2nd and 3rd gen S&W autos

[FirebirdV8]

All of my carry semi-autos are S&W 3rd gens. They are just plain reliable and accurate and they look good too. The 2nd gens may be priced higher as they were produced or a limited time of around 7 or 8 years in the 80's and the 3rd gens were produced from the late 80's to, in limited production, last year.

 

[justsumstuff]

I have a problem with my 3953TSW. Is this the place to ask a question? I'm new & still trying to figure out the forum. Thank you for your paticence.

 

[epj]

Go to the upper left on the S&W auto main page. Click the start new thread button and ask away. There will probably be someone here who can answer.

 

[IRONVIC52]

I've owned the M&P 9 compact, 4516, Model 52 and currently have a nice 659. By far, I prefer the 659. Its rugged good looks (heck it should have gotten star billing in the movie Reservoir Dogs), reliability, heft and low recoil make it an excellent gun for home defense, plinking and winter carry. I have 3 off-the-shelf holsters made for my SIG P-226 and the Model 659 fits perfectly in them.

I paid $350 for the 659 a few months ago at a local pawnshop, so the 2nd Gen Smiths can still be found at reasonable pricing. I'm a "horse trader" by nature, but my 659 is a keeper.

 

[timn8er]

I have a modest collection of pistols, all S&W except for one Hi Power, & all semi's except for one 686-2. Three of them really stand out to me as CC options: Model 6906, Model 4013TSW, & my crown jewel, Model 4513TSW. All work great on a JIT Slide belt holster. I have carried all three at one time or another, but prefer to carry my M&P40c or my Shield 40. The reason for this is simple:In the absolute worst case scenario if I was to need to use the pistol, the idea of one of my poly pistols rattling around in an evidence bin, maybe never to be returned, would bother me a little less than one of my 3rd Gens facing the same fate. Please don't light those flame throwers just yet! I know that if the situation were actually to occur, which pistol was impounded would be the least of the worries I would be facing. I just wouldn't want to add that to it!

 

[dw910s]

I carry a 6906 frequently and my wife carries a 908 daily. Can't think of anything I like better than S&W 3rd Generation handguns.

 

[rwsmith]

I like mine

model 5943

 

[SoCalDep]

Since this thread seems to officially be back from the dead...

I sometimes carry my S&W 915 and just purchased a CS9 from a partner. I have to go do the transfer next week so I'll be without for ten days, then I'm going to start carrying it when my M&P9C is just too big.

I also have a model 39-2, but I want to replace the springs before I carry it. I bought it used and have no idea how many rounds have been through it or when (if ever) the springs have been changed.

 

[mbliss57]

The old resurrected thread.. probably from a search.. however still a valid question. My 1st .45 was a S&W M&P. Then I bought a 4506-1 at a gun show. I then sold the M&P.
The 2nd gens may bring a little more as they were only made for a short time until S&W transitioned to the 3rd gen line that started around 1988 and was going strong into the millennium. Many were made until the very late 1990s.
The 2nd Gens only had a 4 or 5 year run.

 

[RV4driver]

My only 3rd gen, so far. I have quite an extensive list under the "want" category. Unfortunately, the 3913 is in such good shape, I couldn't pull the trigger on the others I've seen. I guess I just need to bite the bullet, then clean it up myself. As mentioned in a 2010 post, the girls like to shoot this one. Perfect blend of power and weight.
The thing that always brings me back to this gun is the insane reliability. I don't remember ever having a failure of any kind, with any brand or type of ammo. Pull trigger, goes bang. I wish I could say that of my other Smiths. (Okay, except for the 686+) Don't even get me started on the BG380!

 

[Arik]

I suppose ill throw in my 2cents.

I have had a few, sold some and what i have left is a NYPD 5946, Tulsa OK Sheriff 4506 and Sunnyvalle PD 4563tsw.

What i sold were a Cleveland OH 5946, 2 4006 with one being a tsw....wish i kept that one! Sold it before i knew what TSWs were :banghead: and one 1006.

As im typing this i have on me the 4563tsw with 2 extra mags

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[mbliss57]

Is that a 3913ls or NL. I have never seen one without the gray delrin grips. They are awesome shooters and reliable!

