10 mm advice please

[tincansailor]

All my smiths are wheelguns and I now want a 10mm semi auto. I prefer a full size and all steel model. No DAO, so my choices are the 1006 and 1026, correct?

Have no idea what a realistic price is on these. Nobody at my gun club has one, so would appreciate some first hand knowledge. Strong and weak points? I reload so ammo shouldn't be a problem. Also cast my bullets and wonder if they would function OK?

I have followed some threads on the FBI model and the reliability of that model was thoroughly hashed out.

Is the 1026 is more collectible (more $) than the 1006?

Going to a gunshow shortly and don't want to get ripped off. So what to look for when you handle one?

And, please, what kind of price is fair?

Thanks.

[sar4937]

There is a 1076, with a frame mounted decocker. A 1006 is a good choice though, you should be able to find one around $500 but get magazines. There is a 610 wheelgun that shoots .40 & 10mm.

[Mack]

S&W made 3,135 1026's and 26,978 1006's so it will be a mite harder to find a 1026. FYI they made 13,805 of the 1076 so that and the 1006 are the most common. You can still get new mags for around $35.

m.

[sar4937]

Prices will vary, you might check back through the classifieds to see what the asking prices were and how much response the ad got. Since at gun shows you normally can't disassemble a gun, I would look at the general amount of wear, especially at the barrel hood where the slide moves back and forth. The last one I bought was a late 1006 with combat sights. I paid $475, with two mags. It had one very minor scratch that was barely noticeable, and had not been shot much. The SCSW will give you descriptions of the models if you have one. Prices given are usually a bit low in my area, but most sellers have not shot their guns much due to the cost of the ammo and $500 will pickup a nice one. Not all 1076's are FBI guns, so don't pay extra unless there is a letter stating such. Gun show sellers will usually try to convince you theirs is rare, and an FBI gun.

[oldRoger]

I have both a 1006 and 1076. The difference other than the side mount decocker is ¾” in barrel length. There also is a 1066 which has the shorter barrel but is otherwise the same as the 1006. Many of the 1006 models which I see have adjustable sights, handy if you plan reloading and distance shooting.
For reasons hard to explain, I find the 1076 to be handier, certainly easier to conceal. When I pick up my 1006 which I have had for many years, it feels big. My 1076 and 4566 (same size) seem to me as though they are exactly the right size.
You can not go wrong with either model, I have never heard of anyone wearing one out and they are very, very reliable.
Most of the 1006s that I see at the shows look as though they were not shot much and have more handling wear than anything. Ammunition has never been cheap and I think lots of people got on the band wagon and decided it wasn’t for them.
Similar to the .44 Magnums which are around with the original box of ammunition purchased with the gun, missing 6 to 18 rounds.

[Bear-1]

I have a 1076, its one of my favorite Pistols, George.

[milky7272]

I traded my glock 29 for a 1006 a couple of weeks ago. Best decision I ever made. Gun is super acurate and a pleasure to shoot.

[ColbyBruce]

I got myself a #1076 a few weeks ago because I have little self control. I should of priced ammo first. The recoil is heavy and I may never master it, but what I do not hit will eventually die of third degree burns.

Can anyone recommend a good belt holster for the #1076?

[dacoontz]

I have a 1076 and just picked up a 1086. All the 10 mm stainless S&W's are going to be heavy so just keep that in mind. The 1086 is double action only and has no safety lever so it is very handy to holster or carry if you don't mind the weight and size. The 1076 has the frame mounted decocker to facilitate holstering and carrying. Either way I don't think you can go wrong. I bought my 1076 for $550 and my 1086 for $500, both were well priced and thus why I bought them. Good luck.

Daniel #2322

[jcjacobvt]

Gunbroker.com Some are a little high. $650. to $750. would be a fair price.

160265252 is buy it now for $600.
160659521 is buy it now for $900.
160616648 is buy it now for $889.
160534248 is buy it now for $875.

