New to all of this

[JustJohn369]

Hello, I am new to all of this. I had a few wheelies, carried 92F, and had a Llama mini max 9mm for my carry/lunch box. I recently talked to my buddie who has a 915? Anyway, I found a local gunshop selling a few of the police turn ins in the 5903's. I have been rooting around and found all I could want on the 3rd. gen info, spec. info, reliability, ect. I still have a few questions that some of ya'll might be able to help with. 1. Is the police turn in's the bottom barrel entry or is there any collectibility here. 2. I am used to single stack mags. I can get used to my Houge grips, but is there anything a little thinner out there. 3. Why did the police trade these all in? They did trust their lives on these at one point did they not. 4. How, if at all, is it possible to figure the date of manufacture. I also collect Garands and know they have a chart. Is there something to the ser.# here? 5. I got 2 mags stamped w/ LE & Govt. use only. Are these post ban? Is there any pre ban mags made? Aftermarket? Are these legal to own? If there is another ban will these be illegal? 6. last one, Is there any limits on what to feed her. I have the Alum. lower and am wondering if you have to go lighter than you would on a steel frame. Thanks for any help.

 

[JustJohn369]

Hello, I am new to all of this. I had a few wheelies, carried 92F, and had a Llama mini max 9mm for my carry/lunch box. I recently talked to my buddie who has a 915? Anyway, I found a local gunshop selling a few of the police turn ins in the 5903's. I have been rooting around and found all I could want on the 3rd. gen info, spec. info, reliability, ect. I still have a few questions that some of ya'll might be able to help with. 1. Is the police turn in's the bottom barrel entry or is there any collectibility here. 2. I am used to single stack mags. I can get used to my Houge grips, but is there anything a little thinner out there. 3. Why did the police trade these all in? They did trust their lives on these at one point did they not. 4. How, if at all, is it possible to figure the date of manufacture. I also collect Garands and know they have a chart. Is there something to the ser.# here? 5. I got 2 mags stamped w/ LE & Govt. use only. Are these post ban? Is there any pre ban mags made? Aftermarket? Are these legal to own? If there is another ban will these be illegal? 6. last one, Is there any limits on what to feed her. I have the Alum. lower and am wondering if you have to go lighter than you would on a steel frame. Thanks for any help.

 

[dmb]

I can't answer all your questions, but the 5903 is a excellent pistol. It was probably traded in as a lot of agencies have a given lifecycle for agency firearms ie) new pistol's every 15 years, or they were offered a great deal by another manufacturer to switch. You can feed her any factory 9mm load, it will handle it. I have probably about 40000 rounds through a 59 I bought 22 yrs ago used and it's running fine. You might want to swap out the recoil spring, just to be on the safe side and a good cleaning and you should be good for years to come.

 

[WR Moore]

Lesse, now.

The factory stocks are much thinner than the Hogues, they're reasonable in price and available from S&W.

Your mags were produced during the ban, they're legal now to own. Factory mags are best, Mec-Gar makes good ones, others at your risk.

The weapon is rated for +P ammo.

Police departments change weapons systems for a variety of reasons. Being worn out/untrustworthy is rarely-if ever- an issue. In many ways it's kinda like cars, do you want to be the last guy on the block driving a 1992 whatever?

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by JustJohn369:
Hello, I am new to all of this. I had a few wheelies, carried 92F, and had a Llama mini max 9mm for my carry/lunch box. I recently talked to my buddie who has a 915? Anyway, I found a local gunshop selling a few of the police turn ins in the 5903's. I have been rooting around and found all I could want on the 3rd. gen info, spec. info, reliability, ect. I still have a few questions that some of ya'll might be able to help with. 1. Is the police turn in's the bottom barrel entry or is there any collectibility here.

Not collectible, but usually good shooters if well maintained. Often just holster wear.

2. I am used to single stack mags. I can get used to my Houge grips, but is there anything a little thinner out there.

Try an original set of plastic grips from S&W.

3. Why did the police trade these all in? They did trust their lives on these at one point did they not.

You would have to ask the agency involved, but it is NOT likely that it had to do with reliability or trust.

4. How, if at all, is it possible to figure the date of manufacture. I also collect Garands and know they have a chart. Is there something to the ser.# here?

Factory letter or phone call to factory with serial number. The chart in the book "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" is approximate only.

5. I got 2 mags stamped w/ LE & Govt. use only. Are these post ban?

Yes. Those markings were not required prior to the law.

Is there any pre ban mags made?

Yes.

Aftermarket?

Yes, but stick with MecGar brand.

Are these legal to own?

When the law expired, the markings have no effect and LE marked mags are now legal for all purposes under federal law. Check your state or local law.

If there is another ban will these be illegal?

It is hard to say without reading the text of the new law, but doubt it. They cannot take your property without "just compensation," whatever that is. The markings might help to prove your mags pre-date any new law, so it could be argued the markings are more desirable. It is just speculation until the text of any new law can be reviewed.


6. last one, Is there any limits on what to feed her. I have the Alum. lower and am wondering if you have to go lighter than you would on a steel frame.

Use standard pressure for most shooting and save +P or +P+ for occasional use.

Thanks for any help.

PS - I have tried to answer your post twice before and they were held up because they contained "trigger words." I am not sure what those words are, but after leaving out the name of the new President-elect in referring to any new law that might come out of an upcoming administration, this answer went through, so I believe I now know what at least one "trigger word" is!!!! It starts with "O."

 

[JustJohn369]

Thanks to all for responses. John

 

[Ogandydancer]

I have one in TSW "Tactical Service Weapon" and it is a great shooter just as accurate as my Sig P229 only thing I have against it is the fact it is much more complicated to break down and re-assemble than my Sig or Beretta. All things being equal it is a great shooter and it was a trade in.