Compare Hi Power and S&W6906 for CCW

Cossack · November 13, 2015, 02:36 AM

I've been looking at S&W autos, particularly the 39-2 and 3913. While shopping online, I keep running across the 6906. I had previously dismissed it because it is a double-stack, but folks like them and there are still some Ex-Police guns to be found for cheap (not for much longer, I suspect). I also like that the 6906 has a curved backstrap, which I normally prefer over a flat backstrap, such as seen on the 3913.

I currently have and love and carry a BHP on occasions when I have an extra layer to cover it. It would be hard to justify the purchase of a 6906 (other than because they're cool...but If I bought every cool gun out there I'd be in a real situation!) unless it met a need that isn't met by my current 9mm - and the main need I have is to find a gun that I can carry on occasions when I wouldn't carry the BHP because of its bulk.

I know and understand the differences between their safeties and action mechanisms, and can weigh that for myself. What I'm wondering about is if the 6906 offers any advantages over the Hi-Power in terms of concealment - is the size and weight difference big enough to make the 6906 feasable as a carry gun in situations when I might leave the BHP behind as too bulky? Or is it too close in size, and should I skip it and go for the 3913?

I'm aware there are dozens of other small guns that would also work, and I've been looking at them. For now I'm most curious about he metal-frame S&Ws.

Deaf Smith · November 13, 2015, 04:04 AM

With the shorter barrel and lighter weight the 6906 should be easier to carry, especially if you sit down often. And as long as standard grips are used the thickness of the guns are about the same.

I've owned both and for CCW I'd go with the 6906.

Deaf

JDBerg · November 13, 2015, 08:35 AM

I have my BHP which is one of my favorite guns, but I've never really considered it a carry gun, although a lot of people carry BHP's & they work out fine. I also recently picked up a beautiful S&W 659 for $300.00, fantastic shooting gun, just like I remember. I really think its one of best gun deals I've ever come across. A 6906 at a good price is almost a must have, but if you want perhaps a better CC pistol, look for a 3913, smaller, single-stack 8 rds. vs. double-stack 12 rds., but thinner & conceals better. The 3913 tends to be at the high price end for used 3rd Gen Smith's, but S&W has produced all that they are going to produce. So if you start digging for one online and at your LGS's, and you have cash in hand, you can find one at a reasonable price.

Bartholomew Roberts · November 13, 2015, 09:05 AM

Well, the 6906 is probably going to be easier to carry; but as someone who has carried a BHP in shorts and a tshirt*, I can tell you that a good belt and holster will make the BHP tough to beat for concealed carry. I use a Milt Sparks Versa-Max 2 with a matching belt (1.25" and 1.5") and it is a great solution. I've even carried a BHP in office attire using the tuckable clips (though you sacrifice some comfort for tat and tucking everything back in after a trip to the bathroom is pretty involved).

Add some slim grips (Spegel, Navridex) and the grip width on the BHP drops to just over an inch, which puts it in the neighborhood of some single-stacks (and pretty darn close to the 3913 grip width).

*It is very concealable; but not super comfortable since the cocked hammer is against your bare skin when carried in Condition 1 in a Versa-Max 2 holster. Being in relatively good shape without a lot of side fat makes this much more tolerable.

Whirlwind06 · November 13, 2015, 10:53 AM

I think finding a good carry holster for the 6906 might be the biggest challenge. I would hope that most holster makers have the mold for the it, but I don't know.

James K · November 13, 2015, 01:01 PM

Both guns are service size, meant for holster carry. Barrel length is not much of a factor in concealed carry since the barrel is generally pointing down and the difference between 4, 5, or even 6 inches is not important. Bulk of the grip is more of a problem, but both the guns have bulky grips and there is no way to really correct that except go to a single stack magazine.

IMHO, neither pistol is a good choice for concealed carry, but that is a matter of preference.

Jim

WVsig · November 13, 2015, 01:06 PM

I carry BHP all the time. In a good IWB holster it can hide under a T shirt.

