Picked up a clean 6906 for a carry piece. Very reliable, however the safety is a bit stiff. Gunsmith in town here told me he had a DAO kit for it. I'm thinking of changing the gun to DAO? Does anyone have any experience with DAO Smiths? Any thoughts?
6906 -- DAO?
- Thread starter GRT3031
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alde
Member
I have the double action only version of the 6906, the 6946 and while it's a great pistol I would rather have a 6906. Most people carry it with the safety off. Just use the safety lever as a de-cocker. Of course, if you want to trade I would be happy too. Mine has night sights.
RufusG
Member
I don't know what your smith's kit consists of, but converting a 6906 to DAO won't necessarily give you the equivalent of a factory DAO gun. The real DAO guns have a different slide and actually pre-cock the hammer part way. If you removed the safety, and the ability to cock a 6906, it could technically be DAO, but would have a whole different feel to the trigger than an original factory DAO gun. Basically, I guess the trigger would be like your normal DA pull now, only on every shot. A factory DAO gun is not quite like that. I hope this actually addresses your question.
ab4ka
Member
If I could convert mine to anything it would be to change it to a decock-only as opposed to a decock-safety.
Conversion of the TDA guns into the new-style DAO will not give you the feel and trigger stroke of the original 6946.
The original "old style" DAO guns "located" (staged) the DAO hammer back farther than the new style. This was possible because the slides were linger in the back and would cover the DAO hammer when it was located further rearward after the slide was cycled and the gun was charged (chamber loaded). There were some older DAO guns made using lighter main (hammer) springs, too.
The new-style DAO parts were designed to allow LE users of the TSW models the option of converting TDA guns to DAO if ever desired (and back to TDA again if they changed their minds after the conversion), instead of having to buy new DAO models (as used to be the only option). This meant that the standard slides (shorter in the rear than old-style DAO slides) couldn't cover the DAO hammers as much ... and this resulted in the necessity of the DAO hammers not being located/staged as far rearward, and the resulting longer DAO trigger stroke.
A TDA gun can be converted to DAO, but only using the new-style (MIM) parts.
There are some other things that must be taken into account, like the firing pin retainer v. manual safety, the DAO "Spring Rule", etc.
Now, the optional spring-loaded, decock-only conversion for the TDA guns requires that the slide be machined to accept the loose end of the assembly's large spring (wound around the assembly's body inside the slide). The "newer" production TSW's and the 4040PD have slides which have already been machined to accept this option (the recessed hole is visible under the leading edge of the left side manual safety lever when it's in the lowered/on-safe position), but older slides have to be returned to the factory for the machining to be done. This used to be done by the Performance Center. The old pricing for the conversion used to be about $105 (some years ago, covering the new assembly and the machining).
The cost of a .45 ambi lever needs to be added to the non-.45 models because the added tab material of the .45 ambi lever is required to prevent the decock-only body from shifting sideways enough inside the slide to potentially interfere with the freedom of movement of the firing pin. So, a 9mm gun converted to the spring-loaded assembly will need the 9mm ambi lever switched to the .45 lever. The .45 lever is on the right in the following picture, with the pin punch tip pointing to the added spacer/tab material.
The original "old style" DAO guns "located" (staged) the DAO hammer back farther than the new style. This was possible because the slides were linger in the back and would cover the DAO hammer when it was located further rearward after the slide was cycled and the gun was charged (chamber loaded). There were some older DAO guns made using lighter main (hammer) springs, too.
The new-style DAO parts were designed to allow LE users of the TSW models the option of converting TDA guns to DAO if ever desired (and back to TDA again if they changed their minds after the conversion), instead of having to buy new DAO models (as used to be the only option). This meant that the standard slides (shorter in the rear than old-style DAO slides) couldn't cover the DAO hammers as much ... and this resulted in the necessity of the DAO hammers not being located/staged as far rearward, and the resulting longer DAO trigger stroke.
A TDA gun can be converted to DAO, but only using the new-style (MIM) parts.
There are some other things that must be taken into account, like the firing pin retainer v. manual safety, the DAO "Spring Rule", etc.
Now, the optional spring-loaded, decock-only conversion for the TDA guns requires that the slide be machined to accept the loose end of the assembly's large spring (wound around the assembly's body inside the slide). The "newer" production TSW's and the 4040PD have slides which have already been machined to accept this option (the recessed hole is visible under the leading edge of the left side manual safety lever when it's in the lowered/on-safe position), but older slides have to be returned to the factory for the machining to be done. This used to be done by the Performance Center. The old pricing for the conversion used to be about $105 (some years ago, covering the new assembly and the machining).
The cost of a .45 ambi lever needs to be added to the non-.45 models because the added tab material of the .45 ambi lever is required to prevent the decock-only body from shifting sideways enough inside the slide to potentially interfere with the freedom of movement of the firing pin. So, a 9mm gun converted to the spring-loaded assembly will need the 9mm ambi lever switched to the .45 lever. The .45 lever is on the right in the following picture, with the pin punch tip pointing to the added spacer/tab material.
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Jim PHL
Member
I have both in single-stack versions; a 3913 and 3953. Rufus is right. The DAO trigger pull is different than the DA first shot on the TDA gun. I like both and shoot them about equally well.
finesse_r
Member
Most people prefer the 6906 to the DAO version and the 6906 will typically resell for a little more than the DAO version.
My suggestion is to buy a DAO version (I forget the number but something like 6946) and sell your 6906 and put money in your pocket rather than paying for a conversion job that may or may not be any good. Or find someone with a DAO who will trade with you. I expect you will have plenty of takers.
alde
Member
Yes, the DAO is the 6946 and it's a great pistol but I would trade mine for a 6906 in a minute. The DAO is plenty accurate but it takes some range time to get use to it. The DAO trigger is similar to the double action pull on a revolver. Works great with some practice.
