what is your avorite S&W semi auto?

[joseph whitney]

After 50 years of collecting and shooting both revolvers and semi-autos, I would like to know what the forum members consider Smith's most popular semi-auto and why. I mostly wondering what you would carry if for some reason you were limited to One.(heaven forbid it never comes to this but what if??????) What do you consider the maximum length and weight for a social carry weapon? I mean one that you would carry concealed most of the time.

 

[18DAI]

My absolute favorite is the 3913.

Followed closely by the 4566 and 4516. Regards 18DAI.

 

[Nframe357]

My favorite would have to be the model 645 followed closely by the 4506. They just feel "right" in my hands and I can hit really well with them, not everyone can conceal one this large but with the right jkt I can no problem.

 

[RogueJSK]

My favorite is the 3913.

But if (for whatever reason) I was limited to just one, I think a 6906 would be a better "all around" gun.

 

[Tinygnat219]

My favorite also has to be the 3913.

It's light, compact, easy to shoot, amazingly accurate and is just the right size and configuration to carry around all day.

 

[10mm Sonny]

Picking from the entire S&W line, 1006 w/as.

Picking fom the ones I own, 5906 w/as.

 

[FirebirdV8]

My favorite is a tie between my 4040PD or my 1066. They both fit perfectly in my hands and are just great guns.

 

[greengael]

My tie is between my 5906 idp[shoots better] and my 9 recon[6906] which is more easily concealed.

 

[Shorty4T]

Given this is standard production guns I'd say my ol' 4003. If we expand it to PC guns the Shorty 40 wins hands down. All great choices listed so far.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[greengael]

I'm sorry ShorT, I didn't see a reference to a standard production limitation. If that's the case My old tda blue cs9 is the one.

 

[safearm]

3913. S&W really did it right with this one. Too bad they stopped making it.

 

[cab980002]

I've always loved my 5906 even though I don't carry it anymore. It will remain one of my favorite guns.

 

[deanodog]

6906 followed closely by my 4566 and 4516 and 5906. I love all the 3rd gens but I don't carry any.

 

[snw19_357]

…what the forum members consider Smith's most popular semi-auto and why.

I would say 5906 or 4006. I don't know the numbers made but I suspect it was more of these two than any other.

…what you would carry if for some reason you were limited to One.

Love my 6906 but if only one, a 5904. Light enough to carry and not much bigger than a 69 series.

What do you consider the maximum length and weight for a social carry weapon? I mean one that you would carry concealed most of the time.

For concealed carry I wouldn't want a 5" barrel or the weight of an all steel pistol.

 

[3rd Gen Neal]

My favorite would have to be the model 645 followed closely by the 4506. They just feel "right" in my hands and I can hit really well with them, not everyone can conceal one this large but with the right jkt I can no problem.

Damn, you typed it for me. +1!! I'm carrying my 4506 today with a Desantis IWB. I like my 645 a tad better but carrying IWB with only a t-shirt the 4506 grip is a little bit more skin friendly vs the checkered plastic 645 grips.

 

[haifabuddy]

I would not carry a SW semi-auto. Any of my SW revolvers before one of theirs.

 

[chessail 77]

My 6906 solid, dependable and has a higher capacity than my 908, second choice would be my Sigma .40 which has high capacity and is 100% reliable as an SD weapon.

 

[mod29fan]

Overall favorite for me would easily be the 39-2.....it's an American classic. One of the best feeling and looking autos of all time.

For regular carry a 3913 would work just fine

39-2....circa 1975-76. This example is a true unfired queen....for now

 

[Noah Zark]

The Model 41, preferably with the 5.5" "Field" barrel.

Noah

 

[Cruiser RN]

Hello.My favorite carry semi auto is my CS9.I have small hands so the single stack magazine worked well.I was insistent on "No Tactical Tupperware"and never owning a semi auto that required the same motion to make it go BOOM to field strip .Another requirement was that it must have a magazine disconnect.This may seem like overkill but I know too many people who had a accidental discharge while cleaning.After much research and borrowed test guns the CS9 met all the requirements and felt the best shooting.The final mods were a set of night sights making it point of aim and conversion to Double Action Only.It is now just like all my revolvers,no decocker and the safety being located between my ears.Hope I answered your question without getting to wordy.God Bless and Keep You.Mike B

After 50 years of collecting and shooting both revolvers and semi-autos, I would like to know what the forum members consider Smith's most popular semi-auto and why. I mostly wondering what you would carry if for some reason you were limited to One.(heaven forbid it never comes to this but what if??????) What do you consider the maximum length and weight for a social carry weapon? I mean one that you would carry concealed most of the time.

 

[sniper47]

That is a tough one. My very first gun ever was a 5906 and I still own it. In addition to that I have a 645, 4516, 1076, 1006, Sigma 9VE with a 1086 and a 4546 on the way. So right now, I would have to say it is between the 645 and the 4516 as my fav with the 5906 right behind them. The current 10's haven't been in my hands long enough to shoot to the top-yet. This could change once the two new ones arrive and I take them out to shoot.

