3913/3953 Availability and Ammo

[ldp4570]

3913 is the finest small/medium carry 9M on the market. 18DAI an myself have been preaching on these for a few years now. I've owned an carried one since 1994. The only mods were night sights, and a full hammer spur(I just like the way it looks), an no its never snagged, or wore holes in my shirts.

Here she sits with my other favorite 9MM SIG P225

 

[Matt C.]

The 3913/3953 will feed empty cases.
Try that with those wonder guns.
The Gold Standard in concealed carry. Period.

 

[deanodog]

I have tried the plastic striker fired M&Ps but I ended up with these.But I don't carry.

 

[smitty_bs]

I have a 3953 and love it. I prefer simplicity and no levers to deal with. But I am a revolver guy at heart so maybe the transition to DAO was easy. I've never had a failure of any kind with it - totally reliable. Anyway, you won't go wrong with either......

 

[Dave_n]

Have to confirm what the majority says. I have a 3913, 3914 and 3953. The only pistol from a similar era that I would carry is one of my two Browning BDMs. Almost the same thickness as the 39 series but with 15 rounds in a very thin grip and the option of DA/SA or DAO. Dave_n

 

[XAVMECH]

3913/3953

Either way, you can't go wrong! They're both great semi-autos. I've sold my M&P and sticking with 3rd gen or older.

 

[TravisMartin]

This has turned into quite a thread!

I like what Squibb said...four people will give you five opinions...it's kinda like the old fable of the six blind men and the elephant; it depends on what angle you're looking from. Every opinion you see on this thread is "right" in that it accurately describes how well the 3913/3953 does its job from that man's perspective, including the poster who likes the M&P better. But not one said it was less than a completely reliable, superbly accurate, well made pistol...it is only that, for some, there is another model that suits his purpose a little better. I can think of no higher praise for the 3913 and 3953. If it feels right in your hands and is comfortable in your holster and you are satisfied with 9MM for your purposes, go for it. I did, and don't regret it one bit.

 

[budgeteer]

Thanks for all of the info and feedback. I agree that you'll get five answers from four folks when asking about a CCW, but it's all good stuff to put into the mix for consideration.

I think I'm going with a 3953. One thing I should have added/emphasized is that this S&W will not be my primary CCW. I train with a Glock and carry a G19 whenever I carry, but I've been looking at getting something smaller/slimmer for certain applications. I'd just about decided on a J-frame (442/642) but hadn't made the actual purchase because going that way meant an additional caiber to keep track of. A 3953 seems to be the best response to my dilemma when I could use something a little easier to carry.

I have noticed, however, that holsters for a 3953 seem to be a little scarce. I'm sure that I'll order a Milt Sparks VM-2 but could also use OWB for the interim. I'd like to find something in kydex to fill the OWB role but haven't had much success.

Again, thanks for all of the great comments and helpful info.

 

[george minze]

3913-14....3953....Probably the best pistols SW ever made......Comparably light, very accurate for their size and in 20 years carrying one never had a FTF, FTE just plain old reliable...Last W/Mo. qualification 100X100 that was in the late 90's....To bad SW decided to take off of market....Simply the BEST...IMHO Allesi made a great OWB holster for them...

 

[franco45]

I don't even have my 3913 off layaway yet and I hear a 3953 calling my name. What did I get myself into?

 

[Chuck Jones]

I'm not giving up mine for a piece of plastic anytime soon.

/c

 

[budgeteer]

3953 put on lay-away...thanks for the input and recommendations. Shouldn't take long to get it, so I'll post a pic when it comes in.

 

[Stu454]

I just put one on layaway as well. I've had three over the years; I'm going to see if I can keep this one, I think. It's a pd gun with dim Novak night sights, hard chrome hammer & trigger, slim slide releasr and no mag disconnect as a factory option.

 

[SgtSam]

Hey! While all of you 39XX aficionados are waxing over the merits of this little wondergun, I have a question involving a close relative.

I was in the market for a 3913 when I came across a virtually perfect 908S in my local gunshop. I liked it a lot, bought it, and got it for $345. How would you all fit this cousin into the overall equation of the 3913?

Just curious.

I love S&W 3rd generation models as well. I also have a CS9. I used to have a 1006 and 2nd to 3rd generation "transitional" model in .45ACP. Sold the two big ones a long time ago. Kinda' wish now I hadn't. But you "all" know how that song goes!!!

 

[Stu454]

The 908, 909, 910 and 915 were less expensive versions of the 3900 and 5900 series. Less machine work, maybe more plastic here and there.

They seem to work fine, they just don't appeal to me on an aesthetic level. YMMV. There is probably a lot of parts interchangeability between your 908S and a 3913.

 

[Stu454]

I'm not giving up mine for a piece of plastic anytime soon.

/c

Nice! 3954's? And that top one's slide was left on the vine a little longer. A 5944 slide, I'm guessing?

 

[RufusG]

The 908, 909, 910 and 915 were less expensive versions of the 3900 and 5900 series. Less machine work, maybe more plastic here and there.

They seem to work fine, they just don't appeal to me on an aesthetic level. YMMV. There is probably a lot of parts interchangeability between your 908S and a 3913.

AFAIK the 915 has the same amount of machining and plastic as any 5904. The only differences are the pre-Novak sights, right hand only safety, and straight backstrap grip.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Sgt Sam, the 908S is virtually identical to the 3913 from a functional standpoint, except that I believe the 908 has a single-sided safety/decocking lever instead of the ambidextrous lever on the 3913. The 908S uses a few more plastic parts (sights, recoil spring guide rod, magazine release button, disconnector), and there are fewer machining operations performed on the slide, so it is more square/blocky than that of the 3913. I would have no qualms about owning a 908 if I hadn't found the 3913.

 

[SgtSam]

Thanks for the info on the 908S. It seems that it's a lot more pistol than I was led to believe.

 

[Larry from Bend]

I don't like striker-fired pistols but recognize that a lot of people prefer them ------- but a 3913 is too heavy for CC???
Man, I'm gettin' old.