Suggestions needed for 3rd Gen 40 cal

[vigil617]

My hunch is that if you get ahold of a 4040PD -- all black finish, single stack, scandium/alloy frame, soft Hogue grips -- that you will start looking for one to buy pronto! They're not that easy to find, though GB has them now and then, and you'll pay $500 to $600 or so for a good used one with box and two mags, but they are way sweeeeeeet. One of my favorite all-time S&W semi-autos, but I turned mine loose when I decided to consolidate calibers. And got a lot....less....than I had paid for it when I hadn't seen one in months, and hit "Buy It Now" on that special day when one finally showed up.

You'll especially like the slanted dustcover that is like the one on your 3913NL. Matter of fact, the 4040PD is basically the 40 cal. version of the 3914NL, only with the scandium alloyed into the aluminum alloy frame. Plus, the slide on the 4040PD is carbon steel, if I remember correctly. The mags are sort of one-of-a-kind in that they have a small ball bearing installed in the side, but they do come with either a finger-rest or a flat baseplate, and are clearly marked 4040 in the factory original mags. I doubt if any after-market companies made mags for these, though.

Come to think of it, the weight, balance, and grip of your 3913NL is going to be very similar (almost identical) to the 4040PD -- Delrin grips are available if you want to replace the factory Hogues -- so if you decide to look for one, you shouldn't have to worry that you haven't handled one first. Great carry pistol in .40, no doubt about it.

 

[kraynky]

My hunch is that if you get ahold of a 4040PD -- all black finish, single stack, scandium/alloy frame, soft Hogue grips -- that you will start looking for one to buy pronto! They're not that easy to find, though GB has them now and then, and you'll pay $500 to $600 or so for a good used one with box and two mags, but they are way sweeeeeeet. One of my favorite all-time S&W semi-autos, but I turned mine loose when I decided to consolidate calibers. And got a lot....less....than I had paid for it when I hadn't seen one in months, and hit "Buy It Now" on that special day when one finally showed up.

You'll especially like the slanted dustcover that is like the one on your 3913NL. Matter of fact, the 4040PD is basically the 40 cal. version of the 3914NL, only with the scandium alloyed into the aluminum alloy frame. Plus, the slide on the 4040PD is carbon steel, if I remember correctly. The mags are sort of one-of-a-kind in that they have a small ball bearing installed in the side, but they do come with either a finger-rest or a flat baseplate, and are clearly marked 4040 in the factory original mags. I doubt if any after-market companies made mags for these, though.

Come to think of it, the weight, balance, and grip of your 3913NL is going to be very similar (almost identical) to the 4040PD -- Delrin grips are available if you want to replace the factory Hogues -- so if you decide to look for one, you shouldn't have to worry that you haven't handled one first. Great carry pistol in .40, no doubt about it.

Now look what ya done! Got me all in love with a gun I can't find. I really want one now. I can imagine how it would feel in my hand with a snappy .40 blasting out the barrel!

This will give me something to look for fur sure. It took me nearly three years of casual browsing as I travel for my job, to find a nearly NIB 3913NL. But I'm going to put the word out for one of these 4040pd,s at my usual haunts.

Thanks for giving me a purpose in life once again. Good thing is I've got a nice 40 in the mean time. I got nothing but good to say about my FNX40. Good 'ole USA made too!

 

[jsbethel]

That's the gun I'd own if only S&W had made it in a compact 9mm.

GaryS - What about the 6926?

 

[GaryS]

GaryS - What about the 6926?

It's a double stack. Still, if I ever stumbled across one I'd have to buy it. Jusy because.

 

[Barefootdog]

My 4006 is a real soft shooting gun. Highly recommended.

 

[TercGen]

Great suggestions so far, and I think you'd be happy with any one of them kraynky.

For what you're after though, which sounds like more of a house/woods gun, I would recommend starting with the full-size 4006. It's all-steel and built to last, slightly shorter than your 1006 with a thicker double-stack grip, and has a full-length 4" barrel. 4006TSW's are better and will have more refined performance and features, but are harder to come by. Personally, I've only shot the TSW version, and it was the softest-recoiling 40sw pistol I've ever experienced.

For concealment, the 4040PD is king (basically a 3913NL in 40sw), but good luck getting one. The 4013 and it's rarer sibling the 4014 in single stack are a bit bigger but are great cc pistols, with fairly mild recoil as well. As of a few days ago, there were a number of 4013 single stacks available on Gunbroker.

 

[GB]

I add my vote for a 4006(I don't have one but would add to the herd if I ever found one that was for sale at a reasonable price, in these parts). Just to stir the pot a little,, for what you are looking for, you might be interested in a value line pistol. A model 411. Same mag as a 4006, alum. frame with steel slide. Mine are(have two) good shooters and serve me well as range guns and nightstand guns. And lastly, the Model 410, again a value line but with a few more spaceage material parts (rear sight and spring guide) Any 3rd gen 40 is worth an extended look. Just depends on what is available in your area. GB

 

[vigil617]

Now look what ya done! Got me all in love with a gun I can't find. I really want one now. I came imagine how it would feel in my hand with a snappy .40 blasting out the barrel!

It feels great, is how it feels. Others have commented, too, on how well this pistol handles recoil of the .40S&W round. I liken it to a little dog with a big bark!

If you're serious about wanting one in the short term, just place a Wanted to Buy ad here in the classifieds. Refresh it now and again until one of our members here decides to part with a 4040PD, and you're in business! It's better than waiting for GunBroker to come up with one, that's for sure.

 

[ILLWIND]

I only have 2 40's. A 4053 and 4014. I like them for what they are...a short(Single stack) compact firearm that is easy to carry and shoot. Prices are high....I saw a one and only S&W 3rd gen 4046 at a gun show and they were asking $650. Ya could get 2 EAA's for that price.

 

[Merc1]

Second on the 4040PD, picked up one last year. I think that my 3914LS has a smoother trigger, but with both in the same compact size, IWB carry works well with either. The 4040PD doesn't come up in the mainstream classifieds very often, you may want to check classified posts on the sites for other makes, I have seen some good deals on 3rd Gen S&W on those sites. Be persistent and check daily, they are out there. I find that the search is half the fun of locating that "must have" next purchase.

 

[kraynky]

Heck fire! One just showed up here in the classifieds, and vigil617 spotted it and let me know with a PM. I studied on it for about a whole minute and took the plunge. Thanks "V"! And to couchonh for selling his!

Now I'm going to have to sell the FNX, can't afford them all, and I'm pretty sure it won't be hard to replace down the road.

Three Cheers to the Forum for helping me decide which way to go!

 

[BruceB]

And you KNOW that if you don't like it, it will be easy to find a new home for it.

I can't imagine it being much different shooting that one over the CS40 which I have no problems with being rude or snappy.