I am looking to purchase a S&W 5903 from Centuary Arms. The model listed has adjustable sights and one mag for $269. I am not sure if it has the rounded or square trigger guard. I used to own a 5906, the 5903 has an aluminum frame. How much lighter is the 5903? This sounds like a good deal.
S&W 5903
- Thread starter markfi
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On par with the glocks, maybe a tad bit heavier. Much lighter than the 5906.
alde
Member
I think the 5903 is about 10 ounces lighter than the 5906. I just had my new to me PD trade in 5903 (fixed sight) to the range this morning. I only ran about 100 rounds of various ammo through it but it worked perfect. I would have spent longer at the range but it was only 33 degrees and snowing
. Considering it was the first time out with the pistol and the cold, it shot pretty well. I was putting most shots into an area a bit larger than my fist from 15yards. I put my first shots low and to the left but after a magazine they started to center up. I have ordered a straight grip from S&W for it as I am not use to the palm swell.
The 5903 is a great pistol. It has all the great features of the 5906 in a much lighter package. The lighter weight is not an issue with the recoil.
Hope that helps with your decision
.
. Considering it was the first time out with the pistol and the cold, it shot pretty well. I was putting most shots into an area a bit larger than my fist from 15yards. I put my first shots low and to the left but after a magazine they started to center up. I have ordered a straight grip from S&W for it as I am not use to the palm swell.The 5903 is a great pistol. It has all the great features of the 5906 in a much lighter package. The lighter weight is not an issue with the recoil.
Hope that helps with your decision
.
roaddog28
Member
Shorty4T
Member
Alde, hit the nail on the head. It's about 10 ozs. The full size alloy frame guns come in around 28 - 29 ozs while the steel frame come in around 38 ozs. The 6906 will save you a couple of ounces coming in around 26 ozs.
They are great pistols and sounds like a good price.
Cheers,
Sam
They are great pistols and sounds like a good price.
Cheers,
Sam
Devildogs1907
Member
Gentlemen,
The last couple years I worked for Cleveland PD, I was issued a 5903 and a 6906. I was in the SWAT Unit (full-time unit) and I NEVER had a problem with either firearms. We shot our handgun/sniper rifles (Rem. 700P, serial #C6710245) EVERY Tuesday, regardless of the weather.
The good old days......and they paid me for that. Sometimes I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming - honest.
Semper fi,
Dave Swaffield
The last couple years I worked for Cleveland PD, I was issued a 5903 and a 6906. I was in the SWAT Unit (full-time unit) and I NEVER had a problem with either firearms. We shot our handgun/sniper rifles (Rem. 700P, serial #C6710245) EVERY Tuesday, regardless of the weather.
The good old days......and they paid me for that. Sometimes I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming - honest.
Semper fi,
Dave Swaffield
I carried a couple of different 5903's (issued at different times because of assignments). They do carry much lighter over the course of a long day and night.
I ran several thousand rounds through one and a few thousand through another one without any issues. I liked those guns ... for being full-size guns. I prefer smaller ones for carry nowadays.
The frame rails need to be properly lubricated to mitigate excessive wear on the alloy guns.
I ran several thousand rounds through one and a few thousand through another one without any issues. I liked those guns ... for being full-size guns. I prefer smaller ones for carry nowadays.
The frame rails need to be properly lubricated to mitigate excessive wear on the alloy guns.
alde
Member
I have been using Tetra Lube grease and it seems to work really well. Do you have any suggestions of a product that may work better? I am always open to try new things.
Any of the newer synthetic lightweight grease and oil products ought to be fine.
When it comes to greases I tend to like the Wilson Ultima grease & TW25B, myself, but any number of others work just fine.
I like grease for long term exposure to variable temperatures and weather (especially moisture and salt air), as well as a lot of holster wear between training/practice. The oils tend to wick off, thin out or have their carriers evaporate, although that's not something I worry about if I'm shooting the gun every month. I'd be more concerned if there were 5-6 months, or more, between shooting & cleaning if the gun was exposed to a lot of changing temperatures and moisture/humidity.
I still use either Break-free, FP10 or Militec-1 as oils.
Lots of good ones out there, though.
It pays to read the labels nowadays, too, to make sure the specific product being considered is applicable to the gun(s) on which it will be used.
When it comes to greases I tend to like the Wilson Ultima grease & TW25B, myself, but any number of others work just fine.
I like grease for long term exposure to variable temperatures and weather (especially moisture and salt air), as well as a lot of holster wear between training/practice. The oils tend to wick off, thin out or have their carriers evaporate, although that's not something I worry about if I'm shooting the gun every month. I'd be more concerned if there were 5-6 months, or more, between shooting & cleaning if the gun was exposed to a lot of changing temperatures and moisture/humidity.
I still use either Break-free, FP10 or Militec-1 as oils.
Lots of good ones out there, though.
It pays to read the labels nowadays, too, to make sure the specific product being considered is applicable to the gun(s) on which it will be used.
Ogandydancer
Member
5903 good shooter. I have a 5903 TSW and I wish there were a way to get rid of the rail without leaving big nasty marks on the bottom of the frame. However it's still a nice shooting pistol. I don"t think you will regret buying it even though you will have to hunt an extra mag for it.
Carried one for 14 years for our agency. Also did a lot of academy instruction, qualifications and fun shooting with it. TO make a long story short, I was meticulous in maintenance, ammo inspection and technique. I fired over 18,000 rounds through the pistol and never had a malfunction, nada, not one. I know there are probably guys out there who have fired more rounds through theirs, but I think the reliability demonstrated by mine is possibly unique. When we switched to Sigs, we were able to by our old duty pistols. It is the one I keep as the house gun. One other thing of interest, the pistol still looks great and has no real wear on any of the surfaces. You would be well served by it. Lastly, though I have had glocks, XD's and such ( and find nothing wrong with them), a pistol like this has a feel to it that is more "real" to me, if that makes any sense. Good luck and shoot it a bunch!
remat457
Member
Century International? I couldn't find it on the site. Do you have a link?