Metalboy · November 13, 2015, 01:10 PM

I think the BHP is a medium size, but kind of skinny, to me it's easy to hide.

Quentin2 · November 13, 2015, 04:00 PM

I have a Hi Power and 6906 and have to agree with James K, they're not ideal for a CCW. I'm glad I have them, both have earned their place in the wonder9 hall of fame. But look at other options, even the Glock 26. For single stack, the S&W Shield or Ruger LC9S Pro are ideal and low priced.

Bill DeShivs · November 13, 2015, 04:04 PM

Owning both, my opinion is that there is not enough advantage to justify purchase of the 6906.

dgludwig · November 13, 2015, 06:34 PM

I like the lighter weight of the Model 6906 with its alloy frame but I especially am partial to the extreme reliability typically found in Third Generation Smith pistols. The Model 6906 is one of my favorite guns to use for concealed carry but it is not the best choice for use as a "pocket" pistol and will require employing a good holster and belt for most people.

roashooter · November 13, 2015, 06:42 PM

The BHP points so well...that it is WORTH the effort to carry as a ccw......and thats what I do.....

Big Shrek · November 13, 2015, 07:12 PM

I'm with dgludwig, those 3rd Gen S&W semi-autos are very well built

Also a nice hand-me-down pistol, & one you wouldn't mind giving the wife for her protection.

Bud's has 3rd Gen S&W's on sale regularly...
somehow they manage to get boatloads...then do a big sale

Bartholomew Roberts · November 13, 2015, 07:26 PM

Regarding grip size, the Hi-Power is about 1.4" wide with the blocky stock wood grips, about 1.25" with the modern factory plastic thumbrest grips, and around 1.1" with Spegels or Navridex (which puts it within a few tenths of an inch of the single stack 3913 in terms of grip size).

YungGunz · November 13, 2015, 09:07 PM

Hello folks. This is my first post here so I just wanted to say hello and offer my $0.02.

I'm 6'3 170 lbs so i'm a slim fellow. I CCW a BHP with an OWB holster with no problem at 4 o'clock. I am using a De Santis "pancake" and cover it easily with a long shirt or better yet with a vest. The climate here (northern VA) allows for easy cover for more than 6 months of the year and the BHP is so flat it's easy to do. The other months I just wear a short sleeve polo or buttom up over a tee and it's fine.

I have some custom Blackwood grips which bring them down to just under 1.25". It's the gun I shoot the best so the one I prefer to carry even though it's slighly larger than many "carry" pistols.

I can't imagine what the 6906 has to offer for CCW better than what you have.

Deaf Smith · November 13, 2015, 11:25 PM

S&W 6906:
Barrel Length: 3 1/2 "
Overall length: 6 6/8"
grip thickness of about 1.26"
Unloaded weight of 26.5 ounces
Fully loaded with 147gr Federal HST's it weights 32 oz

P-35
Barrel Length 4.63 in
Overall Length 7.75 in.
grip thickness around 1.20" (some grips are thin, others thick.)
Unloaded weight around 32 oz.
Fully loaded weight around 39 oz.

Take your pick.

Deaf

oldscot3 · November 15, 2015, 08:33 PM

I carried my BHP for years before deciding the safety was just too unreliable for condition one carry. When new it was rather stiff but completely secure. Later, it loosened up to the degree that inadvertantly brushing it would switch it off. Twice I removed it from my holster to find it unengaged. I suppose a trip to a smith could restore it's original engagement stifffness but it scared me and there's no redundancy like other SAOs.

I still own it and enjoy shooting it but won't carry it with a round chambered. My primary is now a DA/SA carried hammer down or my Kahr DAO when something smaller is needed.

