I'm new to this so any advice appreciated. I'm looking to buy a 3rd gen all stainless 9mm, full size, double-stack, so it seems my main choices are the models above. This will be a range/HD gun.

5946: DAO. I'm familiar with this concept since I have a Sigma. I like DAO for carry, and don't seem to have much trouble with the trigger. I can see some value in it for HD use (no safety to manipulate).

5926: De-Cocker. Here's where I'm really ignorant. How does this work in actual use. When do you decock? safety? what do you do to fire the gun?

5906: TDA or DA/SA. I'm fuzzy on when/how it reverts to DA? Is the DA aspect it's "safety" as on my Sigma?

Cost & availability will also be a minor factor. There seems to be a lot of 5906 LE trade-ins now in the mid-$300 range. 5926 seem to be a rather rare "niche" product. 5946 are out there and seem reasonable, I'm assuming not as much demand for DAO.

Say what you will about the Sigma, but this is one newbie brought into shooting by it. Bought it in Feb., picked-up a 2206 last week, and am now looking for another 9MM. It's been a very interesting experience. It's the "Smith-of-the-Month" club.

Shoe

The 5946 is a very smooth DAO. I am a huge fan of DAO Smiths and prefer them to the DA/SA models. I believe in a consistent trigger system. Plus the trigger is considerably better than the Sigma line (and most others too). I prefer the 5943 as it has an alloy frame and is much lighter. The all steel line however has almost no recoil or muzzle flip.



The 5926 is a frame mounted decocker. After racking the slide and chambering a round, you press the lever down to decock the gun. There is no safety. To fire the gun you simply pull the trigger. The first shot will be a long heavier pull and the second shot will be a short single action pull (until you decock again).



The 5906 is a slide mounted decocker/safety. Same as above (but slide mounted) and as long as the lever stays down the gun should not shoot. Push the lever forward (off safe as pictured) and the gun will fire in double action mode if you pull the trigger. Again, after that first DA shot it will revert to single action until decocked again.



You can find the 5946 and 5906 for around $300-350 (police trade in). There is a nice 5946 in the classifieds right now for a great price. Aim Surplus has 5906's and Cole Distributing has 5926's. Nicer commercial models may cost a little more. I am a huge fan of the 3rd Gen S&W pistols and am confident that if you get one you will love it.

mlk18

The 5926 works just like a SIG 226. Decock only, no other safety.

you can be assured the 5906 and others 5900 series will last you for life. I've heard of some extractor breakage but never seen it. good shooters too, one of the best out of the box 9's.

Great advice so far, I would have to add a couple of points. When you decock the 5926 it will go back to half cock. When you decock the 5906 it goes back to double action. Basically the trigger pull on the 5926 will be a little bit shorter and lighter then the 5906 when firing from the decocked position.

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J.D. Roy

I have a quick question about my 5946 while we are on the topic. In most pictures i see of 5946's they have black triggers but mine has a stainless trigger, was that just an unpopular option?

The silver colored triggers are flash chromed, which means you have an early 5946. The black triggers are MIM and were introduced later. The flash chromed triggers are more desirable by a lot of 3rd Gen enthusiasts. I have guns with both and they both serve me equally as well.

I'm getting the itch for a 3rd Gen auto.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Pick one up and scratch that itch! You won't regret it!!

But go with a stainless 59x6 and leave the blued ones for me.

Thanks to all, this was exactly the info I was looking for. I still don't know what's right for me, I guess I'll just have to get one of each(only halfway kidding, but it will take a while to do it).

shoe

I had a 5946 for a short time. I did not like the DAO trigger compared to my 5906.