6906 revived

[growr]

Dug out my 6906 and was very pleasantly surprised at just how good and compact it really is.
Very accurate and feeds anything including fired casings like most all 3rd gen Smiths.

Have decided to use it as a carry gun for now.

Randy

PS. Even found a dozen SS 12 round magazines for it in the magazine box!!

 

[veeklog1]

Dug out my 6906 and was very pleasantly surprised at just how good and compact it really is.
Very accurate and feeds anything including fired casings like most all 3rd gen Smiths.

Have decided to use it as a carry gun for now.

Randy

PS. Even found a dozen SS 12 round magazines for it in the magazine box!!

I love my 6906; handles and shoots great

 

[Engine49guy]

Only complaint about my 6906 is it's hideous right side safety lever that sticks out excessively on the right side ,
On a side note if you wanto carry 2 more rounds in a spare mag the longer 14 rd model 59 459 659 etc magazines will lock in but stick out the bottom a little.

 

[toddstang]

I love my 6906!!!

 

[toddimusnimski]

On a side note if you want to carry 2 more rounds in a spare mag the longer 14 rd model 59 459 659 etc magazines will lock in but stick out the bottom a little.

My 2nd Gen 669 is great for that too. The PGS Grip Plus 2 adapter makes it a bit more streamlined.

Todd

 

[sigp220.45]

I had a very similar experience recently! I dug my 6906 out of the safe and used it for my LEOSA qual. I can’t imagine a realistic scenario my 6906 couldn’t get me out of.

 

[GaryS]

Get a 908 Left side only safety and swap it out. I did that with my CS9. I lucked into a NOS stainless one and swapped that out on my 3913TSW.

You can find them fairly easily on Ebay. Sometimes you can find an entire slide and get some other spare parts.

If I were going to carry my 6906, that's what i'd do. Or maybe just carry my 6946.

Only complaint about my 6906 is it's hideous right side safety lever that sticks out excessively on the right side ,
On a side note if you wanto carry 2 more rounds in a spare mag the longer 14 rd model 59 459 659 etc magazines will lock in but stick out the bottom a little.

 

[sophie]

Here’s my 6906 with a couple of magazines. I need to take it to the range. Haven’t shot it in a while. Too many guns, not enough time.

 

[jimmyj]

I have a couple of Model 6906s. I had spur hammers installed on both.
I am not a fan of 9mm so I do not CCW them.

 

[HYPURR]

I'll Take It

Someone mention 6906? ("1989" - kinda cheating with a 6904 slide and controls for the TT Franken 6906)

 

[Aukula1062]

My 6906 has been my daily carry for about 2 years now. Absolutely love that gun!

 

[Frank Black]

Dug out my 6906 and was very pleasantly surprised at just how good and compact it really is.
Very accurate and feeds anything including fired casings like most all 3rd gen Smiths.
Have decided to use it as a carry gun for now.
Randy
PS. Even found a dozen SS 12 round magazines for it in the magazine box!!

Sounds like what you’re saying is, you want to sell it. Good luck with the sale.

 

[growr]

Not for sale

 

[Engine49guy]

The supply of single sided safetys has kinda dried up, my buddy offered to swap me one but I don't CCW my 6906 anymore, generally swap between a 3953 and a Bodyguard 380 1.0 so it's not an issue.
As an interesting side note have the PC9 which is a two tone Performance center version of the 6906 ( some call them shorty 9's) also have two PC Shorty .40's and none have that ambi safety.
My guess is the factory marketing people probably thought it was better to add it for LEO agency type acceptance but unnecessary on the PC versions which were not getting adopted by any agencies due to cost.

Ps don't get me wrong if somebody has a drawer full of single sided safetys and wants to part with one I'd install it immediately.

 

[Tex1001]

The supply of single sided safetys has kinda dried up,
.
.
.
.
Ps don't get me wrong if somebody has a drawer full of single sided safetys and wants to part with one I'd install it immediately.

I've been thinking about a project machining/grinding down
the right side of a 3rd gen ambi safety and threading the spring
hole for a stainless set screw.
NOW I can't find 3rd gen ambi safeties.

 

[GaryS]

Unless you absolutely need a silver colored single side safety they are not overly hard to find as I noted in this thread.

The supply of single sided safetys has kinda dried up, my buddy offered to swap me one but I don't CCW my 6906 anymore, generally swap between a 3953 and a Bodyguard 380 1.0 so it's not an issue.
As an interesting side note have the PC9 which is a two tone Performance center version of the 6906 ( some call them shorty 9's) also have two PC Shorty .40's and none have that ambi safety.
My guess is the factory marketing people probably thought it was better to add it for LEO agency type acceptance but unnecessary on the PC versions which were not getting adopted by any agencies due to cost.

Ps don't get me wrong if somebody has a drawer full of single sided safetys and wants to part with one I'd install it immediately.

