Just got my new(to me) S&W 1066 10mm.Was hoping for some advice/info from this model owners/shooters.I am not new to the 10mm(also have a S&W 610,and a Witness Elite Match),but I am new to the S&W 3rd Generation auto 10mm.Thanks

Just got my new(to me) S&W 1066 10mm.Was hoping for some advice/info from this model owners/shooters.I am not new to the 10mm(also have a S&W 610,and a Witness Elite Match),but I am new to the S&W 3rd Generation auto 10mm.Thanks

Great gun, what do you want to know?

Should I put in new Wolff springs(recoil and mag)as a matter of course right away?
Are all mfr 10mm loadings okay?I really like Double Tap for defense loads,or maybe Silvertips.
Any special cleaning/lube/maintenance tips that seem to work especially well on this model?

If you think you must replace the recoil or magazine springs, just order them from the parts department at S&W. Clean it the same way you would any other S&W 3rd Gen Auto. Any 10mm ammo within SAAMI spec will work. I am not familiar with "double tap," and in my opinion the SilverTips are too hot for effective self-defense, if you are talking about the 175 grain one that goes about 1100 or 1200 or so.

I prefer the FBI load for self-defense. It consists of a 180 or 190 grain JHP at around 975 fps. They may be a little hard to find, but you can surely find something in that neighborhood. Some people like the blistering loads like the 135 Cor-Bon that goes around 1400 fps. Again, difficult for follow-up shots, but no question it is effective for self-defense.

If you're using the FBI load wouldn't it be more practical to get a .40S&W pistol?

Your M-1066 is a solid, heavy pistol. I find the W-W Silvertips in 10mm Auto to be powerful yet controllable using a good Weaver (recoil management is one of the Weaver's advantages) and if I carried a 10 mm for protection, from 2 legged predators or 4, that is what i would load it with.

DMattB is right about the lighter, less potent "FBI 10" loads, which propel the same bullets at the same velocities as the .40 S&W. A .40 pistol would be more compact, probably lighter and hold more rounds than your 10mm Smith.

Many state and local cops fondly refer to agents of the FBI by using the agency's initials as an anacronym, calling them "the FeeBees." The FBI 10mm loads are often thus called, "the Feeb 10," "the 10mm Lite" and, my favorite, "the 10mm Minus-P."

The 10mm Auto is a great cartridge and your M-1066 is a fine handgun to shoot it from.

I use the wolff 22 lb recoil spring in 1066/1076. Worked fine with Doubletap level ammo and 40s&w level loads. I like the 165GR gold dots from DT. Nice penetration and expansion.

I use a Wolff 20# recoil spring in my 1076 and Wolff 10% extra power magazines spirngs (the Wolff mag springs for the S&W 10mm fit great). I also use the latest (white) magazine followers. The pistol functions perfectly. I don't use any really hot loads. Mostly reloads with a 180 FMJ in the 1,000 to 1,100 fps range.

__________________
1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70

The heavier recoil and mag springs are a good idea. I like to shoot these with real 10mm loads, not the "lite" ones. The heavy springs are especially good with true 10mm loads. The full
powered loads are superior to .357 Magnum in comparable barrel lengths. We chronographed these back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with a Coonan Arms .357 auto for comparision....Of course.40 S&W level loads are fine for target shooting but you are missing
something if you never shoot full power 10 in that big, heavy pistol.....

Thanks for the input guys.I plan on carrying with either Hornady 180xtps(~1200fps),or DT 180SGDs(~1250fps).
I read that S&W used the 17lb as std factory recoil spring.I had planned on using a Wolf 18 or 20,and Wolff 5% or 10% xtp mag springs.
I really have no intention of using "lite" loads(except for cheaper range runs).

One thing I have found with my 1076 is that at 50yds, it is dead on and very easy to hit what you are shooting at. I was blasting small broken pieces of clay pigeons on the range backstop with it

S&W 10MM are 'THE' pistol designed rom the ground up to handle a steady diet of full power 10MM ammo , most of us prefer going with Wolff heavy duty springs if your going to feed it a steady diet of such ammo . Otherwise factory replacement springs aren't a bad idea .

__________________
39-2,59,3913,M&P40
1006,1066

I also own a 1066. Does yours shoot low??
I know several who own 1006's 1066 and 76's that all shot 4 to 6 inches low at 20 yards with the factory fixed sights.
I just dropped a PSI adjustable sight on mine to correct this issue.
Otherwise it has grouped well just not exactly when I pointed it!
I am a BIG fan of the 10mm round and have owned Glocks chambered for the round for many years.
My son once owned a 1076 so I have been infatuated with these pistols for a while now. I have owned the 1066 for a couple months now and am still getting it tweaked like I want it.
I run mostly full power loads in my 10's with the Underwood 165 grain Gold dots at 1400 FPS my choice for carry ammo.

I have been working up handloads for my new-to-me 1076. Until I reached full power loads, it also seemed to shoot low at 7 to 25 yards. At near max loads (180gr FMJ at ~1250fps -- haven't chrono'd them) using Longshot, they're right on. I've been wondering about mild vs full power loads and fixed sights. I haven't had a lot of extra time for the range, lately, so it's going slow. I'm about ready to move on to the box of 180 gr Golden Sabre sitting on my reloading bench.

It's similar to what I've experienced with my 629 MG and going from .44 spl to full power magnum loads. Except there I have adjustable sights.