 

[gen3guy]

Everybody wants Glocks and I don't blame them. I have a few myself. I also have a 915 and a 4013. One of the best kept secrets in the auto pistol world is how reliable and well made these 2nd and 3rd gen Smiths are. I very much regret selling my 4506.

 

[snowman.45]

I currently have a 4566 and a 1066. They're both outstanding; no malfunctions of any kind and solid. While I like my M&Ps and Glocks to a degree, it's hard to beat the old 2nd and 3rd gen pistols. I carried a 645, 4506, 4516 and 3913 as uniform and plain clothes guns back in the 80s and never had an issue with any of them. Fresno Co. (CA) S.O. still carries 3rd gen pistols in .45 ACP.

 

[59Lover]

When I carry an auto, it's usually a 3914, 6904 or a Glock 23.

 

[flyguy8555]

I carry a 469, and the only thing I didn't like was the half cock - you could feel it during the double-action trigger pull, so I switched hammers with a 6906. Excelent pistol, reliable and accurate. If I was buying again, I would probably get a 6906 - just because of the half cock notch on the 2nd gen.

 

[RV4driver]

Is that a 3913ls or NL. I have never seen one without the gray delrin grips. They are awesome shooters and reliable!

It's an NL. It came with the gray grip, I bought the Hogue rubber grips when I got the gun. I just like the way it feels in the hand.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I think the 2nd and 3rd Gen autos were unfairly trashed in the "gun press," in favor of some clearly inferior pistols whose makers bought more advertising or got a federal gun contract or three.

In addition, after the braintrust over at the FBI decided they knew better how to design the lock work of the 3rd Gen 10mm to accommodate the "prepping the trigger"* mode of firing thereby causing problems with the FBI 1976s, but not others, the writing was on the wall, especially after the pistol was trashed in the press which did not distinguish the amateur re-design from the original. It is too bad, as the 3rd Gen pistols are quite good. That said, the polymer models offer a weight savings that may not seem like much, but it feels like it.

*An unsafe practice calling for finger on the trigger when holding the weapon, and the user holding the trigger back to the point at which resistance is felt. When the user goes a little too far, which apparently happens easily in a high stress situation, the weapon can lock up until cycled again, or a lot too far results in a negligent "bang."

 

[VTHokiesDuckHunter]

Everybody wants Glocks and I don't blame them. I have a few myself. I also have a 915 and a 4013. One of the best kept secrets in the auto pistol world is how reliable and well made these 2nd and 3rd gen Smiths are. I very much regret selling my 4506.

No, some of us have shot Glocks and have NO desire to own one. I greatly prefer 3rd gens to all other semi-autos, with Hi-Powers and 1911's coming in next, then SIG metal guns.

As far as Polymer, the best of the bunch in my mind are the Walther PPS for CCW although its striker fired, then the FNX and FNP for full sized DA/SA double stack hammer guns, and certain HK's.

No Glocks for me!

 

[Fastbolt]

Most of us don't mind an older thread about 3rd gen's being resurrected.

Having just posted something in another thread which spun off into mentioning 3rd gen guns, I decided to take my CS45 out of the safe today, and my motorcycle out of the garage, for a ride through the Coastal hills this afternoon.

I re-lubed it (since it hasn't been shot for a couple of months), and even grabbed a double mag carrier instead of a single mag carrier. I often err on the conservative side when carrying extra mags or speedloaders/strips whenever I'm going a bit further back in the hills.

Carrying the CS45, with 3 of its 6-rd mags, makes me remember when I used to go on-duty carrying a 6-shot revolver and a pair of speedloaders. Of course, back then I didn't have a really diminutive LCP .380 to slip into the leather-reinforced holster pocket of my riding jacket. I had my pocket-anchor 649 Bodyguard.

If it matters to the Glock enthusiasts, I often belt on one of my G26's or my G27 for riding, because of their light weight. (Unless I'm just carrying one of my Airweights, if I don't feel like wearing a belt gun.)

While I happen to like the M&P's, I have an affinity for the outstanding TDA-like trigger of the Walther P99 AS series, particularly my pair of SW99's. If only their grip frame profiles & grip inserts were as nicely done as the M&P.

Different strokes, folks.