I'm currently looking at a 5906 PPC and it has some differences then an everyday 5906. My understanding on these is that were made for the overseas market only, so to see one in the States makes it more interesting. Anything in particular people know about this version of the 5906 I should be aware of?

Thanks

Is it a Target Champion ?

Multiple versions of 5906PPC reported - 5 in and 6 in barrel configurations? Supposed to have been about 800 made in at least 3 configurations - Product Codes 170083, 170223, & 170155. S/N prefix PPC and/or UBZ.
May be confused with 5906 Limited Product Code 670040 PCZ prefix. Box End of PPC0248 Product Code 170083 marked "LIMITED" with no reference to 5906PPC except by Product Code and PPC S/N prefix.

Photos?

Attached Images

5906Limited_PPC0248_170083_8357_BoxEnd.jpg (28.8 KB, 15 views)

Stop looking and start buying.

One fine day - well, it was about a day and plus seven, but who's counting - I bought a couple of S&W 5906's that weren't exactly your Mama's 5906.

But, me being a collector and all, I bought both at an LGS with whom I already had been doing business for years and, for what it's worth, still doing business with 'em. When one finds a good place, it's downright difficult to make like a tree ...



To learn what and why, next stop: Here - This incredibly rich source of knowledge of S&W firearms called the SmithWessonForum.com

From one unimpeachable source I learned they both evidently had been destined to be "Target Champions" across the Big Pond in Germany's functional equivalent of the U.S.'s WalMart; WISCHco.

Yet, they had no import or export markings.

Long story whittled drastically: They were overruns, originally sold at S&W's bargain outlet in Massachusetts and other than a Performance Center serial number and the usual S&W stuff, they had no other markings on either although, I was told, they would've gotten "Target Champion" burned onto each by laser when they arrived in Germany and before they were placed on the "For Sale" shelf.

Looking at what I've written, above, one realizes that all of the information took far longer to assemble, including some information from noted S&W Historian, Dr. Roy Jinks.

Because S/N PCZ0116 looked as if it had been taken to the range, or maybe a backyard and discharged, I took it to a local enclosed range and did some discharging of my own.

Oh my goodness, was that sucker smooth. Sweeter than any of the many (and they are, indeed, "many" around my place) I have on hand.

Methinks a sizeable contributor to the gun's ease of shooting (beyond a smooth trigger with a short, hardly noticeable take-up) is its heft.

Even though S&W firearms are my collection's mainstay, I've got a couple of CZ Oranges and a few other factory tweaked pistols against which I could compare the "5906-03."

Muzzle rise (flip) was more distinct on nearly every other except the aforementioned CZ Oranges (a 9mm and .40 S&W cal.). To me, the stainless steel through-and-through was the difference. Other pistols - many being of the poly persuasion - seem to focus on locked-down shots. I didn't lock my 5906-03's down.

Now, I have to say: My tests wouldn't have rated with Consumer Reports. In the first place, the last I checked (many moons ago) Consumer Reports ain't exactly the equal of American Rifleman. In the second place: Short of locking down a camera and placing some sort of also locked-down chart visually placed to the opposite side (from the camera) of the firearm being tested . . . well, I'm just too lazy for all that stuff.

After shooting ~50 rounds and moving on to shooting my "regular" carries, I cleaned her up and she's been in the safe, since. With respect to SN PCZ0117, I've yet to shoot it and she sits next to her sister in my vault.

Now, long story short: I hope this helps!

DCW , that looks just like my TC , which is an early one . You can tell because the frame falls short of the slide . My 6in is a later model and the frame is full length . You're not doing it any justice by not shooting it , mine gets a workout at least every other week . My 6in , not so often . It's one of the 5in that were modded by a German gunsmith that's pretty famous .

If you search the forum. There are several posts about the 5inch and 6inch Limited/PPC/Target Champion variants. Including my own posts. Hours and hours of reading.

-

Now, I got something to say about the above and about which I suspect some, maybe most, won't like. But that's the way a cookie crumbles.

olds350rocket, such moniker seemingly unrelated to an SnW Forum thread but that's the beauty of a forum - any forum - sometimes unrelated things happen, brought back memories of my '70 Rocket Oldsmobile Cutlass, which had more cc's under the hood than more of a few of today's cars. But the two-speed tranny - also in my '57 Chebbie - sure did leave a bunch on the table.

Then there's cherry.pointmarine, also a treasured poster herein this Forum who, like so many others, signed on the dotted line and did for others whatever needed to be done. I'm surely thankful for such. Take it to the bank. For sure.

Also prominently appearing in this thread is ACEd, who while generally appearing short on badges near his member name isn't similarly lacking in his number of posts. The guy knows his stuff and is willing to share it. There are two primary aspects to learning: The student and the teacher. The former just ain't gonna be there without the willingness of the latter. And Versa Visa - or something to that effect.

Absent herein with written opinion is JohnHL, but whose moniker can nonetheless be found in a "Like." When he does state a case, it's as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. "No brag, just fact" is something actor Walter Brennan - whose character, among a bunch of winning roles, was Grandpa McCoy - would offer when he had something to say. Nothing more; nothing less.

