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Model 6946 - info please

Don~Z~

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2016
Messages
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Location
Montgomery, IL
So I am kind of new to shooting, I love smith and Wesson firearms and I own three so far, is the 6946 a good gun, I've done some research online, but I wanna hear from some of you professionals... any info/opinions would be appreciated, I have an opportunity to purchase one from a friend, I haven't fired it yet, I will fire it before committing to buy. He wants $300 for it...


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Take it at $300 and sell it to me for $400. I just paid $450 recently for one in excellent condition a a LGS. You can't go wrong at that price.

digiroc
 
Gander Mountain (at least some) have them for around that price but then you have to add tax. They come with one magazine.
 
So I am kind of new to shooting, I love smith and Wesson firearms and I own three so far, is the 6946 a good gun, I've done some research online, but I wanna hear from some of you professionals... any info/opinions would be appreciated, I have an opportunity to purchase one from a friend, I haven't fired it yet, I will fire it before committing to buy. He wants $300 for it...
I would call that an outstanding deal if the gun is in good shape with at least a couple magazines included. :) I've tried to get one around here (MA) but they are not common in these parts and condition has been pretty darn nasty for the occasional one that has popped up. :o
 
Always nice to find a local deal. I've found few in my life...usually can't find what I want local. That's a great deal all day so post a picture and range report after you get it.:)

edit: Don't let the DAO scare you off. It will be a smooth pull and group very well. No protruding safeties to deal with. If you haven't shot revolvers or DAO's very much you're in for a pleasant surprise...if you have then you'll like it right away.
 
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I LOVE my 6946...and my girlfriend loved it so much that I had to buy her one too!! They are great shooting pistols. Both of ours were police trade ins, so not in the best shape cosmetically...but they function perfectly.

I say go for it!

Fox
 
If it is in decent shape that is a good deal. 69XX Magazines are a bit hard to find though. I've been using a 6946 for my primary carry lately.
 
I visit the S-W forum often with my boyfriend, but never post comments...until now. I am NOT a professional shooter, but I love it so much and have experience with many different pistols. By far, I LOVE the 6946! We now have "twins," his and hers 6946s, and both shoot perfectly! I don't know much, but I do know, that sounds like a good deal to me!
 
Thanks for all the feed back! So I called one of the local gun shops around my area, and the guy who answered the phone brought up a few things, 1)stainless = heavy, 2)hard to get parts if something does malfunction, 3) there is better technology for not much more money... I edc a Shield 45(only for a few weeks, that's why I said I'm a newby). I have been shooting since August of 2016. I also have a bodyguard 380 semi, a shield 9 and a glock 19, apparently firearms are addicting... anyway I am thinking that the 6946 might be a good nightstand gun because of the dao. So the weight wouldn't really be any issue... Idk, keep your feedback coming!!


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I visit the S-W forum often with my boyfriend, but never post comments...until now. I am NOT a professional shooter, but I love it so much and have experience with many different pistols. By far, I LOVE the 6946! We now have "twins," his and hers 6946s, and both shoot perfectly! I don't know much, but I do know, that sounds like a good deal to me!

Welcome to the forum and now that you've broken the ice you can join in more often. Since you LOVE the 6946 I hope you have had a chance to try the 3953/54. I have many Smith autos (most are TDA's) and have my favorites but my 6946 and 3954 are my go-to carry guns.
 
Thanks for all the feed back! So I called one of the local gun shops around my area, and the guy who answered the phone brought up a few things, 1)stainless = heavy, 2)hard to get parts if something does malfunction, 3) there is better technology for not much more money... I edc a Shield 45(only for a few weeks, that's why I said I'm a newby). I have been shooting since August of 2016. I also have a bodyguard 380 semi, a shield 9 and a glock 19, apparently firearms are addicting... anyway I am thinking that the 6946 might be a good nightstand gun because of the dao. So the weight wouldn't really be any issue... Idk, keep your feedback coming!!


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The LGS doesn't have a 6946 or anything like it to sell to you so surprise, surprise...he wants to sell you a new gun. It's not too heavy to carry and not sure what he means by "better technology". It's not a fantastic plastic if that's what he means! (thank goodness!)
 
Tell Scooter at the gun store that a 6946 has an alloy frame.:)
I know. LOL!!!! :D

Let's see... 12+1 SS slide plus alloy frame (6946) vs. 12+1 SS slide plus plastic frame (M&P9c). 26.5 oz. vs. 24.7 oz.

Yep, a big difference. :p Those extra 1.8 oz. are killer! ;)
 
I'd take a 6946 over any pistol the LGS has on the shelf,.....unless they happen to have a 3953. Great pistol and the only technological advancement has been to make pistols cheaper out of cheaper materials(for increased profit).

When something is claimed to be 'better', ask yourself "better for whom?"
 
7bf6a9bbc0f9d643731cee326e52c4b8.jpg
. Well I bought it, it kinda matches my knife too... the gun has lots of cosmetic wear, but man I love the way it shoots.


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The 6946 was the follow on gun issued to uniformed U.S. Customs employees after we turned in our CS-1 revolvers. I carried the 6946 from 1993-1999. The plainclothes Custom's agents were issued the 6906. Unlike the special ordered features unique to the CS-1, the semi auto pistols were regular catalog items. There was a problem discovered with the "draw bar" on the 6946's after some usage, but this was repaired/replaced in the field by a trained Customs armorers. I know after qual one day that he pulled out his tool kit and changed out my draw bar right there on a picnic table at the range in less than five minutes.
 
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Thanks for all the feed back! So I called one of the local gun shops around my area, and the guy who answered the phone brought up a few things, 1)stainless = heavy, 2)hard to get parts if something does malfunction, 3) there is better technology for not much more money... I edc a Shield 45(only for a few weeks, that's why I said I'm a newby). I have been shooting since August of 2016. I also have a bodyguard 380 semi, a shield 9 and a glock 19, apparently firearms are addicting... anyway I am thinking that the 6946 might be a good nightstand gun because of the dao. So the weight wouldn't really be any issue... Idk, keep your feedback coming!!


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it's lot not stainless, it's really not that heavy, great double action only trigger, looks better than polymer, a modern classic. You can also use 15 round mags in them from the larger framed guns
 
Put 100 rounds of Winchester white box and it fired perfectly, no malfunctions also put 16 hornady critical defense and no problems with them either, I acquired two 15 round mags from the 5906 series and adapter butt plates... I'm really liking this gun...


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