Anyone CCW a 6906 or Other Non-M&P Semi? Any 45acp Models??

[Nalapombu]

Hey all.

I have always liked the looks and feel of the 3rd generation S&W autos. I think I've only owned 1 over the years, but it's gone now. Prolly in a swap of some kind.

Anyway, the other day I was watching YouTube videos and came upon one where they were talking about great trade-in or surplus pistol options. They listed the 6906 and I think the 669, but I'm not certain in that one. That had me thinking about how well that 6906 would work as a carry piece. I don't know what they weigh, but they hold 12 rounds don't they? I'd like to hear about your experiences with carrying and/or owning either of these 9mm pistols, particularly the 6906.

Also, there's a few of the 3rd Gen pistols in 45acp that I really like too, like the 4513 or 4516. I also REALLY liked the TSW versions in the 3rd Gen autos. Those are getting very hard to find in affordable prices now.
Anyone carry one of the non M&P 45acp autos? Isn't there also a 457 that is kinda a twin to the 4513 or 4516? If so, I'd like to know more about that one too.

Please post pics of your carry dig if you have any. Everyone LOVES gun porn!!

Thank for your time everyone. Please take care of yourselves and your families out there in these crazy times we're living in.

Larry


Ps.....I almost forgot to mention another auto thst I really like and would love to have at some point......the model 59 or 39, in nickel. Gorgeous pistol. Anyone own these? If so, how about some pics?

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have qualified with a 4513 TSW but I don't think I have ever actually carried it.

 

[GerSan69]

Well, I carried a 669 for a couple years starting in 1989, when my department made semi-autos optional. I switched to a 6906 when one became available. Back then, I carried the same gun on and off duty for a while because of the newness of being able to carry a semi.
Both carried the same but a sturdy holster was necessary, because 12 rounds is a lot of weight out there in free space above the holster. That said, they were comfortable IWB or OWB. OWB, other than that different balance in the grip, was no different than carrying a revolver (I carried everything high-ride.) IWB simply meant having the grip frame sitting on top of my belt. It did stick out more than a revolver, though, so I had to be more careful how I dressed.
I've since stopped carrying the 6906 daily because my other options are lighter, and I'm retired.

 

[cpeblue]

I have a 6906 and a 6904 , the only holster I have found is a desantis OWB . Their is no kydex holster for or 69xx's. For my Shields or my 365's , g26 0r p320 subcompact their multiple holsters for them. I have a cs9 that fits in a shields leather holster but nothing else. This is what I think is our biggest problem with our 3rd gens , lack of holsters and after market support .

 

[18DAI]

I have carried the 3rd gen compact 45s for almost two decades. I started off with the 4516-3 LE Special order in plainclothes as an Investigator.

Later, I qualified with the 4513TSW - early version with 6 round mag and no rail. After that, a 7-round 4513TSW. And I later qualified with and carried an early production 457. All superb 45 carry guns.

In retirement from Investigations and serving as a Magistrate, I carry a CS45, 457 and sometimes my old 4513TSW.

The 457 is the value line, or economy version of the 4516s and 4513TSWs. Less finishing and a cheap finish. But every bit as reliable as its cousins and accurate enough for government work. Regards 18DAI

 

[SMSgt]

A 6906 is my daily carry except for those few times I choose my Glock 30 for trips to Indian country. I picked up an IWB holster at The Holster Store that fit my needs nicely.

The 6906 is the Goldilocks gun--not too big or heavy, not too small or light, just right.

 

[URIT]

I don't like the grip on the Gen2 models and my only Gen2 model, a pristine 469 that I bought from a Texas auctioneer, is a safe queen.

I own several 6900 series pistols and carried them in a Hughes OWB Avenger style holster and an IWB Don Hume H715-M #28-1 open-top with body shield holster. IIRC, both cost less than $50.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Carried a 3rd Gen S&W for the past 30 years.... generally a 3913 but I'll go to a 6906 or Shorty-9 if traveling away from my burb of the Burgh.

Empty the guns weigh in at between 25 and 28 oz.

