6906 versus 3913: Why do I like one so much more than the other?

[S&W Rover]

There are a lot of reasons to post a new thread on this forum. In this case, I am looking to see if anyone sees things the way I do, regarding the Models 6906 and the 3913.

I purchased a 3913 some time ago, cleaned it up, and put a new recoil spring in it and new OEM grips on it. It is surprisingly accurate and totally reliable, and a pleasure to shoot. This pistol quickly moved up to being one my my all-time favorites.

I then added a 6906 to the collection. This one has a little wear on the outside, but is like new on the inside. I don't know its lineage but I am guessing from its serial number (VCVXXX) it dates to around 1995.

The 6906 is reliable. I had some problems with a new old stock magazine I found on the web, which came in S&W packaging. That magazine has two locking notches in the tube (the others in my possession only have one) and the bottom of the follower would catch in one of the notches, not allowing more than three rounds to be loaded. I fixed this with a little judicious re-shaping of the prongs on the bottom of the follower, but I didn't expect this sort of problem with the mature design of the 6906. But that is a side issue...

I am having some trouble shooting the 6906 accurately, though, with bigger groups than I am used to shooting. The SA trigger break is not as smooth or soft as the 3913, and the pistol feels oddly bulky and top heavy compared to the 3913. There are a number of more "modern" pistols that are roughly the same size that hold more rounds, and the 6906 doesn't seem to fit a niche quite as well as the 3913 (which I reckon is smallish, easily controllable, and accurate -- with a reasonable number of rounds (9) compared to a J frame; to me, the 3913 compares favorably with the P239, another classic with a lot going for it).

So therein lies my question to other 3913/6906 owners: why less joy with the 6906 compared to the 3913? Am I missing something? For two pistols that are really similar -- the top ends of both are pretty much the same -- why do I like one so much more than the other? Anyone else feel this way?

 

[kcode]

I have multiple 3913-14's and 6904-06's and have the same situation. Much more accurate with the 3913-14. I have Hogue grips on the standard 3913 the feel is perfect for me. I tried them on a 6906 but with the finger grips it made the grip too wide, I do not have gorilla hands. My EDC is a Shield 9 not as accurate as the 3913, but with the slim grip it feels almost as good as the 3913.

 

[stormyone]

I guess it just depends on the person. I am much better on my 6904 than my 908. The 6904 stock grip feels like it was made for my hands.

 

[lhump1961]

I have both and shoot them equally. Being that the grip size difference between them is significant they don't hold the same for me. I have small hands and have to come around on the 6904 a bit while the 3913 sits firmly in the meat of my hand. I have shot them both enough that I can flip back and forth without issue but they are different...not by much but enough to have to make a small adjustment. My EDC is a 6904 that I can shoot as well as any gun I own.

I'm no expert but I believe most any gun at 7-10 yards can make one ragged hole if the shooter is fairly familiar with it. If the gun is pointed exactly same every time the primer is struck then the group will be tight. Sometimes my groups open up but it's always me. The more I practice with a gun the better I shoot it...every time. When I go to the range I always shoot my 6904 because it's my EDC. I shoot it well because I shoot it more often than any other gun. As an example I hadn't shot a 1911 for quite some time so I took one with me on a range trip a while back. I had always shot that gun fairly well but was disappointed that day. I went back a few days later with it and shot it much better having had the last trip to get reacquainted.

Don't give up on your 6906 because as you said it's just like your 3913 just a fatter grip. You didn't say how many times you've had it to the range but give it 3 or 4 trips an see if it doesn't grow on you.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

3914 vs 6906

With factory grips on the 6906 & Hogues on the 3914 they feel suprising close to me.

The weight is essentially the same: 3914 @ 25-3/4 oz. and 6906 @ 26-1/4 oz.

The SA trigger pull on both is ~7lbs.

I lean toward the 3914, plus it's my only black 3rd Gen.

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[18DAI]

My preference is the 39XX series guns. I've had 3 69XX series guns including a PC Shorty 9 and sold them all. I just never cared for how they fit my hand. Regards 18DAI

 

[BAM-BAM]

With factory grips on the 6906 & Hogues on the 3914 they feel suprising close to me.

The weight is essentially the same: 3914 @ 25-3/4 oz. and 6906 @ 26-1/4 oz.

The SA trigger pull on both is ~7lbs.

I lean toward the 3914, plus it's my only black 3rd Gen.

