S&W semi-autos

Please rate S&W semi-autos

  • Excellent

    Votes: 11 13.1%

  • Good

    Votes: 27 32.1%

  • Average

    Votes: 10 11.9%

  • Below average

    Votes: 15 17.9%

  • Poor

    Votes: 4 4.8%

  • POS (the worst rating you can give it)

    Votes: 15 17.9%

  • Not sure

    Votes: 2 2.4%
  • Total voters
    84
C

CZ_

New member
I had a lot of problems with S&W semi-autos. Pathetic reliability, terrible trigger, and sub par accuracy being my main complaints. They were all bought WAY BEFORE the agreement, I want to make that clear. Anyway, I am curious what the general consensus is about S&W semi-auto pistols. Please just answer based on your experience, leave the political stuff (such as the agreement) out of this thread.

Based on all the headaches I had with S&W semi-autos, I voted "POS".
 
I've got to say below average...

The ergonomics have, I feel, always been quite "challenged," reliability normally just isn't there, price is, for what you get, horrendous, I've yet to find an S&W semi-auto with a really good trigger...

The only two models that even come remotely close to workable for me are the 3913 and the full-size .45s.

I've felt for years that S&W would do a lot better by concentrating on revolvers.
 
I've felt for years that S&W would do a lot better by concentrating on revolvers.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. I still have kept all of my S&W revolvers, and I love them. It seems to me like S&W is a lot better at making revolvers...I can't explain why though.
 
My 5904 never failed in 1000's of rounds and was very accurate.
I sold it to buy my CZ-75 (best 9mm in the world, BTW). Personally, I think Smith auto's (NOT INCLUDING SIGMA'S!!!!!!) get a bit of a raw deal. Every one I have ever shot has been more than competent.
 
I've owned (among others) a 659, a 3913LS, a 645, a 5906 and a 4006 that were fine guns that shot most everything you fed them and put it pretty much where you were aiming it. Can't ask for too much more than that.
 
I own one. Was issued one.

Those two work(ed) okay. Accuracy is adequate, if not awe-inspiring. I own a 45 DAO something or other (can't remember model numbers) and the issue gun was a double stack 9x19 DAO.

I've never been excited by Smith autos, but dote on their revolvers. (The opposite of Colt; great autos, marginal revolvers.) I suppose part of the reason is I've never liked DA/SA pistols. Personal thing.
 
The only experiences I've had with them aren't very good ones. It's not anything against S&W, I love their revolvers, it's just that I haven't found their semis that accurate. And then there's that weird hammer-drop sound. Freakish!
 
I've only owned 2 to this point. A 5906 that performed as well as any semi-auto that I've owned, and a 39-2 that I just purchased yesterday. I haven't had a chance to shoot the 39 yet, but I really like the looks and feel of it.
 
I gave S&W auto's a poor rating;

but it needs some clarification. The old model 39's, and 39-2's were excellent sidearms.:D
With the introduction of the orginial model 59,
S&W auto's started a downward trend.:( With the
advent of the model 4506, it looked like S&W
might rebound somewhat; but then along came
the nightmarish Sigma's and Chief's Special
(auto's). With the Sigma, S&W was trying to
rival the world famous Glock design; but low
and behold, the Sigma fell out of favor quickly
with shooter's.:) I guess the jury is still out
on the CS's?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.


MOLON LABE!!!
 
POS!!! Just look at the shoddy workmanship of the Smegma:barf: !!!! Even an S&W dealer I went to today said that the Sigma was junk, and he had several in his case!!! Look at the debacle of the NJ State Police, and their SW99's!!! Agreement aside, S&W has not made a decent gun in years!!! Damn shame too. They used to be the best.:rolleyes:
 
I've been very happy with my 5906. It's not as accurate as my Beretta Elite II, but it's as 'combat accurate' as any Glock I've shot (except the 34). It's built well, feels good in my hand, and has always been reliable. I won't trade it away any time soon.
 
I gave it a below average rating. As with guns it general, it comes down to fit and the autos just don't fit me very well. The ones I have fired...4506, 1076, and Sigma 9mm functioned ok, they just felt strange in my hand. Plus, the magazine safety sucks!:barf:
 
Own 2 of them. Never had a problem with them. Reliable. Combat accuracy ok. I´ve said this many times before:

These are combat guns. Not match ones.

Don´t expect to be shooting tight 1 inch. groups.

Let´s be fair!! I don´t like to praise SW more than you do. But we have to admit they make good products (Don´t get political)

As with everything in life. You will find people who love and people who hates. Just a matter of taste.
 
I've had great luck with my 4014 (the blue 4013). Concerning the NJ police lot - is that an anomaly or do the sw99 have problems?

SW revolvers are fantasic - buy a j-frame 357, strap yourself in and shoot some fullpower 125s (Gold Dots). You'll get dizzy and disoriented after the first shot so make sure someone is there to point you in the right direction for followups.
 
I've owned two S&W semiautos -- a Model 59 and the Model 908 I own now. They've both been perfectly reliable right out of the box. I've never had a problem with either of them -- not even so much as a misfeed or a jam.

They're solidly built, and as for accuracy, they're as accurate as any other large-caliber handguns I've used.
 
I've been carying a Tactical 5453 DAO for over a year. So far I've had no malfunctions with several hundred rounds (variety of bullet shapes and weights) Accuracy...it probably shoots better than I do.
 
I completely agree. I still have kept all of my S&W revolvers, and I love them. It seems to me like S&W is a lot better at making revolvers...I can't explain why though.

I agree too for the most part smith auto's suck. Here in ALaska at the academy I saw more 4006's malfuntioning on the line than all the other makes combined and that number trippled.
PAT
 
These are combat guns. Not match ones.

This is true and I expect combat guns to be reliable (smith are not) and to shoot inside 4 inches at least at 25 yards.

Also a pet peeve I hate it when people say the gun shoots better than they can shoot it. Accuracy is a two part deal. One is the shooter the other is the gun. If your capable of shooting 2 inch groups and your gun can shoot 2 inch groups from a rest then your accuracy should be some what larger than 2 inches. You will shoot better no matter how poorly you shoot with a more accurate pistol.
PAT
 
To 355Sigfan...

I have shot around 1000 rounds on my SW9VE (Sigma!!) and no malfunctions yet. It failed a couple of times in the begining but was my fault because of "limp wrists"

I had fired 2.5" groups in rapid fire training with it at 25 yards...


If that is not good for a combat gun, what is? :confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top