S&W's less well off "3913" the 908

ev239 · November 1st, 2009, 04:20 PM

I had the opportunity to pick up a 908 for a steal of a price so I jumped on it. I previously owned the second gen S&W 469, but had traded it off. My father in law got the 457, the 45acp version of this "Value Series", last spring for a great deal at a gun show (yeah, I know how often does that happen?).

Anyways, for $220 that included a total of 3 mags not to mention a less than desirable nylon holster, I picked up my first 3rd gen S&W auto. I'm a little thrilled that it's covered under S&W's lifetime warranty (from what I understand all 3G's are). It's a very slim gun! Slimmer than my Sig P239 and lighter as well. It's not quite as thin as my Kahr, but not many guns are. I still need to give it a good cleaning as it's barrel looks like it may have been a little neglected. It's definitely not a looker, but as a working gun it sure looks the part. Not as nicely finished as the 3913 and containing a few *gasp* plastic parts, the 908's still has a good feel. This week I'm planning on taking it to the range to give it a little workout and see how well it operates. If all goes well, it will then move into the rotation.

Pictures...of course...

My view is, if you can find a pistol in a fighting caliber from a name brand maker for under $250 that works then it's a good value. Any blemishes to the finish are marks of character.

jeffsmith · November 1st, 2009, 04:34 PM

Nice Find
I have the 3914
I think you are going to like it even more once you fire it

ripley16 · November 1st, 2009, 04:52 PM

That was indeed a "steal". The 908, while not my favorite 9mm compact, has a very nice trigger, has a competent, solid feel to it, has proven very reliable and is a very nice size for concealment. My only regret is not getting the stainless model.

Nice find. Enjoy your newly stolen 908.

pirate · November 1st, 2009, 07:57 PM

That's a nice pickup, great job......give us a range report ASAP!

B1NKS · November 1st, 2009, 09:05 PM

I like the traditional compact Smith & Wesson pistols, though I haven't seen many people carrying them since the 90s. A good friend of mine carried a 908 on the job for a few years before retiring, and was very satisfied with the 908.

My favorite things about the 908 are its concealability, snag-free edges, double-action trigger, and ergonomics.

jwhite75 · November 1st, 2009, 09:09 PM

I have shot both the 908 and 457...very nice pickup.

PastorPack · November 1st, 2009, 09:59 PM

Hey that's a great find.

The blemishes just mean that you don't have to obsess about the first one.

dhshark · November 2nd, 2009, 01:26 AM

That is a deal and at that price I would have bought it too. Have fun with it.

Shark

ev239 · November 2nd, 2009, 02:17 PM

***Range Report!!!***

Ok, just got back from my lunchtime range after running the 908 through the paces. I put a little over 100 rounds through it with a few hp's to check feeding. I came away liking it very much. I brought my Sig along to compare triggers and sights. I'm a big fan of the "dot the i" as with three dot sights I tend to miss the middle dot when quickly acquiring the target. The 908 lines up very instinctively so I didn't have too much of a problem with it when doing double taps. Accuracy was similar to my Sig. I'm no master marksman so both of these weapons are more accurate than I am. I can easily do head shots at 10 yards so take that for what it's worth.

The trigger is pretty smooth and very different than my previous 469 primarily in DA. Mostly because the 469 employed a half cock notch which you could feel as you pulled through DA. Compared to the Sig trigger it feels a tad lighter and just a hair less smooth, though it is a shorter pull than the Sig.

Overall, I'm very satisfied and think I got much more than my money's worth.

Thumper · November 2nd, 2009, 04:08 PM

Nice addition! I'm thinking that'll get a lot of use too!