I don't much know anything about fellow member Shutthefrontdoor but I sure did laugh, heartily so, when I read his chosen member name. It's a good one, for sure; Brought back a thousand-and-one memories of an oft heard remonstration aimed at a Florida Boy when "HVAC" was accomplished by opening or closing doors.

As for DesertFox, who sounds rather sly because he doesn't speak much but in five words, "Stop looking and start buying," said more than did I in, what, hundreds of words - both of us pointedly and correctly said to ...

... Rockrivr1, who started this whole doggone thread and wherein I would unexpectedly meet with old friends again, along with meeting new ones. Thank you, Rock, I truly appreciate it.

It's just amazing to me, and gratefully so, that just a little ol' thing, like this thread in this Smith-WessonForum, can mean so darn much to one person.

I sincerely love you all - even if I've yet to fist-bump you.

Later - DC

Thanks for the kind words, DC, if I may say so on behalf of myself and my Forum brethren and sistren.

(My neighbor has a cistren, but I am on a well...)

Well to be sure, many who post on this Forum are knowledgeable, as is yourself.

But your posts are thought provoking while being SUCH GREAT FUN!!!

May you live as long as you want to,

Want to as long as you live....

And never stop posting!!!

You're a gem.

John

Well DCW , if you're an original Florida boy , I was born in Orlando , you remember the box fans we put in windows . We didn't need no stinking ceiling fans , we could handle the heat ! But then it rained every day of the summer around 1530 or so .

Hope I'll see you at the symposium in NC this year , it's nice to put a face to a name .

They were overruns, originally sold at S&W's bargain outlet in Massachusetts
What bargain outlet do you speak of? I bought many things in the S&W Shooting Sport Center. Believe me, even with my employee discount it was no bargain!

__________________
Don Mundell

Sweeet guns.

I had a Stocking Dealer near one of my clients in the 90s when the Performance Center was hand building guns. At the time I just assumed there were "lots" of the PC guns out there; because over about a 5 year span this Dealer always had a half dozen or so PC guns in the display cases.

My first was a SD-9 I got "slightly used" from the Shop's manager when he wanted to go to a .40. All steel w/ a 4 1/4" barrel it was a sweet shooting 9mm. I used it for several year in USPSA club level matches [w/ 15rd mags with the +2 adaptor] and IDPA with 12rd mags. Only about 500 Stocking Dealer guns were mfd in .9mm, .40 and .365. Of the 500 only 179 were SD-9 9mm.

Later got an all stainless DPA 5906,decocker only, for a "game gun" but the Boys came along w/ Soccer taking over my weekends. It sits in the safe unfired for the past 25 years. SCS&W 5th says only 405 mfd.


Came here in 05' and discovered how "uncommon to rare" these guns were! Generally only a few hundred of each PC gun were mfd.

A couple more passed through my hands because I hated the "Billboards" like the .45 CQB".

But I did get and keep two of the Shorty-9s. One has seen a lot of carry time over the past 30 years; the other, acquired as a "spare", is still as new in the safe.

Greetings Don (abbreviated version) ...
'Twas at one of those "Centers of Shopping" whereat women folk go gah-gah over perceived discounts from retail whereat, methinks, more and more are aware of the retail-price-discount grifting thing.

You know, formerly it was (or "'twas" should you prefer ... just let me know and I'll endeavor to permanently insert it into my lexicon) the church is where a guy could meet a gal, fall in lust ... er, love, and marry ever after.

(But, before long and in a headfirst fall into sin, the genders would first meet in a dancehall; then dancehalls with booze; then booze halls; then disco ... ughhhh ... and, while perhaps skipping a few types of meet-and-greets, one has entered "today" and has a difficult time figuring a gender just by first names, alone. Not to mention (no, seriously, not a mention at all) of present-day ways. I mentioned "ways." I hope that's cool.)

At the time (in Stone Age terms) methinks S&W had four or five "discount mall" locations. I don't know for sure, because I almost literally stumbled across this particular example.

And then, referencing the 5906-3 (official) I said, "Wait! You all have two of 'em? Ordinal serial numbers!? How about three? Oh, puh-leeze have three .. or four. I'll do three or four? (do) You have bulk pricing? No!? Aw c'mon! Okay then, rack 'em Danno! (the parlance of that day)(well, maybe not EXACTLY that day ... but more people understood at the time than understand today. I mean, heck, "Danno?" Is that a boy or girl?)

I walked with two "PPCs," "Target Champions" or whatever anyone wants to call them. Just don''t call them "Inept" ... in shooting at targets.

So, Don, that's my story and I'm sticking to it - mainly because I failed metal working.

One More Ting: Later, S&W closed at least 3/4ths of the "bargain" stores it had opened. I don't know why. Maybe a lack of inventory; too much ineptitude. Who knows because I don't?

'Tis good to be exchanging words with you again, Don. I've been away about a year or two. Wasn't my choice. Mama didn't scrape up bail until a couple weeks ago.

Best Regards to You, Don,

Later.

DC

That was the most fun thing I've read on the net today, DC.

Thanks!

John

Tis good to be exchanging words with you again, Don. I've been away about a year or two. Wasn't my choice. Mama didn't scrape up bail until a couple weeks ago
DC
DCW, in the future if you are in need of bail money let me know. I'm sure we can raise enough to bail you out or at the very least we can facilitate selling some of your 39's to meet the need. I know a few buyers...just sayin.