1006 cracked frames...

[GaryS]

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda, didn't.

Can't go back and change it now.

Was revisiting this thread and had a thought. S&W could have offered a conversion kit to the 10mm to 40 S&W with a barrel swap and kept making them. But then again, they might not have sold as many 4006s and the like, but we would have been happier. The swap to 4006 could have been argued for round increase and left the 1006 in production. But alas..

Rosewood

 

[Sevens]

Was revisiting this thread and had a thought. S&W could have offered a conversion kit to the 10mm to 40 S&W with a barrel swap and kept making them. But then again, they might not have sold as many 4006s and the like, but we would have been happier. The swap to 4006 could have been argued for round increase and left the 1006 in production. But alas..

Rosewood

I think that's a fine idea, but not something that S&W has ever offered. I've never seen them sell barrels for any reason outside of the (now long dead & gone) Performance Center.

I'm still entrenched with my idea that S&W really rear-ended all the fans of the 10xx pistols with their move. One point I typically mention for my argument that I don't think I mentioned in this particular rant is that folks will say (and S&W said at the time...) that the 10xx pistols were discontinued due to poor sales and lack of interest.

Random folks then & now say this, S&W said this back in the day and some will trot out the same excuse even now... but let's all recognize that through the ceasing of production of these fantastic pistols, S&W never stopped offering the Model 610 revolver.

Are they arguing that it was the 10xx pistol that had no demand? Or the cartridge?

Is someone going to try to sell me the bill of goods that the Model 610 was out-selling the 10xx pistols and that a moon-clipped 10mm revolver was in higher demand than one of the finest 10mm pistols ever built?

It's a blatant lie no matter who spits it out or when they offer it.

(and yes, I have no doubt that the 610 revolver is highly revered by folks today. Indeed, and I agree. But please note that also much loved today is the 16-4 and 547 revolvers, and they could not give those away back in exact same early-to-mid 1990's.)

 

[preventec47]

Of course this was a long long time ago but my recollection is that the FBI conducted their own torture test of the 10mm in their trials of different 10mm pistols. So I dont think the magazine people were the only ones to stress the S&W 10mm pistols.

 

[Frank Black]

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.

True, this.

The so-called "frame-cracking" issue on the early DEs, when first introduced in 1987, was alway overstated. Colt quickly made it a nonissue by removing that bar as a design feature. In fact Colt removed it from all later 1911 production including those in .45acp and .38 Super.

As far as the S&W comment, I own several 10XX-series guns and have never seen frame-cracking on any …. to include my models 1006 and 1066 which I've run pretty hard with near-max "Sonny Crockett" handloads. But I also use Wolff XP springs and replace them as needed.

 

[Frank Black]

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.

- do the clicky thing for a larger view -

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I still have my copy of that edition after all these years. It's good to re-read it from time to time when one wants to get a sense of the true experience.

 

[rosewood]

True, this.

The so-called "frame-cracking" issue on the early DEs, when first introduced in 1987, was alway overstated. Colt quickly made it a nonissue by removing that bar as a design feature. In fact Colt removed it from all later 1911 production including those in .45acp and .38 Super.

As far as the S&W comment, I own several 10XX-series guns and have never seen frame-cracking on any …. to include my models 1006 and 1066 which I've run pretty hard with near-max "Sonny Crockett" handloads. But I also use Wolff XP springs and replace them as needed.

I have a Para-Ordnance P12-45 with alloy frame and noticed a gap a that bridge. I contacted Para (been many years ago) and they said it was intentional from the factory. Never explained why, guess it was stress relief. None of my steel frame Paras have that relief, nor has any cracked, even the 10mm and 9x25 dillon.

Rosewood

 

[ACEd]

Thinking someone may be mixing up the 1006 pistols with the early 4006 development cracked frames.

 

[dm1215]

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?

I have had a 1006 since 1991, no issues, it's in great condition with a low round count. I did just sell this handgun on another site, no one on this site was interested. So, I really can't say about one that has seen heavy use, I have never heard of a frame cracking.

 

[Rock185]

I acquired a box of Federal 10 LITE 180@950, similar to what Old Corp must have been issued. I tested it in my S&W 1076 with 4 1/4" barrel. I had no malfunctions, but with that very soft load, expended brass just dribbled out of the ejection port and landed at my feet. If that ammo had been loaded even tiny bit lighter, I seriously doubt it would have cycled my 1076 reliably. I chronographed it; it was even softer than expected at an average of 861 FPS. I couldn't find any notes indicating I tested it with a 5" gun. Perhaps it would have been closer to 950 FPS in the 5"?