Is 3914 really that good ? Or is it me?:)

[fighter62]

Just got a minty 3914 made in May 1991.

Gun + 5 factory magazines for 375.00 total. Did not want to pass on that deal. Plus I was looking for a compact , single stack 9mm to carry off duty when its warm out.

The big surprise happened when I got to the range.

I loaded all five magazines with Federal HST 147JHP's .

Not knowing where the gun shoots , I used a 6 o'clock hold and fired 40 rounds at the BE target at 25 yards.

Really taking my time I only pulled one round of the black circle (5") , all other rounds went X,10,9 ring! Mostly X/10!!!

The gun worked everytime too.

Question. Did I just get a good one? Or are they all like that?

I have to try really hard to get that kind of accuracy with ANY pistol I shoot.

The only 9mm that I shoot that well is my German SIGP226.

Woudl like to hear from other 3914/3913 owners.
Thank You .

 

[scwv67]

Can't answer your question, but am looking at buying a 3913, or preferably, a 3953 DAO version. Sounds like a great deal you got! The best I can find are police turn ins for $409 with only 1 mag.

Did you buy yours locally?

 

[mlk18]

They are all like that. I carried a 3914NL off duty for many years. It was always 100% reliable, very accurate and a pleasure to tote around. The 3913/14 series is one S&W should definitely still be making today.

 

[fighter62]

Can't answer your question, but am looking at buying a 3913, or preferably, a 3953 DAO version. Sounds like a great deal you got! The best I can find are police turn ins for $409 with only 1 mag.

Did you buy yours locally?

No . I got it in Ca.

 

[fighter62]

They are all like that. I carried a 3914NL off duty for many years. It was always 100% reliable, very accurate and a pleasure to tote around. The 3913/14 series is one S&W should definitely still be making today.

I was just shocked after shooting it . Is it the way the barrel locks in the front ?

 

[heekma]

Hello,

I can't speak about your 3914 in particular, but I own a couple 3rd Gen. Smiths-a 5906 and 4506. They are both the most reliable guns I've ever owned and accurate as well. The 3rd Gen. Smiths are great guns no matter the caliber or configuration.

Best,

Heekma

 

[18DAI]

Congrats on your 3914!

The 3914/3913 is simply the finest single stack 9mm compact made....by anyone. Accurate and bet your life reliable. Perfect size and weight for concealment. Whats not to like?

But.....it could be you. Regards 18DAI

 

[stevie-ca]

I just picked up a 3913NL, 2 mags 400.00 in Ca... Wish I got your deal!! Can't wait to try it in 8 days.

 

[MFames21]

I actually just recently purchased a 3914 at a show in upstate NY and only paid 335 I shot it a few days ago and was stunned as how smooth it was. The only problem I am having now is finding any kind of accessories i.e concealed holsters and extended mags. These are beautiful guns and have never heard any complaints yet.

 

[Fastbolt]

My 3913 is the standard against which I consider and measure other 9mm pistols.

Having owned one for some years, and having helped maintain a number of others that have been either issued or personally-owned by other shooters, I tend to think of them as being examples of what a state-of-the-art compact, reliable, single column magazine 9mm pistol ought to be (and could be).

Boringly, monotonously reliable and very reasonably accurate for their intended purpose.

However, it's not impossible to come across an instance where one particular example might require a different height front sight.

Keep them clean and properly lubricated, and use good quality ammunition (think of the stuff made by the major American ammo companies who have acquired experience making ammo for LE/Gov users ), and the guns ought to provide for many years of good service to their owners/users.

While the company tell it's armorers to replace recoil & mag springs in LE guns every 5 years (anticipating LE guns are left fully loaded) or every 5,000 rounds, I like to err on the conservative side in the compact guns, and replace my 3913 recoil spring with factory (green painted) springs about every 2,500 - 3,000 rounds.

Not a bad idea to replace the springs in a used gun, I'd think (since you can never know how old they are, or how much use/service they might have experienced).

Just my thoughts.

Congrats, BTW.