November 13, 2015, 02:36 AM	#1
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	Compare Hi Power and S&W6906 for CCW I've been looking at S&W autos, particularly the 39-2 and 3913. While shopping online, I keep running across the 6906. I had previously dismissed it because it is a double-stack, but folks like them and there are still some Ex-Police guns to be found for cheap (not for much longer, I suspect). I also like that the 6906 has a curved backstrap, which I normally prefer over a flat backstrap, such as seen on the 3913. I currently have and love and carry a BHP on occasions when I have an extra layer to cover it. It would be hard to justify the purchase of a 6906 (other than because they're cool...but If I bought every cool gun out there I'd be in a real situation!) unless it met a need that isn't met by my current 9mm - and the main need I have is to find a gun that I can carry on occasions when I wouldn't carry the BHP because of its bulk. I know and understand the differences between their safeties and action mechanisms, and can weigh that for myself. What I'm wondering about is if the 6906 offers any advantages over the Hi-Power in terms of concealment - is the size and weight difference big enough to make the 6906 feasable as a carry gun in situations when I might leave the BHP behind as too bulky? Or is it too close in size, and should I skip it and go for the 3913? I'm aware there are dozens of other small guns that would also work, and I've been looking at them. For now I'm most curious about he metal-frame S&Ws.

November 13, 2015, 04:04 AM	#2
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	With the shorter barrel and lighter weight the 6906 should be easier to carry, especially if you sit down often. And as long as standard grips are used the thickness of the guns are about the same. I've owned both and for CCW I'd go with the 6906. Deaf __________________ “To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides

November 13, 2015, 08:35 AM	#3
JDBerg Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2015 Location: PA Posts: 1,835	I have my BHP which is one of my favorite guns, but I've never really considered it a carry gun, although a lot of people carry BHP's & they work out fine. I also recently picked up a beautiful S&W 659 for $300.00, fantastic shooting gun, just like I remember. I really think its one of best gun deals I've ever come across. A 6906 at a good price is almost a must have, but if you want perhaps a better CC pistol, look for a 3913, smaller, single-stack 8 rds. vs. double-stack 12 rds., but thinner & conceals better. The 3913 tends to be at the high price end for used 3rd Gen Smith's, but S&W has produced all that they are going to produce. So if you start digging for one online and at your LGS's, and you have cash in hand, you can find one at a reasonable price. __________________ Words to Live By: Before You Pray - Believe; Before You Speak - Listen; Before You Spend - Earn; Before You Write - Think; Before You Quit - Try; Before You Die - Live Last edited by JDBerg; November 13, 2015 at 08:46 AM.

November 13, 2015, 01:06 PM	#7
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: NC Posts: 5,309	I carry BHP all the time. In a good IWB holster it can hide under a T shirt. __________________ -The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

November 13, 2015, 01:10 PM	#8
Metalboy Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2014 Location: SE. Wisconsin. Posts: 327	I think the BHP is a medium size, but kind of skinny, to me it's easy to hide. __________________ Hungarian by birth, American by choice. I don't collect guns.They just accumulate themselves.

November 13, 2015, 09:05 AM	#4
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Well, the 6906 is probably going to be easier to carry; but as someone who has carried a BHP in shorts and a tshirt, I can tell you that a good belt and holster will make the BHP tough to beat for concealed carry. I use a Milt Sparks Versa-Max 2 with a matching belt (1.25" and 1.5") and it is a great solution. I've even carried a BHP in office attire using the tuckable clips (though you sacrifice some comfort for tat and tucking everything back in after a trip to the bathroom is pretty involved). Add some slim grips (Spegel, Navridex) and the grip width on the BHP drops to just over an inch, which puts it in the neighborhood of some single-stacks (and pretty darn close to the 3913 grip width). It is very concealable; but not super comfortable since the cocked hammer is against your bare skin when carried in Condition 1 in a Versa-Max 2 holster. Being in relatively good shape without a lot of side fat makes this much more tolerable.

November 13, 2015, 10:53 AM	#5
Whirlwind06 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 998	I think finding a good carry holster for the 6906 might be the biggest challenge. I would hope that most holster makers have the mold for the it, but I don't know.

