S&W CCW guns 3913, etc... vs plastic?
- Thread starter Dean_407
- Start date
kbm6893
Member
I sold my Glocm 26 for a used 3913 and couldn't be happier. Glock lacks everything I like in a semi auto, hammer, safety, and mag disconenct. They are also butt ugly. My own Glock 19 (along with several thousand other NYPD cops) was far from reliable, and Glock ignored the situation and let cops continue to carry them until the job contatced Ruger for replacing ALL 25,000 G19's in service. The they suddenly acknowledged the problem and allegedly corrected it. I don't know if they did, because my own Glock 19 was sold soon after I retired. I would gladly give up the lighter weight for the features that a S&W auto give.
RE: M&P vs. the 3900-I recently started carrying my new 1994 model 3914 due to assignment change. I have and really like the M&P (full size) and started to carry it. It is newer, has a 4 pound Burwell trigger job, and I really like it. But the light, flat, short 3914 is just comfortable to carry, even on a narrow dress belt (yes, it is a gun belt, but a 1.25). Maybe if I had the M&P compact, I might put the 3914 back in the rack, but I don't have one and don't need one.
I consider the Glock M20 in 10mm to be the most effctive combat handgun in the world. I carried one untill I became afraid to carry this powerful pistol, or any Glock, with a loaded
chamber. I wouldn't carry a cocked handgun without a safety, and that is how the Glocks seem to me....That "Safe Action" trigger does not have to move very far to cause a real problem, and there is really nothing to prevent it moving.....
blairgarber
Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2005
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 4
I love the 3954 so much I have 2 of them. They are great guns fast, accurate, reliable, simple, and small.
As to capacity... if 9 rounds of 9mm Winchester Rangers or Speer Gold Dots and a reload of 8 more isn't enough I'm buggin' out.
/b
As to capacity... if 9 rounds of 9mm Winchester Rangers or Speer Gold Dots and a reload of 8 more isn't enough I'm buggin' out.
/b
bwh
Member
Several years ago I traded for an essentially NIB 3913TSW (one of the short frame models) and this pistol ignited my love of the S&W 3rd Generation models. My collection of S&W 3rd Gen pistols has grown to seven and will most likely continue to grow. I consider them 'best of breed'; most examples are large and heavy but with very good accuracy and excellent ergonomics once you get the right grips fitted.
My 3913 is my 'go to' gun for CCW. Here in the south, when weather permits or I'm headed into the sportier parts of Atlanta, my 3913 is resting comfortably in its IWB holster. The sense of comfort is immeasurable.
Along the way I've purchased and let go a small collection of other makes and models; Glocks, XDs, 1911s, HiPowers and others. While all these pistols had their fine points (and here's a hint - I think Glocks are damned fine guns. Lousy grip angle aside I would have no hesitation picking one up to defend hearth and home), the pistols that remain in my safe are, mostly, S&W 3rd Generation pistols.
The 3913 is a champ. It will serve you well.
My 3913 is my 'go to' gun for CCW. Here in the south, when weather permits or I'm headed into the sportier parts of Atlanta, my 3913 is resting comfortably in its IWB holster. The sense of comfort is immeasurable.
Along the way I've purchased and let go a small collection of other makes and models; Glocks, XDs, 1911s, HiPowers and others. While all these pistols had their fine points (and here's a hint - I think Glocks are damned fine guns. Lousy grip angle aside I would have no hesitation picking one up to defend hearth and home), the pistols that remain in my safe are, mostly, S&W 3rd Generation pistols.
The 3913 is a champ. It will serve you well.
PX15
Member
FWIW:
Well, here's a little follow-up to my Aug. 30 post.
I sold my Walther PPS last week to a gentleman for $500.00. He was happy to get it, I was happy to get rid of it.
I immediately called my favorite salesman at CDNN (Neal Ray) and asked him if they had any NIB 3913LS' laying around.
Neal said, after checking the computer, that they indeed had a couple. So, I had him send me one. $499.99 + shipping. I ordered two extra mags while was at it. (2 came w/the gun).
Here she is:
Before I fired it for the first time I disassembled it and gave it a good cleaning with EEZOX. Then I stepped out back and ran about 75-80 rounds through it. So far no failures of any kind, (which is a primary reason I wanted the 3rd gen. Smith in the first place.). All rounds grouped well, but poa/poi was slightly right, so I removed the allen screw and I used a small brass punch to move the poi to poa, tightened that sucker back down and I'm a happy camper.
I guess my transformation from Walther to 3rd gen Smith is now complete. I have retired my excellent Walther P99/AS in lieu of my 5906, (hopefully to shortly have a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips)which shall be my "house gun". There is absolutely nothing wrong with the P99, which I consider a fantastic 9mm pistol, but in a house gun my wife might be called on to defend herself with it, and she likes the "feel" of the 5906, and the way it shoots as it has low recoil because of it's weight, and the CT Lasergrips will be a big plus in a crisis. No doubt in an accuracy contest the Walther P99/AS would win hands down, but the 5906 is certainly more than self defense accurate.. Enough so that I have no qualms swapping the two for that particular job.
