Model 4006: Your Experiences?

[RobG5589]

I really like mine. It only takes a back seat to my 4506 and 4566 both of which I love. Its a solid weapon, however, so buy with confidence.

 

[TexasG]

With all 3G's. You may feel a big difference if you change the Plunger spring with a Wolf brand "3rd Gen Competition spring". Makes all 3G's break like glass at right near 4-5 lbs. Keep all the spring, mechanical with good oil and the slide greased.

 

[TripPowers]

I found one that looks near new for 500 to 600 bucks at a gunstore they also have another 659 for 300 what should i do !? I'be never shot 40 but i have a 659 & 645 I really like more power & I'm lookin for a 10mm but i want to run +p in all the steel framed beast as they can take it with proper springs . Does it make sense to own a 40 & use +p if you want to get the 10th ?

 

[nipster]

I sold my 1066 because I didnt like paying so much for ammo to shoot it, I may regret it at some point, but since I already own 40's (Glock 23 and a Springfield XD), I was considering a 4006 or 4016. I prefer SA/DA variants.

Other than the tacticool rail and laser engraving, what, if any is the difference between the normal versions and the TSW?

Also, seems to be lots of 4046 police turn-ins out there right now at decent looking prices.

 

[o3rugby1]

Heres my Alaska State Police DPS 4006. Wonderful to shoot.

 

[BUFF]

"I really like more power & I'm lookin for a 10mm but i want to run +p in all the steel framed beast as they can take it with proper springs . Does it make sense to own a 40 & use +p if you want to get the 10th ?"

There is no such thing as +P .40 S&W ammo. The current factory .40 S&W Auto loads are about as warm as the cartridge case and available powders will allow. If you want 10mm power, buy a 10mm pistol. Be advised, however, that most commercial 10mm ammo is down-loaded quite a bit, to about .40 S&W ballistics.

There is some excellent 9mm for-serious ammunition available today. I would think it to be a good move to buy the M-659, if it is in nice shape, and buy some premium +P JHP ammunition for it for serious use and standard pressure ammo for most of your practice. The pistol won't care much but your wallet will appreciate the cost difference between high tech +P defensive ammo and good old plain standard pressure ball ammo. Even 9mm ball will have adequate power to fully penetrate the thick paper target and the thickest cardboard target backers, which is what probably 95% of handgun ammo is shot at.

 

[zouaveherb]

I would like to know Forum members experiences with
the Model 4006. Good, bad, whatever!

I have owned one since fall of 1993. Overall it's a great gun.

I used it for my post firearms training and it held up just fine against the "nicer" (at least according to their owners) Glocks, Sigs, and HKs at the range. Out of all of the different models, the S&W 3rd gens were the only ones that could feed and eject a magazine full of empty cases. The academy's range master comment was that S&W 3rd gens feed rocks. He also said the short SA trigger reset was the reason why I was able to beat out everyone else in the end of class shootoff.

The CHP still has a few of their first training 4006s with at least 100,000 rounds through them.

My only complaint over the years has been that part # 4 on the parts diagram kept breaking. Since I am the original owner, S&W would send me free new parts no questions asked. However, they stopped doing that after parts were no longer available for retail sale--it must be sent in to them so they can repair it now. This may be a concern as the warranty is not transferable.

 

[boingboing]

Heres my Alaska State Police DPS 4006. Wonderful to shoot. View attachment 95153

I like those forward cocking serrations

 

[boingboing]

I carry a 4006TSW for 9 months out of the year. The other three months I carry a 4566TSW. Off duty I carry my 4006. It's a heavy piece but I spend most of the time seated except when I have to get out of the car. I prefer the 4006 over my 1911's, just like the way they feel. I prefer the TSW over the standard 4006 because it has the rail and there isn't that milled down area on the side of the frame. Just personal preference. My 4006 has seen some miles and I'm considering getting forward cocking serrations added and then having the entire gun melonited. On both my guns I drilled out the rivets for the rail and then tapped the mounting holes and replaced the rail using countersunk screws. The rail on the 4006 has worked it's way loose a couple of times. Overall, the 4006 fits every category just fine.

 

[4506517]

I purchased one in absolutely pristine condition from a member here (thanks gaspipes!). It supposedly had a couple hundred rounds through it, but I swear it looked unfired. Has been an absolutely fabulous gun. It is my only 3rd gennie with the curved backstrap grips on it. I usually trade them out for straight backstrap grips, but for some reason on this gun, the curved feel so right on it. The weight doesn't bother me at all for CC....I usually CC fullsize guns anyway. Loved the 4006 so much I bought a 4003 and it has been as stellar as the 4006. As far as CC goes, most guys will tell you that with the correct holster and belt you can CC just about anything regardless what it weighs.

 

[goldenlight]

Just got mine last month and love it. Other than not feeding 175 Gr LSWC, it eats everything else just fine. Accurate, less snappy than my M&P 40.

My 4006 fed the 175 gr. cast lead semiwadcutters just fine. I did polish the feed ramp, without removing more that 1 or 2 10,000ths of metal. I did that before even trying to shoot c the cast lead bullets, as there were some very, very fine lines at right angles to the ramp, where it was machined.

I really liked the 4006. I worked up some pretty ...well, 'warm' loads for it, that made 9mm ammunition seem pretty mild, in comparison. I got my 4006 very soon after they started making them, and there was very little factory ammunition available in my area for it.

I can see why it's so popular with the LE community: you give up some capacity, compared to the 9mm, but it makes bigger, deeper, nastier holes in people.

That FBI shootout with the bank robbers in Miami sure was a game changer for American LE arms and ammunition, and it trickled down to us civilians, too.

 

[HCH]

.

My only complaint over the years has been that part # 4 on the parts diagram kept breaking.

Is that the little decocker lever plunger? Did the tip wear off?
Thanks for the heads up. I just oiled mine. Hope it helps.

 

[HCH]

With all 3G's. You may feel a big difference if you change the Plunger spring with a Wolf brand "3rd Gen Competition spring". Makes all 3G's break like glass at right near 4-5 lbs. Keep all the spring, mechanical with good oil and the slide greased.

Hey TexasG,
What weight spring did you use? Did you lower the trigger return spring too? If so, what weight?

I'm going to do this!

Thanks.

 

[RABULL]

I bought my 4006 in 1991 and carried it as an on-duty handgun for 10 years and was very confident in it. It shoots well and handled the recoil great. What's not to like about it. I even had Novak's .45 Shop install a match Bar-Sto barrel and some other upgrades to it and it only made it a better shooter!

 

[hemiram]

I have a 4006 TSW. It was a PD trade in, don't know what "DPD" is, but it's in near new condition, except the grips are a little messed up from rubbing on something. I was very pleased for $315, shipped. Night sights are pretty dead, but for the price, I can't complain.