3rd Gen 4003 .40 QUESTION
- Thread starter robin990
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I've not heard of any problems unique to the 4003 but I'm sure someone else can add more. I believe the aluminum frames that have a problem shows up where the recoil springs seats in the frame & where the slide impacts the frame, in that same area.
Unless you shoot huge quantities thru it, or with hot loads, they'll likely outlast you if you maintain it well.
.
Unless you shoot huge quantities thru it, or with hot loads, they'll likely outlast you if you maintain it well.
.
03Fatboy
Member
I sold my 4006's and kept my aluminum framed 40's such as a 4003 tsw, 4004 and 4013tsw. They all shot great, but I just prefer the aluminum framed 40's and I'm not sure why. If i ruin the aluminum frame, so be it as I'll hang it on the wall as a memento!
guncheese
Member
hey all
first post!
my 410 had some big burrs building on the barrel bed
the gun had less than 200 rounds thru it when i got it and those were all full power factory loads
i have shot a few "warm" loads thru it
but 95% have been lite paper punchers with cast powder coated bullets
a couple months ago i filed and stoned down the burrs
and they have not recurred (but i havent shot any whompers either)
so is it just my gun?
or does it unlock to easy and slam the barrel into the bed?
i dont know. but i do know im looking around for a cheap 4006 to run at the range
first post!
my 410 had some big burrs building on the barrel bed
the gun had less than 200 rounds thru it when i got it and those were all full power factory loads
i have shot a few "warm" loads thru it
but 95% have been lite paper punchers with cast powder coated bullets
a couple months ago i filed and stoned down the burrs
and they have not recurred (but i havent shot any whompers either)
so is it just my gun?
or does it unlock to easy and slam the barrel into the bed?
i dont know. but i do know im looking around for a cheap 4006 to run at the range
Obviously, steel frames aren't going to normally experience the same sort of wear that can be experienced with an aluminum alloy frame.
The attached couple of pics are of my own 4013TSW, and show the wear & tear experienced inside the frame's barrel camming area and on top of the frame rails. (I've seen much the same thing on other 3rd gen alloy-framed guns, of all 3 calibers.)
Someone visiting from S&W once viewed my gun and told me his pair of 4003TSW's exhibited similar wear ... and his had been used as weekend copm guns to fire more than 25K rounds each. (Mine had only been fired approx 2,500+ rounds at that time.)
He said those types of wear are normal, become more or less self-limiting, and as long as the gun easily & smoothly unlocks & locks (when checked using an EMPTY gun, manually running the slide), typically aren't considered to be a 'problem'.
Now, I'd expect the larger rail surfaces and tighter tolerances of the TSW models to offer some potential for longer service lives than the older 4003's (ongoing improvements occurred in the TSW line).
Even so, a couple of the best ways to help promote optimal service life on a 3rd gen alloy frame is to make sure it remains to make sure the frame rails are properly lubricated, and to replace the recoil springs periodically to help mitigate battering.
I like to keep mentioning a comment made by an armorer instructor for another gun company, I heard earlier this year at an armorer recert, which was ... Fresh springs help keep guns alive.
The normal recommendation for armorer is to replace recoil (and mag) springs every 5K rounds fired or every 5 years (talking about in-service duty weapons). I like to replace mine much sooner.
Recoil springs are cheap insurance.
If it were my new old-model 4003, I'd stick to using factory ammo made by one of the major American ammo makers ... and I'd not feed it a steady diet of the harder recoiling 155gr (and lighter) loads. They can be harder on guns.
That's just me, though.
The attached couple of pics are of my own 4013TSW, and show the wear & tear experienced inside the frame's barrel camming area and on top of the frame rails. (I've seen much the same thing on other 3rd gen alloy-framed guns, of all 3 calibers.)
Someone visiting from S&W once viewed my gun and told me his pair of 4003TSW's exhibited similar wear ... and his had been used as weekend copm guns to fire more than 25K rounds each. (Mine had only been fired approx 2,500+ rounds at that time.)
He said those types of wear are normal, become more or less self-limiting, and as long as the gun easily & smoothly unlocks & locks (when checked using an EMPTY gun, manually running the slide), typically aren't considered to be a 'problem'.
Now, I'd expect the larger rail surfaces and tighter tolerances of the TSW models to offer some potential for longer service lives than the older 4003's (ongoing improvements occurred in the TSW line).
Even so, a couple of the best ways to help promote optimal service life on a 3rd gen alloy frame is to make sure it remains to make sure the frame rails are properly lubricated, and to replace the recoil springs periodically to help mitigate battering.
I like to keep mentioning a comment made by an armorer instructor for another gun company, I heard earlier this year at an armorer recert, which was ... Fresh springs help keep guns alive.
The normal recommendation for armorer is to replace recoil (and mag) springs every 5K rounds fired or every 5 years (talking about in-service duty weapons). I like to replace mine much sooner.
Recoil springs are cheap insurance.
If it were my new old-model 4003, I'd stick to using factory ammo made by one of the major American ammo makers ... and I'd not feed it a steady diet of the harder recoiling 155gr (and lighter) loads. They can be harder on guns.
That's just me, though.
Last edited:
guncheese
Member
yes thats what mine had done (i stoned the rail clean with 2 grits of stone and lots O oil)
but a bit worse
but now that i shoot and carry my light reloads (145gr swc over 4.5 bullseye or similar about 850fps)
dont see anything more showing
i shoot it 400 rnds/month or so
Last edited:
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