So... Just bought a 5904 here and am quite pleased with it BUT a friend says its not a good pistol for self defense due to its inability to fire without a mag in it...says I can remove that feature BUT I rather like the idea as I recall police in the 1980's using that feature if their weapon was taken or they were about to loose wrestling a criminal. I dont plan on using the feature myself.... whats the Consensus.
5904 question
- Thread starter Mrnurse
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I wouldn't think twice about it. I have a 4567, also will not fire without the mag. I'm very comfortable relying on it for personal protection. I don't feel it's a real issue for me as I'm not a cop and the odds of getting in a struggle over the pistol is pretty darn remote that I'd want to fire the gun after the mag is ejected.
I would not Bubba the pistol. 15rds should work for a defensive situation. Unless you have a real zombie problem. Then have multiple mags loaded and ready.
3wire
Member
For my S&W 3rd Gens, its really a non-issue, if anything, I perceive it as an asset.
Unless you're shooting competition, where the rules require you to drop the mag, rack the slide, and pull the trigger to display an unloaded gun.
Those people who bemoan the magazine disconnect safety have NO real life experience or can even find any actual occurrences where a mag disconnect caused a victim to be shot, to support the benefit of no mag disconnect, despite the numerous occasions of real life occurrences where a mag disconnect has saved a life (cops as well as civilians).
While we all hope that we never have to shoot anyone in a self defense situation, if you do shoot someone, and you have removed the mag disconnect or modified your personnel defense firearm in any fashion to defeat any of the manufactures safety measures, its not going to bode well for you when you have to go to court to explain your actions.
The 5900 series handguns are great firearms. Your 5904 will perform great for self defense, just shoot it and become familiar with its operation, you will enjoy it!
Unless you're shooting competition, where the rules require you to drop the mag, rack the slide, and pull the trigger to display an unloaded gun.
Those people who bemoan the magazine disconnect safety have NO real life experience or can even find any actual occurrences where a mag disconnect caused a victim to be shot, to support the benefit of no mag disconnect, despite the numerous occasions of real life occurrences where a mag disconnect has saved a life (cops as well as civilians).
While we all hope that we never have to shoot anyone in a self defense situation, if you do shoot someone, and you have removed the mag disconnect or modified your personnel defense firearm in any fashion to defeat any of the manufactures safety measures, its not going to bode well for you when you have to go to court to explain your actions.
The 5900 series handguns are great firearms. Your 5904 will perform great for self defense, just shoot it and become familiar with its operation, you will enjoy it!
I have never deactivated a magazine disconnect feature myself, it just isn't that big of an issue for me.
I'm not sure why the magazine disconnect makes it "not a good pistol for self defense"......??
As discussed, should you get separated from your gun, dropping the mag & disabling the gun might just be a great tactic....
Miami_JBT
US Veteran
kbm6893
Member
I wish there was a way to add a mag disconnect to every pistol I own.
My dept issued S&W autos for 32 years including the 5904. As many as 2300+ guns on the street at any given time. We were the first large agency to go to autos and did a lot of testing, recommended modifications to S&W, and run a lot of ammo downrange. All of those S&Ws had the mag disconnect.
I personally know 4 of our guys who are alive today because of the mag disconnect saving their lives. I never heard of a single incident in our dept where the mag disconnect caused a problem.
Some times friends spend too much time reading internet lore and are extremely short on actual experience and knowledge.
I personally know 4 of our guys who are alive today because of the mag disconnect saving their lives. I never heard of a single incident in our dept where the mag disconnect caused a problem.
Some times friends spend too much time reading internet lore and are extremely short on actual experience and knowledge.
Heh. Everyone's got one of "those" friends that has to show that his gun (or anything else) knowledge is greater than yours.
Tell him the REAL experts on this forum say you made a heck of a great deal, and several wanted to buy it on the spot.
Enjoy your gun. Twice as much. You really did get a good one.
Tell him the REAL experts on this forum say you made a heck of a great deal, and several wanted to buy it on the spot.
Enjoy your gun. Twice as much. You really did get a good one.
datatech2550
Member
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Back when I had little ones and we traveled to see the grandparents the mag safety was a great benefit.
Whenever I HAD TO separate from my 5903, I would clear it, store it, and keep the magazine in my pocket safe from all the little kids running around.
This is also why I don't top off the mag. I've needed to clear my carry due to unplanned circumstances and hate having loose ammo to deal with.
Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
Whenever I HAD TO separate from my 5903, I would clear it, store it, and keep the magazine in my pocket safe from all the little kids running around.
This is also why I don't top off the mag. I've needed to clear my carry due to unplanned circumstances and hate having loose ammo to deal with.
Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
kbm6893
Member
Totally agree. Those who say they want to be able to do a tactical reload in the middle of a gunfight are dreaming. I highly doubt they would even be aware of the rounds fired, necessitating a reload, but have the ability to do it smoothly under such intense pressure without dropping the loaded mag or otherwise fumbling it. Even if they were so well trained, the odds that they would need that one round in the chamber while they did their tactical reload are astronomical. And even if they did use that one round in the middle of the reload, the gun is now empty, but the slide is not locked back, requiring the shooter to use his non shooting hand to rack a closed slide.
Totally agree. Those who say they want to be able to do a tactical reload in the middle of a gunfight are dreaming. I highly doubt they would even be aware of the rounds fired, necessitating a reload, but have the ability to do it smoothly under such intense pressure without dropping the loaded mag or otherwise fumbling it. Even if they were so well trained, the odds that they would need that one round in the chamber while they did their tactical reload are astronomical. And even if they did use that one round in the middle of the reload, the gun is now empty, but the slide is not locked back, requiring the shooter to use his non shooting hand to rack a closed slide.
Quite right, Ive been in 2 such environments..1 with Uncle Sam another at 0300 in my home long ago. Ive NEVER done Tac shooting to compete, I have done it to be proficient. When my Kids were growing up I refused to Buy Killer/violent games, no paint ball, they were taught to NEVER point or touch a gun unless mom or dad was with them, They are proficient with firearms. Shooting a Human is a Life changing event despite hollywoods movies depicting a care free attitude to the subject. Thanks all for your inputs.
Quite right, Ive been in 2 such environments..1 with Uncle Sam another at 0300 in my home long ago. Ive NEVER done Tac shooting to compete, I have done it to be proficient. When my Kids were growing up I refused to Buy Killer/violent games, no paint ball, they were taught to NEVER point or touch a gun unless mom or dad was with them, They are proficient with firearms. Shooting a Human is a Life changing event despite hollywoods movies depicting a care free attitude to the subject. Thanks all for your inputs.
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