How's the trigger and accuracy of the 5906

[kas9412]

I am contemplating the purchase of an excellent condition 5906, however, as a would-be bulls-eye shooter, I don't want to be disappointed in this new pistol's accuracy and trigger pull. I currently have a model 41 and a 52. I know the 5906 will be outclassed by the 41 and 52 in both attributes, but how much of a deficit should I expect?

Can your typical 5901 hold a 1" group at 50 feet, or a 2" group at 75 feet? I am not expecting target gun accuracy, but I do want something relatively good. By the way, my motive in purchasing the 5906 is the cheaper cost of 9mm ammo (I don't reload) and the fact that almost all commercial .38 wadcutters are neither copper jacketed or plated, and the indoor range where I shoot has rules against shooting plain lead bullets.

 

[Tom S.]

From what I've read and seen and depending on your capabilities, 2" at 25 yards should be doable, but may require experimentation of ammo (aka reloading) to achieve. There are better choices, but the price is far more too.

 

[armorer951]

Compared to the two S&W target models you list in your post, you will likely be disappointed in the 5906 SA trigger pull, which is usually in the 5-6 pound range, with a considerable amount of take up and overtravel.

And, since these guns were designed and built as "military/police' weapons for the most part, in my experience, a consistent 2" or less "unsupported" grouping would be the exception rather than the rule.

 

[WR Moore]

While there was a Performance Center version of the 5906 intended for PPC, you have to remember they were service pistols. The trigger will be intended for duty use, not punching itty bitty groups in paper, the parts fit for reliable function-there are no alibis on the street.

That said, with a good trigger and ammo the gun should be capable of that if the parts tolerances are reasonable. What it will do in your hands, can't say. My personal 5906-with service type trigger work-would do (when my eyes were younger) one ragged hole at 25 yards with Federal 147 gr Hydra-Shok from a sitting position. That ammo isn't cheap and I wasn't standing.

Depending upon what they want for the gun-which may need trigger work-you might find it cheaper to start reloading. At the top levels, most competitors still use factory ammo in matches.

 

[malph]

I grew with DR Moore. The 5906 is a very good albeit heavy service pistol. The trigger and accuracy will not be up to Model 41,52 standards.

There were specialty variants like the PPC guns which had great triggers and accuracy.

There were other 3rd gens like the 952s and 845s that could work as well but I'd expect a vanilla 5906 to fall a little short as a bullseye gun.

 

[GaryS]

A TSW would likely meet your requirements, but I'm guessing that's not what you are talking about.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I had one for a while. Couldn't group worth a darn with it, and hated the trigger. But that's my experience with all 3rd gen.

 

[Old_Cop]

The 5906 is not a target pistol, you will be disappointed if you purchase one for that purpose.

 

[stansdds]

I think 4 inch groups at 25 yards is a more reasonable expectation with a S&W 5903/4/6. These are service pistols and are built as such and will give service grade accuracy. I'm sure there are some that will cut 1-2 inch groups with the right ammo at 25 yards, but that would be the exception, not the rule.

 

[Sevens]

This is going to be a concensus.

If you had an M&P, a Glock, a Sig 226 and a Beretta 92 and you asked us about the 5906, most of us would give a thumbs-up and a "hell yeah!"

You say Models 41 and 52 (I am quite familiar with both...) and I am absolutely certain that a 5906 trigger and perhaps moreso it's potential for target accuracy are going to clearly disappoint you if your daily drivers are 41 and 52.

The 952 will do exactly what you ask... out of production nearly a decade, typical market has you paying $2,000 to $3,000 for entry.

A 5906 is a fantastic workhorse that will disappoint you given your experience. As a side note, I truly don't believe that a 5906TSW gets you any closer (and it's uglier to look at.)

 

[Sevens]

Guns currently made right now, and in 9mm, that are worthy of being mentioned with a S&W 52 for potential target accuracy and trigger:

Les Baer, Ed Brown, Wilson, other elite 1911 makers... expect $2200+

CZ Tactical Sport -- lowest model Tac Sport runs around $1200, newest versions of the Tac Sport climb toward $1800. CZ also has some competition Shadow models that cost even more.

