3rd Generation DAO

quikdraw67

quikdraw67

Member
Silver Supporter
Joined
Aug 1, 2020
Messages
4,253
Reaction score
9,611
Location
Northeastern PA
I'm rapidly becoming a fan of the 3rd Generation pistols. I have 5, all are TDA.

I'm looking at a NOS 5946. I LOVE the 5906 NOS that I recently purchased. Great pistol.

But I've never fired a DAO semiautomatic pistol.

When I shoot my S&W revolvers, I almost always shoot DA. Usually I shoot a 28-2, a 586 no dash, or a 629-1. All have excellent DA triggers.

The 5906 I have has a good DA trigger on the 1st shot. Can I expect a similar DA trigger on a 5946?
 
Register to hide this ad
quikdraw67 said:
I'm rapidly becoming a fan of the 3rd Generation pistols. I have 5, all are TDA.

I'm looking at a NOS 5946. I LOVE the 5906 NOS that I recently purchased. Great pistol.

But I've never fired a DAO semiautomatic pistol.

When I shoot my S&W revolvers, I almost always shoot DA. Usually I shoot a 28-2, a 586 no dash, or a 629-1. All have excellent DA triggers.

The 5906 I have has a good DA trigger on the 1st shot. Can I expect a similar DA trigger on a 5946?
Click to expand...

It's a very nice trigger pull, but not like the DA pull of the 5906. The 5946 hammer is partially cocked so it's a lighter and smoother pull than the DA on the 5906. I carried a 5946 as a duty weapon. I still own two of them. I really like the trigger. So much that I just bought a 3953 for carry.
 
I'll be the sour puss here. I don't like the 3rd Gen DOA triggers at all. Too long and just unusual feeling to me. I do love the DA/SA 3rd Gen guns.
I remember all the complaints from some LE officers long ago, too, when they had to transition to them.
Some people don't mind them. I see that the ones around here are rising in price.
 
Beware the very slight pitfall of 3rd Gen DAO in that not all are the same! I wish I fully understood it as well as some do, but they made some models with a longer tang, and I believe these have the best trigger stroke.

They also made, later in the run of 3rd Gens (closer to the end) some “fake” DAO’s in that they were not really designed ground-up as DAO’s, they were simply DA/SA guns with the single action notch removed so that they only worked in DA mode. The NYPD 3913 DAO guns are an example of this. Not sure if there were more or not.

I do believe it is very safe to say that if the long double action pull and trigger feel of a 5906 is something you really like, than any/all S&W 3rd Gen DAO pistols will make you happy.

As for the 5906 DA trigger pull, weight, feel and smoothness... the MIM equipped 5906 pistols will have the very best DA trigger feel of all of them, without exception.

The very worst S&W semiauto pistol double action will be any of the 2nd Gen DA/SA guns, especially the early ones. 539 and 559 are the absolute worst, in my experience. I am not an expert, not an operator and I have never been paid to carry a gun on duty... but I have owned many of these and the 559 was the king of the absolute worst DA trigger in all of Smithdom.
 
Sevens said:
Beware the very slight pitfall of 3rd Gen DAO in that not all are the same! I wish I fully understood it as well as some do, but they made some models with a longer tang, and I believe these have the best trigger stroke.

They also made, later in the run of 3rd Gens (closer to the end) some “fake” DAO’s in that they were not really designed ground-up as DAO’s, they were simply DA/SA guns with the single action notch removed so that they only worked in DA mode. The NYPD 3913 DAO guns are an example of this. Not sure if there were more or not.

I do believe it is very safe to say that if the long double action pull and trigger feel of a 5906 is something you really like, than any/all S&W 3rd Gen DAO pistols will make you happy.

As for the 5906 DA trigger pull, weight, feel and smoothness... the MIM equipped 5906 pistols will have the very best DA trigger feel of all of them, without exception.

The very worst S&W semiauto pistol double action will be any of the 2nd Gen DA/SA guns, especially the early ones. 539 and 559 are the absolute worst, in my experience. I am not an expert, not an operator and I have never been paid to carry a gun on duty... but I have owned many of these and the 559 was the king of the absolute worst DA trigger in all of Smithdom.
Click to expand...