My 6906 is available should I desire a cc weapon with absolute reliability and very good accuracy, with a larger capacity than the LS offers. The LS is 8+1, whereas the 6906 is 12+1 and with the S&W "grip+2" on a 5906 magazine it will have 15+1 and "look" like it came that way. I have two "grip+2"'s on order w/S&W.
My new 3913LS will be my primary 9mm carry pistol, replacing the PPS.. I really like the "feel" of the LS, but so does my wife as she took an immediate liking to it.
So, here I am roughly 13 years after I bought my first 3913, and in the wake of the Glocks/Sig's/Walther's/Star's/Bersa's,ect. I find myself right back to square one, finding out that OVERALL I consider the 3913 to be as good as, if not better, than any of them for MY needs.
Who'da "thunk" it?
IF RELIABILITY is "job one" in your personal defense weapon, you can do no better than a 3rd gen Smith & Wesson pistol. I've spent a lot of money and tried a bunch of the others just to come back to this conclusion.
Just personal opinion, no offense to dissenting opinions.
Best Wishes,
Jesse
Well, here's a little follow-up to my Aug. 30 post.
I sold my Walther PPS last week to a gentleman for $500.00. He was happy to get it, I was happy to get rid of it.
I immediately called my favorite salesman at CDNN (Neal Ray) and asked him if they had any NIB 3913LS' laying around.
Neal said, after checking the computer, that they indeed had a couple. So, I had him send me one. $499.99 + shipping. I ordered two extra mags while was at it. (2 came w/the gun).
Here she is:
Before I fired it for the first time I disassembled it and gave it a good cleaning with EEZOX. Then I stepped out back and ran about 75-80 rounds through it. So far no failures of any kind, (which is a primary reason I wanted the 3rd gen. Smith in the first place.). All rounds grouped well, but poa/poi was slightly right, so I removed the allen screw and I used a small brass punch to move the poi to poa, tightened that sucker back down and I'm a happy camper.
I guess my transformation from Walther to 3rd gen Smith is now complete. I have retired my excellent Walther P99/AS in lieu of my 5906, (hopefully to shortly have a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips)which shall be my "house gun". There is absolutely nothing wrong with the P99, which I consider a fantastic 9mm pistol, but in a house gun my wife might be called on to defend herself with it, and she likes the "feel" of the 5906, and the way it shoots as it has low recoil because of it's weight, and the CT Lasergrips will be a big plus in a crisis. No doubt in an accuracy contest the Walther P99/AS would win hands down, but the 5906 is certainly more than self defense accurate.. Enough so that I have no qualms swapping the two for that particular job.
My 6906 is available should I desire a cc weapon with absolute reliability and very good accuracy, with a larger capacity than the LS offers. The LS is 8+1, whereas the 6906 is 12+1 and with the S&W "grip+2" on a 5906 magazine it will have 15+1 and "look" like it came that way. I have two "grip+2"'s on order w/S&W.
My new 3913LS will be my primary 9mm carry pistol, replacing the PPS.. I really like the "feel" of the LS, but so does my wife as she took an immediate liking to it.
So, here I am roughly 13 years after I bought my first 3913, and in the wake of the Glocks/Sig's/Walther's/Star's/Bersa's,ect. I find myself right back to square one, finding out that OVERALL I consider the 3913 to be as good as, if not better, than any of them for MY needs.
Who'da "thunk" it?
IF RELIABILITY is "job one" in your personal defense weapon, you can do no better than a 3rd gen Smith & Wesson pistol. I've spent a lot of money and tried a bunch of the others just to come back to this conclusion.
Just personal opinion, no offense to dissenting opinions.
Best Wishes,
Jesse
kbm6893
Member
I love my 3913 as well, but something about those Lqdy Smiths just doesn't appeal to me. The Lady Smith logo is annoying, but the dustcover looks different, and I don't like the grey grips. Functionally, it's a 3913 and I'm sure it is and awesome gun, but I prefer the standard version (and that goes for the TSW series with the riveted on rail)
sargespd
Member
I once had a 3913NL - the Ladysmith without the Ladysmith markings, and with the standard black grips. Nice pistol, long gone though. Currently my Smith of choice is the MP9c, which nicely compliments the MP9 issued by my dept.
PX15
Member
kbm:
Nothing wrong with that... That's why they make "Fords AND Chevy's" (or Toyota's and Honda's). The standard 3913 was my first 3rd generation S&W bought new in 1995, and it's a great pistol. I think I mentioned my Son has already put "dibs" on it and it's put away for him along w/three mags..
I showed him the new LS last week, and he said "neat Dad", but "I still like MY 3913"... Since I have the 3913, 6906 (double-stack 3913)and now the LS I have the chance to try them all, and for my tastes the LS is my favorite of the three choices... At the moment.
But, I would feel equally well armed with any of them..
All three possess the one characteristic that I require most in a self defense firearm, RELIABILITY...
Best Wishes,
Jesse
