Semi-Auto Help

[Cities n Dust]

I hope I'm in the right spot to ask this question? If not, Moderators please move to correct location.
I recently acquired a significant amount of .40 cal ammo. Long & short of it all. I decided to keep it as it is really expensive ammo. So now I want a Semi-auto Smith. I am not by any means well versed on the Smith semi-autos.
so, I'm asking for suggestions from the experts on this forum. I only poked around a little to learn about Smith semis. Please keep suggestions to all Metal construction handguns. NOT a big fan Polymer! Not looking for a collector but would really like something of a Collector/Shooter in terms of not so hard to find but a darn good gun to shoot. Like a model 19 revolver reliable great to shoot but you can collect one as well.

Feel free to offer other brands as I'm not a semi-auto expert.

THX
Cities

 

[Sevens]

I would grab a 4006 or a 4006TSW if it needs to be a S&W.

Most bang for the buck in my opinion would be a CZ Tac Sport in .40cal. A used one. Phenomenal handgun.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I agree with Sevens . I got a CHP 4006TSW years ago , it's been a great gun . I had an LPA rear adjustable put on it , that really helped . You can also get a 5906TSW barrel , have it reamed to 357Sig , and you'll have a dual caliber handgun .

 

[rwsmith]

Also agreed. Look at the Lucky Gunner site, "Guide 1st to 3rd Gen S&W Semi-Autos. The 4000 series (.40 cal) has about 17 options. They are readily available on the used market.

Hint: I see a couple of nice ones on the Gunbroker site.

 

[Jon651]

For years just about every gun show I went to had one or more vendors who had either law enforcement or Brinks trade-ins for sale with plenty of .40 caliber options for reasonable prices. Just before the pandemic I picked up a 3rd Generation S&W 4046TSW that was from Brinks for a reasonable price. It was filthy but a little elbow grease and a new set of Hogue grips turned it into a great pistol. The 3rd Gen pistols are solid built and parts are still available. I don't know just how "collectable" the 3rd Gens are, but they have a very loyal following - including me!



That is my recommendation, but before you take the plunge I say take a day and visit a few pawn or gun shops who have lots of selection and maybe a show or two to see what appeals to you and feels good in your hand.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I second acquiring LEO trade ins when available. The California Highway Patrol Model 4006 TSW trade ins were very cheap a few years ago, but prices stiffened during the recent years, but if you look carefully, you can still find them very reasonable priced.

 

[Neumann]

You can use .40SW in a 610 revolver (10mm) with the same moon clips.

 

[Yendor357]

The very first requirement, mandatory, is an adjustable rear sight. I have fought fixed sights for long enough to throw in the towel on that struggle.

Something cheap and decent is a 4006.

My first choice is, and I second Sevens’ suggestion of the CZ. They are truly phenomenal. Add a red dot, and it’s like cheating. I have one in 9M with a Leupold Delta Point Pro. I have yet to put 5 shots under an inch at 25 yards, but I’ve gotten close several times. ( from a rest)

I’ve never had much luck with putting Special cases in Magnum chambers. That is essentially what you’d be doing with a 610 and 40 S&W. So I’d do my homework before spending a bunch of money on a 610.

So how much ammo do you have, and what kind is it?

 

[ACEd]

Hard to go wrong with 3rd gen SW 40s listed in the Lucky Gunner chart. I will stick with the more common options. Parts (grips, springs, etc) availability generally good especially for the full size variants.

First question - do you want Double Action Only (DAO) like a revolver?
Double stack 11rd full size 4043, 4044, 4046, 4043TSW, 4046TSW
Double stack 9rd compact 4053TSW, 4056TSW
Single stack 8rd compact 4053, 4054
The ones ending in 6 (xxx6) are steel frames - heavier, but robust. The ones ending in xxx3s are Aluminum frame silver with Stainless slide, xxx4s are blue with carbon steel slide

Or Traditional Double Action (TDA) - manual safety/decocker - first shot Double Action next shots Single Action
Double Stack 11rd full size 4003, 4004, 4006, 4003TSW, 4006TSW
Double Stack 9rd compact 4013TSW
Single Stack 8rd 4013, 4014
Again xxx6 Steel; xxx3, xxx4 Aluminum frame, xxx4 are blue

Last functional option = the Frame Mounted Decocker (a-la Sig) 4024 & 4026 - Not recommended - complex mechanism, parts issues, etc.

Next question, are you looking for best bargain - look at the 4006 and 4046 - there were lots of them issued to LE and now surplused. 11rd Magazines are plentiful in the $30 range. That mag price range is unique to the full size 40SW model. 10rd full size 4006/4046 mags also out there - cheap in free states, expensive in restricted states.

The 4006TSW and 4046TSW are also good choices for the same reason, but the TSWs are slightly more robust (thicker frames/slides) and frequently come with attached rails which can be a plus or a minus (they can come loose if abused, they make holster selection a challenge, and the rails were designed before standard rail geometry came into the market)

You can also find the 4013 and 4053 and the 4013TSW, 4053TSW variants reasonably priced due to being less popular and having significant challenges finding their unique 8rd or 9rd mags under $50-60.

If you go Aluminum frame, check the innerds carefully. I rejected a 9mm 5943TSW due to damage to Aluminum ramps on frame where rear of Steel barrel slides down on recoil. Believed to have been caused by abuse = firing Hot loads with weakened Recoil Spring.

Sight options, 1. Fixed Novak low profile (most common and most popular), 2. Night Sights (Trijicon) Goood for 10 years so dim by now but can be relamped, 3. Adjustable (least common - disliked by most, but have a distinct population that loves them).

Last SW pistol advice - Always change the Recoil Spring on a Used Pistol. New SW or Wolff Springs are readily available and cheap.

P.S. If you are looking for best bargain, stay clear of the CHP or LE marked Specials - they tend to bring higher prices from buyers. The exception is the Brinks marked 4046 and 4046TSW which do NOT generally command a premium price.

And off topic a bit, but Ruger made a 40SW / 10mm convertible New Blackhawk 6rd Single Action Stainless Revolver which I really like (4.5 in or 6 in barrel as I recall) but expensive = $900+ used.

 

[mikeruns]

The S&W 3rd gen guns are excellent. I don’t have one in .40, but do have the 9mm 5906 (4006 in .40) and it is excellent-very tough, very accurate. I do have many .40 cal pistols and 3 are polymer that I won’t mention. I have Berettas’ in the 96 police special model(my fave) and they are excellent and as accurate as the Beretta model 92. Also, another variation I have is the Beretta 96 Centurion, which is a slightly shorter version but still a full size pistol about same size as an S&W model 4006. The 4006 is an all steel hefty gun and the two mentioned berettas are aluminum frames and all 3 are excellent -durable and accessible. I have less than $400 in each beretta and the model 96 PS was like new, the Centurian well used but still in great condition. There are the cz models and there are 1911s to be seen as well….I won’t mention the polymer things since you have no interest. Good luck!

 

[ACEd]

P.P.S. If you are looking for something "collectible" the 4006TSW with CHP s/n prefix and integral rail would be a potential candidate - best guess $600-800 current pricing and they sometimes show up on GB.

The 4046TSW with Brinks logo on slide would be a bargain at $300-500 that might ultimately achieve some status, but there were a lot of them out there.

Other than that the Performance Center Pistols would be the most collectible but not an inexpensive option and if showing a lot of wear / use its collectibility would come into question.