 

[DesertZig]

Nice! I think the OP got a great deal, at least much better than mine. I recently bought a 3913 (with one mag) online from a dealer in Texas and paid $399 plus shipping. It is in great shape and shoots well. The trigger still feels a bit stiff, especially compared to my 5906. It seems to have been shot very little, so I think it is still being broken in. It certainly shoots much better than I do. Congrats on a good purchase.

 

[fast20]

I actually just recently purchased a 3914 at a show in upstate NY and only paid 335 I shot it a few days ago and was stunned as how smooth it was. The only problem I am having now is finding any kind of accessories i.e concealed holsters and extended mags. These are beautiful guns and have never heard any complaints yet.

i bought a desantis sof tuck 106 iwb holster- for my taurus slim 9 and my 3914 fits also... got it at optics planet round 25 shipped.. real nice leather holster...
i also have an acecase Universal Hide-A-Holster - Ace Case Manufacturing work well also... iwb or out... out you can wear it between paints and belt..
hope this helps..

 

[fast20]

Nice! I think the OP got a great deal, at least much better than mine. I recently bought a 3913 (with one mag) online from a dealer in Texas and paid $399 plus shipping. It is in great shape and shoots well. The trigger still feels a bit stiff, especially compared to my 5906. It seems to have been shot very little, so I think it is still being broken in. It certainly shoots much better than I do. Congrats on a good purchase.

i just got a 3914 for 385 + 1 mag.. i felt lucky to find one around here.. havent shot it yet but i do have a 6904 which is basically the double stack version of this gun... and its one heck of a shooter.. is also concealable if you want a little more fire power..

 

[Fastbolt]

Nice! I think the OP got a great deal, at least much better than mine. I recently bought a 3913 (with one mag) online from a dealer in Texas and paid $399 plus shipping. It is in great shape and shoots well. The trigger still feels a bit stiff, especially compared to my 5906. It seems to have been shot very little, so I think it is still being broken in. It certainly shoots much better than I do. Congrats on a good purchase.

The perceived "stiffness" could also be the result of a couple of other influences.

The mainspring (hammer spring) in the compact version uses a shorter spring, but it still has to produce an acceptable amount of power. (Some owners of the CS series notice a subtle difference when the even shorter springs are involved in the CS guns, and they've been used to shooting the 3913/908 guns.)

Also, the stirrup (hammer strut) is shorter, so there's probably somewhat of a different amount of mechanical leverage, or "position of advantage", that may be at work in the smaller gun.

The slimmer grip of the 39XX versus the 59XX/69XX can also have an effect upon our perception (due to how our hands are position and can exert leverage for the trigger stroke). FWIW, I tend to "feel" my trigger control is a bit better when I'm using Hogue panels on my 3913 instead of the factory Zytel grip.

The 3913 has a slightly narrower trigger than the 59XX (in guns with the older machined triggers), which might have a subtle influence on how you're feeling finger/trigger interaction

S&W did make a couple of subtle changes over the years in the shape/construction of the drawbar plunger spring tunnel and the drawbar plunger itself.

The earlier 3rd gen drawbar plungers had squared front ends, the corners of which could bump up against each spring coil as the spring was being compressed around the plunger. Newer plungers have tapered ends which provide less resistance against the inside of the spring coils.

Also, the front of the spring tunnels received a relief hole on "top" ... (that little hole you see within the frame about half an inch forward of the rear of where the plunger in the recoil guide rod rests after the slide is installed onto the frame) ... which we were told was created to help prevent hydraulic pressure from building up if the tunnel became contaminated with excessive liquids (solvents, oils, CLP, etc). Granted, having an opening at each end of the spring tunnel might make it easier for liquid contaminants (and air) to drain from the tunnel (and be blown out by an air compressor, I suppose).

Obviously, this isn't any sort of an exclusive list of things that can contribute to a bit of roughness in a trigger (which a good smith can address ), but just some things some folks might not realize might be involved to one degree or another.

 

[DesertZig]

Thanks for the info, Fastbolt. This is why I am growing increasingly fond of this forum. So much to learn and so many good people to learn from.

FWIW I am using a Pachmayr slip on grip on the original straight back plastic grips. I looked at the Hogue rubber panels but saw that thy do not cover the front of the grips with any kind of finger grooves. I feel like I have much better control of my pistol when I have finger grooves. I don't shift my grip around in between shots.