Help me assemble a 5903 spare parts survival kit

[DASA]

So with two police trade-in 5903 pistols on the way from Bud's I'd like to get the opinion of the experienced/LE members on this fine forum who have run these pistols hard.
What breaks? What spare parts would you have on hand besides recoil springs to keep these pistols running like the Swiss watches that they are?

With the poor state of spare parts availability, I'd like to start searching for the parts I am likely to need down the road now while they are still available (sort of) and not collectors items.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Stay Safe

 

[18DAI]

While I have not run the 59XX series "hard", I have run the 45XX series guns for many years and many thousands of rounds. Far more than most will shoot their guns on average.

To date, since 2005, I've had exactly one broken part. A MIM mag catch on a 4516-3. Snapped like the cheap pot metal it was. I replaced it with a forged part from a 4566 and have not had another parts failure.

I have gone through dozens of recoil springs and probably 20 mag springs and half a dozen of the black followers in that same period of time.

In an abundance of caution......if you were inclined to have "spares" just in case...I'd get a few ejectors, a mag catch, an extractor with roll pin and a Wolfe springs kit for that gun. I'd call it good and probably not wind up using any of it, based on my experience with the 3rd gen guns. Good luck! Regards 18DAI

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

I've been shooting 3rd gens since 1992 and I've had one sideplate break when it wasn't properly reinstalled by an armorer, the end of one of the two-piece recoil spring guide rods come loose, and worn out magazines. I also understand that trigger play springs tend to break with some frequency, but haven't seen it myself, yet. I do keep a spare guide rod (2-piece for my 3913), ejector, magazine catch and nut, a set of grips for each model I have, a set of plungers and their springs, a couple of sideplates for each model I have, and several trigger play springs and rivets (mostly because they are tiny and easy to lose), spare magazines, magazine followers, recoil springs, and magazine springs on hand. Other than the one sideplate and replacing recoil and mag springs I haven't needed any of it yet.

 

[DASA]

Thanks for the advice 18DAI!
I have filed away many of the tips you have provided over the years concerning the care and use of the 45 series Third Gen. I am still trying to get a stubborn no-rail 4513 TSW 6 rd model to group better, I'm sure that is something you could no doubt help me with at a later date.
I was thinking of the same parts that you mentioned: ejectors, maybe a sideplate assembly, and extractor. Never thought about the mag catch assembly, I'll look for one of those too. I had a sear spring crack in two recently on a 908s, but Fastbolt claims that is an unusual failure so I won't look for a sear spring and retaining pin.

Thanks for the ideas, any ideas/sources for a fresh front night sight source? I only like using a tritium front sight, Hack style. I don't want to buy a full set. Anyone just use the XS Sights standard Big Dot night sight in front with the normal Novak in back?

Stay Safe

 

[Hill_Country]

Other than consumables like springs, I can't remember having to replace anything that I didn't lose or break while "improving" things. <G>

However, like you I heard of the big parts shortage a couple of years ago and set out to build a little inventory. Never failed that what I thought I needed was out of stock, but with a little patience and shopping around I have found every part that I set out to stock. I'm starting to think that the "shortage" is caused by people like me who panic buy.

One thing I'd strongly recommend is a schematic and parts list. S&W used to have them on their web site, then just the parts list and even that was taken down a few months ago. Numerich has a schematic and parts list that covers all of the 3d gens and seems to be up to date - a bargin at a buck fifty and it is only 99 cents if you order something else.

I bought some Trijicon sights a couple of months ago and couldn't find them cheaper than at OpticsPlanet. The value line has a different dovetail than most of the other 3d gens.

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

I HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON LE S&W PISTOLS. THIS IS WHAT I HAVE SEEN.
10 YEARS WORTH

SIDE PLATE.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE BREAK ON IT'S OWN. ONLY WHEN GRIPS WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. BUT GOOD TO HAVE.

EXTRACTOR:
NEVER SEEN ONE BREAK ON THERE OWN. BUT DROP AROUND IN THE CHAMBER AND SLAM THE SLIDE CLOSED ON IT AND IT WILL CHIP AND FAIL. WHEN WHO KNOWS. I'VE SEEN IT ON THE FIRST TIME YOU DID IT AND ANYTIME AFTER THAT. BUT IT WILL HAPPEN . ROUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO SLIDE UP BEHIND THE EXTRACTOR. ALSO ITS A HARD FIT PART IT'S NOT A DROP IN.

