Over the last few years I have suffered a malaise of sorts when it comes to guns. Having zero interest in anything new being produced.......over the last couple of decades, is a contributing factor. Another factor was leaving my part-time job at the local range, upon its sale and due to sorry circumstances, wound up selling guns at the local high end gun store. A friend warned me that working in a Godforsaken gunshop could put you off guns. He was right.

A couple of years back, I walked out of the Godforsaken gunshop. The manager at the local range recruited me to come back to work there. VERY glad I did! I can't believe they pay me. Best job I've ever had. But the malaise with guns lingered.

I needed a pistol for working/teaching. I had a S&W 910 I used for that purpose for several years. Till it cracked the frame - at 19K rounds. Good pistol I more than got my money out of. The gun WAS a value. I told my local dealer to find me a high cap TDA 9mm - used but not abused. He called me and said he had an LE trade in 5903. From an agency in Georgia. The gun was clean and came with three mags.

I cleaned it up and shot it a couple of times. Very reliable and was accurate enough. Having been away from 9mm 3rd Gens for several years, I had forgotten that they can be extremely accurate with a round that they "like". The majority of mine liking 147 grain best. But during the recent stupidity in gun and ammo pricing and availability, 147 grain ball has been hard to come across. I cleaned the 5903 and put it up.

Till a week ago. I had a customer who wanted to learn to shoot his new TDA 9mm CZ pistol better. So I broke out the 5903 and took it along. During the lesson, while demonstrating trigger control and flash sight picture, I noticed I was tearing a very small hole in the "A" box in the head of the target. The customer was impressed too. The Novak night sights work well for me. A flash sight picture and the smooth crisp trigger on the 5903 making it easy to drop rounds in wherever I wanted. It was FUN to shoot it!

I found a case of 147 grain Federal ball in the latest shipment of range ammo. So I bought 4 boxes and have been shooting the 5903 all week. It is a FUN pistol to shoot. Light weight, points great, nice trigger in DA and light and crisp in SA. An easy pistol to use and shoot accurately.

I replaced all the springs last night. And put in a new guide rod as the original was chewed up at the muzzle end. I ordered some Mec-Gar 17 round mags too. And I may order a new curved backstrap grip for the 5903 as well. Least I can do as it has cured my malaise. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Did yours come from the Atlanta Pd ? I had one that I traded away . It was a great gun , I just don't shoot much 9mm . I picked it up locally , the guy that owns Orlando Gun Show usually has a pile of police turn ins at one of his tables .

No cherrypointmarine, I think it came from Gwinette County D.O.C. My dealer and the local LE supply got in a dozen of them. Night sights were a little dim but still work. It has gray laser etching on the right side of the frames dustcover - "W/G.C.D.C."

Myself and one of the other instructors picked up the two cleanest examples. Other than some handling marks on the slide, it does not appear to have been shot much. Little to no wear on the rails or locking shoulders and not even a "hammer mark" on top of the beaver tail.

Really accurate too! I put 5 rounds of 147 grain RA9b into .75 of an inch at 7 yards yesterday. The other instructor has gotten sub 3 inch groups at 25 yards with his. Nice pistols.

I really like mine. Glad I dragged it out and worked with it a little. It is going to get shot A LOT this coming year. I put a Hogue slip on grip for a Glock over the OEM Delrin curved backstrap grip. It gives me a rock solid purchase on the pistol. Has finger grooves too. If I get a chance I will post a pic of it later in the thread.

And I was very surprised how easy it carries. I used a Murphs of China Grove pancake holster on a Bang Bang Gun Leather belt yesterday. I worked 10 hours wearing it with no back or hip pain. And it was as easy carrying as a 39XX series gun, to me. Great pistol. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I wish this Atlanta PD Trade in Model 5903 could talk. Lots of scratches but mechanically sound. Some where along the way, it got heavier springs so its needs at least 124 9mm. A true bargain shooter,

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I’d like to find me a 5903. The 5906 is a boat anchor and impractical for anything other than range duty. My PPC9… well I’m not going to take that out and about unless the world is coming to an end.

I’ve seen a few of these for sale but they’ve been outside of my preferred price point. $350 or $400 would probably my Buy It Now, how much did y’all pay for yours?

SVT28


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SWEET........round or hooked trigger guard????


Like SVT28 said the 5906 is too heavy for EDC but makes a great soft shooting house gun at 17+1.

Seem to remember that fixed sight 5903 were scarce...... so I went with the Value Line 915 and discovered I actually prefer the straight backstrap.... and saving (IIRC) $100-125 !

IIRC I paid a little over $300 OTD. This was right as the stupidity was starting, but not yet in full swing - around spring/summer 2020? Did anyone ever notice that some of the least expensive handguns we purchase, deliver performance all out of proportion to their cost? I've noticed that.

Round trigger guard BAM-BAM. I have a nice 915. I shoot it occasionally. But even though the 915 was souped up by the Performamce Center - by the prior owner Mr. Bert DuVernay - the former head of the S&W Academy, I prefer using this 5903. The trigger in DA/SA is every bit as good. And being it is a "beater" I am not worried about using it and enjoying it.

I use synthetic lube, TW25b. There was a thread here, around 10 or 11 years ago on 5903s. One respondent had an issued 5903 that he had over 20K rounds through with zero malfuntions. He used it as a SWAT pistol and shot it once a week, for years. Retired with it too. Again, IIRC.

If I shot mine twice a day I don't think I will live to see that round count. And in semi retirement, paying for my own ammo now, I couldn't afford it anyway. But I had forgotten how much fun shooting a fast handling accurate gun can be. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the specifics, mechanics and minutia of self defense with a handgun. And when we do, I think we lose sight of what brought us to be firearms enthusiasts in the first place - ITS FUN TO SHOOT! Its all coming back to me with this 5903.

Consider my malaise cured! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Lets not forget it's brother the 5904

I found mine at the local range used gun section. Two mags, no box for the princely sum of $199!
Like 18DAI, just before prices went thru the roof. A little rough from years of use, but still in good shape where it counts! New grips, some TLC and it's a solid performer!

The 3rd gen 9mm S&W pistols really were the best of the breed.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Love my 915. all metal (except the grips), shoots like a dream.

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

I Bought a Atlanta Ga PD 5903 about 3 months ago. Dirt Cheap with some finish worn but a excellent service weapon for $250.00. I too am in NC and like you became despondent over Dealers in CLT area, to be honest I use to shoot at a indoor range but have stoped a few years ago due to the Scumbag clients and poor weapon handling skills of the other shooters. I remember a time when folks made up educational boards on winchesters, S&W and colts...some about the wild west...all to educate the public...those days are gone and my "Fellow Americans" are quite diffrent then the ones in the 1960's.

Those days are not completely gone! There are a few places, such as this section, where folks are VERY willing to share information and history. Often with some very interesting and entertaining personal experiences. And a more generous group, with assistance/parts/accessories, you WILL NOT find anywhere. But I do get what you are saying. It is a different world today out there.

Check the Charlotte area. I hear there are some very nice, well supervised ranges down there. Call Watchdog Tactical in Charlotte. Tell them Calibers Indoor Range in Greensboro sent you and you need info on a good place to shoot locally. They are gun guys and very kind too. They may know a place. And some of our helpful members here may as well.

Shooting at least a few times a month is a great cure for whatever ails you. Especially with a nice 5903. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change