Sig P210 American -- new and difficult to find in the wild, $1500-$1700.

Sig X-Five and X-Six... I believe these are beyond $2500, also hard to find.

Closest thing on a shoestring budget for a target accurate 9mm that is full production and not custom and (relatively) low priced? I suggest the Springfield Range Officer.

Special shout-out to the upgraded Tanfoglio line. NOT the basic DA/SA Witness line, but the Elite Match and above guns. Cheapeast one runs about $780 MSRP but expect around $650 street price. These are absolute hidden gems in North America but very popular in European competition. Mine is a a tack driver for sure and I have tried endlessly to beat it with my 952 and haven't succeeded yet.

Trying is a lot of fun though!

 

[Redcoat3340]

If all you want is a 9mm target-grade shooter, and money is not a big obstacle...that Sig 210A is probably your best bet. Reviews are outstanding and the one guy I know who shoots one says it's great.

I notice no one mentioned striker-fired pistols. I'm guessing the Target (5") Walther PPQ would be hard to beat. I've got a plain vanilla Q and it's the most accurate 9mm gun I own.

If you like SA triggers, the Colt 1911 9mm "Competiton" is also a decent candidate...

 

[Sevens]

Well, he specifically said accuracy AND trigger. I don't have the 5" Target PPQ but I EDC the basic 4" M2. As a polymer defense gun, it's fine.

Nobody on this planet has made a tupperware gun striker fire trigger that can be mentioned in the same conversation as a S&W Model 52.

 

[Stentor]

Guns currently made right now, and in 9mm, that are worthy of being mentioned with a S&W 52 for potential target accuracy and trigger:

Les Baer, Ed Brown, Wilson, other elite 1911 makers... expect $2200+

CZ Tactical Sport -- lowest model Tac Sport runs around $1200, newest versions of the Tac Sport climb toward $1800. CZ also has some competition Shadow models that cost even more.

Sig P210 American -- new and difficult to find in the wild, $1500-$1700.

Sig X-Five and X-Six... I believe these are beyond $2500, also hard to find.

Closest thing on a shoestring budget for a target accurate 9mm that is full production and not custom and (relatively) low priced? I suggest the Springfield Range Officer.

Special shout-out to the upgraded Tanfoglio line. NOT the basic DA/SA Witness line, but the Elite Match and above guns. Cheapeast one runs about $780 MSRP but expect around $650 street price. These are absolute hidden gems in North America but very popular in European competition. Mine is a a tack driver for sure and I have tried endlessly to beat it with my 952 and haven't succeeded yet.

Trying is a lot of fun though!

You listed a bunch of nice options!

A few thoughts:
--A Les Baer Monolith Heavyweight in 9mm is a solid option (can pay for guarantee of of 1.5" group at 50 yards).

--Wilson, Brown, and Nighthawk 1911s are typically going to run $3k+ (unless you find a good deal on a gently used one).

--A CZ worked over by CZ Custom or Cajun Gun Works is a viable option (I have an Accu Shadow from CZ Custom that is a very nice pistol--good trigger and very accurate).

--The German-made P210s are still available (on GB regularly)--more expensive than the new American version, but some would argue still more refined.

--German Sig X5s and X6s are a nice option (consistently available on GB)--excellent trigger and accuracy, but they're pricey (usually ~$3k to $5k, with X6s on the higher end of the range).

--A Pardini GT 9 is another option to consider (made in Italy).

 

[Sevens]

The Pardini is extremely interesting but just as hard to find and goodness knows the price tag on that one.

I can totally agree on the Cajun parts for vastly improving a CZ-75 trigger. I might say "reinventing!" the trigger, CJW parts are definitely that good for sure. However, I don't believe they can address the accuracy of the pistol... unless maybe they can work the gun if you ship to them?

