How does the 5906 do with +P+?

[KCabbage]

Greetings,
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Take care

 

[KCabbage]

Greetings,
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Take care

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE HAD USED THEM FOR YEARS WITH +P+ AMMO. THEY JUST SUBSTITUTED A 4006 RECOIL SPRING.

 

[jaysouth]

Price out 40 or 50,000 +P rounds.

I'll wager your wrists, elbows and wallet wear out shooting these rounds long, long before your 5906 shows any measurable wear.

 

[OKFC05]

I assume you know there are no established standards for +P+, and each manufacturer loads them to whatever pressure they choose?

 

[KCabbage]

Yes, I know that. The loads I like are 40,000 psi and under. So I think i'll be okay.
Thanks alot guys
Take care

 

[ispcapt]

Originally posted by PPCSHOOTER:
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE HAD USED THEM FOR YEARS WITH +P+ AMMO. THEY JUST SUBSTITUTED A 4006 RECOIL SPRING.

Nope. The ISP never issued 5906. The issued duty gun during the 3rd gen time was the 5904 and 6904. Springs were all standard stock springs, nothing was changed.
We issued W-W 115 +P+ for several yrs. I investigated several shootings where that rd was used and it performed very well.
As far as how the 5906 would hold up I can't say as the 5906 is all stainless frame and our 5904/6904 were alloy frames. I can only relate how those guns held up to the W-W +P+. One of our range officers tried to wear out a 5904 by shooting only 115+P+ and see how many rds it would take to wear one out. When he retired he had documented 65,000 rds thru his 5904. He had replaced the barrel once at 50,000 rds as the original was shot smooth. He also replaced all the springs. When he retired he bought that same gun and continues to shoot it, at least as of last fall when I saw him last. Knowing how much he shoots he's got to have over 100,000 rds thru that same 5904.
With the 5904 taking that many rds the 5906 being all steel shouldn't be any problems either.

 

[bwh]

How does the 5906 do with +p+ loads? Well, I can only speak to +p factory loads and the answer is just fine, thank you.

I have two 5906s, one with a +2 lb. Wolff recoil spring that eats a steady diet of +p loads (mainly CorBon). The other pistol has a standard weight factory spring and eats mainly Remington and Winchester standard pressure loads.

Neither pistol has shown any unusual or accelerated wear and reliability with all loads has been excellent.

The only observation I will make is the the 5906, like many S&W 3rd Gen pistols, shows a definite preference for one type of ammo over the other.

 

[CTPete]

The only observation I will make is the the 5906, like many S&W 3rd Gen pistols, shows a definite preference for one type of ammo over the other.

My experience is that the 5906 will take just about any ammo I can find. I have never had an issue with any commercially manufactured ammo, including +p and +p+.

 

[KCabbage]

Great post gentlemen. Especially you ISPcapt, very informative. It's interesting how I keep finding articles stating not to shoot +P and +P+ through a alloy frame pistol. Yet, you know of a man that put well over 50,000 rounds through one.
Thanks again everyone.
Take care

 

[ispcapt]

That 65,000+ was just his gun. At the time we issued 5904 our baby Troops would run 3500-5000 rds thru theirs before they ever left the academy. We had 4 qual shoots a year plus low light shoot and that would be another 400 rds per year minimum. Guys on SWAT would run 2000-5000 rds per year minimum and some years more. Those are just the required number of rds downrange. Guys who shot more than minimum would have a lot more.

 

[bwh]

Originally posted by ted1trading:

The only observation I will make is the the 5906, like many S&W 3rd Gen pistols, shows a definite preference for one type of ammo over the other.

My experience is that the 5906 will take just about any ammo I can find. I have never had an issue with any commercially manufactured ammo, including +p and +p+.

My 5906s will eat just about anything. However, for accuracy purposes they show a definite preference for mid-weight (124 gr.) hollow points.

 

[Big Mike]

Will likely accelerate the wear, but being all steel I think it would be one of the better pistols to survive a higher round count of higher pressure 9mm ammo.

 

[blairgarber]

In my experience S&W 3rd Generation pistols are indeed very durable, in fact I'd say they were as close to being overbuilt as anything made today. They really don't seem to want to wear out. Of course the reason is pretty obvious if you look at an S&W slide or fame next to a Colt 1911. There's just way more metal on the S&W. In fact the .45 and 10mm Smiths make a Colt look absolutely frail by comparison. The same goes for the BHP next to a 59xx.

I just had a BHP built by Ted Yost and he sights-in with, and recommends, 115gn standard pressure loads. There's even a caution about 124gn; and you can forget about +P or +P+ according to Ted! Now in fairness I think he anticipates anyone who goes to the expense of having a BHP built is gonna be putting a lot of rounds through it, and Hi-Powers have been made for so long there are likely several variations with differing degrees of durability, and any good gunsmith wants to have his wares last with as few problems as possible; but that kind of concern is a far cry from how I treat my 3rd Gen. S&Ws.

My Smiths eat anything I feed 'em, +P, +P+, 124, 147, anything! And we all know the same basic design is capable of digesting .40 S&W as well. In fact I have a 4043 with a bar-sto .357 Sig barrel, and believe me those rounds are pretty zippy, but again it's no problemo.

Of course the down-side to all this strength is the extra metal you have to tote around, as well as the aesthetic trade off when compared to the more refined looks of the Hi-Power or 1911 (IMO). But then I'm from the old days before Herr Glock brought ugliness in firearms to a whole new level.

/B

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

I have 2 5906s, one bought used from CDNN, the other new from the same place. For a durable handgun I think it just may top the list. It is easy shooting, even with the +P+ loads, though for a lot of shooting I use standard loads using the +s for duty and shoot enough of them to insure POA/POI with the specific gun. When talking about the Browning HP, you have to remember that it is still a 1935 design(actually it was designed earlier). I do love my BHPs, and consider them the classic 9mm battle pistol. They are slimmer and easier to conceal than the 5906, and IMHO they handle better. I do restrict my BHPs to a diet of the Federal 115gr HPs, with the same load in +P for duty. Most 9mm handguns were designed to operate with a 124-125 gr bullet, and most of my nines do well with a variation of that load. I am certain that the 5906 will outlast the BHP if the BHP is not treated to new springs from time to time, but the 5906 was designed how much later, with how many advances in metal work? If I had to pick one 9mm to use for the rest of my life under very harsh conditions it would be the 5906, but I would miss my BHPs.
BTW my BUG for either is the 940.

 

[Camprunner]

I have owned many pistols over the years and I have to agree the 5906 is overbuilt. I think I have over 5K rounds through mine and im hard pressed to find any wear at all. I can't say the same for my Sig 229 although a fine gun if I had to shoot one to say 50k rounds I would pick my 5906 over the Sig any day.

 

[mp357]

Originally posted by OKFC05:
I assume you know there are no established standards for +P+, and each manufacturer loads them to whatever pressure they choose?

Actually, the Agency sends to the manufacturer the vel & energy they want a specific bullet to have from a specific handgun & they do what ever is necessary to achieve that result...That was per a phone call to Federal Cart.