I'm looking into buying a S&W in 10mm. I like the 1006 but they're not easy to come by. I've found more 1066, 1076 & 1086.
Is there a major difference in quality/reliability?

Main difference is the action type. The 1076 has a decock lever like a Sig. I l like the 1076 myself. There is not really any difference in reliability. Just your preference in action type.

It appears to me the 1006 and 1066 are identical except the 1066 is slightly shorter in length and has a bobbed hammer.

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A real sucker for the J-frames

I believe there was also a 1026 with the frame mounted decocker like the 1076, but with a 5" barrel. I think the barrel on the 1076 is a 1/2" or so shorter.

I like the 1076 best.. frame mounted decocker. 4 1/4" instead of 5 and it has the FBI mystique.
The 1006 is a great long range beast at 5" The 1086 is my home defense gun. DAO so I have control of each shot.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I've been curious about the 10mm 3rd Gens for awile now. What
are they like to shoot, say, compared to a 4616-1?

Don't forget about the 1086. DAO w/4.5" Barrel.

Class III

Edit: My mistake. The 1086 has a 4.25" Barrel.

S&W 1006- 5.00" barrel, slide mounted safety/decocker traditional double action
S&W 1066- 4.25" barrel, slide mounted safety/decocker traditional double action
The hammer on the 1006 has the full tang, the 1066 is bobbed.
The 1006 and 1066 do have the slide mounted decocker/safety on both sides of the slide. Safety/Decocker if placed in safe mode allows the hammer to be dropped safely to the blocking bar so it can not hit the firing pin. With the Safety/Decocker in fire mode, pulling the trigger will cock and fire the pistol. The pistol can be carried with the Safety/Decocker in the fire position with the hammer un-cocked and the trigger will cock the hammer and fire the pistol Double Action. After the gun is fired, it is fully recocked and the gun is fired single action till empty or decocked. You can carry the pistol cocked, with the Safety/Decocker in fire position, then the "ONLY SAFETY IS THE TRIGGER" Single Action! Some models can be fired without the magazine present if the magazine disconnect is removed.

NOTE for comparison
S&W 1026- 5.00" barrel, frame mounted decocker traditional double action
S&W 1076- 4.25" barrel, frame mounted decocker traditional double action
These can be decocked by pushing down on the frame mounted decocking lever, the hammer is dropped to a half or partially cocked position and pulling the trigger will cock and fire the pistol. After the gun is fired it is fully recocked and the gun is fired single action till empty or decocked. The hammer when dry fired will be all the way down but pulling the trigger will cock and fire the gun. Some models can be fired without the magazine present if the magazine disconnect is removed. FBI models worked this way..

S&W 1046- 5.00" barrel double action only,
S&W 1086- 4.25" barrel double action only, this pistol has to be partially cocked to be able to double action. By that I mean when you rack the slide to chamber a round the hammer remains partially cocked, there is NO DECOCKING FEATURE! Also the 1086 if you have a failure to fire you can not cock the hammer by squeezing the trigger a second time to fire. No Second Strike Capability. You would have to eject the round or move the slide rearward some to re-set the action to have the trigger cock the double action hammer again. Some models can be fired without the magazine present if the magazine disconnect is removed. Notice the tang looks smaller because the slide is longer in the rear, to cover the cocked hammer therefore the tang/beaver tail of the 1046/1086 looks shorter than the 1006/1066, 1026/1076.

1006 is a joy to shoot not much felt recoil,and when empty its hefty enough to use as a club

Nice write-up Shadow1006.

Sorry, but for safeties sake do NOT carry a 1006 cocked with the safety off. This is NOT cocked and locked!!!!

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US Veteran 1970-1974

Tenn2, I don't advise to carry it that way either...however it can be carried cocked, but it is not locked, I was supposed to remove the locked part of that! Thanks for the reminder!
Edited the original post also to reflect this change!

I like my 1006 a lot. I had to settle for the adjustable rear sights, because I bought it used, and like Bronxhunter had to take what I could find. But, it is a fun gun to shoot and a substantial round for carry. A 1006 with fixed sights would be perfect.

Get any of them that you can find and you can afford. Like land, they aren't making any more.

I have a 1006 with adjustable sights. My FIL has a 1076 with fixed sights. Both are great guns. If shooting full power 10mm, the 1006 gets the nod. Even with the full size and weight, a real 10mm is a handful.

yeah the recoil takes some getting use to and get back on target fast is not easy. It is more of a one and done but if you hit the target you probably will not need another.

What's interesting to me is that you are having a hard time finding a 1006 over the smaller models. Out here in the PNW I see a lot more 1006.

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NRA Certified Instructor

Shadow beat me to the descriptions of the models but I own a 1006 and a 1086. There were more 1006's made than any other Smith 10mm. The 1086 can get pricey since it is the second lowest production Smith 10mm. I don't think you will be unhappy no matter which one you end up with. Wolff makes some nice trigger and hammer spring kits to reduce the trigger pull if you are so inclined. I left the 1006 stock since I only shoot it single action but I did change the springs in the 1086 and wow what a difference it made. Since there are technically only 2 sizes for the Smith 10mm's the full size 5 inch and the 4.25 inch version recoil will be similar for each barrel/slide length. The full house loads in the 1006 are very controllable as is the 1086 but you do feel it a little more and there is a little more muzzle flip. But the 4.25 inch versions are still fairly heavy and recoil is not bad. I own a 10mm Glock also and the recoil is worse with it than the 1086. Be warned though the 10mm can become addictive. I have 3 now but I want more. If you reload you can enjoy it even more. I do recommend the 22lb Wolff recoil spring for any Smith 10mm . The Smiths sling brass a country mile with the stock recoil springs. They still eject a good distance withthe 22lb spring but they are not as bad.

Joined about 5 min. ago just to say that the 10mm S&Ws are addictive. I passed up one of the few I've seen in a local gun store a few weeks ago. 1086 I think. $799...gone the next day. Won't let that happen again. God I love the 10mm. Just wish it had a little higher capacity, like 14 or so rounds. But, with the 10mm maybe it's really not needed!

BTW - I've got a (bought new) 1006, like new 1076 and a Glock.

I turned down 1200 bucks for mine, but it has been worked over by Novak's

These are addictive. I agree that you should find more 1006s than any other model. I see them for sale quite often. The other ones you really have to hunt for. I believe they only made 140- 150 1046s. This one I have only seen for sale 1time on GB and the price was out of my budget at the time.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I couldnt find a S&W 10mm so I got a glock 20 10mm for $499.I reload the 10mm also, great round.hope one day to get a 1006.

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