I'm new to forums, so please excuse any ignorant moves on my part. 

I have owned a S&W1006 since about 1991, as a Bear Country and Urban Predator defense piece; my only handgun. Love this gun/caliber but expensive to shoot and reload, so I never felt that I was that good with it. In 2008 I purchased an XDm9 which became my primary pistol, shooting much more often (and carefree) with a USPSA club, gaining skill and confidence. I would  shoot the 1006 when a hiking trip was upcoming and you've gotta love the way a 4 foot popper will drop even if a rushed shot hits 6 inches above the base.

Now I want to shoot my 1006 a Lot more but worry about parts and service; I don't want to abuse it. I've stressed myself out to the point I wonder if I should retire it completely or sell it to a good home where it will be run in a prudent manner 'til the end of it's days. I know this gun has value if it's in decent shape and I will have a gunsmith give it a check up and get a % rating on it, but then what?  Does anyone feel that the 1911 based 10mm's are similar enough and will there be commonly available parts for years to come? Glocks don't fit me that well and I do not have trigger time on SIGs, but they seem sorta thick in the grip and expensive to boot. I've never seen a Witness or any of the other CZ style pistols.

Any thoughts from this community would be appreciated. Thanks.

In your third sentence it sounds like you reload. Tame down the loads to in between 10mm & 40S&W levels. Reload with the lightest bullets you can buy as the lighter the bullet,the less they cost. The less expensive bullets and less powder due to 'reduced' loads will keep the costs down and minimize abuse to the 1006.

If you like the 1006, I highly recommend getting a Witness. You will enjoy higher magazine capacity as well as the most comfortable grip out there. The newer models are problem free and can be found for around $500.

^ this! yesterday I was shooting both my 10mm Witness and my S&W 59  9mm. I was noticing how similar they felt and when I cleaned them I realized that they were similar inside too. the S&W 1006 is a bigger version on the S&W 59 so you should feel right at home.

Blaster hit on another aspect of my thoughts, which is getting a 3rd gen S&W5906 (9mm). The entire world seems to have conspired to reduce my trigger time to once every couple months. I even have trouble finding dry fire time with my LaserLyte insert.  As a result my grip is all jacked up and I am struggling with recoil management. I asked 2 co-workers if they felt polymer flips more; the Viet Nam era Seal team member agreed, but he's shooting a 40S&W in his XD. I think .40's are snappy rounds. The other is a fairly fit 32yr old who fills a doorway, and after a day of trying his new Taurus Judge (loves it with multi projectile defensive shotgun loads) shot a 1st gen Glock 17 or 19 and also a Baretta 92f. He stated that the 92f was much easier on follow ups. I don't think any of us are true pistolaros, but we agree that for the law enforcement officer who carries daily the reduced weight is a factor not to be ignored, adding in radios, cuffs, pepper spray, taser, etc. Otherwise steel frames settle down nicer. Yes, training will help that.

Anyway, I thought going back to 3rd gen platform for both 10mm and 9mm would create some continuity. That's when I learned about lack of service from the factory, which would give me TWO unsupported guns. (Hey, didn't my registration card state that I had a Lifetime Warranty? I guess we've found out who decides how long a lifetime is.)Over the years I've found that it's easy to get more than anticipated, like buying an older house and then realizing what it takes to upgrade. Same with guns. I refer to it as 'Buying the tip of an Iceberg'. You aren't done spending money.

I digress once again.  Is the Witness a CZ variant  up scaled to fit 10mm? I think one shop in town may have CZ 75s, which I could try for fit.

Am I hearing that at this time S&W 3rd gens should be treated gently?

Thanks again.

swede925, Hello and welcome to the forum!  Yes it is a shame that S&W no longer supports this 3rd gen pistols and the 1006 has been one of the best 10mm semi autos being built like a tank with great chamber support.  I love my 10xx series guns, they have handled the hottest loads well for me over the many years.  Can they wear out maybe, some parts can break over time but none of mine have ever broken or failed.

There are a few things that are available, like recoil, firing pin and magazine springs from Wolff Gunsprings. Speaking of magazines they are being sold for astronomical prices these days...$50 - $60 and up!   The S&W Forum mentioned a couple of places that may have some parts, but things are dwindling down.