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I've got several of each........................ but since the early 90s mostly carry a 3913NL or 3914 with an extra magazine..................


I'm with Bluedot on this one........ my set up is the same.....Hogue checkered wood grips on my 3913NL and factory on my PC 6906.

The factory grips seem "slick" to me so the checkered areas on my PC Shorty-9 got stippled in a fish scale pattern....... much better hold and control.

 

[SuperMan]

I'm the opposite..tried both the 3900 and 6900 series and the 6906 just comes right out of the holster perfectly for me with no adjustment to my grip at all. The 3913 is just too narrow for me.

Bob

 

[Erich]

I'm the opposite..tried both the 3900 and 6900 series and the 6906 just comes right out of the holster perfectly for me with no adjustment to my grip at all. The 3913 is just too narrow for me.

Bob

Hey, you and Sir Mix-a-Lot . . .

 

[Towns]

I have a 6906 and a 3913. I have found that whichever one I spend time shooting is the one I shoot best. I just shot an IDPA match with the 3913 and by the end of the match it was shooting so good.

The 6906 fills my hand better, but the 3913 balances better.

My 6906 happens to have a smoother and lighter trigger. It's got MIM hammer, etc.

 

[Fastbolt]

I've done a lot more shooting with the older 6906's, since those were issued and saw a lot of wear & tear, but I prefer my 3913 & 3913TSW.

I had the Hogue wrap-around grips on my 6906's, and my medium-size hands were large enough to fit them (despite that most glove makers seem to think I have large hands).

The slides/barrels of the 3913/6906 were the same (allowing for production revisions in each model), but the 6906 had a wider grip frame to accommodate the double stack magazine.

I always sort of wanted to find a later production 6906 to add to my safe, meaning with the wider barrel tab, plastic disconnector & mainspring plunger, Novak low-mount sights, MIM, etc. The one's I tried to wear out were all from '89 or '90, and were rougher due to the older machining.

I always found the 6906's and my 3913 (and subsequent new production 3913TSW) to be more accurate than I was capable of shooting them.

Just considering the factory grips, the 3913's are thin and fit my hands just right. The half curved backstrap of the factory 6906 grips (and 4013TSW) are good, but not quite as good as the stock 3913 backstrap against my palm. Different strokes.

 

[M29since14]

The trigger is the key, as far as I am concerned. I have both and if everything else is equal I prefer the 3913 but if my 6906 had a better trigger I might change my mind.

They're both nice guns, but they're tough to shoot well when limited to gritty 7#+ triggers.

 

[James&theGiant1911]

I bought a 6906 and sold it, did not like it. My hands are too short for the double stacked frame and it felt like it could slip out of my hand as I shot it.

I do have a 3913 tsw and shoot it a lot better than I did the 6906. I did not really like the double stacked 8mm in a bigger frame like the 4006 it would be good but on the 9mm it felt really small.

 

[twistedracer]

It all comes down to what fits you. Thinner grips just fit my s/m hands best and I naturally shoot better with them. The thicker doublestack grips take more practice for me to figure out how to hold it and where to place my finger on the trigger.

It's not as natural at first, but with practice we can adapt.

 

[TTSH]

I find it interesting that so many members of Team 3rd Gen have such a strong preference between two extremely similar 3rd Gen pistols of the same caliber and roughly the same size & weight other than stock grip thickness. Have I desensitized myself that much that I can't come up with a clear preference myself?

Or am I just not paying close enough attention?

I kinda feel like when my good wife puts two red wines in front of me... one dirt cheap, one crazy expensive... and I can't tell the difference or pick out the expensive one. And then I have to ask myself... is it a good thing that I can't tell the difference or a bad thing? On the one hand, I can save a lot of money buying and drinking the cheap swill. But on the other hand, my expertise and knowledge of wine must be pretty damn poor. I think there might be a lesson there that could translate into something about our expensive, noisy hobby.

Anyway, I own multiples of both and enjoy shooting both. I'll have to pay closer attention and maybe devote a range visit to doing a good side-by-side 3913 vs 6906 comparison. Maybe the problem is that I own and shoot too damn many guns. Either that or maybe my aging brain isn't good enough anymore to keep them all straight in my head.

 

[BAM-BAM]

LOL... kind of like those who think Hogue grips on a 3913 make it to thick to conceal carry....... or the ambi-safety makes a 3914 print like a Model 29

Guess it's why they make more than one Model!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jaymo]

I want a 3906 and a 3913/3914 so badly it hurts.