The NYPD authorized the 3953. The also authorized a 3914 DAO. Two totally different feeling guns. I had a 3914 DAO a few years ago. I never really liked the trigger. It was nice that it had second strike capabilities though.

I know the NYPD 5946 had the mag disconnect removed. I am pretty sure the 3953 and the 3914 DAO had the disconnect still installed. Didn’t make sense to me.

I’ve owned well over 25 3rd gen guns. I still love them. But I gotta admit I am starting to prefer the DAO versions. Something about that slick slide and point and shoot operation. They have the simplicity of a striker without the striker trigger. I prefer a hammer to rest my thumb on when holstering. Not gonna sell my 5906 and 4566 though.
 
Last edited:
I have several DAO 3rd gens and love 'em. Like many of us I was into revolvers before autos so am very familiar with the DA stroke of a fine gun. I find the DAO 3rd gens to be very smooth and consistent while a bit lighter and shorter than a revolver. They do employ a half-cock hammer to shorten the stroke at the cost of no 2nd strike capability. Some poo-poo this trade off but the same can be said of the venerable 1911 along with all the current striker fired fantastic plastics among others.

The DAO's offer a wonderful carry option in terms of utter reliability in a slim package with no slide safety/decocker. Available in smaller and larger frame sizes, multiple calibers, single or double stack, stainless or blue. If you like revolvers and 3rd gens then look at the 3rd gen DAO's with confidence. My 30 year old son-in-law's carry choice is a 6946. He used to carry a 3953 but liked my 6946 so much I was glad to let him have it. Nice to see it in service. I have my 3954 and a 4053 so am not without.

Your favorite TDA 3rd gen is most likely available in a DAO package. You'll like 'em just fine.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN2058.jpg
    DSCN2058.jpg
    69.6 KB · Views: 55
Last edited:
I'll echo those who mentioned the minor differences in DAO pull from design and manufacturing tolerances. Most will serve you well if you like the 3rd generation DA pull generally. Only way to know for sure is to lay hands on the pistol before you buy.

I sold all of my DA/SA third generation pistols, except for an early model 3914 with all the goodies, factory delivery paperwork, and a special serial number confirming its having belonged to Roy Jinks. Keeping that one for obvious reasons. But, others that remain are DAO. Really like the 3953 and NYPD DAO 3914s.
 
NCBeagle said:
I'll echo those who mentioned the minor differences in DAO pull from design and manufacturing tolerances. Most will serve you well if you like the 3rd generation DA pull generally. Only way to know for sure is to lay hands on the pistol before you buy.

I sold all of my DA/SA third generation pistols, except for an early model 3914 with all the goodies, factory delivery paperwork, and a special serial number confirming its having belonged to Roy Jinks. Keeping that one for obvious reasons. But, others that remain are DAO. Really like the 3953 and NYPD DAO 3914s.
Click to expand...


I have only handled 5 DAO's and all have been very nice. I will defer to those with more experience as to the variables found in a larger sample. My only comment would be that in the TDA's I prefer the later versions with the MIM parts which can be identified at a glance by the black trigger and hammer. I know some frown on MIM parts but I find them to be smoother and more consistent. I have a 3913LS (MIM) and a 3913NL (not) both unfired. The LS has a better trigger. I know that with a little use the NL would get much better and I'm not complaining...just an observation confirmed by these two examples. Perhaps this is the difference found in the DAO's?
 

Attachments

  • DSCN2321.jpg
    DSCN2321.jpg
    87.7 KB · Views: 57
Last edited:
Sevens said:
Beware the very slight pitfall of 3rd Gen DAO in that not all are the same! I wish I fully understood it as well as some do, but they made some models with a longer tang, and I believe these have the best trigger stroke.

They also made, later in the run of 3rd Gens (closer to the end) some “fake” DAO’s in that they were not really designed ground-up as DAO’s, they were simply DA/SA guns with the single action notch removed so that they only worked in DA mode. The NYPD 3913 DAO guns are an example of this. Not sure if there were more or not.