November 13, 2015, 01:01 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Both guns are service size, meant for holster carry. Barrel length is not much of a factor in concealed carry since the barrel is generally pointing down and the difference between 4, 5, or even 6 inches is not important. Bulk of the grip is more of a problem, but both the guns have bulky grips and there is no way to really correct that except go to a single stack magazine. IMHO, neither pistol is a good choice for concealed carry, but that is a matter of preference. Jim

November 13, 2015, 04:00 PM	#9
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	I have a Hi Power and 6906 and have to agree with James K, they're not ideal for a CCW. I'm glad I have them, both have earned their place in the wonder9 hall of fame. But look at other options, even the Glock 26. For single stack, the S&W Shield or Ruger LC9S Pro are ideal and low priced.

November 13, 2015, 04:04 PM	#10
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Owning both, my opinion is that there is not enough advantage to justify purchase of the 6906. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 13, 2015, 06:34 PM	#11
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	I like the lighter weight of the Model 6906 with its alloy frame but I especially am partial to the extreme reliability typically found in Third Generation Smith pistols. The Model 6906 is one of my favorite guns to use for concealed carry but it is not the best choice for use as a "pocket" pistol and will require employing a good holster and belt for most people. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

November 13, 2015, 06:42 PM	#12
roashooter Junior member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Posts: 508	The BHP points so well...that it is WORTH the effort to carry as a ccw......and thats what I do.....

November 13, 2015, 07:12 PM	#13
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 1,358	I'm with dgludwig, those 3rd Gen S&W semi-autos are very well built Also a nice hand-me-down pistol, & one you wouldn't mind giving the wife for her protection. Bud's has 3rd Gen S&W's on sale regularly... somehow they manage to get boatloads...then do a big sale __________________ Marlin Specialist Calico Specialist A gun should be a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool. Last edited by Big Shrek; November 13, 2015 at 07:28 PM.

November 13, 2015, 07:26 PM	#14
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Regarding grip size, the Hi-Power is about 1.4" wide with the blocky stock wood grips, about 1.25" with the modern factory plastic thumbrest grips, and around 1.1" with Spegels or Navridex (which puts it within a few tenths of an inch of the single stack 3913 in terms of grip size).

November 13, 2015, 09:07 PM	#15
YungGunz Member Join Date: November 13, 2015 Posts: 27	Hello folks. This is my first post here so I just wanted to say hello and offer my $0.02. I'm 6'3 170 lbs so i'm a slim fellow. I CCW a BHP with an OWB holster with no problem at 4 o'clock. I am using a De Santis "pancake" and cover it easily with a long shirt or better yet with a vest. The climate here (northern VA) allows for easy cover for more than 6 months of the year and the BHP is so flat it's easy to do. The other months I just wear a short sleeve polo or buttom up over a tee and it's fine. I have some custom Blackwood grips which bring them down to just under 1.25". It's the gun I shoot the best so the one I prefer to carry even though it's slighly larger than many "carry" pistols. I can't imagine what the 6906 has to offer for CCW better than what you have. Last edited by YungGunz; November 13, 2015 at 09:15 PM.

November 13, 2015, 11:25 PM	#16
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	S&W 6906: Barrel Length: 3 1/2 " Overall length: 6 6/8" grip thickness of about 1.26" Unloaded weight of 26.5 ounces Fully loaded with 147gr Federal HST's it weights 32 oz P-35 Barrel Length 4.63 in Overall Length 7.75 in. grip thickness around 1.20" (some grips are thin, others thick.) Unloaded weight around 32 oz. Fully loaded weight around 39 oz. Take your pick. Deaf __________________ “To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides

November 15, 2015, 08:33 PM	#17
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	I carried my BHP for years before deciding the safety was just too unreliable for condition one carry. When new it was rather stiff but completely secure. Later, it loosened up to the degree that inadvertantly brushing it would switch it off. Twice I removed it from my holster to find it unengaged. I suppose a trip to a smith could restore it's original engagement stifffness but it scared me and there's no redundancy like other SAOs. I still own it and enjoy shooting it but won't carry it with a round chambered. My primary is now a DA/SA carried hammer down or my Kahr DAO when something smaller is needed.