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S&W Mdl. 6946

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mudcat100

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Just purchased one from a vendor on Gunsinternational. Tired of polymer pistols. If anyone's ever owned one, I would like to hear opinions please as I never have. Thanks much.
 
It has a very DAO revolver-like trigger pull, so it was probably a good choice back in the day for those transitioning away from those (think NYPD). My other observation is the slide serrations are on the small side for grasping and cycling the action.

Range report, please! :)
 
I've carried one for quite some time now. Considered trading it for a plastic fantastic, but other than a couple of ounces weight saved, I don't see a plastic pistol as having much of an advantage over my 6946.


The trigger is very much like that of a S&W J-frame double action trigger. Around 8 pounds, consistent and smooth. Mine is an almost perfect duplicate of that in my Model 640-1 revolver.


My 6946 had one issue when I bought it. With ammo that had prominent case mouth edges, it would sometimes fail to chamber. What I found was that the barrel in my 6946 did not have a very slight bevel along the side edges of the chamber. I applied just a tiny bevel, matching that of my Model 439, and the issue disappeared. A couple of years ago I bought an early production Model 6906, it also had a slight bevel along the edge of the chamber. I'm guessing that my particular 6946 got a barrel that skipped that vital step in machining.


One thing about the compact S&W pistols is that they often shoot low with 115 grain ammo. I found that my 6906 shoots point of aim with 124 grain loads and my 6946 prefers 147 grain ammo.
 
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Thanks for saving me a lot of typing. I don't carry my 6946, but I do like shooting it. Mine has a very smooth trigger pull although I don't think the previous owner(s) shot it much.

I have to brag that I bought it for a song with the box, paperwork, and TWO 12 round magazines for $325.00 OTD. That was from a very good FFL who knows 3rd Gens. At that price I couldn't leave it in the display case.

I used it last year for the range qualification part of the SC CCW class. This was only the second time I shot it and the results are below.

de3qUfC.jpg


If I can find a 3953 that will go into a holster as part of my carry rotation.

stansdds said:
I've carried one for quite some time now. Considered trading it for a plastic fantastic, but other than a couple of ounces weight saved, I don't see a plastic pistol as having much of an advantage over my 6946.


The trigger is very much like that of a S&W J-frame double action trigger. Around 8 pounds, consistent and smooth. Mine is an almost perfect duplicate of that in my Model 640-1 revolver.


My 6946 had one issue when I bought it. With ammo that had prominent case mouth edges, it would sometimes fail to chamber. What I found was that the barrel in my 6946 did not have a very slight bevel along the side edges of the chamber. I applied just a tiny bevel, matching that of my Model 439, and the issue disappeared. A couple of years ago I bought an early production Model 6906, it also had a slight bevel along the edge of the chamber. I'm guessing that my particular 6946 got a barrel that skipped that vital step in machining.


One thing about the compact S&W pistols is that they often shoot low with 115 grain ammo. I found that my 6906 shoots point of aim with 124 grain loads and my 6946 prefers 147 grain ammo.
Click to expand...
 
Have one, picked up at the show a few months ago, $300. Nice pistol, shoots well. The Smith DAO is something of an acquired taste. I don't mind it at all but others do. Found mags and leather with no difficulty.
 
I wish I could find a sub-$400 6946. It would be a primo concealed carry piece for our cool coastal Texas winters.
 
Several decades ago, a 6946 was the second semiauto pistol I ever bought. Probably three dozen or more semiautos later, it's one of the handful I still have, and gets carried regularly. Great combo of size and simplicity, IMO one of the best of the third gens.
 
I was taught in the early 70s to shoot double action only with revolvers. The 6946 DAO action is very revolver like, and not a heavy pull at all. Very accurate, will accept 59 series mags, but they stick out about a half inch from the mag well. Carried mine as a duty gun for years before I retired.
 
oldcop71 said:
IVery accurate, will accept 59 series mags, but they stick out about a half inch from the mag well.
Click to expand...

There is an adapter/spacer for that. Seems like there is a guy on this forum that sells them. They work on the 4013TSW as well

Rosewood
 
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Saw one in a LGS today, no box or spare mag, for just under $500. It had a very nicely done CC - 2003 on the top? Neither me nor the dealer knew what it meant. If it had a box and spare, I might be interested.
 
I carried a 6946 for two years; then, decided that my 3953 - another DAO pistol - fit my hand better. I like the trigger on the S&W DAO pistols because they are like the trigger on my service revolvers. Smooth.

These DAO pistols are great choices for AIWB carry.

I sold the 6946 to a forum member who has commented that it is his EDC. I'm not surprised.

Previous comments about ammo are right on. I'd like to say that transitioning from striker fired pistols to the DAO platform may require some time learning to resist staging the trigger and looking for the reset.
 
As one poster noted…..

My 6946 slide was too slick for my 70 year old hands to rack comfortably. Missed that decock lever to help with my grip.
Industrial grade anti slip flooring tape looks terrible, but works for me!
 

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NCBeagle said:
Absolutely fantastic carry guns. Actually, carrying one today. A bit more capacity than some of my 39XX carry guns and excellent DA trigger. Carries like an alloy Glock 26. I had Watchdog Tactical, of Charlotte, NC, made an appendix carry holster for it.

0c472c925a4cfab86a73fce00cbe7ada.jpg

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e2b43015e29253b05ec0f7c97f47d687.jpg
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DCC Monoblock and a wing, thats a great setup. Im building a one-off Franken gun and need an appendix holster too. Im gonna have to swing by that place when im in Charlotte next weekend
 
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