Best option for a 9mm stainless auto out there?

[Ridge Runner]

What S&W semi-autos 9mm out there have a good reputation and which should I stay away from?

I have seen several used S&W 9mm's out there locally and like the looks of them, but do not know much about them.

Which ones were used the most by PD's? Which are the best in your opinion? Why?

Are there any where getting magazines are a problem?

Thanks for any input on what to select.

 

[mbliss57]

Full size: 5906 used by LEOs as well as 6906
CCW 3913 single stack is IMO the best CCW single stack SW made in 9mm.
Lots of parts are available for both. Especially the 5906. There are a lot of LEO trade ins out there.

If you need a current production pistol that is all metal ... I agree with the Beretta 92FS or the Sig 239 or 226.

But this is a SW forum... so lets stick with some of the hardiest most accurate pistols ever built. The 3rd gen smith's.
As far a a full size single stack I have found nothing that beats the original Model 39. My no dash from 1958 is a thing of beauty. I let a young range officer shoot it our range a few months ago.. he was in awe.

Mike

 

[824tsv]

I personally like the 659. All stainless steel, high capacity, fixed or adjustable sights, makes a solid choice. This model was a LEO standard in the 80's and early 90's before the .40 came out. S&W produced several excellent 9's, the choice will be a daunting task.

 

[kentuckypilgrim]

I just got a s&w mod. 6906. I shot it about six times and I love it. It was a cold day and I didn't stay out any longer but as soon as I have time and the weather is warmer I'll try it out some more.

 

[Arik]

A lot were used by police. 5906, 5946, 6906.

All are good quality made guns

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[pumpedTSI]

5906 or 639 if you want a single stack......or an older 659......I have them all and love them all.....

 

[timn8er]

#1 on the 6906. Light, easily carried, very accurate. Funny, I've got
the strangest sense of deja vu...OMG! I've become a fan boy!

 

[Fuego]

The Beretta 92FS has a lot going for it. It is the standard USGI sidearm, parts are available for it, every gunsmith in America (and Italy) is familiar with it, each of the armed services has a manual for it, and all the parts have an NSN stock number.

It is accurate, reliable, inexpensive, and well documented.

Downside: It is BIG for a 9mm. My wife loves it, and is very good with it. It is big, but not heavy, all the controls are intuitive, and it responds well to a professional action job.

But it is not a S&W.

 

[dh2683]

S&W 3913 Single Stack 9mm is a favorite of mine

 

[MichiganScott]

SW1911 in 9mm. All stainless steel. Most of the ones mentioned above have stainless slides and aluminum frames.

 

[brokendowncop]

S&W has a great lineup of 9's. Look at everything. We tend to like what we have. I carried a 59 on the street and came to have great confidence in that pistol. Great safety features when rolling around in the street hand to hand. Never a misfire, misfeed, fail to fire or ejection problem. Not once. I still carry a 659 as my CCW. I have heard good things about the Shield but have not fired it myself.

Good luck

Jim

 

[Robinett_11B]

I'm partial to the full-size, all-stainless single stack 3rd Gen Model 3906

 

[TSQUARED]

The S&W 5906 is totall;y reliable and virtually indestructible if it's not used as a hammer.

 

[cddanjr]

For me it is a toss up between a 3906, and

the Sig Sauer p226 9mm. Both are awesome machines. Alot of military use the 226.

Chuck

 

[Ruger Nut]

The S&W 5906 is totall;y reliable and virtually indestructible if it's not used as a hammer.

I have to agree! I am new to the 5906. I have owned a lot of Ruger P series 9mm's and have to say the 5906 is a better firearm. But, I still like my P series.

 

[t-bird]

Just make sure its a smith and wesson and you can't go wrong. If I was to go new it would be the smith 1911 9mm. Used would be 639, 659, 3906, 5906 or 952. Best of luck and be sure to post what you get.

 

[losingle]

Depends on your needs? home, personal, carry, concealed? S&W has just about anything but for all of that 6906 can be carried, concealed and is an accurate shooter with 12 rnds in Virginia.

 

[mbliss57]

The choice of S&W Stainless options are mind boggling.
Just to clarify something if you don't know it.
1st gen pistols were the Model 39 and 59. 39 was single stack 8 rounds 59 was 15 rounds. Neither came in stainless. 1970's early 1980s.
2nd Generation mid 1980's
659 and 669 are the stainless version of the model 59. The 669 being CCW and the 659 full size.
The 639 was the 2nd gen full size version of the model 39.

The 3rd generations pistols came out in the late 1980's.

The 3913 that is so widely talked about was the stainless CCW version of the model 39 still with an 8 round mag. (My favorite CCW 9mm) The 3906 was the full size version. They also made a CS9 (Chief Special) which is similar in size and function as the 3913 but with a 7 round mag. Some later variants... the 3913TSW for tactical DA/SA and the 3953 and 3953TSW in SS CCW 7 round DAO.
In the 59 series there is the "famous" as in tons of them made and used in LE, 5906 full size all SS 15 round. And the 5903 ss slide with alloy frame and also the 6906 in a more compact double stack 12 round.. the same as the 669 just with 3rd gen upgrades. Then are a lot of full size TSW (Tactical Smith & Wesson)and DAO variants to the 3rd gen 59 series as well. 5943 DAO, 5926 frame mounted decocker... and on and on it goes into the value series pistols..some available in SS/alloy finishes, 908 and 910 but are usually found in blued finishes. Also the PC (Performance Center) pistols such as the 952. Then there are the RSR variants...then there are the 1911's
So you see your question is really hard to answer properly without you purchasing the SCSW for about $25, studying all the variantions, buying them all, trying them all, find the 1and only 1 you want and then sell the rest Good Luck
Oh and then we move to the 45ACPs or 10mm or the 40cals.

 

[ablediver]

Reliable Stainless 9mm

In order, 3913 (any model), 6906 ( I should have never traded it) 5906 (very accurate & durable battle pistol.

 

[Vom Brunhaus K9]

Without question or hesitation I LUV my S&W 5906 stainless. Reliable, accurate, feeds well and easy to carry. 15 rounds and getting Mags is not a problem. VB