[AKAOV1MAN]

I have a 1026 and a 1076, both with the Sig type decockers. The 26 fits the same holsters as my 4506, and the 76 fits the holsters for my 4566. Which is logical as they are pretty much the same except foir caliber and decocking system.
These guns are some of the most rugged handguns I have ever handled-just like the 45s. You are probably never going to wear one out, just replace recoil springs once in a while.
The 10mm is a really hot cartridge and it may be the only auto round that will serve for large animal defense. I use the heavy bullet hard cast load from Double Tap, and it is realy impressive. Great penetration, and serious recoil, but you have more rounds on tap than a wheelgun, and single action accuracy after round one.
I would not hesitate to use them (or my 610) for anything I would use a larger caliber for.
The 10mm seems to have the same spot in autos that the .41 magnum has in wheelguns, a specialized high velocity, high pressure round suitable for most any handgun purpose-but with limited appeal due to recoil and noise.

[Kanewpadle]

If it doesn't have to be a S&W, the EAA Witness is a good gun also. Even better is the CZ/Dan Wesson line of 10MM's They have been discontinued but can still be found.

[Model39]

If you want to feel a little 1980's Miami Vice flavor you could get one of these 10MM autos (not "every" gun I own is a Smith&Wesson), There is a new Bren Ten coming out in May of this year, made buy Vltor, which supposedly ironed out all the Dornaus and Dixon problems.

[Mortech]

You can't go wrong with a S&W 10MM , like others have said they are some of the most rugged 10MM built . AS for price range I was able to find both of mine in the $500 - 550 range . As for reloading I've started reloading for mine but I haven't used any cast bullets since I like shoting faster loads . There are several good powders you could use like HS-6 which is fine for praactice loads and meters fine , my favorite powder is 800-X which I use for heavy loads and SD loads . Also AA9 and Vihtavuori N350 have been suggested as good powders to use by several more experienced reloaders .

[oldRoger]

I should add that I have a Kimber SS Elite Target in 10mm. This is your basic 1911 clone in 10mm. It is fun to shoot, but I think a diet of full power 10MM ammunition is going to batter it to pieces. The various 1911 clones in 10MM do not have a good reputation for longevity. Some suggest shooting reduced power loads, but I don’t see the reason for doing so and don’t.
The 3rd generation Smiths however have a well deserved rep for never wearing out or failing.

[tincansailor]

Yesterday I picked up a 1006 at a local show. Looked all morning and finally found one, dirty but prolly very little use. $500 with one mag. Two hours of careful cleaning and it's a beauty <grin>.

Still more advice requested and thanks for all your previous efforts.

I am going with previous advice and getting new springs from Wolff. I will roll my own and be shooting hard cast bullets at full power (but not "pushing the envelope"). What springs and what power should they be?

If you could recommend a good powder and load for a 175 gr lead bullet thanks.

If you could recommend a source for extra magazines, thanks.

If you could recommend how to care for stainless steel, thanks. (I have a lot of guns, all blued and they all have a light coat of oil - as does the 1006. I really don't know how to care for stainless steel).

Midway and Graf are out of 10mm brass. Any ideas?

I realize I am going to the well - a lot - with all the questions but I can tell you that I DO appreciate the advice.

Thanks, again, in advance for the help.

[oldRoger]

For new brass try Starline,
Watch the Forum Classifieds for mags, you will see them there eventually, I might also suggest posting a wanted to buy there for both brass and mags.
If you want you can oil your SS, I personally use Renaissance Wax on the exterior of mine.
I like Slide-Glide on the rails and barrel contact areas.
If you post your reloading question in the Reloading section you will see more replies.

For the 175 gr lead I used 8.0 grs AA5.
Mostly I use 200gr lead bullets my last 175s are long gone.

10mm shooters usually become brass whores, ruins my day when I come back from the range with brass missing. I did find a 10mm case once, but it had been Glocked.

