1006 - good choice?

Snowwolfe · Oct 30, 2013

I am in the market for a 10mm and was thinking of either a Glock 20 or a Kimber stainless match. Then discovered S&W used to make a 10mm, the 1006.
How good were these pistols? Trigger? Able to shoot fairly stiff rounds? I am guessing they are no longer in production? Are the sights adjustable?
Thanks

bgrone · Oct 30, 2013

1006

THE 1006 and variants 1076,1026 1066,1086 etc . are all out of production. I am fortunate to have found an unfired NIB 1006 last year about this time. I love it. They were made with both fixed and adj. sights. Other forum members are much more knowledgeable than I but Im sure most will agree it is one of the best 10mm handguns around. They are tanks and will take hotter loads than 1911 based 10mm handguns. There several on GB and other sites at this time; prices vary. Again I love mine and am hoping to find a 1066 (same gun shorter barrel) to keep it company.

colt_saa · Oct 30, 2013

I love 10MM. Have quite a few. Been shooting it for decad3es

I would buy a 1006 or a 1076 in a heartbeat before I would lay down money for a Glock.

If I wanted a 1911 10MM I would buy a Colt or build my own. I do own a Delta Gold Cup which is not made any longer.

However you can buy a Colt Delta Elite. (image courtesy of Colt's MFG)

Last summer I went crazy and hand built a 6" 1911 with aristocrat sight

BT8850 · Oct 30, 2013

1006! I just got mine the other week and love it! For the money, I think it's the best value. You can get a good deal on one in good shape for around the price of a new Glock 20. How good were they? Well, the 3rd gen pistols were issued to many police departments and agencies, and the FBI used one of compact 10mm models (forgive me, I haven't read much into which one) so that ought to give you an idea. They have a reputation for being accurate and reliable, as well as down right sexy.

My input on the trigger is this: it's OK. From my experience on my 1006 and 5906, in single action shooting there is a lot of play in the trigger but the break is nice. Double action is a pretty long pull, fairly stiff (much stiffer than a Glock), but consistent through the whole pull. That's just MY experience and .02. The Glock 20 I shot shot just like any other Glock. Recoil was pretty mild given the 10mm but I was shooting PPU out of it which is said to be a fairly light 10mm load. I can't say anything on the Kimber, Never shot one in 10mm.

Also, I've yet to shoot anything super hot out of my 1006 but I have no doubt it can handle nearly anything. They're completely stainless steel and very sturdy. It's a hefty piece. Others I'm sure will chime in with personal testimonies of rounds fired.

Good luck, good decision going with 10mm!!

MCQUADE · Oct 30, 2013

The S&W 10XX series guns can handle anything you can throw at them. Are there more accurate guns, yes. Guns with better triggers, yes. But, with practice, you will get used to the trigger. Also, the reset on the triggers is wonderful. I'm looking for a 1066 also just to complete my collection of the series. Get the 1006.

bgrone · Oct 30, 2013

Nice guns

colt_saa said:
I love 10MM. Have quite a few. Been shooting it for decad3es

I would buy a 1006 or a 1076 in a heartbeat before I would lay down money for a Glock.

If I wanted a 1911 10MM I would buy a Colt or build my own. I do own a Delta Gold Cup which is not made any longer.

However you can buy a Colt Delta Elite. (image courtesy of Colt's MFG)

Last summer I went crazy and hand built a 6" 1911 with aristocrat sight

Nice work on the 1911 beautiful gun!

shocker · Oct 30, 2013

I'll be the heretic and say for practical shooting a Glock 20. The LGS recently got 4 Rock Island 10's and the purchasers gave them good reviews.

I own a Glock 29. Lot of power and amazing accuracy in a little package. Was testing a max load today, 180 gr cast bullet with 13 gr AA#9. The felt recoil is not bad at all, the boom though gets attention.

Problem with Smith 10's is too many sitting in collections. Shooter's point of view, of course..

Snowwolfe · Oct 30, 2013

Thanks for the input. Which models came with adjustable sights?

Irn-Bru · Oct 30, 2013

Beautiful gun, I can't find one round my parts for under $1000.

ColbyBruce · Oct 30, 2013

I disliked my S&W 1076, swapped it off for some cash and a S&W 65-5. I later ran across a S&W 1006 which I like MUCH better.

The decocker lever design bothered me on the 1076.

Here are some pics of my 1006. The original stocks were straight, I swapped them out for a curved set.

swinokur · Oct 31, 2013

I own 4 10xx series Smith's. As stated, built like tanks and I shoot Underwood full power stuff out of them with no problems. (180g GD at 1300 FPS). You get used to the trigger.

Here are mine:

1006, 1066. 1026 and 1076. The FBI used a custom model 1076 with no magazine safety. Hard to find now.

Bozz10mm · Oct 31, 2013

I have owned a 1006 since 1992 and didn't really shoot it much til this year when I discovered there are some small companies making full power ammo for it. It's a really nice, well built gun that can handle the hot loads.

It's big. It's heavy. Not one for me to CC. But a great field or range gun.
If you can find one in good condition for $750, that would be a decent price in today's market. Magazines are still available for it, but that's about all. Replacement parts are hard to come by since it's been out of production for 20 years. If this is your first 10mm, take a hard look at the Glock 20.

