I posted this basic question over on 10mm Talk, titled "S&W 1006 no longer supported/repaired", asking if it would be a mistake to start using my 1006 lots more, in light of the dwindling supply of parts for 3rd Gen pistols. I don't want to abuse it but if regular use would risk irreparable harm, perhaps it would be better to sell it. I do love 10mm, but training for and shooting USPSA matches means lots of missing brass. There are no .40 S&W conversion barrels available, and no one at 10mm Talk thought picking up a 5906 or 4006 for same battery of arms type training had much merit. Again there would be the parts issue, if I went that route.
There has been advice on other 10mm pistols to obtain, primarily 1911 variants, and the possibility of dropping 10mm for .45ACP. Lord knows there would not be any parts shortage.

Any thoughts before I send my 1006 to a new home?

My thoughts are, if you don't shoot it, you might as well not have it. I bought mine 1993. Put two or three boxes through it and then it sat in a closet for 25 years. I guess it was a combination of the high price of ammo, and not really being impressed with the ammo available.

Now that some manufacturers are making full power loads, and I can actually afford the ammo, it's time to have some fun with it. The 1006 is a very strong pistol. Odds are you will get many thousands of rounds through it before something breaks.

You could sell it and buy a Glock 20. You wouldn't have to be concerned about repair parts anymore. But, then you wouldn't have a 1006.

Welcome to the forum!

In answer to your question, I pose another: How deep are your pockets?
Serious competition is tantamount to abuse on any piece of equipment and as you certainly know, will bring about premature failures. While there is still a fairly large number of replacement 1000 series pistols and parts in the marketplace, I'm afraid their prices have gotten a bit steep.
On the other hand, the 9mm and 40 s&w platforms and their associated parts seem to be in almost limitless supply at relatively low prices.
But I think you already know the answer to your question.

John

Thank you for the quick responses.
First of all a correction; I posted on '10mm Firearms' not '10mm Talk'.
I am not a serious competitor, but it is a great stress reflex test, and lots of fun. My pocket depth ain't deep.. I'd likely sell the 1006 to finance another 10mm or .45. 5906's are within the realm of possibility and retain the 1006, if below $450 or so. 4006's are more pricey, so maybe.

I bought a 10 to shoot 10, not .40.

Just sayin'...

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an actual conservative

franzas, I bought a 10 to shoot as well, in 1991, but then the cartridge flatlined, and real world obligations eat up my time. When I Can get away to shoot, I haven't had time to reload, so... I guess the 1006 is going up for sale and no need for any other 3rd gen pistols. Thanks for your input.

You could pick up either a 4006 or 5906 for under $450 online these days, all said and done. I think either one would be a good choice for your needs, but there's plenty of new production guns out there too.

Shoot your gun and worry about parts if it ever breaks..

Someone would buy it broken if you chose to sell then.

I have several 3rd generation .45 pistols. The 3rd generation gun I actually use most is the model 63 revolver.

Please explain how this pertains to the OP..

franzas - you sent me a personal message, but my (read; my wife's) computer blocked it. Not inclined to wake her up; long day.
Just came back from the range with the 1006; 10mm is too good to walk away from. So I will either find a 4006 or sell the 1006 and get a 1911 with 10mm and 40 barrels, Probably a Rock Island. Sootch00 likes 'em.

Has that red triangle with the exclamation mark always been there in the corner? Did I do something wrong or offensive?

Nope, it's just there like the "Quote" or "Like" buttons, in case someone else THINKS you done wrong. No worries. Welcome to the forum! Shoot the hooey out'a that 1006, it can take it. I've got a 1076 that I will never part with, and shooting it is the reason I bought it! Don't be skeeered!

Let's say you put 5000rds through it a year at .50 cents a round (for easy math and about 10mm prices today online.) that's $2500 or easily twice (and a little extra) what a 1006 cost and I'm sure it would last 10 times that many full power rounds.

Don't know how much that helps, but if you're like me your wallet will brake before the pistol does.

Edit: Granted if you are just using mostly for competition a 9mm or .45 if you need to make a higher power factor seems to make more sense ammo cost wise.