[DLaw]

Originally Posted by Mortech

You can't go wrong with a S&W 10MM , like others have said they are some of the most rugged 10MM built . AS for price range I was able to find both of mine in the $500 - 550 range . As for reloading I've started reloading for mine but I haven't used any cast bullets since I like shoting faster loads . There are several good powders you could use like HS-6 which is fine for praactice loads and meters fine , my favorite powder is 800-X which I use for heavy loads and SD loads . Also AA9 and Vihtavuori N350 have been suggested as good powders to use by several more experienced reloaders .

I need a 1066 to go along with my 1006..

[chainsawmike]

I need a 1026 to go with my 1076.

[perrazi]

with your 175 gr bullet, i use 5.5 of 231,but that is a light load. check out the hodgdon website for loading info. the new auto comp powder should work well. i have some but not shot it as of yet. just barely getting over winter here.

[681ismyfavorite]

Originally Posted by milky7272

I traded my glock 29 for a 1006 a couple of weeks ago. Best decision I ever made. Gun is super acurate and a pleasure to shoot.

im in the deciding stage right now for my next 10mm and those are the two i was considering.

what made you pick the smith over the glock?

[curioushooter]

I got myself a #1076 a few weeks ago because I have little self control. I should of priced ammo first. The recoil is heavy and I may never master it, but what I do not hit will eventually die of third degree burns.

Can anyone recommend a good belt holster for the #1076?

I needed patience too, three years of patience to be exact.

Reloading can cure some of the ills of high 10mm prices. The way I look at it, double-tapping with a 9mm delivers just a tad more energy to the target than one 10mm. I suspect that one good shot is better than two poor shots, too.

DeSantis makes a nice paddle holster (Viper) for the 1076 and they make a nylon inside the waistband one with a mag pouch (Pro Stealth), too. I've heard the Bianchi nylon holsters do not fit well.

My reasons for a Smith over a Glock (you may or may not agree):

I like the heft, balance and durability of stainless over the massless, top-heavy, flimsyness of polymer.

I like my brass supported by as much steel as possible. Smiths (and Tanfoglios) have much better support than the smiley-faced brass ejecting Glock. The S&W 610 has the best support, and doesn't throw your brass all over the place. I am fairly confident that if a case did fail that the stainless S&W would contain the gases better than the polymer Glock. It could be the difference between a hand that is bloody and working and a hand that is a stump. I could be wrong about this; I wonder if anybody has tested these pistols to failure and actually compared?

I like single stack magazines. The 10mm is too long for a double stacked magazine in my medium sized hands. I also believe that slimness is the most important feature for conceal-ability. The 1076 is slimmer than the Glock.

I don't like spongey Glock triggers, and I don't like the fact that they do not fit into the (power)crease of my trigger-finger. I like to be able to hammer back if I want a light trigger and de-cock if I don't.

I don't like the fact that polygonal rifling seems to foul worse than traditional rifling with lead bullets (at least for some people).

I am not a fan of their minimal slide guidance. The Tanfoglios, with the full length slide rails, are the best in this regard, but at least the Smiths have more guidance than the Glocks.

I have never found any breech-locker without a barrel bushing that has the accuracy of one that does. Apparently the bushingless designs are good, they win competitions, but I have never been able to get what I want out the bushingless designs, so I stick with what works for me.

[681ismyfavorite]

i shot my G20 a few more times then put money down on a G29. there is just something about the way Glocks handle the 10mm that makes it seem easy to shoot.

[curioushooter]

i shot my G20 a few more times then put money down on a G29. there is just something about the way Glocks handle the 10mm that makes it seem easy to shoot.

I've heard this from some people and I think it is cause of the more sharply raked and wider grip and relatively low bore axis, but I found the G20 I tried to be very difficult to control, especially if the magazine was less than half full.

G29s are so little. Lots of power in a little package. I wonder why people go out and get .380s when they can get a G29.

[don12]

10 mm, Dales Guns (937-833-0383) has both a 1006 and a 1066.