Snowwolfe · Oct 31, 2013

Actually I owned a Glock 20 years ago. Nice pistol but I did add adjustable sights to it. Besides the 1006 the other pistols I am considering are a Kimber stainless match and possibly a EAA Witness.
This 10mm will not be used for CC but will ride on my hip when woods walking for taking a deer now and then as well as protection from black bears and cougars and of course, people with a warped mind and zoombies

I already ordered 500 pieces of Starline brass so just need some .40 caliber bullets and the pistol.

M29since14 · Oct 31, 2013

For the duty you describe there is nothing wrong with the S&W but it is a little heavier than a similar 10mm 1911. The 1911 could be more accurate and have a better trigger, if you get one with a good, properly fitted barrel. My own preference would be to buy a Colt and have someone fit a good barrel, do a trigger job, and install a set of adjustable sights you can see. I'd also want a checkered front strap. The 10mm in a 1911 can really move the gun around in your hand.

My own 10mm 1911 is set up this way - with two Kart barrels. The man who tuned my gun and installed the barrels sent me a 100-yard target he fired with the 10mm barrel - 5 rounds in 5 inches. I was impressed.

Recoil of the 10 in a 1911 is an entirely different thing than the .45. I don't really enjoy it all that much so my gun has a second .40SW barrel fitted, which I tend to shoot a lot more. Recoil of the 10 in the 1006 always seemed much more tolerable to me. Ditto for the 1076 and 1066.

If you really think you are going on a 10mm shooting rampage and you're not overly fond of slamming a 1911 around (like me), you would be better off with the S&W. You don't sound like you plan to do a lot of shooting, so for the purposes you describe I would prefer a 1911. 1911s are about as heavy as I am willing to carry while woods loafing. Anything heavier is a drag.

Finally, of the several S&W 10mms I have owned over the years I have noticed they seem to shoot better with the lighter bullets. That may or may not be what you prefer, and others may have a different opinion. My only remaining S&W is a 1076 and it shoots 155-gr loads like a little target pistol. Not quite so good with 200s...

It's a tough gun to hold on to and undoubtedly the 155s get out of the barrel quicker than the 200s. Might not be much difference if the gun was tested in a machine rest. Who knows?

Elkins45 · Oct 31, 2013

There is a 1006 on Gunbroker right now from a little store here in KY that I am absolutely drooling over! It has adjustable sights and looks darned close to NIB. 4 days left in the auction and it's already at $662. The days of finding bargains on these guns appear to be over. Just a couple of years ago I scored a beautiful 1076 for $425. What a bargain!

I OWN a Glock 20, but I SHOOT my 1006. I bought a beat up police trade in from a shop in eastern KY sometime in the mid 90's. It came with three magazines for something significantly less than $400 and that gun has been a real top performer...and unlike my G20 I'm not afraid to reload the brass from it.

Sven · Oct 31, 2013

Ain't that 10mm cartridge great?!!! Don't be afraid to pick up a 1076 to mate with your 1006 if one comes along.

I bought a Delta Elite a while back and loved the 10mm enough to send the DE back to Colt for a Tacticle Package + from the Custom Shop. I missed my 10mm, so picked up a 1076 police trade in a few weeks ago on GB. I think with shipping and FFL it came to about $570. It is plenty comfortable carrying in the woods and around the house, although I'm not overly fond of the simple belt slide holster I bought for it. I have some nice stout handloads worked up for it, now, in both 180gr and 200 gr.

I know this is the S&W board, but when my DE comes back, it's going to be one sweet pistola and my main carry piece; and the 1076 will become the "truck gun".

Snowwolfe · Nov 1, 2013

I been watching the one on Gunbrokers but am getting the feeling it will sell for more than I want to pay.
Looking seriously at the EAA Witness Elite model as well as a stainless Kimber. Who knows, might end up getting a Glock as well as a 1911 model.

timn8er · Nov 1, 2013

It seems these days that you can't even look at a 10mm without dropping at least $700.00. I've been looking for awhile but haven't had any luck. If their on an auction site they quickly escalate to the stratosphere!

Rock185 · Nov 1, 2013

Snowwolf, I guess I've owned my share of 10MM pistols and revolvers, starting with the Bren Ten back around '84. While I have owned the Glock 20, Colt Delta, Kimber,etc, I admit my favorites are the S&Ws. I've had multiple 1006s, 1076s, 1026s and a couple of 610 revolvers. A few years ago I found an unfired 1026 as new in the box. I've let way too many of my S&W 10MMs get away and I'm hanging on to this one. The S&Ws have more slide mass than the 1911 types and handle the heaviest 10mm loads, without the extra heavy recoil springs, buffers, etc. most always discussed in mention of 10MM 1911s. With factory springs the S&Ws handle the heaviest factory, and my similar handloads, e.g., the old Original Norma 200 grain at 1200+, Buffalo Bore 180 at 1350+, Corbon 135 at 1475, etc, without any issues at all. These are velocities I chronographed in 5" guns, not just advertised. Did I mention my favorite 10MMs are the S&W 10XX series? And this is coming from a died in the wool 1911 guy ...

Snowwolfe · Nov 1, 2013

For now I just purchased a EAA Witness Elite in 10mm. Seems like a great pistol for the money ($599). There may be a 1006 in my future as I will be watching the auction sites as well.
Appreciate all the input

1006 - good choice?

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