Some Stuff for You!!

Have Fun! – Run the Gun! – and remember – Fish Heads are Cheap!!

S&W 4046 – Old School Stuff

Very nice example of a 4046 – Wait a minute now – whats a 4046??

Remember this chart from a previous post?? Lets work our way through all the numbers

It is a four digit number – so it is a third generation – _ _ _ _

The first two are 4 0 _ _ – so it is in 40 S&W –

The third number is a 4 – _ _ 4 _ – so it is standard size ( 4 inch barrel ) and Double Action Only

The fourth number is a 6 – _ _ _ 6 – so it is in stainless steel

Confused yet?? Again??

The third gen 4000 series pistols are really neat – they were designed by Smith to fire the 40 S&W cartridge and do a great job of mitigating muzzle flip and felt recoil – sheer size and mass helps smooth things out.

Here we are with a Glock 17 – very similar in size

However – when you put them on the scale – the similarity thing comes screeching to an abrupt halt!!

Glock 17 is just over 22 ounces empty weight . . .

Smith 4046 is just over 37 ounces empty weight !! It is actually quite pleasant to shoot full up 40 S&W loads in it – the sheer mass really settles things down.

Breakdown is simple enough – line up the notch – push the pin from the right and pull it out – comes right apart

Typical Gen 3 Smith – built hell for stout

Underside of the slide

Looking down the magwell

Yes I know it’s a little dirty in spots – simply have not had time to strip it and detail clean

The 4006 and it’s variants were used by many agencies in quite a variety of “flavors” including tactical models with an attached anodized rail as well as a super cool tactical model with an integral rail – I believe the only agency that coughed up the money for that one was CHP

Mark at Summit Gun Broker ( I grabbed these pics off his site ) has different models available at various times – click through to his sight and look under used handguns – and if you are looking for something “different Summit Gun Broker is for sale11 – check his site for details . . .

Smith & Wesson 4006 TSW – serial numbers start with CHP – now that’s cool – and notice the rail is machined out of the frame – not added on

Smith & Wesson 4013 TSW

S&W 4043TSW

These range in price from 300 to 500 bucks from various sources ( Gunbroker – pawn shops etc. ) – and you will more than likely never wear them out – they are built like tanks – and no I am not going to explain each model number to you – scroll up to the chart!

The double action only ( DAO ) on these is pretty neat – when you chamber a round you also pre-cock the hammer – shorter trigger pull – the trigger is very similar to firing a S&W revolver double action.

And I have seen them around in pawn shops occasionally – if I get a chance to run it I will get some pics or a video clip – all I did was run a function check with it – I just don’t have the time to run 2 or 3 hundred rounds through every thing every time – reality is a bitch!

These old S&W third generation pistols just have more “personality” than the polymer framed guns – not to knock all the fantastic plastic out there ( and I own my fair share ) – but these are just cool!

Have Fun – Run the Gun – and remember – Fish Heads are Cheap!!

CZ 2075 RAMI

From CZ’s website –

The CZ 2075 RAMI is a sub-compact semi-automatic based on the proven CZ 75 line of pistols. Just like the 75, the RAMI is double action/single action, allowing it to be carried in different conditions depending on the shooter’s preferences. Several safety devices are used including a firing pin block and a manual safety. Incorporating the CZ double-stack magazine design, the little RAMI ships with a 10 round flush-mount magazine and 14 round extended magazine, and a low capacity-compliant version is available with two 10 round magazines. With a 3” barrel and an unloaded weight of less than 26 ounces, the black polycoat, alloy-framed RAMI is ideal for concealed carry.

Picked this up at INNER10 – Jacques got 4 of them in – they didn’t last the week !! Y’all have seen several sneak peaks of this in previous posts – well here we go –

Added the G10 grips – they really “finish” the RAMI appearance wise – not to knock the factory grips – good texture but very plain. Shown in these two pics with the 14 round extended mag – these next two will give you a good idea of “pinky hanging” vs full grip – 10 round vs 14 round grip

10 round

14 round

The advantage of the 10 round mag is conceal-ability – the shorter the grip – the easier to conceal – the extended mag gives you 14 rounds for a reload.

Let’s take a look under the hood . . .

Line up the first notch with the back of the frame – push the pin out from the right side – may have to give it a tap – Gently!! Use a mag base plate . . .

Comes apart just about like everything else – take the slide off – pull the spring – drop the barrel – there ya be !

Looking down the mag well –

Under side of the slide showing the firing pin block –

The guide rod is a little different with one spring captured and one spring not –

The feed ramp comes smooth from the factory – no need to fluff and buff !!