I have been thinking of getting a 1006, but for hunting. I think it's too much pistol for self defense usage.

Now I would suggest getting a 4006, you get 11+1 rounds and the same bullet.
You can then set up to reload and you don't have to have different bullets and such, it's all basically the same.

First off, I LOVE the 1911.
BUT, I'd much rather have either a 3rd gen Smith or a Star Megastar or even an EAA Witness 10mm than a 1911 10mm.

I'd also rather slam my wiener in a sliding glass door than to trade/sell any of the above guns for a Glock.

I think you're going to have a hard time breaking a 1006.
Much like breaking a Ruger Redhawk (I haven't managed to in over 20 years).

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I shot the 1006 the other night ($38 /50 American Eagle), and I can't walk away from the 10mm. Training for that initial D/A pull is the worst hurdle(after expense). There is a gun show in town tomorrow, last of the three day run but the first chance I'll get to attend. I'll look for 5906 and /or 4006, and see how they feel in hand. It's been years since I've handled one, and they are a thicker, shorter (front to back) grip. I already reload for a 9mm XDm, although in a 5906 I'd expect the muzzle flip to be minimal. 40 cal may be snappier.

A friend of mine has a S&W ?411?, sort of a 'value priced' model with less frame milling and a single safety lever. On of those would serve as well. He's a Colt 1911 and Barreta 92/96 guy, but admits the Smith is his CC gun, and likes it a lot.

If you are looking to more closely mimic the grip feel of the 1006, might I suggest a 3rd gen .45?
Grips are interchangeable and while the 5 inch 4506 models have become rather pricey of late, over the past couple of years some agencies have been selling off their 4566TSW models.
Not as cheap as 5906 or even 4006 but the same as 1006 in the grip.

John

4506at gunbroker is as $$$ as a 1006

That's what I said. 4506 is a 5 inch barrel like the 1006 and almost as expensive.
The 4566 is a "commander" length barrel (4 1/4 inch) with the same size frame as 1006/4506.
The 4566TSW models are ending their service life with some agencies and can often be found for $500 or less.
Same grip size and feel. Same manual of arms.
Much cheaper training/practice ammo.

John

I have a 1006 and a 1076 and love them both, they are literally a blast to shoot. The longer you keep your 1006 the more it will be worth no matter how much you shoot it.

Having said that, my 411 in .40 is my preferred carry gun. It's a nice balance between size, weight, and capacity. It's the gun I'd want in hand if things ever got serious.

I have a Shorty Forty that's a prized possession. It's smaller, lighter, and more accurate, but to valuable for general carry. The thought of it in an evidence locker is abhorrent to me so I don't carry it much. The same goes for my 10mm's.

For deeper concealment I have 3 9mm's to choose from. A 3913NL and a 3914LS as well as a CS9, with the latter a bit more comfortable in AISW carry.

For absolute comfort and most concealability my 340PD wins hands down. I can even carry it in an ankle holster all day without a problem. Especially nice when I need a tucked in shirt with no outer garment during Summer carry.

How hard do I shoot my 3rd get Smiths? As much as I want to, I figure they will outlast me. As for competition if I were into that (I'm not) I'd try to find a Performance Center 5906 in single action with the Briley bushing and pour thousands of rounds through it without a second thought.

Digiroc

As far as I can tell at this time I'm just going to keep the 1006. I went to a gun show this past weekend a found a S&W 457 @$500 and a Bluegun 5906 at a holster seller's table. No joy there. I ordered more Starline brass yesterday, and Wolffe spring packs. So do I replace every spring that comes in the kit? What bullet weight/velocity do you guys feel honors the 10mm power and still preserves the pistol? Primarily I've been shooting 155gr/1260fps(like Hornady xtp ammunition) for the range and the Double Tap 230gr hc lead for back country. I've not tried to down load for barely 'making major' in USPSA. A guy should know what his defensive load feels like long before a critical situation. I guess these two loads would have 'power factors' of 195 and 256, respectively. I've actually shot about 60 rds of the Double Tap, and don't plan for a steady diet of them.

