Model 3906 Magazine Compatibility

[Crh1943]

Hello all,

I will be the owner of a 3906 very soon! It comes with 1 or 2 mags. Is the 3906 compatible with Model 39 series magazines? Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I'm looking to pick up about 4 or 5 more mags. How does everyone feel about Promag 39 magazines? Very surprising that Mecgar doesn't make any.

Be well,
Crh1943

 

[Ameshawki]

Yes 39 mags will work. Pro mags can be hit or miss. Oddly I never had any issues with them. Factory 39 mags have gotten expensive.

 

[jsbethel]

39 magazines are slightly too short to work in a 3906.

These are stainless magazines but they also came in blue.
From left to right -

3913 magazine - too short, will not work in 3906
639 magazine - too short, will not work in 3906
Later 639 magazine with longer body and stepped floorplate - does not work.
3906 magazine - came in 8 or 9 round capacity.
No 7rd magazine works in the 3906

 

[ACEd]

Hello all,

I will be the owner of a 3906 very soon! It comes with 1 or 2 mags. Is the 3906 compatible with Model 39 series magazines? Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I'm looking to pick up about 4 or 5 more mags. How does everyone feel about Promag 39 magazines? Very surprising that Mecgar doesn't make any.

Be well,
Crh1943

As I recall, 3906 mags with plastic base will work in 39 and 439/639 etc but they will stick out slightly in the early pistols leaving a slight gap at the bottom. But 39/639 etc mags are too short by the same amount.

I think there may also be an issue with magazine lock slot - I have 2 39 mags that someone enlarged the slot and apparently gave up - bought for cheap - they still work in a 39 but I will only use for range, not self defense.

As to the Promag, some have reported success, others not reliable - still others have changed out to SW spring and follower and have solved their problem. But the consensus here seems to be they too are OK for range use but most seem not to trust them for critical service.

As to the SW factory mags my understanding is the earlier 3904/3906 mags were 8 rd but the later SW replacement mags were 9 rd. They appear the same with plastic base except for number of holes. You can occasionally find on GB or eB in the $50 range but watch out as many eB sellers dont know the difference in 3906 and the shorter 3913 mags.

 

[stansdds]

S&W, in their infinite wisdom, increased the grip length and magazine length of the 3906. That means that 3906 magazines will work in the compact 3913/3914 as well as 39/39-2/x39 pistols, but the slightly shorter magazines of the 39/39-2/x39 will not fit the 3906.

 

[Sevens]

If you are running searches everywhere you go in the chase for these magazines, add 952 to your search terms. In the last days of accessory magazine production for these specific magazines, S&W labeled the packages as 3906/952/909 magazines.

 

[Crh1943]

Thank you, everyone!

 

[GaryS]

A couple didn't know the difference between the 7 round and 8 round magazines either. That worked in my favor a couple of times.

As to the SW factory mags my understanding is the earlier 3904/3906 mags were 8 rd but the later SW replacement mags were 9 rd. They appear the same with plastic base except for number of holes. You can occasionally find on GB or eB in the $50 range but watch out as many eB sellers dont know the difference in 3906 and the shorter 3913 mags.