All the guns that both of us listed are 4x to 10x what a used 5906 goes for.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The S&W 3rd Gen autos are "duty grade." The 5906 is a very heavy duty and durable weapon, and it is reliable beyond compare. It runs on high quality magazines, often the difference between an acceptable pistol and a great pistol.

That said, as a duty weapon, you will get a duty grade trigger in both double and single action. If you are looking for a 1911 or SIG P210 trigger when it is single action mode, you will be very disappointed.

Accuracy is not up to that of a tuned 1911 or a stock SIG P210. A good tuned 1911 can do 2 to 3 inches at 50 yards. A stock SIG P210 will do the same or better - usually better - at 50 meters.

The 5906, on the other hand, was expected to do about 4 inches at 25 yards, although you may find one that will do a little better.

If you want a target pistol, do not get a duty weapon. The ONLY exception to this rule is the SIG P210 (from SIG Neuhausen, not the current US made version).

If you want an S&W auto that will perform like a SIG P210, then get the Model 52 or if you want 9mm, then the 952. S&W did make a very accurate version of the 5906 through the Performance Center. It may have been called the 5906 PPC. They only sold it to law enforcement officers competing in the National PPC Matches, if I recall.

 

[Stentor]

The Pardini is extremely interesting but just as hard to find and goodness knows the price tag on that one.

I can totally agree on the Cajun parts for vastly improving a CZ-75 trigger. I might say "reinventing!" the trigger, CJW parts are definitely that good for sure. However, I don't believe they can address the accuracy of the pistol... unless maybe they can work the gun if you ship to them?

All the guns that both of us listed are 4x to 10x what a used 5906 goes for.

I know the prices on the guns we listed were on the "premium" side. However, the OP referenced bullseye shooting and small groups at distance--so I got a bit carried away on the options listed.

You can order a Pardini directly from Pardini USA for around $2,500.

And you can get an "accurized" pistol from CZ Customs (I purchased my Accu-Shadow directly from them--they suggest groups of less than 3" at 50 yards).

On a separate note for the OP, there is an S&W 5906 PPC on GB now for around $2,100 (those are great shooters).

 

[toddcfii]

Springfield XDM

Well, he specifically said accuracy AND trigger. I don't have the 5" Target PPQ but I EDC the basic 4" M2. As a polymer defense gun, it's fine.

Nobody on this planet has made a tupperware gun striker fire trigger that can be mentioned in the same conversation as a S&W Model 52.

Hi all: Sevens knows a lot about accurate guns but I will take exception to the Tupperware comment with a caveat. I have a Springfield XDM that the Springfield Custom shop worked over. It has the Powder River Precision trigger and has had the slide to frame fit tightened. The trigger compares to a pretty good custom 1911 trigger and it will shoot favorably compared to my target 1911s. I am guessing 3 inch groups or maybe better at 50 yards from a ransom rest. (I don’t have a ransom rest). The custom work cost as much or more than the gun so total in to it is about $1400.

 

[kas9412]

Thanks guys, for your input.

I have been considering purchasing a 9mm target gun for a while, and ended up reading about 3rd generation guns on this board, many of them talking about the good accuracy of the 5906, so I thought I would ask. Unfortunately, your responses were kinda what I expected.

Guess I should have bought a 952 back when they were still in production, and prices a little more reasonable than what they are now.

So I keep going back and forth between the Sig p210, CZ Shadow, and the Springfield 9mm Range Officer. I was all set to buy the Range Officer until I started reading all the glowing reports about the new American-made Sig p210. For my purposes, I think the Sig is what I want, although the cheapskate in me is holding me back.

I may still get a 5906, because they seem like quite the bargain. I also like the fact that you can get one with adjustable sites, so I can shoot it with a 6 o'clock hold, bullseye style!

Thanks again for your input!

kas

 

[Sevens]

Well, strike one "regret" off your list... there may have been one short expanse of time while the 952 was still produced when MAYBE you may have found a fantastic deal on a used one... but these pistols carried an MSRP of $2,070 new in 2007 for a 5-inch 952-2, so it's not like they were ever a low dollar item.