new guy have a question about the 3rd gen's

[870guy]

hello, I have been trying to find a pistol that I like i had a glock liked the reliability but hated the plastic feel and the grip. So I went to the XD's grip angle was better but did not like the plastic feel again I thought that I would just have to deal with it till I found out about these S&W 3rd gen guns, I like some heft to my pistols and the 4046 that I bought feels great.

but I have not shot it yet (school work etc etc) I know I need to but here is my major concern I hear a lot of people talking about these 3rd gen models and say how heavy they are and some say they are unreliable. This is currently my HD pistol cause I had to sell all of my other pistols due to money issues.

are these things just "range" guns or are they something that I can trust my life and the lives of my family with?

are the 3rd gen S&W's just collectors pieces and things for fun at the range?

now I know that every gun will malfunction but should I look at something else for home defense?

I love the feel of them and I really want more lol but first I need something that will work when I need it to.

Thanks for the info

 

[mlk18]

I will start by telling you that people who bash S&W 3rd Gens are usually just regurgitating the ignorant and have no actual experience with these fine handguns. People with first hand experience know that S&W 3rd gens are reliable, accurate and comfortable pistols that get the job done. There are 1000's of people who rely on 3rd Gen autos every day to defend themselves in others. That includes law enforcement agencies that still issue 3rd Gens, like the California Highway Patrol.

The 4046 is a fine handgun and one of the best DAO guns produced. In 9mm I tend to go for the alloy versions to cut down on the weight, but in .40 I prefer the all steel to keep recoil down. For me a .40 all steel Smith shoots softer than most poly framed 9mm's. The 4046 is an excellent home defense gun and will serve you well.

 

[Grog]

Charlotte-Mecklenburg NC police (currently over 1600 officers) issued the 4046 for many years and one I know who carried it said he would not have an issue if he still carried one today.


3rd Gens are not issued as much anymore because of price and weight, among other marketing schemes from gun companies. I can see why someone might want to carry a Glock 22 with more ammo and less weight all day, day after day.

 

[Ogandydancer]

I have a 5903TSW which I am told id 3rd generattion. They are a fine pistol. My daily carry is however a Sig P229R in the 40 cal. If however I did not have the Sig I would not hesitate to use the 5903 for my daily CCW.

 

[Dueeast]

I have and carry a 4053. It functions flawlessly, and I would bet my life on it. I bought it new, and have @ 2000 rounds of mixed loads through it, and it runs everything great. You could'nt get this pistol away from me.

 

[40cal]

First Ive heard about a 3rd gen being unreliable. My 4000 series has always been flawless. Sure the 4046 is heavier than a 4043 or a tuperware gun, but thats no issue with in home defense. They have been duty guns for many years, LEOs trusted them. IMO that DAO pistol should work great for HD/SD. Good choice.

 

[Maine Garda]

The guns are very reliable and you can bet your life they will work (as long as the gun is in fair + condition).
Clean it, Lube it, Function Check it and you are good to go!

I carried a 3913 (compact 9mm) for 5 years without any issues. When my department moved to the M&P line many of our 3rd gen 3913's were 15 years old and they were still running fine. The only major tune ups needed were recoil springs and a really good cleaning.

 

[shawn mccarver]

hello, I have been trying to find a pistol that I like i had a glock liked the reliability but hated the plastic feel and the grip. So I went to the XD's grip angle was better but did not like the plastic feel again I thought that I would just have to deal with it till I found out about these S&W 3rd gen guns, I like some heft to my pistols and the 4046 that I bought feels great.

but I have not shot it yet (school work etc etc) I know I need to but here is my major concern I hear a lot of people talking about these 3rd gen models and say how heavy they are and some say they are unreliable. This is currently my HD pistol cause I had to sell all of my other pistols due to money issues.

are these things just "range" guns or are they something that I can trust my life and the lives of my family with?

are the 3rd gen S&W's just collectors pieces and things for fun at the range?

now I know that every gun will malfunction but should I look at something else for home defense?

I love the feel of them and I really want more lol but first I need something that will work when I need it to.

Thanks for the info

The S&W 3rd Gen autos in general (with the possible exception of the FBI's version of the trigger in its 1076 - not the factory arrangement in the other 10mm autos) and the 4046 in particular are excellent guns.

They were made for LE service and defense. They are very reliable, and if you are at all recoil sensitive, the extra weight will help to dampen it. The DAO trigger system is the smoothest available of all of the hammer-fired DAO autos.

