Spent a lot of time on the carry and self defense laws in the state, which was good. It's always important to know what the laws require when carry in a different state.

Got a 98% on the 50 question written exam then off to the range.

Ran the state required qualification course. The instructor demonstrated a couple of handling, not shooting, techniques. Actually, learned a couple of new ones.

Then the actual shooting. 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 15 yards.

Scored 100 on that. Since I generally shoot a reduced size B29 target, the full size B27 target was fairly easy.

The 6946 shot flawlessly. The only thing I noticed was that it's hard to hand cycle the slide. I used the cross hand technique, which I haven't had to do with any other 3rd Gen. If it hadn't shot and cycled so well, I'd be worried about the gun. As it is, I wonder if age isn't starting to affect my grip strength. Or maybe it's just a normal variation.

I guess I'll have to shoot this sweet DAO some more to be sure.

I'm all set now, I just have to find some land in SC to purchase so I can qualify for a non resident permit.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Good shooting!
I have not really noticed a difference in the amount of pressure required to manually cycle the slide on my 6946 vs any of my TDA S&W pistols, at least when starting with the hammer down. Are you running a factory recoil spring?

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Yes, factory. I grabbed one out of my stash when I bought the gun and replaced the one that was in there..

When I get home I'm going to field strip the gun for cleaning anyway, so I'll take a look at the spring. As I said, it functioned perfectly, so it could well be me.

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Can open, worms everywhere.