Experiences/Opinions on S&W Handguns?

[williamssd]

Green Bay PD (and I think Brown Co. SO) use S&W 9mm for their duty issue. I had to dry fire one as part of their physical assessment. It was a DAO, 12 rounder -- somethink like 5906 or 6906... I know it ended in 06. The officer there also mentioned there is a 15 round variant that most officers carry. I asked about the dept. authorizing other guns, and he said only for off-duty carry.

Anyhow, do any of you have any opinions on the reliability, ease of use, etc., on S&W pistols? The gun I dry fired didn't seem too bad at all, other than a heavier trigger than my Glock 17 (and just being heavier in general). Since I haven't had any experience with S&W products, thanks very much in advance for your info, opinions and experiences.

- Steve

[blaine]

i am a member of a southern louisiana agency that utilizes the smith and wesson 4006. personally i cant stand the weapon. my main objection to it is the ridiculous weight of it. if all else fails you can drop it on someones toe and stop em in their tracks.

[five-oh]

My dept. allows officers a choice of a select group of pistols, one of which is the new S&W 99 .40. Those who choose to carry this weapon are having serious problems with it. The factory has been notified and many officers have chosen to bench it because it is so unreliable. S&W is trying hard to correct the problems.

[JSavage]

S&W makes good revolvers. Oh, and did I mention they make good revolvers? They also make good revolvers.

That's all of the praise I have for S&W. (I don't like their Autos)

[dmclark]

I'm with JSavage...they make good wheelguns. S&W is living on fame achieved with these wheelguns 25 years ago. I like the new lightweights for pocket carry...but that's IT. Autos" S&W missed the whole auto boat.

[williamssd]

Wonderful... I start moving along with a dept. and they have crappy guns.

I'm really not going to worry... the job's more important that annoyances with their issued pistol (I could even help them consider alternatives).

Thankfully this is just the PD... the SO I'm not sure about, and may offer a selection for on-duty carry. And, I can always carry my trusty Glock off-duty with either department.

Blaine: maybe I should carry my water-balloon slingshot with me, I could put the gun in it - have two other officers hold it - and I could launch the gun at the BG!! :)

Please continue with your opinions and experiences...

- Steve

PS: I wished the SW99 was reliable. I like it (probably just because it's James Bond's new gun). Oh well, I'll forget about buying one until S&W gets it right.

[MikeNYPD]

I have the S&W 5946 model 9mm.. I think it is a good firearm. I mean the tigger pull is not bad. Also it shoots fine. The only complaint I have, it is heavier then the Glock 19 the NYPD uses. Also you must be on top of it's cleaning or you may have a problem with some rust. Other then regular cleaning the gun is fine.

[mikemac64]

My dept. carries the SW 4006 .40. It is heavy, but steady. I consistantly shoot in the high 90's on the standard Q course here in MA.

Now, my former dept had the SW Sigma .40. It sucked. It was slippery when it was wet, either rain, or sweat. It also rusted very badly, cleaning or not.

I would love to get the Sig .40 or .357. But we're a buy American Dept......

[kennethm3]

My Sig says Exeter, New Hampshire, USA on the left side of the slide. Show that to your purchasing officer!! Don't let hime see the right side of the frame though, just below SIGARMS, Exeter, New Hampshire it says "frame made in Germany". If you have to carry Smiths, talk them into those SW99's (Walther's). Good luck, stay safe out there.

[TANKMGA8]

My department issues the S&W 5906, a boat anchor. I carried it for 8 months and then I got a Glock 22. I have had no problems with hitting and qualifily on the glock. I have shot about 1800 rounds through the 5906, and never got above 92 on DPS course. 50 rounds with my glock and I shot 100 on the same course. There was alot of play between the reciever and the slide that made me think that was why I never shot better, at least in my mind that what it was. I never did have any malfunctions with the S&W either, have put about 500 rounds through the glock and have never had any problems either.

Hope this helps

[try163]

Williamssd,

My department here in NY just switched to the S&W .45 cal from the S&W 6909 9mm. It wasn't a bad gun, but it was far from great. We had 14 round magazines. It was double action on the first shot, and then became single action after that. I prefer the single action myself. I hated the grip on it, it was too wide and awkward and took up a lot of hand space. Personally, I would have preferred a glock to the new .45's although I like it better than the 9mm. I would have bought the 6906 from the PD if we didn't trade them in for the 45's. It would have only been for shooting at the range and for fun. I never would have it as an off duty gun.


TRY163

[Samurai004]

I don't really like the S&W, my buddy on the local sheriff's dept. has one and use to swear by smith and wesson...basically because that is all his dad (also use to be a deputy with the same dept.) swore by. His dad was around in the wheelgun era when they were some of the best pistols. Anyways, my buddy went to qualify and his pistol broke on the first shot of quals (SCARY), the ejector broke to be exact. So there is my buddy driving around with a relatively clean gun that won't fire for 6 months...hell it is the same as not having a firearm, especially since his dept. doesn't allow backups or shotguns in the cruiser (the shotguns are too intimidating on the public according to our hyper P.C. camera loving political first, officer safety second Sheriff; so are the Rhino bars for the front of the cruiser).

Two points:

1. Know the quality of your weapon and don't just fall into the my family brand mentality...quality changes over time.

2. Don't just fire your weapon during quals...try to hit the range at least once a month..once a week would be ideal, replace springs when necessary and do other maintance tasks religously!

Keep your pistol ready to rock, learn from the mistake my buddy made. If he would have had to use deadly force in the line of duty he probably would have died.

[Birky]

Well I have carried two Glocks the full size 45 (Ithink it is the 21) and I carried the Glock 19. The 45 was a great gun the 10 was a piece of crap. I carried a Beretta 92D .40 caliber it was crap. I have also carried a S&W 4006 I own it and like it. I now carry a 6946 and while it is too small for me it is a perfectly fine firearm. I have shot a Sig and I like it but never carried it. I would recommend a Glock or S&W but the choice is really yours.:huh:

[illinoissheriff]

Bottom Line: When it comes to autos, they suck. Period. S & W makes great revolvers, but they totally missed the boat with their autos.


Think Sig, Glock, or H & K,

Illinoissheriff

[williamssd]

Thanks everyone for your opinions and advice. I am truly a "Glock believer," but do like several other types of guns (Sig, H&K in particular). As I understand it, if I'm hired (and therefore issued) a S&W I'm just going to have to devote much more time to cleaning and proper car than I do my trusty Glock. I certainly the dept. would have the ability to fix the gun rapidly or replace it considering it unreliable reputation.

This makes me wonder how a department decides/chooses a "standard issue" sidearm? Do they ask the actual officers carrying, or do they go with lowest bidder, or is "American-made" an issue? Do dept.'s purchase a large lot of handguns (at a discount)? I would think a dept. would be more worried with return-on-investment than slightly cheaper price or "American-made" status. Sounds to me like a pile of S&W semiautos would require lots of time and money to support/maintain.

The department (Green Bay PD, Wisconsin), seems to be absolutely first rate in their programs, hiring standards, just everything... except possibly for their choice in sidearm. I did find out officers can carry just about anything off-duty if they qualify with it, but on duty will be one of three S&W's.

Thanks again for all of your advice and info...

Stay safe,
Steve

[Kegan30317]

FWIW, I carried the S&W 6906 for years. I liked the weapon. I then switched to the Glock 22. By comparison, I like the Glock much better. I'd go back to the Smith if I had to however.

[kennethm3]

Well, if you take the U.S. Border Patrol as an example of the procurement process it would involve a combination lowest bidder and bribes and kick-backs paid to the procurement officials.