I do believe it is very safe to say that if the long double action pull and trigger feel of a 5906 is something you really like, than any/all S&W 3rd Gen DAO pistols will make you happy.

As for the 5906 DA trigger pull, weight, feel and smoothness... the MIM equipped 5906 pistols will have the very best DA trigger feel of all of them, without exception.

The very worst S&W semiauto pistol double action will be any of the 2nd Gen DA/SA guns, especially the early ones. 539 and 559 are the absolute worst, in my experience. I am not an expert, not an operator and I have never been paid to carry a gun on duty... but I have owned many of these and the 559 was the king of the absolute worst DA trigger in all of Smithdom.
Click to expand...

I have and like my 539 but the trigger is nothing to write home about for sure. SA is OK but DA is not good. Not broke in much so could get better but still like it for what it is. The 39's are better with excellent SA but the 3rd gens are the best.
 
Last edited:
My EDC is a Model 6946. I find the trigger to be almost identical in weight and length to that on my Model 640-1 revolver, which is my carry weapon when I want deep concealment.
 
As far as I can tell, the CS guns and 3914DAO are the ones that had the SA notch removed to make them DAO. The 457D has the humpbacked hammer and no second strike ability.

There was a 457D for sale here over the summer with some great pictures. I downloaded those, but hesitate to post them without the owner's permission.

I thought seriously about buying that, but the cost of the gun, shipping, and transfer was a bit out of my range.
 
The dao 3rd gens are not really comparable to any tda pistols of 3rd gen in double action mode...they are absolutely better...shorter, smoother, better reset....I have a single stack 4053 and a 6946 and both are are really consistently accurate and smooth with excellent break...almost like trigger staging a good double action smith revolver...and they can be found very reasonably on the used market, a secret Best Buy IMO if one gets a chance at one don’t hesitate!
 
Last edited:
GaryS said:
As far as I can tell, the CS guns and 3914DAO are the ones that had the SA notch removed to make them DAO. The 457D has the humpbacked hammer and no second strike ability.

There was a 457D for sale here over the summer with some great pictures. I downloaded those, but hesitate to post them without the owner's permission.

I thought seriously about buying that, but the cost of the gun, shipping, and transfer was a bit out of my range.
Click to expand...

I know which pistol you're talking about.

Same as you, was intrested, but let it pass.
 
Looking at buying either a 5946 or 4046 DAO. My first duty pistol was Beretta 96D Brigadeer, and I like that same break
 
My 3914DAO has a magazine disconnect. BTW, SKU on the box is 103922.

kbm6893 said:
The NYPD authorized the 3953. The also authorized a 3914 DAO. Two totally different feeling guns. I had a 3914 DAO a few years ago. I never really liked the trigger. It was nice that it had second strike capabilities though.

I know the NYPD 5946 had the mag disconnect removed. I am pretty sure the 3953 and the 3914 DAO had the disconnect still installed. Didn’t make sense to me.

I’ve owned well over 25 3rd gen guns. I still love them. But I gotta admit I am starting to prefer the DAO versions. Something about that slick slide and point and shoot operation. They have the simplicity of a striker without the striker trigger. I prefer a hammer to rest my thumb on when holstering. Not gonna sell my 5906 and 4566 though.
Click to expand...
 
GaryS said:
My 3914DAO has a magazine disconnect. BTW, SKU on the box is 103922.
Click to expand...

I thought so. Never made sense they specified it for the duty guns but not the off duty ones. The Glock and Sig duty guns didn’t have it so I get why they didn’t want the 5946 to have it, but none of the other off duty guns had the disconnect either so don’t know why the Smith’s got to keep theirs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
3rd Generation Pistol Manufacture Dates and How to Get them.
Replies
1
Views
851
ACEd
A
R
Gen 3 DAO conversion to SA/DA?
Replies
18
Views
1K
Doug M.
Doug M.
S
Brinks 4046TSW
Replies
5
Views
521
toddimusnimski
toddimusnimski
demkofour
Bitten by the S&W Generation Gap
Replies
5
Views
673
Tntcwg3
T
Redcoat3340
Are there any appreciable differences between 5904 and 459?
Replies
11
Views
1K
rincar
R

Latest posts

Back
Top