November 1st, 2009, 04:20 PM	#1
ev239 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 375	S&W's less well off "3913" the 908 I had the opportunity to pick up a 908 for a steal of a price so I jumped on it. I previously owned the second gen S&W 469, but had traded it off. My father in law got the 457, the 45acp version of this "Value Series", last spring for a great deal at a gun show (yeah, I know how often does that happen?). Anyways, for $220 that included a total of 3 mags not to mention a less than desirable nylon holster, I picked up my first 3rd gen S&W auto. I'm a little thrilled that it's covered under S&W's lifetime warranty (from what I understand all 3G's are). It's a very slim gun! Slimmer than my Sig P239 and lighter as well. It's not quite as thin as my Kahr, but not many guns are. I still need to give it a good cleaning as it's barrel looks like it may have been a little neglected. It's definitely not a looker, but as a working gun it sure looks the part. Not as nicely finished as the 3913 and containing a few gasp plastic parts, the 908's still has a good feel. This week I'm planning on taking it to the range to give it a little workout and see how well it operates. If all goes well, it will then move into the rotation. Pictures...of course... My view is, if you can find a pistol in a fighting caliber from a name brand maker for under $250 that works then it's a good value. Any blemishes to the finish are marks of character. __________________ Mine: S&W 908.....Wife's: Ruger SP101 3" ------Kahr PM9...............Sig P239 (it's her's now) ------Norinco 213...........Charter Arms Undercover Hidden Defense - Personal gun & holster designs/reviews.

November 1st, 2009, 07:57 PM	#4
pirate Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Eastern NC / Pirate Country Posts: 624	That's a nice pickup, great job......give us a range report ASAP! __________________ When I leave the home port: S&W 642 Airweight, Ruger SP 101, Colt Detective Spec., CZ RAMI, Springfield XD 9mm, Kahr PM9, Kahr CW40, S&W Model 10-7, Glock 19, Glock 26, Browning Hi Power, CZ82, Colt Commander

November 1st, 2009, 09:05 PM	#5
B1NKS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Santee, California Posts: 52	I like the traditional compact Smith & Wesson pistols, though I haven't seen many people carrying them since the 90s. A good friend of mine carried a 908 on the job for a few years before retiring, and was very satisfied with the 908. My favorite things about the 908 are its concealability, snag-free edges, double-action trigger, and ergonomics. __________________ 9mm Walther P5 Compact .380 and .32 Interarms Walther PPK/S .380 and .32 Interarms Walther PPK

November 1st, 2009, 09:09 PM	#6
jwhite75 VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,306	I have shot both the 908 and 457...very nice pickup. __________________ Friends don't let friends be MALL NINJAS. "May God have mercy on my enemies...because I won't." -Gen. George S. Patton.

November 1st, 2009, 09:59 PM	#7
PastorPack Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,124	Hey that's a great find. The blemishes just mean that you don't have to obsess about the first one. __________________ God is love (1 John 4:8)

November 1st, 2009, 04:34 PM	#2
jeffsmith Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: FL Posts: 59	Nice Find I have the 3914 I think you are going to like it even more once you fire it

November 1st, 2009, 04:52 PM	#3
ripley16 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Quantico area, Virginia Posts: 665	That was indeed a "steal". The 908, while not my favorite 9mm compact, has a very nice trigger, has a competent, solid feel to it, has proven very reliable and is a very nice size for concealment. My only regret is not getting the stainless model. Nice find. Enjoy your newly stolen 908.

November 2nd, 2009, 01:26 AM	#8
dhshark Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 61	That is a deal and at that price I would have bought it too. Have fun with it. Shark

November 2nd, 2009, 02:17 PM	#9
ev239 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 375	*Range Report!!!* Ok, just got back from my lunchtime range after running the 908 through the paces. I put a little over 100 rounds through it with a few hp's to check feeding. I came away liking it very much. I brought my Sig along to compare triggers and sights. I'm a big fan of the "dot the i" as with three dot sights I tend to miss the middle dot when quickly acquiring the target. The 908 lines up very instinctively so I didn't have too much of a problem with it when doing double taps. Accuracy was similar to my Sig. I'm no master marksman so both of these weapons are more accurate than I am. I can easily do head shots at 10 yards so take that for what it's worth. The trigger is pretty smooth and very different than my previous 469 primarily in DA. Mostly because the 469 employed a half cock notch which you could feel as you pulled through DA. Compared to the Sig trigger it feels a tad lighter and just a hair less smooth, though it is a shorter pull than the Sig. Overall, I'm very satisfied and think I got much more than my money's worth. __________________ Mine: S&W 908.....Wife's: Ruger SP101 3" ------Kahr PM9...............Sig P239 (it's her's now) ------Norinco 213...........Charter Arms Undercover Hidden Defense - Personal gun & holster designs/reviews.

November 2nd, 2009, 04:08 PM	#10
Thumper VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nevada Posts: 5,590	Nice addition! I'm thinking that'll get a lot of use too! __________________ USMC 1968-1971 ALWAYS carry! - NEVER tell! *"Don't go to stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things!"*

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