Pistol Smith Wesson 5906 PPC !

With all due respect to S&W, this was not their finest hour. Started out as a very good concept with 5906 mags & frame. Unfortunately, their barrels wore out quick, and their 50 yard performance degraded quickly.
Holding the X ring at 50 yards was impossible, and many of these guns went back to S&W for new barrels & re-tightening. Factory FMJ's or hard cast lead improved groups little.
Most owners sold them and went to something else...
 
hatman1793 said:
With all due respect to S&W, this was not their finest hour. Started out as a very good concept with 5906 mags & frame. Unfortunately, their barrels wore out quick, and their 50 yard performance degraded quickly.
Holding the X ring at 50 yards was impossible, and many of these guns went back to S&W for new barrels & re-tightening. Factory FMJ's or hard cast lead improved groups little.
Most owners sold them and went to something else...
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Curious as to what your source is on that. First or second hand? I haven't seen much info on them other than some favourable reviews, or that they were frequently used by winners of PPC matches at one point. I wasn't dialled into the PPC community though when these were in use so I really have no direct knowledge.
 
gdawg said:
Curious as to what your source is on that. First or second hand? I haven't seen much info on them other than some favourable reviews, or that they were frequently used by winners of PPC matches at one point. I wasn't dialled into the PPC community though when these were in use so I really have no direct knowledge.
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Still a highly desirable, accurate and expensive PPC gun. I know several owners and they sure won't part with them!
 
Talked to original owners/purchasers. First hand knowledge. They sure are pretty, but....what I said.
Most top PPC auto shooters do not use them. I have seen STI TargetMaster's, STI Rangemaster's, SIG X5&6's, some high end custom 1911's & Colt Goldcups. S&W 952's might be a better choice.
There are better, cheaper, accurate autos than the S&W PPC gun. These guns have an undeserved reputation.
 
Wow, have you ever owned a PPC9? I do and have been using it for years to great success. Last match I went to in Washington State had numerous guys using PPC 9's. I think you are seeing many other guns used in PPC because S&W doesn't make th PPC9 anymore. Are there better guns today? Sig X6? Maybe but with hand loaded ammo my PPC 9 is an amazing shooter and will hold the X ring at 50 meters if held well. The 952 is just the single stack version of the PPC 9. I'd love to pick up one of those too!.

Rich
 
You just have me worried about barrel life now! A few guys I know have had them a very long time but I don't know what their round count is. I'm going to ask around now.

Rich
 
Well, I currently own both a 6" with adj rear sight, and a 5" with fixed. I've got thousands of rounds through them both, and they still both Ransom better than my Bob Jones wheel gun (which is a tight shooter as well).

I've owned a couple other Performance Center PPC guns, and they were all fantastic.

And there are a lot of guys still on the PPC circuit that still shoot the S&W guns, including at Albuquerque.

This story of having to send the guns back to S&W is the first I've heard. Not holding tight at 50, might just be the jerk on the trigger issue. The guns are outstanding.

The 5" guns may be easier to find now, as the NRA screwed things a bit by changing the rules, (again) by allowing 6" guns in the Dist Auto event, thereby eliminating the need for a 5" with the 3 pos Aristocrat rear sight. I know a lot of guys who still use the 5" guns and still shoot consistent mid 590's for the Dist event.
 
hatman1793 said:
Good for you Rich & your success. In my neighbourhood, southern Ontario, there are scare if not seen at all.
Perhaps you might consider moving my way. Always happy to include like-minded PPC shooters like yourself.
Besides I would like to see your act. Perhaps I can learn a new technique.....
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No, he has to learn to shoot a real gun first.

Wheel guns, are real guns.
 
hatman1793 said:
Talked to original owners/purchasers. First hand knowledge. They sure are pretty, but....what I said.
Most top PPC auto shooters do not use them. I have seen STI TargetMaster's, STI Rangemaster's, SIG X5&6's, some high end custom 1911's & Colt Goldcups. S&W 952's might be a better choice.
There are better, cheaper, accurate autos than the S&W PPC gun. These guns have an undeserved reputation.
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Have to say Hatman I find your comments a little on the hard to believe side. Never heard of this barrel issue before and neither has anyone else I have talked to. Sold mine earlier this year as I do not shoot PPC or Bullseye. Most accurate gun I have ever shot. Watched better shooters than me put up some sick clover leaf holes at 25 and 50 with it. Sure, others will shoot better with other pistols (ergonomics, personal choice, etc.) but stating there is a plethora of better, cheaper, more accurate auto's out there is quite a stretch. Me thinks you are basing your comments on one person who got a lemon or something not up to par with the other PPC's out there. I will eat crow if you can find a chat board or thread that backs up your claims to numerous faulty PPC's.
 
koldt said:
No, he has to learn to shoot a real gun first.

Wheel guns, are real guns.
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Wheel guns real guns that are antiquated and obsolete. I love my wheel gun but a Semi kicks its ass anyday of the week.

Real Gun.. Bah.. Blunderbuss that's a real gun..
 
I've been making a few more inquiries on some other boards, and no one has any story of a PPC9 barrel or gun needing to be returned to S&W. I am sure, with simple numbers, that one may have had to go back, however none of the other boards, or guys in the "circuit" are reporting anything going back.

I'm leaning towards the "jerk on the trigger" issue rather than "many of these guns went back".

Reports back from the Nevada Police Games this last week indicate there are still many PPC9 pistols doing very well.
 
koldt said:
I've been making a few more inquiries on some other boards, and no one has any story of a PPC9 barrel or gun needing to be returned to S&W. I am sure, with simple numbers, that one may have had to go back, however none of the other boards, or guys in the "circuit" are reporting anything going back.

I'm leaning towards the "jerk on the trigger" issue rather than "many of these guns went back".

Reports back from the Nevada Police Games this last week indicate there are still many PPC9 pistols doing very well.
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I've reached out to a few guys as well that have competed with / owned PPCs in the past. They have not heard of any issues either.
 
I've now gun board "conversed" with a guy who sent his gun to Smith & Wesson as the front Briley type bushing was worn. That bushing is nitrite (sp) coated and had a new one fitted to his barrel after 15,000 - 20,000 rounds.

Apparently mechanical parts wear. Who knew????

So I guess I did find one that needed work.
 
Last one I've seen on EE a couple years ago went for $3200. That is probably still a fair price. Maybe more if in truly excellent condition. As with all the expensive niche guns though, that could easily be +/- $500 depending on buyer / seller factors (i.e., active looking, motivated selling, timing...)
 
I sold a pair of 952-2's about a year and a half ago, basically the single stack equivalent of the PPC9. The 5" went for just under $3500 and the 6" went for north of $4500. Both were in very good condition with a few extra mags. It was also right after the Gunbroker insanity on 952's. The PPC's I've seen for sale normally go for slightly less, but the rarity of transactions makes it hard to gauge.
 
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