Get more 10s and that way you spread out your heavy shooting over several guns. If one breaks, you have back ups until you get it fixed.

I don't feel this way about all guns, but my 3rd gens, yes.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I don't understand this statement. If you sell it you don't have it, if you do irreparable harm you don't have it but at least you got to enjoy it before it broke

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Retired Career Security Guard

In response to rwsmith and smoke;
There is a finite amount of money available at this time of my life; I can not go into it without ... a $500 trainer is probably more than I can spend, so if I want to shoot 10mm, lots, and the 1006 is at risk, I must either sell what I have to purchase another gun or risk shooting what I have until it breaks and sell it for scrap. How valuable is a broken gun? How many of you feel a Rock Island Armory 1911 is a qualitative match for a 1006? If I want a similar # of magazines,holster and different grips and all of the other expenses that well up like you've bought the tip of an iceberg, it would really need to be purchased from the sale of the Smith. Kimber doesn't seem to be the value they once were. Sig's are great, but on a budget..no. Witness..how's the customer service? RIA's reputation isn't stellar either, but scuttlebutt says they've made improvements. It may take a couple of trips back for servicing.. so if you're patient... Do I want my firearms out of my possession after November?

Sounds like this one is not for you and I agree, sell it and move on.

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USS ZELLARS
DD-777

Ever since member BMCM bead blasted and worked his magic on the internals of my 5906 I have only taken it out to shoot once. It looks and shoots like a brand new gun and I want to keep it that way.
It sure is a great "How much will you take for it?" conversation piece every time I take it with me to shoot any of my other firearms.

I have 4 10 mm autos, a 1006,1066, 1013 (converted 4013) and a Sig P220 sa/da > I doubt I wear any of them out. I read an old magazine review of the 1006 where they fired 10,000 rounds through a 1006, they came closer to wearing out shooters than the did the Smith.
After seeing few 1006 s on GB they seem to be coming out of hiding, as many as 6-8 at any one time. Granted some are priced in the stratosphere but I have seen some in the $800 range, compare this to the price of a current all steel gun of the same quality.

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Jim in Iowa

bgrone-
[in the $800 range, compare this to the price of a current all steel gun of the same quality.]

Please, tell me what current, all steel gun in 10mm that is; no snark intended. The RIA can be had for $700.{ How many of you feel a Rock Island Armory 1911 is a qualitative match for a 1006?}

My local gun dealer,(who is not impressed with RIA but does like Glock, which I do not. Most of the guns he sells are out of my price range. Like LWRC AR15's. I'm content with a S&W M&P15.) evaluated my 1006 with adjustable sights at 90%+, combined with 7 or 8 magazines (one seems to have been misplaced), 4 sets of grips, custom leather holster made for this very pistol, assorted magazine springs, base plates, recoil springs and as noted above Wolffe spring kits would be fairly priced at $1000 to $1100.
{How valuable is a broken gun?}
Sell it and add $300 and I can get a Sig with 2 magazines. Add $240 to bring the magazine count to 8. Maybe $75 for a mass produced big name holster? They do feel very similar at the gun counter and I'm sure the quality is at least equal.

With all due respect I am not able to collect a bevy of 10mm pistols, some of which are conversation pieces. I want to shoot the one gun I can afford at this time. Please do not make me pour out the reason that I can't plunk out $1600 for a new gun. And I honestly could think of other things to do with $1600. Yep, I said it. (Oops! This could get me kicked off the forum.)

So,back to my quest to keep this pistol.
Again I ask for recommended loads, and which springs to change out. I found a disassemble/assemble manual for the 5906 series a while back ( by ?Radiocity?) that seems to cover it pretty well. Photographs with each step, start at the back to re-assemble. Are there any spare parts I should hoard against the day they're needed, or do I work my way through Numrich parts list as money comes available, getting one of each? What's reasonable?

I agree!

I have the 5903, 4566 and a billboard 1911 among others and I still shoot them as much as ever, however, I do load a little lighter now because of the lack of 3rd generation parts. If I own them, I shoot them. I believe the 3rd gens are in a class all their own.