Either gun almost always in a Milt Spark Summer Special or Executive Companion IWB holster....... Spare mag for the 69xx is generally a 59xx magazine with a +2 spacer in a Safariland 123 horizontal mag pouch.

In .45 I've had a 4516 (to heavy IMO) a early 4513 (6shot magazines were/are scarce). I've looked to Sig 220s and Compact 245 to meet my .45 carry needs since the mid-90s.
That said I do have and like a 4566..... a little to heavy for EDC when I have the Sigs available..... but IMO a great all steel .45 and the most versatile of the Smith .45s

As I've stated before "new" means new not necessarily better

 

[stansdds]

I have carried a Model 6946 on my hip for the past 10 or 11 years now. I've considered a plastic pistol, but the 6946 has been insanely reliable and reasonably accurate for a compact pistol.

 

[pharmer]

With me everyday since 1994. I have changed the recoil spring a time or 2. Joe

 

[tlawler]

I've got a 4516 and a CS40 that I occasionally carry.

 

[Erocksmash]

Every once in awhile I'll get a little bit frisky and carry the 1013...

 

[squidsix]

Recon 45 or 3913 are my carry guns most days. I have been packing a Beretta 92 Compact lately but for a long time a single-stack S&W has been in my holster.

 

[max]

I have carried a 669 with a 6906 slide for a long time. It is usually in a Miami shoulder holster. I have a 457, but do not carry it. I prefer the round count in the 9mm.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I carry a S&W 3953 a good bit.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Recon 45 or 3913 are my carry guns most days. I have been packing a Beretta 92 Compact lately but for a long time a single-stack S&W has been in my holster.

I've gone to my 92Compact lately.... I'm now using the new 15rd Mec-gar mags...... did you get any??? Spare mag is a Mec-gar 18rounder with a Farrar mag collar.

 

[Frank Black]

Have carried at one time or other the following 3rd Gens ...

1006, 1076, 4566, and more recently a 6906.

New to that group is a 411, but it hasn't yet made it into the carry rotation.

With all that's going on these days, an EDC piece with decent magazine capacity gets preference.

So the 11+1 .40S&W 411 may nudge out the lighter 12+1 9mm 6906 based on the heavier-hitting payload of 180gn JHPs for roughly the same number of rds.

The 6906 does, however, carry comfortably.

 

[HYPURR]

6906

Scottsdale Crib Carry...Eric won't let me Carry in LA.

My 457 TT rides that rig too.

 

[Classic Radio99]

My 6946 is in my EDC rotation, and it's the one I carry most often right now..
There are so many great features for this gun, the size, weight, capacity, external hammer, and the fact that it's a DAO. You just can't find this feature set in any modern pistol that I know of. All my carry guns are DAO, whether they are a semi-auto, or a revolver. The rotation is: a 6946, 3914DAO, Ruger P89DAO, and a Ruger LCR.
All the guns operate pretty much the same, for example, I don't have to remember which gun has which safety on it. The trigger pull is the same shot to shot, and similar between all the different ones in the rotation. And, the external hammer is great for holstering, I push down with my thumb on the hammer when I holster, it gives that added margin of safety.
The Smith 3rd gen are probably some of the best designed handguns ever built, although the Ruger P89DAO is build like a tank..

The only caveat is that factory magazines are pretty rare and getting expensive. I purchased a few that I thought were factory, but weren't and needed to tweak them to get them to work right. I noticed a couple of places are carrying Mec-Gar magazines for the 6900 series, I'm going to get a few and try them out..

BTW, for cpeblue, I use a Crossbreed Super Tuck IWB hybrid Kydex/leather holster that's listed for the 3900 series, but it works well on the 6946. I use it for both the 3946 and the 3914DAO, it works equally well for both. I don't know if this applies to other brands, but I'm thinking it might....

My 6946:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=443109&d=1586109864

6946 in the Crossbreed holster:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=443110&d=1586109984

3914DAO:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=443111&d=1586110014

3914DAO in the same Crossbreed holster:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=443112&d=1586110054

 

[Big Cholla]

I have been carrying a M 6946 in a IWB holster up until two days ago when it got too warm here during the day for a light jacket. So, I went back to my M 642-2 carried in a front pocket of my jeans.