 

[Engine49guy]

To clarify while I find the ambi safety an unsightly and unnecessary barnacle on an otherwise cool firearm since I don't ccw the 6906 it's not high on my list to replace.
If the safety lever were still cheap n plentiful it would have been swapped already.
My friend offered recently to trade me parts but that would entail the gun sitting apart on the bench and hoping neither part is lost in transit which kinda seems foolish.
I sometimes casually look around for the part but it's not at the top of my list.
Was thinking last night could offer to swap with my buddy who has a 659 and a 669, we will see.
Until it falls in my lap the gun works as is and I just have to make that "Tsk" noise and roll my eyes whenever pulling it from the safe.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'm a DA/SA for concealed carry guy!!

Been carrying a 69xx or PC Shorty-9 since 1989/90. 12+1 plus a spare 15rd mag w/ a plus-2 adaptor. Mec-gar now offers a 17rd 59xx mag.

When I want a bit more than my favorite 3913

 

[Doug M.]

Or maybe just carry my 6946.

**
My memory is a bit off right now, but if that is a DAO variant, have a big thumbs up.
1) I am a lefty.
2 As much I approve of traditional DA/SA, the control/decker/safety that goes up is awful for me. It is totally counterintuitive to me, compared to a 1911, and my smallish hands make it hard to use.

 

[stansdds]

The 6946 is DAO and is my EDC.

 

[DirtyShirt]

I enjoy mine but it doesn't like 147 grain HST. The lip of the 147 grain hollow point cavity gets caught on the top feeding hood of the barrel.

 

[st regis]

The Georgia Bureau of investigation went to the 6906 when we traded in our 2 1/2 inch model 66s. We were issued 115 grain silver tips as duty ammo. Most of us did not carry guns back then anyway, they usually stay in the trunk or under the front seat. This was back in the mid 80s. When they finally went to Glocks, I was able to buy mine. I still have it and carry it regularly. I do carry it with a 5906 magazine with one of the extender caps on the bottom. I personally carry federal 124 grain non-plus P HST

 

[nocents]

Only complaint about my 6906 is it's hideous right side safety lever that sticks out excessively on the right side ,
On a side note if you wanto carry 2 more rounds in a spare mag the longer 14 rd model 59 459 659 etc magazines will lock in but stick out the bottom a little.

what is the hideous right side safety that you speak of??.........

 

[rosewood]

I've been thinking about a project machining/grinding down
the right side of a 3rd gen ambi safety and threading the spring
hole for a stainless set screw.
NOW I can't find 3rd gen ambi safeties.

I did this. Bought a used slide on Fleabay and it was missing the lever, so I performed this mod. Bead blasted it back to factory finish afterwards. You can still see a slight circle where the screw didn't quite fill the hole. I tried peening it when installing, but didn't do enough. The untrained eye would probably pay it no attention.

Rosewood

 

[stansdds]

I enjoy mine but it doesn't like 147 grain HST. The lip of the 147 grain hollow point cavity gets caught on the top feeding hood of the barrel.

That does not sound right. I'm thinking it may be an issue with the magazine, maybe damaged or malformed feed lips.

 

[Smith391]

Dug out my 6906 and was very pleasantly surprised at just how good and compact it really is.

The 6906 was always one of my favorite S&W pistols.

Even today, this classic will hold its own against any modern production offering for CCW duty. Just make sure you get one with the Novak 3-dot sights (or Novak night sights), because the "notch & post" sights originally used by S&W on the early 3rd Gen models leave a lot to be desired ... especially for aging eyes.

Novak sights...



versus the "notch & post"...

 

[GaryS]

I have the opposite problem. My new Enforcer seems to have 1911 style safety controls and I'm used to the 3rd Gen style. I think that the Enforcer will thus end up either a range only gun or maybe a home gun.

**
My memory is a bit off right now, but if that is a DAO variant, have a big thumbs up.
1) I am a lefty.
2 As much I approve of traditional DA/SA, the control/decker/safety that goes up is awful for me. It is totally counterintuitive to me, compared to a 1911, and my smallish hands make it hard to use.

 

[GaryS]

I concur. I've never had a problem with 147gr anything in any of my 3rd Gens. In fact, the compacts shoot that fine and don't like the 115gr (in terms of accuracy). In 2021 I used my 6946 for the NC/SC qualification course and passed with a high score using 147gr. That was only the second time I fired it as well.

That does not sound right. I'm thinking it may be an issue with the magazine, maybe damaged or malformed feed lips.

 

[Engine49guy]

what is the hideous right side safety that you speak of??.........

Just switched to a PC Shield ( no safety levers) for CCW but the 3rd gen I just retired to backup position had none on the left side as well .

 

[GaryS]

I've given some thought to switching to my 3953TSW for daily carry. I should have kept my ANIB pre rail 3953TSW and used that, but it was so nice I just sold it as part of my pre move herd thinning.

Just switched to a PC Shield ( no safety levers) for CCW but the 3rd gen I just retired to backup position had none on the left side as well .