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I am getting the itch to purchase another pistol. I was looking online at a S&W 5906 for $300. I have a couple of questions about the gun though and as I can't handle the weapon I would like to canvas the thoughts of anyone who owns (or has shot) one.

1) Is $300 a good price for it?
2) Are they accurate and reliable?


As it is stainless steel frame and a 9mm caliber I assume the recoil will be pretty light?

Any input would be most welcome.

The 5906 is a great gun. Lots of police officers carried them before the flood of Glocks. $300 is a decent price for one. Accuracy is excellent. There are a lot of magazines available for them both new and used,

$300 is a good price for any 3rd gen S&W. Being a steel frame 9mm, it will outlast you if you are the average shooter.

Personally, I would replace the recoil and magazine springs if I were going to rely on it for serious use. I would do that with any semi-auto, not just the Smith.

I recommend the discontinued Uncle Mikes grips. If you can find them, they feel nice without adding as much bulk like the houges.

I carried the big brother of the 5906, the 4506, as my LE uniform gun and a 4516 (1 inch shorter and one less in the magazine) as my plainclothes or OD gun for about 15 years. Shot about 250 rounds twice a year in training and qualification. Excellent accuracy. But 4506 is too big and heavy to carry now that I've retired so I sold it and bot a Bersa 9 UltraCompact for less than what your looking to spend on the 5906. Still have the 4516 but I've replaced it with a Bersa 45 UltraCompact. These two fit in the same holsters which gives me a choice each day as to which one I want to carry.

Just my $.02. Good luck in your decision making.

I've used a 5906 as a training gun since 1995. No issues - it still works great.

Kevinf2349 wrote:I am getting the itch to purchase another pistol. I was looking online at a S&W 5906 for $300. I have a couple of questions about the gun though and as I can't handle the weapon I would like to canvas the thoughts of anyone who owns (or has shot) one.

1) Is $300 a good price for it?
2) Are they accurate and reliable?


As it is stainless steel frame and a 9mm caliber I assume the recoil will be pretty light?

Any input would be most welcome.

Kevin,

The S&W 5906 was the issue weapon for the approximately 155 uniformed patrol and traffic officers in the LE agency I served in. I was in charge of training and special projects, which included the firearms training program and range and armory operations. Here's my take:

The 5906 is a very complex (over 90 parts) high maintenance pistol that is reasonably reliable if it is completely torn down, inspected, tested, and has any worn / failed parts replaced by a qualified armorer every year per S&W's factory recommendations.

We did this faithfully and at great expense to maintain reliability and protect the department from negligence liability. This work consumed about 10 full weeks of the armorer's time every year. I was always dismayed at the number of significant issues and failed parts discovered during the cleaning / inspection process, especially considering that most guns fired less than 1,000 rounds per year.

There are several far more reliable and less maintenance intensive guns out there for about 50% - 75% more new than the price you've been quoted on the 5906: Glock, Springfield XD, S&W M&P, Sig, etc. If it were my money, I'd save a little longer and buy something that doesn't require you to keep an armorer on retainer.

The S&W 5906 was the issue weapon for the approximately 155 uniformed patrol and traffic officers in the LE agency I served in. I was in charge of training and special projects, which included the firearms training program and range and armory operations. Here's my take:

The 5906 is a very complex (over 90 parts) high maintenance pistol that is reasonably reliable if it is completely torn down, inspected, tested, and has any worn / failed parts replaced by a qualified armorer every year per S&W's factory recommendations.

We did this faithfully and at great expense to maintain reliability and protect the department from negligence liability. This work consumed about 10 full weeks of the armorer's time every year. I was always dismayed at the number of significant issues and failed parts discovered during the cleaning / inspection process, especially considering that most guns fired less than 1,000 rounds per year.

There are several far more reliable and less maintenance intensive guns out there for about 50% - 75% more new than the price you've been quoted on the 5906: Glock, Springfield XD, S&W M&P, Sig, etc. If it were my money, I'd save a little longer and buy something that doesn't require you to keep an armorer on retainer.[/quote]

I haven't dinged anything in 500ish posts, but I vote save your money and get a good M&P, XD or Glock. I agree about the servicing. It was very difficult to work on. I had a 6906, and didn't care for it. Shooting it was no pleasure, the rest was torture, cleaning, upkeep, repair. I know several people that are pleased with them, but there are much better choices, IMHO.

Thank you all for your insights and views. I think I am taking a different tack and (with her indoor's permission) I am going to be investing in a gun safe before jumping at another firearm. When we do look for another firearm I am seriously thinking of an AR for SWMBO and then possibly save for a Kimber UC.

The reasoning of the safe first is that we just had to haul the weapons halfway across the US because we hate to leave them unsecured at home....so a safe first it is.

Thanks again.