Howdy folks,
I have been offline for a year or two, moving from Texas to North Carolina. After finding a range nearby where I can actually draw from the holster and shoot more than one target at a time, I decided I would try out a couple of S&W metal guns of old. Since I have yet to buy any 1911 for less than the $775 I paid for a Colt Competition 9mm, I saw opportunity when I found a 3913TSW for $475 complete with a holster and three mags, and then a 659 with one original mag and very low round count for $390. I cleaned and lubed, and decided to try both using 115gr WW ball and 147gr Federal JHP. Imagine my surprise when the small 3913TSW out-performed the 659 with both loads. From 15 yards, where all shots were in the 9 and 10-ring of a standard NRA 25 yard slow-fire target, back to 25 yards where the 3913TSW kept all 7 rounds in the black, even with the 1st shot fired double-action.
I found that the 659 preferred the 147gr loading far more than the 115gr. I will try my NATO 124gr next and see how it does. Regardless, I was quite impressed with these old shooting irons. No failures in over 300 rounds fired using 6 different S&W magazines. My only complaint is that the trigger on the 659 needs some serious help. I typically stay with the 1911 and prefer their triggers. The 659 in double-action isn't too bad or too heavy, but the single-action seems like I can press the trigger through a mile of travel before it lets go. If anyone knows a smith who specializes in such an atrocious trigger, I would love to know more about that smith
The 3913TSW trigger is much nicer than the 659, so I'll leave it as-is. I started out looking for a cheap 9mm stainless steel pistol to keep in the vehicle, so that my favorite 1911's would get less wear on their pretty deep blue Colt finishes. As it stands, I have a new CCW with the 3913TSW, and was so impressed that I bought a Model 469 from the Forum, just because the stainless guns need a blue sister. I'll see if someone can suggest a good trigger smith for the 659, otherwise I think I understand why some of the police who were issued this model ended up spraying an entire magazine just to get a hit or two
Arman
I have been offline for a year or two, moving from Texas to North Carolina. After finding a range nearby where I can actually draw from the holster and shoot more than one target at a time, I decided I would try out a couple of S&W metal guns of old. Since I have yet to buy any 1911 for less than the $775 I paid for a Colt Competition 9mm, I saw opportunity when I found a 3913TSW for $475 complete with a holster and three mags, and then a 659 with one original mag and very low round count for $390. I cleaned and lubed, and decided to try both using 115gr WW ball and 147gr Federal JHP. Imagine my surprise when the small 3913TSW out-performed the 659 with both loads. From 15 yards, where all shots were in the 9 and 10-ring of a standard NRA 25 yard slow-fire target, back to 25 yards where the 3913TSW kept all 7 rounds in the black, even with the 1st shot fired double-action.
I found that the 659 preferred the 147gr loading far more than the 115gr. I will try my NATO 124gr next and see how it does. Regardless, I was quite impressed with these old shooting irons. No failures in over 300 rounds fired using 6 different S&W magazines. My only complaint is that the trigger on the 659 needs some serious help. I typically stay with the 1911 and prefer their triggers. The 659 in double-action isn't too bad or too heavy, but the single-action seems like I can press the trigger through a mile of travel before it lets go. If anyone knows a smith who specializes in such an atrocious trigger, I would love to know more about that smith
The 3913TSW trigger is much nicer than the 659, so I'll leave it as-is. I started out looking for a cheap 9mm stainless steel pistol to keep in the vehicle, so that my favorite 1911's would get less wear on their pretty deep blue Colt finishes. As it stands, I have a new CCW with the 3913TSW, and was so impressed that I bought a Model 469 from the Forum, just because the stainless guns need a blue sister. I'll see if someone can suggest a good trigger smith for the 659, otherwise I think I understand why some of the police who were issued this model ended up spraying an entire magazine just to get a hit or two
Arman
