S&W 3rd Gen vs M&P Shields

August 23, 2026, 12:29 AM

I’m sort of looking for a new compact .9mm and keep running into the M&P Shields. I want to like them but can’t pull the trigger. I love my 3rd Gen S&Ws.4906, 5906 and 6906 are my favorite guns I own. Smith seems to have lost their mojo after the 3 gens peetered out. At least in my mind. The only Smith I have bought in the last decade was a j frame .38. I want to like them, I just think these new generations are not as good. They don’t feel as good or shoot as well. I’ve switched to buying Sig, and HK instead. I love the old hammer fired ones. The new stuff just doesn’t do it for me. Any others feel the same?

August 23, 2026, 08:15 AM

taco68

Big fan of the shields. I have three and my daily carry is the first model in 9mm. I have smaller hands, so this works well. There is a double stack Shield out now and have not had the chance to handle it yet. I also have a M&P 40sw compact. Although bigger and heavier, I shoot this darn near perfectly. This coming from a guy who owns Glocks, Sigs, and Rugers.

August 23, 2026, 03:33 PM

cslinger

So track down a CS9 or 3913 and go that route.

August 23, 2026, 04:07 PM

MacGyver

The M&P pistols, while excellent, will never be as iconic as the 3rd-generation pistols. Nostalgia plays a factor for sure, but I also think that the 3rd-generation pistols benefit from the overall diversity of their era. Most mainstream pistols today, the M&P included, are Glock clones; this doesn't take anything away from them from a functional/engineering standpoint, but it does make them feel more generic compared to what they replaced.

Notice how that lines up with your newfound appreciation of HK and SIG Sauer pistols; both companies still offer their iconic hammer-fired designs, largely or completely unchanged, despite each company's own Glock clone surpassing them in popularity quite convincingly.

August 23, 2026, 06:01 PM

PCWyoming

Own numerous 3rd Gen Smiths (CS9, 3913, 6946, 4013, 457).
No M&Ps for me.

PC

August 23, 2026, 06:08 PM

j38

I'm a big fan of the CS9. It does what needs to be done for my situation.

Jerry

August 23, 2026, 06:45 PM

Citadel

Have a 4046, 4043, and a papered 5946 ex NYPD gun. We tested the 4046,
226, and Beretta 96 when we went to autos but the 4046 fit my hand like it was made for it. Changed out the curved back strap on the 59 to the flat of the 4046 just because of that. Absolutely solid guns.

August 23, 2026, 08:24 PM

cslinger

quote:
Originally posted by j38:
I'm a big fan of the CS9. It does what needs to be done for my situation.

Jerry

I don’t think a lot of folks realize just how small and light those CS9s were. I was never a Smith auto guy but the 3rd gen had some really good guns.

August 25, 2026, 11:37 PM

Vaftocr

quote:
Originally posted by MacGyver:
The M&P pistols, while excellent, will never be as iconic as the 3rd-generation pistols. Nostalgia plays a factor for sure, but I also think that the 3rd-generation pistols benefit from the overall diversity of their era. Most mainstream pistols today, the M&P included, are Glock clones; this doesn't take anything away from them from a functional/engineering standpoint, but it does make them feel more generic compared to what they replaced.

Notice how that lines up with your newfound appreciation of HK and SIG Sauer pistols; both companies still offer their iconic hammer-fired designs, largely or completely unchanged, despite each company's own Glock clone surpassing them in popularity quite convincingly.

I think this is spot on. I like striker fired guns but I love hammer fired ones. I don’t think it’s all nostalgia but those 3rd Gen S&Ws and the Berettas are just smooth.

August 26, 2026, 02:00 PM

94hokie

I didn't find the 3rd gens until recently but really like my 6906, fits my hand like a glove. I also picked up a 3913 and a 3913TSW, though honestly those are basically S&W versions of my Sig 239's re size and capacity. The only downside is findings mags to keep them fed these days.

August 26, 2026, 03:36 PM

iron chef

Have you considered the CSX-E Series? It's smaller than the Shield and hammer fired.

August 29, 2026, 10:38 AM

220-9er

I carried a first gen Shield for years and still would if not for the 365XL.
They were available for a while at exceptionally low prices ($200ish) and were reliable, accurate and great parts availability.
The XL is a tiny bit better for accuracy in my hands, but the Shield was more than good enough for the expected use.
I still have it for just in case purposes.

August 30, 2026, 04:55 PM

taguin

I have a 1 gen 9mm S&W Shield, pretty accurate for its size, over head cost wasn't too much. Lights every primer so far. The 3rd gen smith autos were finicky in my experience.

August 31, 2026, 11:18 PM

Vaftocr

quote:
Originally posted by iron chef:
Have you considered the CSX-E Series? It's smaller than the Shield and hammer fired.

Interesting gun. I have not actually seen or held one before. I’m going to have to make a point of finding one of these.