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Back Porch Writer's avatar

As always, enlightening and entertaining, Jesse. The old advertisements brought back fond memories of browsing at the magazine stand before reluctantly returning the issue to the rack. When you're 16 or so, ain't no money for a firearm, let alone the magazine. 🤷‍♂️

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Jesse Slater's avatar

I know of what you speak. That can be a problem long after one is 16.

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Back Porch Writer's avatar

Or forty-plus-years after 16. 😁

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Jesse Slater's avatar

It will soon be the 27th anniversary of my 16th birthday, and I still have this problem from time to time.

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ShootyBear's avatar

Another great article. Thanks!

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Jesse Slater's avatar

Thank you!

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Brian B's avatar

The 3rd gens, particularly the 5906, was the standard issue gun for the CA State Troopers for years and years.

I had a 39, a 59 and several 3rd gens over the years. The 39 was a peach - it wasn't accurate, but it was ergonomic and pleasant to shoot. In fact, not one of those Smiths was as accurate as your typical bone-stock Glock

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Jesse Slater's avatar

That's surprising. Although I was struggling to put a group together on demand, my impression from casual shooting the day before was that this one's very accurate, in spite of the heavy-ish trigger. 🤔

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Brian B's avatar

Maybe you got a good one. While all of my Smiths were reliable, they rattled when you shook them and I never could get them to group like my more modern pistols.

Still though, they are cool. I definitely have a soft spot for them. Especially the first gens

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Ronnie Willie's avatar

I’ve had a 6906 for a couple decades now. I put the Hogue on it because I have large hands and it feels perfect, like it was made for me. I just drifted new tritiums on it a few months back. My last gig was as a driver/bodyguard for a media CEO and the 6906 with 3 extra mags was my daily carry/loadout. Very fast lock time so I can almost make it sound like a select fire weapon. DA is about 12-13 lbs and SA is about 5-6 lbs with almost zero takeup. I’ve replaced the recoil spring on it and the extractor when some steel case chipped it. I used to have the Glock 17 and 26 but always hated the trigger. Just call me old school.

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Jesse Slater's avatar

That is excellent. There is value to finding what works and sticking with it.

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Southern Gentleman's avatar

I liked the 3rd generation Smith’s. Some like my 4506 were a bit heavy, dad had a 5906 and a 4006. We liked them.

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Jeff McConnell's avatar

I owned a 3913 in the ‘90s. I wish that I still had it. I was a young man with a family and probably had to pawn it off to make ends meet. Great article. I’m now a Glock guy. :)

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Jesse Slater's avatar

Thanks!

I can certainly empathize with that. Almost all of my competition guns went to a similar fate.

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Alan Devincentis's avatar

I love my 645. Having never gone back to a model, after changing things, until now. Something about a handgun you can use for a hammer if need be. And if some dope gets it off me,I have time to get backup out before he figures out how to work it.

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Jesse Slater's avatar

I didn't even mention the mag safety, or the trigger disconnect feature of the slide mount safety. 🤦‍♂️

Yeah, lots of potential confusion for the unauthorized mook suddenly in possession of one. 🤭🤭

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Brian Kensel's avatar

I was issued a gen 2 S&W M 459 in 1986 after carrying Smith M 13 and 686 for duty use. Save the welcomed increase in capacity and quicker reloads, the ergonomics of the 459 were less than ideal, more akin to holding a 2x4 than a pistol grip. A later transition to the Sig P226 resolved that issue.

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Jesse Slater's avatar

I've been mostly shooting J-frames lately; I definitely noticed that issue. 😬

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Cameron Bissell's avatar

I’d love to find a 10 or 45 series. Not that the 20/21 are bad woods guns but I do like the extra heft of a metal frame

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Jesse Slater's avatar

10MM is one I've never really played with, but it does seem like 20 extra ounces or so would go a long way with that one. Lol

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