As mentioned the EAA Witness line is a great option these days and many people use them in competitions.  You would do well to find someone to allow you some "feel appeal" to see how they fit you.

1911's although they are made by most everyone making firearms with a CNC machine. Chamber support on the Delta Elites leave a lot to be desired whereas others can have have good support with ramped barrels.  The newer RIA models are showing good promise for the price...

Best regards and enjoy the forum!

You know, you would think some enterprising CNC programmer/operator would create the design programs to CNC these parts and offer them.  Seems like the made to order business of gun parts could be a real opportunity, if executed correctly.

Yes that is a good possibility and business opportunity as well as a company to produce and market magazines for the Smith & Wesson 1st, 2nd & 3rd gen pistols.

I responded,2nd post in this thread,about the 1006,now S&W magazines were brought up. On the S&W forum(I have the same username there),one of the members has started to refer to me as 'the king of S&W mags'. I've sold some 10mm mags here(picked them up for $40 and sold them for $45 plus postage)and members are wanting more,more,more. I go to a lot of gun show in Ohio(22 shows so far in 2016) and buy S&W mags whenever I see them.I've probably got 50-60 in inventory of 9s,40s',10',& 45s'. My 10mm mag inventory is small now so can't ship any out till I acquire more. 9s' and 40s' I got single stackers and double stackers,45s' I got a variety. Been shipping to around the country. The 9 and 40 10 rounders for restricted states are probably the most difficult right behind the 456TSWs'.

What parts need reproduced? If their is a part that fails often enough, I bet Henning or EGW could make them.  When I owned my 1006 it didn't seem like many things could break.

In response to The_Shadow and oldman10mm,  over the years I have changed out the recoil spring with stronger Wolff springs, trying to keep my brass in the same county as the target. I've changed the followers from yellow to white, and managed to purchase or assemble enough for 8 magazines.  I did needed to fabricate some of those little metal bottom plates that secure the spring and floor plate. I have extra floor plates and unused mag springs, and kept the yellow followers 'cuz they work better than nothing at all.  Of course I have the original straight grip, the replacement straight grip with the dimple, a curved backstrap grip that has been stippled on all the non checkered surfaces, and a set of rubber Hogue grips. And a rubber sleeve thing with finger grooves. And to tote it along with me there is a leather Gould & Goodrich thumb break holster, a nylon Blackhawk! flap holster and a custom built leather retention style holster.  Luckily the POS kydex holster that came with the XDm9 will hold securely enough for those rare match days. There are several mag pouches appropriate for the trail or the range.( By the way, don't think I'm able to compete with anyone but myself, literally.  I shoot Limited Ten and often have no one else there with me. I compare my time with a calendar. Accuracy is usually acceptable.)

Obviously there is a lot of personal history with this pistol, which all this brings back into focus.  So lets modify the original post to include the 2nd posting I made:

Given the lack of support for 3rd gen S&W's, would I be foolish to purchase a 5906 to use as my primary training pistol, building muscle memory with the basic platform, even though the grip proportions differ somewhat? Recoil of course differs as well, but the guns are similar in weight. This mad scheme could preserve the rarer 1006 at the expense of the 9mm pistol.

Why limit yourself to 9mm? .40SW and .45's are about as common, and will be closer to the 10mm recoil and feel. Although you'll be missing some exercise chasing brass...

With 9mm you can preserve the wallet as well as the gun.  Surplus 9mm is cheap.

For your stated goals, this is justifiable.

That said....

If the goal is to preserve the 1006 for just occasional use, why not get a different 10mm for actual work, and make the 1006 a range toy/safe queen and preserve it?

Also, in your original post you mention that 10mm is more expensive to reload.  I have not found this to be true compared to other .40 or .45 caliber rounds.  Are you referring to the cost of brass or are component costs higher in your area?

The Shadow mentioned price of magazines being high. Check out this price: http://smith-wessonforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gunbroker.com%2Fitem%2F575067714

Quote from: jiminthe burg on August 10 2016 03:29:47 AM MDT
The Shadow mentioned price of magazines being high. Check out this price: http://smith-wessonforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gunbroker.com%2Fitem%2F575067714

Similar price to what I paid for my 15 round 10mm magazine...