I seen a YouTube video today from the Military Arms Channel. Today in the video he said in a passing statement that the Colt Delta Elites and the old S&W 1006 frames would crack under heavy use! I have never heard a negative statement about the 1006. Does this guy have his facts correct?
1006 cracked frames...
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Not as far as I know. It is my understanding that the S&W design is much more substantial than the 1911 and that it will take a LOT more 10mm pounding than the Colt. I have not heard the the Colts cracked, but that they did get beaten up pretty bad. I got this info from a very experienced gun maker.
ReloadforFun
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The Colts would crack the small bar or bridge at the top pf the slide stop window. The bridge was removed and there were no more problems.
The world being what it is, suspect that out of the almost 27,000 examples of the 1006 pistol made and over 50,000 units total for the 10xx series, there must have been a cracked frame SOMEWHERE!
However I'll say that I've been on gun forums for a couple decades... on the old school Prodigy forums before that... feeding a real deal 1006 since early summer 1992 and I simply have not yet even one time heard of a specific example of a cracked 10xx frame.
Has this happened? Probably. Never once have I come across any specifics and this one here sure doesn't sound very specific.
However I'll say that I've been on gun forums for a couple decades... on the old school Prodigy forums before that... feeding a real deal 1006 since early summer 1992 and I simply have not yet even one time heard of a specific example of a cracked 10xx frame.
Has this happened? Probably. Never once have I come across any specifics and this one here sure doesn't sound very specific.
I have not heard of any 10xx receivers cracking, but it could happen. Any metal can crack. The first production run of Colt Delta Elites cracked, but the crack was in the frame rail directly over the hole where the slide stop's tab extends into the magazine well. That is not a serious issue and was solved by machining away that thin section of rail.
Charlie Foxtrott
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I will believe it when I see it.
I have two 1006s they are built like tanks. Just sayin.
I have two 1006s they are built like tanks. Just sayin.
I do wonder if that is urban legend or possibly a one off where either there was a defect in the metal casting or one that was overly abused.
But to say they are "known for cracking" when no one on here has ever heard of it tells me it is an urban legend.
Rosewood
But to say they are "known for cracking" when no one on here has ever heard of it tells me it is an urban legend.
Rosewood
I have heard of this. My Alloy Para Ordnance frame is relieved there (P12-45), but my steel frame ones isn't. In fact, I contacted Para many moons ago asking about the gap and was told it was intentional, but no other explanation. Of the steel ones, I converted one to 10mm and the other 9x25 dillon. Reckon I should relieve those frames there?
Rosewood
ReloadforFun
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I've not heard of the cracked bridge piece causing any problems other than cosmetic. I would likely leave it alone until it cracks and maybe even leave alone then unless it does cause problems, or you don't like the thought or looks if it does crack.
I would go the other direction -- if the pistol is totally good to go with that bridge removed and removing that bridge is exactly the solution for this problem, I would want that bridge OUTTA THERE long, long before it cracks.
If a chunk of metal breaks off inside my pistol, I'm not at all happy.
If a chunk of metal breaks off inside my pistol, I'm not at all happy.
Trooper224
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Tim talks out of his nether regions more often than not. I wouldn't worry about it.
Rock185
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FWIW, since shortly after they were introduced, I have had a half dozen S&W 10mm pistols, to include 1006s, 1026s and 1076s. Beginning with the old Norma 200@1200 FPS load, I've shot them mostly with the more energetic factory ammo, and lots of my equivalent reloads. Still have a S&W 10mm. They all just worked, and nothing ever cracked, broke, bent or crumbled..
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Charlie Foxtrott
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Agreed about the whole third generation line of guns.
They just built those guns super tough. I have never even heard of anyone wearing one out or shooting it loose, much less breaking it. I have a 4566 that I bought new when they first came out. It has about a million rounds through it, still in like new condition.
They just built those guns super tough. I have never even heard of anyone wearing one out or shooting it loose, much less breaking it. I have a 4566 that I bought new when they first came out. It has about a million rounds through it, still in like new condition.
1990 M1006 Torture Test: 10K rounds in 6.5 hours
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Back in April 1990 American Handgunner put 10,000 rounds of Winchester Silvertip thru a 1006 in 6-1/2hrs!
These guys were in a hurry to finish apparently.
They had a handful of malfunctions (some ammo) & some broken parts (ejector, slide safety, trigger play spring (duh!), none of which stopped the gun or had to be replaced before the end of the test.
The barrel reached 430F, & was shot-out at the end, but was still plugging away.
I tried to buy this special Annual issue but found it's out of publication
so hopefully there won't be any grief in posting the article here.
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Back in April 1990 American Handgunner put 10,000 rounds of Winchester Silvertip thru a 1006 in 6-1/2hrs!
These guys were in a hurry to finish apparently.
They had a handful of malfunctions (some ammo) & some broken parts (ejector, slide safety, trigger play spring (duh!), none of which stopped the gun or had to be replaced before the end of the test.
The barrel reached 430F, & was shot-out at the end, but was still plugging away.
I tried to buy this special Annual issue but found it's out of publication
so hopefully there won't be any grief in posting the article here.- do the clicky thing for a larger view -
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That was not a torture test, it was an abuse test and the 1006 performed and absorbed the abuse well. No one is going to fire 10,000 rounds through a 10mm pistol in less than 7 hours. Most would not fire that much in 7 years! Those torture tests make for good reading and can speak to the durability of a firearm. Any firearm that survives such a test is likely to be one that will provide someone a lifetime of good service.
Old Corp
Member
My LE agency's first auto was the M1076 - and we kept it for about 10-11 years.
Of course, like nearly every other agency that issued a 10mm (there weren't all that many), the duty load was the sedate '10 LITE' (180 gr JHP @ ~950 fps)
Other than an occasional malfunction, often shooter-induced, believe you could shoot the '10 LITE' ammo out of one until your hands/arms no longer functioned.
I ended up keeping my 1076 and have run many rounds of 'serious - real 10mm' handloaded ammo through it - nary a bobble...ever.
Of course, like nearly every other agency that issued a 10mm (there weren't all that many), the duty load was the sedate '10 LITE' (180 gr JHP @ ~950 fps)
Other than an occasional malfunction, often shooter-induced, believe you could shoot the '10 LITE' ammo out of one until your hands/arms no longer functioned.
I ended up keeping my 1076 and have run many rounds of 'serious - real 10mm' handloaded ammo through it - nary a bobble...ever.
Walter Rego
Member
I had read that torture test previously and two things really impressed me.
1) The fact that 7000 of the 10,000 Silvertips used in the testing were Winchester factory "seconds" and raise the possibility that some malfunctions may have been ammunition related
2) The broken parts, worn out recoil spring and severely eroded bore didn't put the gun out of action.
Now, some 30+ years since their introduction we aren't regularly hearing about how the 3rd Generation S&W autoloaders, especially those in the powerful 10mm caliber haven't held up. It's a shame that they were discontinued.
1) The fact that 7000 of the 10,000 Silvertips used in the testing were Winchester factory "seconds" and raise the possibility that some malfunctions may have been ammunition related
2) The broken parts, worn out recoil spring and severely eroded bore didn't put the gun out of action.
Now, some 30+ years since their introduction we aren't regularly hearing about how the 3rd Generation S&W autoloaders, especially those in the powerful 10mm caliber haven't held up. It's a shame that they were discontinued.
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