NEW 4006

[epj]

Recently bought a 4006 from another forum member. It's a nice gun and I enjoy shooting it. The .40 is a bit snappier than I like in a range gun, but being a handloader I can cure that problem.
My other two concerns are the sights and trigger. Ideally, I would like to replace the sjghts with an adjustable rear and the front with a fiber optic. I have been searching the internet, and so far I have come up empty on both counts. Anyone know of a company that makes either. Novak makes an adjustable that looks similar, but doesn't list a fitment for the 40XX/59XX pistols.
I would like to reduce the pull weight of the trigger, primarily in single action. I think a reduced power mainspring from Wolff is probably in order. I don't want to go low enough to cause reliability problems, but if a couple of pounds of pull could be shaved off, that would be nice.

I am a novice with the Gen 3 guns, and seek your input.

 

[goldenlight]

Wolff's

Wolff Gunsprings - Firearm Springs for Semi-Auto Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles, & Shotguns

makes 12, 14 & 16 Lb. Lb. mainsprings that will fit your 4006.

The 17 Lb. weight is standard for the 4006.

Installing a new mainspring is extremely easy on a 4006: just punch out the grip retaining pin, and remove the one-piece grip.

When you do this, the mainspring (hammer spring) will come out with the grips, or may remain on the hammer strut; it's not under much, if any tension at all. Just swap the 'new' mainspring for the old one, and reassemble.

The 3rd gen. S&W must have about the easiest mainspring to replace of any semiauto that I've ever run across, and I've worked on LOTS of them.

I can't help with the sights at all, sorry.

Good luck with your 4006.

I owned an early production 4006, and I could never get what I considered 'good' accuracy from it, despite a great deal of time spent reloading with various weight/velocity bullets. My 4006 may just have been a 'lemon'; I traded it away, so I'll never know. Beautiful pistol, too.

My 5906, which is nearly identical, but in 9mm, has always delivered very good accuracy, even using many times reloaded, mixed brand range pick up brass, and cast lead bullets.

I hope your 4006 is more like my 5906, than my 4006.

 

[Gunhacker]

In addition to changing out the main spring with a reduced power spring, the drawbar plunger spring (aka trigger return spring) also adds to the pull so a reduced power spring could also be useful.

Be careful on not going too light with the mainspring, it has to still be strong enough to work with the factory firing pin spring.

 

[mlk18]

I can't help you on the adjustable rear, but I have been looking at Warren Tactical Sights. They make an open rear fixed target sight with a fiber optic front. I have used them on other guns and was impressed.

 

[handgunner356]

I believe the 12, 14 & 16# springs goldenlight mentioned are the recoil springs. Unless you're are going to be loading light you should stay with the stock recoil spring(17#) or even a pound heavier if using the reduced power hammer spring. Hammer(mainsprings) run 16-22#s' with 20 being stock. I use the 17# with good luck in my guns, as said it's easy to replace simply removing the grip. The trigger return spring is a bit more difficult requires a complete strip of the frame. Stock trigger spring is 4# and I usually stay with the 3.5# Wolff. Slide velocity of the 40 is brisk so it's a good idea if you're ordering springs anyway get new mag springs also. The LPA adjustable sight will fit right into the Novak cut, and Novak makes a nice fiber optic sight also. You can download the 40 only so much and have it work well in a 4000 series gun, even with lighter recoil springs anything below a 180gr@850fps has never worked well for me.

 

[epj]

Great info, guys. 356: 180 @ 800-850 is sort of the range I was thinking of. Current loads are 950+.