EJECTOR;
I HAVE SEEN ONE BREAK FROM FIRING. SEVERAL BREAK FROM PEOPLE FORGETTING TO HOLD IT DOWN WHEN REASSEMBLING THE GUN AND
SLAMMING THE SLIDE INTO IT. CHANCES ARE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ONE I SAW BREAK WHEN SHOOTING. WAS PROBABLY WAS BENT AND STRAIGHTENED SOMETIME BEFORE.

FIRING PIN SPRING,
HAVE SEEN 2-3 BREAK. WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYTHING IS GOING ALONG JUST FINE AND THE GUN STOPS FIRING. THE SPRING BREAKS IN 2 AND TWISTS ONTO IT'S SELF AND KEEPS THE FIRING PIN FROM MOVING FORWARD.

FIRING PIN,
I HAVE SEEN 2 GET BENT. HOW? RELOADER'S WHO MISSED A PRIMER . FIRING PIN WENT FORWARD AND WAS STUCK IN THE FLASH HOLE AS THE FAULTY ROUND WAS EJECTED.
SAW ONE BROKE IN HALF. THIS GOOF USED TO DRY FIRE EVERY DAY, AND I MEAN EVERYDAY. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AS A NERVOUS HABIT. HE HAD IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE IT CRACKED. S&W STATED IT WAS WORK HARDENED FROM THE IMPACT OF THE FIRING PIN MOVING FORWARD AND NOT STRIKING THE PRIMER

DRAW BAR,
HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CRACK IN THE REAR CORNER . HIGH ROUND COUNT GUNS. 9MM 40 AND 45.

TRIGGER PLAY SPRING AND RIVET. GET SEVERAL IF YOU CAN

RECOIL SPRING.
THESE DO WEAR OUT. BUY A NEW ONE. COMPARE IT TO THE ONE IN YOUR GUN. WHAT I TAUGHT WAS WHEN THE RECOIL SPRING IN YOUR GUN IS 3 COILS SHORTER THAN THE NEW SPRING REPLACE IT. THAT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO REPLACE THE FIRING PIN ALSO.

I HAVE SEEN ONE CRACKED FRAME, 9MM ALLOY. BUT THAT BEING SAID THE GUY(GIRL AS A MATTER OF FACT) WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ACADEMY RANGE STAFF. SHE SHOT 300RDS A DAY, EVERY DAY. IT TOOK 2 YEARS BEFORE HER FRAME CRACKED. WHEN SHE BROUGHT THE GUN TO ME HER RECOIL SPRING HAD THE RESISTANCE OF A SPRING FROM A BIC PEN. S&W REPLACED IT NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

SEAR RELEASE LEVER.
WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU WILL ATTEMPT TO DECOCK THE PISTOL AND THE HAMMER WILL STAY IN THE SINGLE ACTION MODE. THIS IS A HARD FIT PART ALSO. THIS TAKES SOME SKILL IN INSTALLING. A LITTLE FLAT STAMPED PIECE OF STEEL. IT'S A PAIN

BEING THE CAPTAIN OF OUR PISTOL TEAM WE RAN S&W PPC 9MM'S FOR YEARS. I MEAN SEVERAL THOUSAND ROUNDS A MONTH IN TRAINING. ONE YEAR I PUT 30K ROUNDS OF 9MM THROUGH MY 3 PERFORMANCE CENTER PPC GUNS. IF YOU CARE FOR THEM THEY WILL LAST AND LAST.

WE ALSO CARRIED SEVERAL OTHER BRANDS OF GUNS . EVERYONE HAD FAILURES CRACKED FRAMES, CRACKED SLIDES, ALL KINDS OF LITTLE PARTS.

SORRY ABOUT THE LENGTH. BUT YOU ASKED. I HOPE THIS HELPS. JIM P

 

[jimbo728]

Ditto on the magazine catch screw and nut. I`ve had a LE 5903 for about 3 years and that mag catch was the only problem that surfaced. Got a new one from Numrich.
Mine has some holster wear on the frame and spots like water stain on the slide. Flitzing helped the slide some. It`s not a beauty but it shoots!
I ran mine hard for IDPA practice and it was 100% reliable. It performed very well in SSP for me.
Tough gun, hope you enjoy it.
Jim

 

[DASA]

Thanks for the replies folks! PPCSHOOTER that was pure gold! Thanks so much for sharing your valuable experiences with these pistols!

 

[RobG5589]

Great info guys! Just today I stocked up on some spare parts for my 4566/4506/4006 from Numrich. Those parts are slowly disappearing so don't wait if you want something.