How many carry "old" 3rd gen pistols?

My wife and my carry guns are 3953's with 6946's as backup. I used a 5943 yesterday for the shoot portion of the South Carolina CCW class. Mine had no malfunctions with a good grouping. Others on the line had terrible groups and/or malfunctions; many for one person. I don't know how or why you'd carry a gun that had 5-7 malfunctions out of a 50 round course of fire. Our 3rd gens are totally reliable for us so far. Also saw really small/light guns that that had terrible groups, even at 3 yds. Either the owners couldn't shoot or these guns are lousy for CCW if you actually have to shoot them.
 
Last edited:
Out of several pistols and revolvers from several manufacturers, I find myself carrying my 6906 most of all. It's sitting right here next to me as I type this.
 
I don't even own a 3rd Gen. gun! I carry a 2nd.Gen., either my 659 or 645. I totally despise those small cut-down handguns as I have very large hands and have trouble holding the tiny 3rd Gens. To me, the bigger the better.
 
I carry a 1st Generation model 39-2 on occasion. Functions reliably and is very slim, carries very comfortable. I love the gun, and it still sees time in my carry rotation.
 
BB57,
Why is carrying the 6906 better for you during the warm season? I'm considering getting a 3913NL, that's why I ask.


I'm still partial to my 2 1/2" Model 66 and 2 1/2" 686+ in the cooler months, but during the warm seasons here in eastern NC, I carry a 6906. Handguns are like trucks, it's the condition that matters, not the age, and saying a 3rd Gen S&W is past its prime just because it is old is ridiculous.

85E88345-D45C-4776-A146-96625CB613B7_zpsgrzrhrtn.jpg
 
HA!!! I acquired all of my 3rd gens except one specifically to carry. My first one was a CS-45; I don't carry it much any more because I carry a recently acquired CS-9 instead, or a M 6906. I don't even keep those two in my big gun safe. They are locked in a little bedroom closet safe with my 2" customized Model 64 and my M 642. That is my general carry battalion - depending on certain situations and clothing one of those 4 guns is always with me. The CS-45 I might carry but I generally leave it in the safe.

The sole exception is the NIB Model 5903 SSV. My only true safe queen, new and unfired, and when the price is right I will probably sell it.

Someone above said we need more 3rd Gen pictures........
 

Attachments

  • 6906.jpg
    6906.jpg
    222.9 KB · Views: 40
  • CS 45 001.jpg
    CS 45 001.jpg
    146.6 KB · Views: 33
  • CS 45 002.jpg
    CS 45 002.jpg
    176.1 KB · Views: 39
  • CS-9 left side.jpg
    CS-9 left side.jpg
    68.3 KB · Views: 38
  • 5903 SSV.jpg
    5903 SSV.jpg
    103.4 KB · Views: 34
Last edited:
All of my 3rd Gens are set up to be carried, except the 5906 and 6906. I have carried the 6906 on occasion, but the single stack 9mm guns are more comfortable. Even the 457 does carry duty.

HA!!! I acquired all of my 3rd gens except one specifically to carry. My first one was a CS-45; I don't carry it much any more because I carry a recently acquired CS-9 instead, or a M 6906. I don't even keep those two in my big gun safe. They are locked in a little bedroom closet safe with my 2" customized Model 64 and my M 642. That is my general carry battalion - depending on certain situations and clothing one of those 4 guns is always with me. The CS-45 I might carry but I generally leave it in the safe.

The sole exception is the NIB Model 5903 SSV. My only true safe queen, new and unfired, and when the price is right I will probably sell it.

Someone above said we need more 3rd Gen pictures........
 
I purchased a 3913LS compact 9mm.

Perhaps I will carry it.

Do a lot of you carry old 3 gen guns? Are they still reliable?

Or are they past their prime?

Do the 3rd gens mostly live in the safe with range trips now and then?

Now days has the carry job been taken over by Shields and M&P 9c etc?

3rd gen firearms are fantastic and designed to be used and carried. Past their prime?????? using that logic 1911 would have been dead many, many times over!!! Some might argue that neither are "past their prime"
 
Great Minds Think Alike ...

Settled on 3rd Gen Smith's in the early 90s.....my first was a 3913.

Primary carry 95% of the time is a 3923NL from the first year of production.

Back ups are a PC Shorty 9 or a 6906.

Over the years I've acquired back-ups to each......... and back-ups to those back-ups....... and maybe a few more here and there!!!!

I've been shooting for 55years .... handguns for 40+....... only thing better than a 3rd Gen Compact 9mm for concealed carry is a 3" 66...... but that's a whole other story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey BamBam bring that PC Shorty 9 out to my house on the 23rd to shoot a bit before we go up to the NE Ohio get together! email me for directions.

You can shoot the custom carry 4516, the 547, and 1013 in comparison.

ERHCzBK.jpg

The Black Pearl, melted and Melonited, silky smooth action, Big Dot Trigicon combat sights.

q6TKDyd.jpg


Perhaps the finest carry gun on the Planet. Four months in the making and at least 100 hours of painstaking craftsmanship went into this 4516-1. It doesn't get any better than this.

digiroc
 
Last edited:
Back
Top