New (to me) 5906

[Quentin]

I recently got my first 5906, from CDNN. It's a later production model with a serial number of RJF21xx. A few dings and bumps here and there but it seems to be in great mechanical condition. I love the design, the beautiful metal work and the craftsmanship in a fairly recent handgun, approximately 1999 I understand.

This isn't my first S&W, I bought a Model 19 around 1976, a Model 66 in the '80s and a stripped M&P-15 AR lower receiver in 2009.

The 5906 came with the Hogue grips which were way too thick for me so I ordered original S&W flat backstrap grips from Midway USA but really wanted the curved backstrap model which was out of stock. Finally the curved grips came back in stock and I received mine in today's mail. The straight grips were pretty good but I love the curved grips. I thought I'd drop in pictures of all three models for anyone interested in the most common grips for the 5906 and similar models.

Hogue grips from CDNN

S&W Flat backstrap

S&W Curved backstrap

 

[mbliss57]

Very nice. I love mine. It's a very well built weapon. Should last a generation or 2! It also shoots straight!

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

It WILL outlast you, so make the appropriate arrangements to pass it on. I have 2 of them and they just may be the best modern 9mm service weapon ever(the Browning Hi Power is the really best IMHO).

 

[Quentin]

Thanks guys, the S&W semiautos definitely are fine pistols. AKAOV1MAN, I have to agree, I do like my BHP better but the S&W is no slouch. I also have a hybrid FEG Hi Power DA/SA that combines the Browning and S&W features into one gun.

 

[Quentin]

I feel a little embarrassed that I haven't fired this gun until today but at least I finally got to it. Anyway, a couple hundred rounds and three magazines with no malfunctions, I'll take that! A very sweet shooting handgun!

 

[filmit]

was this a handpicked model from CDNN or just the $299, either way it looks good.

 

[presspics]

That's pretty!!! Wish I had some spare cash to get one for myself!

 

[Quentin]

was this a handpicked model from CDNN or just the $299, either way it looks good.

I did pay the extra $40 for VG to Excellent.

 

[Quentin]

That's pretty!!! Wish I had some spare cash to get one for myself!

Thanks, it does look nice! A few cosmetic issues but functionally it's like new.

I'd say go ahead and get one now as it's a bargain today due to good inventories but they'll likely be hit or miss in the very near future.

Something else to consider, you'd probably pay more for a mix 'n' match (parts gun) Walther P1/P38 than a hand picked all matching 5906. I know because I paid $350 for a P38 and it's not half the gun the 5906 is.

 

[guitarguy423]

Nice one! I have one on the way from Bud's. I'll keep ya posted.

 

[Smee78]

I bought 3 total (two for my sons and one for me) and am verry happy with the purchase. I also ordered new springs for the mags and slide and will install them after a good cleaning and will get to the range sometime this Summer to try them out.

 

[tuj]

Just as a precaution, I would suggest replacing the recoil spring. I am also replacing the extractor springs in my 5906 I picked up used and bought new mags for it.

 

[Badkarma 1]

Very nice!! And thanks for the pics, now I know which grips to get for mine. Dale

 

[Quentin]

Just as a precaution, I would suggest replacing the recoil spring. I am also replacing the extractor springs in my 5906 I picked up used and bought new mags for it.

Good advice! I did pick up a new recoil spring when ordering the grips from Midway USA. I should have got two since the price is so low. Anyway, the new spring was about 1/2" longer than the one that came with the 5906. Flawless operation with the new spring, I never tested the old one.

I also got two Mec-Gar 17-rd magazines from CDNN when I bought the gun and they also work great. I need to pick up a few more.

 

[S&W Rover]

Excellent! I just purchased one that is very close to Quentin's 5906 in its serial number (RJF1XXX) from Bud's, listed in "very good" condition. Mine has some marks on the outside but the internals are near-perfect. It has plain (painted) Novak sights, which I touched up with White-Out.

I too replaced the battered Hogue grips, which were a clue that the gun, while not shot much, had been carried a lot. I got the curved factory grips -- which look great and are thinner than the Hogues. I added some grip tape to the front strap for a better grip.

Am also ordering a new recoil spring with my next order to Midway or Brownell's (not worth shipping costs to order it by itself).

Can't wait to take it to the range! If it shoots as good as it looks, this will be a great buy.

 

[Busted Knuckle]

5906's shoot great! 3rd gen really means they'll last through 3 generations. buy your ammo by the case it's too easy to empty 3-4 mags reload and empty them again

Dan T

 

[taxifolia]

If you like lasers, try Crimson Trace - the curved backstrap feels great.

 

[S&W5906]

Most of my Smiths have straight backs. But my 5906 does have the arched one. Trigger finger on straights sits dead center of the first segment on the trigger guard. Arched back moves the finger back so that it is only the tip resting on the guard.

 

[gtoppcop]

Quentin,

Good on you for buying what many (I like the 4566 best) consider the best Semi-Auto S&W has ever built. The 5906 is a Russian T34 (or Volvo 240) of 9mm pistols.

My local gunsmith, Bill Burris (B.BURRIS handle on the forum) here in SoCal got a 5906 in for service. It seems the owner bought a quantity of Cabela's 9mm reloads (made in China???) to shoot. One of the rounds was obviously overloaded to point that it blew the Xenoy grip in two, blew the magazine floorplate down with all of the ammo hittin the deck and stinging the hand. The slide was locked into the firing position.

A closer inspection revealed that the case was blown into three pieces (the case head in half and the case separated from the case head). One has to wonder what kind of pressures that this round made: 70K? 80K? Who knows. After it was put back together and certified GTG, it was returned to the owner.

Moral of the story: S&W made these 5906s to perform. Many cry about the 40+oz carry weight (with full mag). I like it. It bespeaks of redundancy and good ole' fashioned AMERICAN engineering.

My 1989-vintage square trigger 5906 is back at Springfield, MASS right now getting a slight dusting off. She'll have the decock-only firing system and some parts added by the Performance Center. I have every confidence that she'll be passed down to my grandkids.

They are THAT good! I say that the 4566 is the best semi-auto, but many would say that the 5906 is #1. I disagree only because i like the 4566 better. The 5906 is a CLOSE second.

Your choice is sound. Enjoy the pistol. You have a great one!

 

[S&W Rover]

I took my new (to me) 5906 to the range this morning -- Hurricane Sandy has everyone staying home here in Northern Virginia, and almost no one was at the range (which is going to close early).

Mine is very close in serial number (RJF1XXX) to the Quentin's, and may have come from the same batch (presumably police trade-ins).

The 5906 fired 100 rounds, 50X 115 grain Federal "Wal-Mart" and 50X Berry's plated round nose 124 gr over 4.0 gr of W231 w/ CCI SPP. All fired flawlessly, and hand-held accuracy seemed very good. This is a very low recoiling pistol, and a pleasure to shoot. I am very happy with the pistol and the magazines that came with it.

I may eventually look into better sights -- better for me, that is, larger and more defined. The original Novak contrast sights are a little small for my old eyes. But no complaints with it the way it is. The 5906 deserves high marks as a range gun.

Added after cleaning the pistol: as a bonus, the 5906 cleaned up very easily and quickly -- the powder residue is easy to see against the silver-colored stainless steel frame and inside the slide, and all of the nooks and crannies are easy to get to.