I've probably posted this story on here before, so I'll try to keep this short. I have never owned a M.4006. I'm not a huge fan of the .40 S&W.
When I was stationed in Germany back in '91-'92, I worked at the base Rod & Gun shop. I guess due in no small part to me and my friends always talking guns at work (at my USAF job, not at the R&G) another friend decided he wanted to buy his first gun. After ignoring my sage advice that he should start with a .22 (nobody ever seems to heed that advice) he purchased a S&W M.4006. At that time I was going to the local German public range (there was no range on base available for unofficial use) on every rare day off from my two jobs. Usually a couple friends would go along, and this friend went with me a couple times after making his new purchase.
I guess I wasn't a good friend, because I don't recall giving him any pointers or assistance with his new gun. I guess I just figured, no one taught me how to shoot, I taught myself (which I'm sure explains my mediocrity), so he should be able to do the same. In any case, he would blast away at his target, and he never said very much, and I never asked him how he was doing. On his 3rd or 4th time at the range, he mentioned to me that the pistol wasn't grouping very well, and he showed me his target. His standard full-sized silhouette target was splattered with a dozen or so bullet holes, in a completely random pattern, from top to bottom...just all over the place. Well, it didn't help that it was a 25 meter range, no option for setting targets closer. He said he was getting better...all the rounds were on paper. Prior to that, he said only about 1/4 to 1/2 of the rounds were striking paper. Yeesh! So, he wondered if I'd mind shooting it, to ensure that the gun wasn't to blame.
So we put up a new target, I loaded 5 rounds into the mag, and settled down to shoot a group off of a rest. We went down to look at the target. I tried not to gasp. It was not quite one ragged hole, but a pretty little cloverleaf just slightly larger than a quarter, almost perfectly centered on the target. It was definitely the best group I'd fired that day. He looked disappointed, and said, "Well, it obviously isn't the fault of the gun!" I couldn't argue with him.
I should have made him an offer on that 4006. I don't know why I didn't. Even when I went back to work, and at some point I'm sure I was showing other customers the 4006...but it never entered my mind to buy one for myself (and, believe me, I came away from that job with a decent accumulation of firearms!)
It wasn't until years later, at some moment of clarity, that I slapped myself on the forehead and wondered to myself why the heck I didn't buy one, either my friend's, or a new one from the shop. Insight sometimes arrives too late. I've been looking for one lately, but I want one in excellent shape, and in the original box. I'll have to go take a peek at Summit Gun Brokers.
Well, as usual...I said I was going to keep it short, but that didn't happen. Sorry!
Tim