 

[Stubborn Dutchman]

I prefer my 6906. I like having twelve in the mag and the extra thickness fits my hand just fine!

 

[mstuhr]

Any 52

Howdy,
I always thought the 52's were the finest auto pistols ever made anywhere.
thanks
Mike

 

[j38]

1) Model 39-2 - best "feel" and best range scores, best looks

2) Model 3913/3914 - most carry time

3) Model 4566 - a very close 3rd

Jerry

 

[sub-moa]

Love my Smith round guns while Smith bottomfeeders have never been favorites, I've only got 3, but here goes...

The '66 M39 "feels" good in the hand, it just doesn't shoot as well as it should for being so comfortable. It's a classic, in beautiful shape and it was my first plainclothes duty weapon, for a brief while. I decided to keep it long ago, but it stays in the safe...

The '77 M59 replaced the M39 on duty for an even shorter period of time, when extra capacity seemed to matter, but it just doesn't "feel" as good in the hand. It does shoot pretty well though...Go figure? It too is in beautiful condition, I used during a shooting so I'll never get rid of it either, another safe queen...

Like the others, carried the '83 M469 on duty and off briefly. It's not a "classic" and there's no drama surrounding it, but it did everything ever asked of it, and then some, in a smaller package than either the M39 or M59. It has better capacity than the M39 and it "feels" better in the hand than the M59. It's one of the more accurate small/medium 9mms I own, works 100% and conceals well...I guess that answers the question ...

M469, favorite Smith bottomfeeder...

But it's still behind various Sigs, HKs, P35s, 1911s, Glocks, Kahrs, Berettas and even my CZ75 ...

 

[ect1222t]

My favorite S&W auto is the 5903SSV. Full size aluminum frame of the 5903 with the short barrel and slide of the 3914. Next is it's parent, the 5903. Both have the first model trigger guard, which I happen to like. They feel good in my hand, and have never failed me, and are probably more accurate than I am. If I could only have one, it would have to be the SSV. As far as concealment, with the right leather and clothing you can conceal just about anything. The Secret Service has been known to conceal UZI's and HK-MP5's under a suit coat. And they're sure a darned sight heavier than a 5903. -Ed.

 

[samurai]

6906, followed by 3913NL,then CS9.

 

[bwh]

After 50 years of collecting and shooting both revolvers and semi-autos, I would like to know what the forum members consider Smith's most popular semi-auto and why.

The 4006, followed by the 5906. These are the pistols that locked up the law enforcement market for S&W so they lead in production numbers.

I mostly wondering what you would carry if for some reason you were limited to One.(heaven forbid it never comes to this but what if??????)

This is easy - the 6906. An almost ideal combination of firepower and concealability.

What do you consider the maximum length and weight for a social carry weapon? I mean one that you would carry concealed most of the time.

I don't know about size and weight, but my 'social' carry 9mm is the 3913. Of all the small pistols I've carried concealed (and I've carried a lot) this is the best 9mm of them all in terms of overall size, firepower and ergonomics. Of all of the all-metal pistols S&W made the 3913 is the one I feel S&W could keep in production and still make a good profit on. Springfield and Kimber are making a lot of hooplah (and racking up lots of sales) with their new single stack 9mm 'baby' 1911s. I look at them and all I can think is, "S&W already did this, and got it right, 20 years ago!" The 3913 is an absolute winner.

 

[joseph whitney]

Thanks for all the responses, my own favorite's being the 39-2, 3913/3914 and always a favorite , the 645 and 6906. Thanks again

 

[george minze]

I will keep saying it 39 series was a keeper, sadly S&W didn't believe that or just don't care. I started LE in 1963 when the S&W mod. 10 was king. then as those who could afford it went to Mod.19. Years ago Missouri Highway Patrol had K38's made up with 5" barrels so they could be used in PPC matches, one of the finest revolves made. In those days S&W were finely finished from the factory and generally could be "shot in" I watched a range master fro MSHP shoot at a match, he had big hands but he shot rapid fire like a machine. the rest of us who were to follow him sort of got disgusted how to you beat a possible. After retirement he went with NRA instruction classes around the country. this after setting record at FBI academy. But back to auto's. Then ISP went to M39s and the trend started. the M39s were the perfect answer and with a little twicking were about as good as you could get. this of course was before the Euro invasion. The departments that went with H&K P7s M8 and M14 had the gunsmiths choice for accuracy and ease of shooting but it took a real gunsmith to work on them. Now we have the plastic pistols and their different breeds that seem to grow every day. S&W seemed for economic reasons discarded the 39's....For the money how can you dismiss the 3913-14-53 pistols, and their ease of concealment. And i might add ease of repair. Smith still has a good customer relations department, well at my last contact anyway. S&W bring back the 39s add a few bucks but bring them back I'll bet you won't be disappointed..Give us a chance to buy American!