You have an excellent pistol. Enjoy it.

 

[Grog]

I'm sure it will work for years to come but one thing I do with used S&Ws is to replace the recoil spring and the magazine springs (if you have the extra money). Brownells carries them among other places.

 

[ajpelz]

Whoever said S&W 3rd gens are not reliable has been smoking something... I have never heard of anyone having reliability issues with one.

 

[Mike-4]

I've had a 4006 issued to me in 1991 and still continue to use it, although it has been upgraded to the 4006 TSW. It's had many more rds than my Glocks, Sigs and HK's and has been extremely reliable. Softest shooting .40 out there in my opinion. I agree with others - those who bash 3rd gen autos haven't a clue.

 

[Combat_Diver]

The RCMP carried them (40XX series) when I was in Haiti in 95' (Haitian Police had Smith 4" 64s). I've owned several 6906s and a 6904 with never an issue. My son carries a 6906 as his CCW and my 6904 sits by the bed for my wife as I'm down range.

CD

 

[KevinCH]

I've never heard of a reliability issue with any of the 3rd Generation S&W auto-loaders. I had a 4516-1 that would function with anything I loaded in the magazine.

Keeping in mind comfort is subjective, I will say I found the gun a little uncomfortable. I thought it was heavy for CCW purposes, and when I held it in my hand it felt like I was grabbing a 2x4. However, I felt it was a quality pistol - so much so that I sold it to a very good friend who still owns & shoots it to this day. I used that money to fund the purchase of an alloy framed 1911, & I have no regrets.

Still - if the right deal came along for a 645, 4506, etc., I might jump on it. Like I said, my 4516-1 was as reliable as they come.

 

[rrockefe]

I have a 3913 that was a cop trade-in. I bought it from J&G in Prescott, AZ. I really liked it and shot it a lot; even put a new hexsite on it. It never had one malfunction. Then when I was cleaning it last week, I found a crack in the frame which for anything I am aware of renders this pistol a total loss. I guess if I buy another alloy frame gun it will have to be covered by a lifetime warranty. But, I really liked this one! Looking for a 9mm replacement now.

 

[zercool]

Rrockefe - call S&W about your cracked frame. It may not be covered under warranty, but it's worth the phone call to find out.

870guy - 3rd gen S&W autos are some of the most underrated guns out there. Why? Anyone's guess, but my bet would be "metal in a plastic world". NYPD still issues the 5946 to officers (they have a choice of a 5946, a Glock, or a Sig), which tells me something.

 

[Kilted Cossack]

My theory---and it's only a theory---is that the 3d Gens came along just a little too late. S&W was a forerunner in the wondernine category, with the Model 59. However, at that time, only freaks and geeks carried high capacity 9mms. Plus there was the whole Cooper-esque "DA is a solution to a question that shouldn't have been asked" thing.

In the finest traditions of manufacturing, S&W continued to refine and enhance their autopistols, producing improved 2d Gens and later (vastly) improved 3d Gens.

However, by the time the wondernine surge really hit, people were leaning towards the Beretta, because of the whole M9 thing, and then the Glock.

S&W just missed the marketing boat. It's a shame---it's not right, and it's not fair, but sometimes that's just how things go.

Let's face it, most people are in the market for the "new hotness." That's what drives the market. Never mind that today you can pick up a good, solid, used 3d Gen for a good bit less than the price of a new plastic fantastic. That good, solid, used 3d Gen is not the new hotness, and so it suffers.

It is good, however, for people who come to appreciate the virtues of the S&W steel framed guns.

 

[FirebirdV8]

Next time someone tells you that all S&W semi-autos are junk and you should look at this new model whatever over here, you should offer to take all of their S&W semi-autos off their hands at a large discount, as a favor of course. I know some gun shops also will push the owners favorite brand or whatever latest deal they got from their distributor, and not always what in the customers best interests.

 

[rrockefe]

Rrockefe - call S&W about your cracked frame. It may not be covered under warranty, but it's worth the phone call to find out.

I already called them. No help, not covered.

 

[ladder13]

I'd send it back anyway, you never know.

 

[jed]

5906 Goodness

I purchased a new 5906 from a police officer. It was his back up to the 5906 he carried. The gun is reliable and will last much longer than me.

In home defense it is my view that reliability is the most important criteria. It is possible to obtain 17 round magazines made by Mecgar.

This gun would be the last nine mm I would part with. I have Beretta and Sig Pro and they,too, are excellent but would be the first to go.

jed