Question on S&W 4006TSW

[Deputy]

Hi All,
Just bought one of these pistols and really like it. VERY heavy duty. However, I have a question. I have been trying to disassemble it and have been having a hard time doing so. The recoil spring on it is extremely stiff. That makes it really hard to hold the slide in the disassembly position to pop out the slide lock. Does anyone know if S&W installed a stiffer-than-normal recoil spring in these guns? I have a new recoil spring ordered from Wolff, but it is the standard (17 pound) weight.
Are there any tips I can get to take off the slide? I read the online manual but that is no help.

Thanks,
Dep

[Ethang]

How are you holding the slide back? Easiest way is to come over the top of the slide near the rear sight with your fingers, while your thumb is under the tang. A squeeze/pinch of your hand retracts the slide and you can hold it pretty well.

[NavyEngineer]

Ethang's method works well for me. You can also push the slide against a surface that won't mar it (like a wooden bench), making sure the barrel can freely protrude, until it is aligned to remove the slide stop. Sometimes the slide stop can be hard to push through, especially with pistols that have not been disassembled often. My arthritic fingers find a delrin punch useful for pushing the slide stop out. Did you pick up one of the former CHP pistols? I love my CHP 4006TSW!

DPMS AR-15 Takedown Pin Punch Delrin

[Sevens]

Ethang’s post and method is pure magic for folks who have never done it or didn’t know they could. The leverage that you get with this method can be a game-changer.

It does occur to me that it is difficult to describe this well with the written word, or perhaps I just find it difficult to comprehend when it is written. In the spirit of that, here is a picture that might help:

Sincere apologies that it is a Glock in the photo, YUCK, but it is what I could find quickly. Held in this manner, you have a fantastic grip on the pistol and squeezing as if you were trying to make a fist draws the slide back a bit more.

[mbliss57]

The answer to your question on springs.. they are very stiff. I also find mine hard to hold steady for any period of time. But it only takes a few seconds to get the slide pin out and then you are home free. Once you have done it a few times it becomes pretty routine.

[Ethang]

Originally Posted by Sevens

Ethang’s post and method is pure magic for folks who have never done it or didn’t know they could. The leverage that you get with this method can be a game-changer.

It does occur to me that it is difficult to describe this well with the written word, or perhaps I just find it difficult to comprehend when it is written. In the spirit of that, here is a picture that might help:

Sincere apologies that it is a Glock in the photo, YUCK, but it is what I could find quickly. Held in this manner, you have a fantastic grip on the pistol and squeezing as if you were trying to make a fist draws the slide back a bit more.

thank you for posting that pic. I was not somewhere at the time I could take one or search for it.

Ethan

[Steve912]

Originally Posted by Deputy

Hi All,
The recoil spring on it is extremely stiff. That makes it really hard to hold the slide in the disassembly position to pop out the slide lock.
Are there any tips I can get to take off the slide? I read the online manual but that is no help.

Just to be on the safe side--you know you don't pull the S&W
slides as far back, as, say, a 1911, yah?

Just till the little notch in slide is even with cross pin
head of the slide stop (the first time me and a
buddy were trying to take down an S&W auto, we were
trying to push the tip of slide stop, out of the notch in
the slide. "Gee, this thing is really hard to take down!!"


There is a spring-loaded detent inside frame, pressing into
a notch in the cross pin. That detent can make it tough to
start the slide stop moving. You may need to use handle of
small screwdriver, bullet tip, etc to get it past the detent.

Once you get it apart, check the scoop in slide stop cross
pin for burrs or roughness, that might catch the detent tip.

[4T5GUY]

Yep some if not most with new and or stout springs are difficult.

Like “Sevens” there’s no way to describe how I do it so I’ve also added a picture. I’m right handed and use my left to hold the slide back. I wedge my middle finger over the barrel in front of the slide using my ring finger to support and add leverage. My thumb is inside the trigger guard adding more support. I’m sure I’m not the only who does it this way.

Even with the very stiff springs I can comfortably hold everything in position untill I push the slide stop out, (or keep taking pictures till one is good,) with an old but handy used up pen.

Jim

[Deputy]

Thanks a ton guys!!!! ALL the replies were excellent. I added a couple of pics of the gun. Yes, it's a former CHP gun I bought off Gunbroker. I am 71 years old, so my hands don't have the strength I used to have. And I've been mainly taking apart 1911 pistols, which is VERY easy, since you can release the tension on the spring before you take it apart. I will try out the suggested methods and let ya'll know if I have any luck. Worst case scenario, I will wrap the slide in cardboard and clamp it in a vise and then slide the grip until I can get it to the correct takedown position.

Thanks again,
Dep

[NavyEngineer]

That's a nice one!

[Jeppo]

When confronted by a stubborn slide stop, I use a wooden chop stick.

[Deputy]

Okay...I got the slide off. Now please don't laugh (too loud). I was trying to line up the wrong part of the slide stop!!! Once I figured this out I was easily able to disassemble by hand. Anyway, thanks for all the help. Really appreciate it. Now I have to figure out how I am going to pay the Biden NFA tax on the gun, 6 mags, and the zillion other semi-auto guns and mags I own.

[Steve912]

Yuppers, that's what I figured (having done the same, me self!).