Factory stated weight is 25.9 ounces – this one with G10 grips on this scale – 23.1

The footprint is just about identical to the S&W Shield – But it is thicker which is an advantage grip wise – gives you more real estate to get a hold of but it does make it a little harder to conceal

You almost over reach with the Shield grip – grip is borderline too thin – combined with the higher bore axis the Shield tends to move around a bit when firing – especially with one hand – and there is not a lot of room for a two handed grip – practice will overcome both issues – the Shield tends to be less of a natural shooter for most folks – But ease of concealment has made the Shield very popular – well north of a million sold!!

The 2075 with its thicker grip gives you a much more “solid” feeling one handed grip – (and totally subjective ) the G10 grip texture is even better than the factory grips on the 2075. With a two handed thumbs forward grip the larger grip on the RAMI really works better than the Shield.

I can’t find the video of the Shield – it may have gotten deleted – it was from quite awhile back – if I get time I will do a fresh one and post an update to this – the difference in stability between the two platforms is very noticeable .

Looking for something else and ran across this picture – had to include it in a quick update – enjoy!!

Well . . . Should I buy one?? That is the bottom line after all – If the price point doesn’t run you off – Absolutely !! Relatively easy to conceal – Great natural shooter – carry’s like a small pistol – Shoots like a full size !! As of this posting – Jacques has one on the shelf at INNER10 – 25% Down – three months to pay it out – don’t pass it up just because you don’t have the full price in your pocket !! Worth every penny!

More stuff just around the corner . . . .

Run the Gun – Have Fun – and remember – Fish Heads are Cheap !!

3 Million and Counting

The Smith & Wesson Shield

Introduced at Shot Show 2012 the 9mm Shield created quite a stir – and became quite the success for Smith & Wesson. Originally offered in two versions – thumb safety or not – the little pistol has really come a long way in just seven years. Smith & Wesson now produces them in four calibers – the original 9mm – a .40 caliber, .380 acp – and a .45 acp .

And so many different factory “options” it tends to be difficult to choose, yet you can find one that fills your specific needs if you are willing to wade through the myriad of offerings.

Night sights – ported barrels – integral laser – “Performance Center” models with upgraded triggers – ( all y’all know how I feel about aftermarket triggers for carry or duty handguns – work and practice – that ugly P word again – and upgrade your skill set !! ) just about any flavor you desire can be bought from the factory.

Let’s take a look at all four . . .

9 mm Shield – The one that started it all . . .

At the time of release it really raised the bar for small 9mm pistols. 7 plus 1 capacity – thin – very concealable inside the waistband and depending on the cut and fit of your pants even pocket carry. Touted as a single stack it’s actually a slight stagger stack. The .40 and .45 are true single stack magazines. Polymer framed for weight savings it comes in at just 18.6 ounces with no magazine. Steel insert for the rails – locking block – fire control group etc.

Then came the Shield in 40 S&W – Weighing slightly less – the barrel is thinner by just a bit – larger hole ( .40 caliber or 10 mm vs 9mm ) – and since the 40 S&W is a little larger diameter cartridge – the breech face , extractor , and ejector are different. Externally ( except for the bore ) the pistols are identical. Holster , Talon grips , lights , sights , lasers etc. are interchangeable.

And then came the Shield in .45 caliber. It is slightly longer in slide and barrel. A tiny bit wider in the slide – and just a little bit longer grip and ever so slightly taller.

Most leather holsters ( and some kydex ) will interchange – I have holsters for the 9mm and the ones I use work with all 3 versions. I utilize the 9mm and .40 as pocket pistols utilizing this minimal kydex cover –

It is as simple as can be – loop it around a belt loop – “click” it over the trigger guard and slip the pistol in your pocket. It even works on the .45 Shield –

The only issue is the .45 Shield just won’t fit in a pocket – the 9mm and .40 are right on the edge of what I can utilize and the tiny difference in the size of the .45 Shield “sizes” it out of the pocket – but it works great inside the waist band or in a belt holster.

And last of the Shield series –

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The Shield 380 EZ – S&W wanted to include a 380 in the Shield series – and they are calling this a Shield – so I guess it is a Shield – there are some significant differences between this and the other three, which we will look at when we get to the “380 EZ” post. Here is a side by side with a 9mm Shield and you can see S&W went down a little different path with the 380.

Plan to do each “flavor” as a stand alone post – Then I’ll pick a favorite – that won’t be hard to do for me (Hint – You will be surprised ) – can’t speak for y’all and which one you will pick.

Remember – Have Fun – Run the Gun – and Fish Heads are Cheap !!