Mine was shooting low with full power loads and so was my buddies 1006 over on the 10mm board. we both went to the PSI adjustable sights to correct the issue.
Both of ours were hitting 4 to 6 inches under the point of aim at 20 yards running Underwood.
Mine was consistent in shooting low with everything from the wimpy 900 FPS 180 grain Priv to the screaming 1400FPS Underwood 165 Gold Dots I use as my normal carry round in both the Smith and my Glock 29. It did move up an inch or so running the Underwood with the hot stuff but still not to the real POA.
Might want to take a hard look at the PSI adjustable sight (http://www.precisionsalesintl.com/Product/tr68sw.html) I just installed on my 1066 for your 76. It looks great on the pistol seems well made and is a rather low profile to help if you actually carry one of these.

Yeah, if that's ALL you ever intend to shoot...

But the beauty of the 1006-series is its triple-level versatility.

You can: 1) fire light loads to minimize wear, 2) pick a mid to zippy load for standard carry -- and 3) have screaming, max level Double Taps, Texas Ammo, Underwoods or Buffalo Bore for hunting or hiking in the bear woods.

Plus, 10mms perform on all tiers at lower pressure levels than .40s because of the increased case length and sturdier case construction.

Recoil impulse on a 1006 with stiff springs -- with the heaviest load -- is way, way, way below .357 or .44 mag levels -- with very little torque. But you have true mid to warm level .41 mag performance.

Even with hot loads, I've always been shocked at how fast follow up shots have been with a 1006 -- much faster than with even a Glock 20. Follow-up shots with the 1006 shooting Winchester Silvertips are almost as fast as standard .45 1911s -- not quite, but almost -- without much muzzle flip or rise...

It's surprising how light the recoil on 1006s is...I've never shot anything yet that even approaches "unpleasant". But remember, I've got Hogue grips on all my 10s and 45s -- and won't shoot any of them without Hogues...

Plus, the ballastics on the 10mm Silvertip are EXACTLY the same as the .41 mag Silvertip.

And the Winchester 10mm Silvertip is considered by many -- including me -- as among the very best all around 10mm carry loads. In a 1006 with Hogues, it's not particularly stiff recoiling...

My 10mm Silvertips regularly have expanded to .81 caliber in wet newsprint -- which is pretty impresssive.

My first two 10mms -- a 1006 and a 1086 -- all shot remarkably to point with standard Novak sights.

In fact, they did it almost identically -- out to 40-50 yards -- with all loads I tried.

The groups almost looked as if they came from the same gun.

How that could be, I still don't know...as it doesn't seem possible.

But it happened again and again -- everytime I shot the guns...The impression it left was that Smith had nearly perfectly sighted the guns from the factory -- with a very wide range of loads.

For a number of years, all the Novak-sighted 10mm Smiths I shot printed pretty close to the same point for me...

It was one of the factors that led to my high regard for Smith 10s...

To me, it was an utterly amazing achievement on Smiths' part...

From the experiences I have had with several of these (1006,1066, and a 1076)they all have shot 4 to 6 inches low at 20 yards with the factory fixed sights. My Glock 29 on the other hand came out of the box dead on the POA.
The 1066 I now own has the potential to shoot rings around the Glock and = my trusty Browning High Power now with the adjustable sight. It just didn't shoot to POA out of the box as has any one of these I have personally had experience with. All have grouped well at 4 to 6 inches under POA.
Not doubting you man but it's just not what I have seen in the real world with these.
if you have one that shoots to POA great if not take a look at the PSI sights.

My guess, if you're shooting 4-6 inches low, would be that you're using a "6 o'clock" sight picture.

From my experience, that does shoot low.

I cover the dead center, X-ring of the target with the front sight.

Believe me, if a gun -- ANY gun -- shoots like cr@p, it would be right out front with me -- no hedging or soft-pedaling...

Of course, if Smiths shot like cr@p, I wouldn't be on this site extolling their virtues...

What my experience has been with 1006 and 1086 sights is straight up true.

Sorry yours diverges...

My experience has been that Smith 10s might be some of the most inherently accurate service pistols out there.

The regional Smith sales manager, from some years back, said he believed the 10mm was -- innately -- the most accurate round he'd ever fired...

My range time supports him...

Thinking those adjustable sights are made by LPA. Good sights BTW.

Nope not a 6 oclock hold but covering the center with the front sight and then aligning the 3 dots. All 3 of these ( my sons 1076 my 1066 and a friends 1006) that I have shot with the factory fixed Novacks were the same way 3 to 6 inches low at 20.
We saw the same issue with a couple of my buddies over on the 10mm forum who had these S&w 3rd gen 10's with fixed sights.
My 10mm Glocks however were dead on the POA out of the box. The Smiths will out group them but consistently off the mark low if the front sight was covering the center of the bull until adjustable sights were added.

Yep they are indeed LPA's. I also notice you are in Birmingham BTW.

I have to wonder whether you ran into a batch that might have had the wrong height of front sight installed...

Or it's possible, over the years, the ammo specs of the loads you were using changed from the time the Smiths were sighted in -- and the time you shot them.

The Glocks are still in production -- and had the chance to conpensate on their guns for changes in commercial loads...

Smith, being out of production, didn't...

Nice sights, but adjustables are not for everybody...

I wonder the same thing as the windage was dead on on all 3 They just consistently shot low and all 3 right about the same amount. Wish i had the SN on the other 2 as it would have told us when they all were produced. The wrong height front sight would definitely create this issue.
One thing that is a little odd is all 3 did have factory night sights.

I noticed this was an older thread that was resurrected...But I use the 20lb and 22lb in the 4.25" 10xx Series guns and the 22lb in the 5" 10xx Series guns mainly to control the slide velocity. The 24lb is a tough spring rate and makes racking the slide more difficult, but works with the extreme impulse ammo.

Those interested in more 10mm firearms discussion and other enthusiast sharing their interest may wish to drop by the 10mmFireArms Site; 10mm-firearms.com - Index