New 3rd Gen Owner

[FortyFiveACP]

I've been wantin' a compact single-stack DA/SA for carry. I've been carrying striker guns but I wanted a small DA/SA to try. I've never owned or shot a 3rd Gen S&W before but I started wanting to try a CS9 or 3913 or similar. Lo and behold, my LGS recently had a mint 908 sitting in the case as I was headed to the range so I bought it and proceeded straight to the firing line with it.

The LGS said it had only been test fired so I assume the previous owner said they had never shot it. As I inspected it, there was no discernible wear on the gun at all but I wasn't really hung up on the wear as I intend to carry it.

I ran 100 rounds of 115 gr FMJ through it and it didn't miss a beat. No issues whatsoever and it was a nice shooter. It threw brass more consistently than any gun I've owned....brass was easy to pick up for reloading. It seemed to be shooting a shade left although the sights look to be centered okay. Not crazy about the hard/slick feel of the Delrin/plastic grips so I cut a piece of bicycle innertube and slid it over the grips temporarily.

In any event, kind of tickled to have it. The cost was $425, would love to get it cheaper but it's 2021 so I was okay with it in like-new condition, in the box with 2 8-round mags.

Obligatory cell photo before I broke it in and dirtied it up...

 

[robrossk]

Nice find. Congrats.

 

[4T5GUY]

Nice, kinda like a time capsule.

I think my "entry level", Value Line 908 is one of the best little 9mm's I have. It was used but not abused. I got it years ago and it was cheap. I changed a few things to make it even better, (at least in my mind,) and have been very happy with it. Super dependable, accurate but underestimated by many.

It's really nice seeing one that's in such high condition.

Jim

 

[lhump1961]

You did very good on the price regardless of current circumstances. I tend to hit a little left with most of my pistols (SA, TDA or striker) unless I really pay attention...the guns are fine. I'm not the best shot but I can usually hit what I'm aiming at even if it isn't perfect. Excellent marksmanship isn't easy to master and would require more time and ammo than I am willing. I always have fun anyway it goes.

My favorite 3rd gens are 3913 variants and my 3954. (I actually shoot DAO's more consistently). My favorite 3913 is a standard model police trade in. Not over shot in it's life but enough to be nicely broken in.

Congrats and enjoy! Your 908 will only get better over time.

 

[Tntcwg3]

Nice find, congratulations! Pretty good price as well but it's going to cost you on down the road; similar to the Lay's potato chip slogan, nobody can own just 1 2nd / 3rd Gen. S&W.

 

[petepeterson]

Good find. Good price for the current times, too.
I bought one a few years back, but as luck would have it, ran into a 3914 a week later, so sold the 908 off.
The 3913/14/908 pistols are still some of the best CCW guns ever produced, IMO.

 

[BruceB]

Nice way to start your 3rd Gen experience. My 908S (stainless) seems to be the default carry piece these days. I too will start hitting left if I get lazy with the support (left) hand grip. Tighten up and all is well again.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I have 2 of them , a shooter and a NIB 908S . They are great and a lot cheaper than a 3913 . No matter the year , that's a good price for a like new 908 with the box .

 

[FortyFiveACP]

My primary carry has been a P365 the last couple of years. I generally shoot striker guns better but I'm turning into an old guy and wanted a DA/SA option to carry with a heavier trigger and exposed hammer over a pre-tensioned striker with a light-feeling trigger. Not to start any controversial discussions on those topics but that was my personal motivation for this one. The P365 is such a nice-sized package, though, that I didn't want to jump up to something a lot bigger. The 908 is about as big as I want to go unless I'm going into an elevated risk area.

I "made" a Kydex holster for the 908 by taking a $40 P239 holster and taking the heat gun to it to re-shape it to the 908. Pretty happy with how it came out. I wanted it to be as reasonably thin as possible so I pretty much reshaped the whole thing. The slide is about a tenth of an inch thinner than the P239 and I wanted benefit from that gain in the holster so I worked on the whole thing. The 908 clicks into it strongly so it's good to go.

 

[quikdraw67]

Congrats.

I think you will find that 3rd Generation pistols are like potato chips.

You can't have just one.

I started 2020 with zero. Today I have 11 plus a 2nd Generation for a bit of variety.

 

[grcoffman104]

908 Yea

Just like potato chips...

 

[darg]

The observation of the plastic feel of the grips is one thing that I had to change on my 6904. Got me some Hogue grips that are far better than the slick plastic S&W puts on them.
Nice gun. It won't be the only one

 

[mauser9]

Looks very nice and not a bad price especially if the gun was not fired. Are these models very similar in construction to a CS-9 by the way? Glad to see ya scored it in such great condition. Have not seen a Third Generation gun on the shelves for a long time.

 

[Erocksmash]

Hey welcome to the 3rd gen fam.

A peice of advise... please limit yourself to one 3rd gen as it is very addictive and will hurt the bank account.

Best to stay away from any PC3rd gens as well, lol


Erik

 

[rosewood]

I too have a 908 and it started my 3rd gen rage (even though I already had 2 3Gs). Bought a 3913 and then a 6904 and several others.

I loved the way the 908 shoots, but wanted stainless, so that is why I tracked down the 3913. I added Hogue grips to both of them. It adds just enough extra width to the grips to better fit my hand. I added a Hogue to the 6904 but it made the double stack just too wide for my taste. I ended up stippling the factory grip for the 6904 with a soldering iron and I really like it now. I stippled one of the grips for the 908/3913 and it was too narrow, so I stuck with the Hogues on both of them

The 3913 has been my EDC ever since I bought it. Can't seem to bring myself to carry something else, even though I have many to choose from.

Rosewood

 

[S&W Fan]

Well done. I'm beginning to think my recently acquired 4567 is my favorite .45 at the range. The all steel construction really soaks up the recoil. Accurate too.

 

[xtrtsqrt11]

You did great. I passed on a 908 in good shape, one mag, no box in a LGS a few months ago. They wanted $600 firm.

That's what I paid for a NOS 4013TSW a few months previously. Box, extra mag, paperwork, the works...