Smith and Wesson Model 10 question

[6901]

I always thought a Smith and Wesson Model 10 looked like a revolver should. Although I have never owned one I hope to shortly. I know the model numbers are 10-1, 10-2 and so on. Is their a thought on the best version or time frame of production for this revolver.

I do intend to shoot and carry the gun, it will not be a safe queen.

Thanks

[Sprue]

I have a model 10 snub. Love that thing. The trigger is like glass. The old Smith's have triggers like no other. I have a Manual that tells all, about most gun's but am not home right now.

[murf205]

Beginning with the 10-2 on the standard barrel and 10-3 on the heavy barrel guns the threads on the extractor rods were changed to left hand threads to keep from loosening and giving way harder opening. By 10-6 the trigger guard screw had been eliminated which is no deal breaker for a shooter/carry gun. From there on through the 10-8 models, the changes are pretty minor until you get to the 10-9, starting in 1988 which included the new yoke retention system, radius stud and floating hand hammer nose bushing on the tapered barrels. These are very desirable features for a S&W that you are going to shoot a lot with some top (not OVER the top) loads in. The 10-10 applies the same package as above to the heavy barrels. Smith started using MIM instead of machined parts along about 1997, which some people complain about but I have never had a bit of a problem with MIM parts. Later models also features the lock with the hole in the left side of the frame just above the cylinder latch. S&W purist hate the look and I am a fence straddler when it comes to the lock. I have a nickle 24 and a 629 with the dreaded Hillary Hole and neither has ever gave 1 minute of problems. I had a heavy barrel model 10 and, like a young fool that I was, sold it. It was as good a shooting gun as I've ever held. The "pencil" barrels shoot just as well so you really can't go wrong with a 10-? What ever you end up with, post some pics--we love gun porn.Attachment 259945 Here is my gun and, shamefully, it is an unfired safe queen.

[murf205]

6901, get a copy of Standard Catalog of Smith&Wesson. It is really a 432 page book by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas. It in invaluable as far as referencing S&W guns and great company history as well.

[Speedo66]

S&W also pinned the barrels of Model 10's to prevent them from unscrewing until 1982. Not sure what series that relates to.

No rash of barrels unscrewing themselves after that though. lol

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Before it was designated as the Model 10 it was known as the Military & Police. In general, as they came from the factory, the commercial production M&Ps had a smoother, long action, which was redesigned a bit in the later Model 10s and is called the short action. There wasn't much difference in the M&Ps and 10s external appearance, and it was only in the last 15 years or so that they started to look different. There seems to be a lot of Mod. 10s on the used gun market right now, many imported as surplus from foreign law enforcement agencies. They range in condition from very nice to not so good, so chose carefully if you have a selection.

[Outpost75]

S&W also pinned the barrels of Model 10's to prevent them from unscrewing until 1982. Not sure what series that relates to.

No rash of barrels unscrewing themselves after that though. lol

That is true, but they introduced thread choke with that change.

[metricmonkeywrench]

My range mule is a 10-6, first year for the heavy barrel. Does everything I want it to do and have no worries about handing it to any new shooter.

I am a firm supporter of the belief that there should be one in every safe.

[ShooterAZ]

I have an old US Property marked Victory Model M&P, a 2" 10-7 Nickle Plated, a 3" 10-7 heavy barrel blued, and a 4" 10-8 blued pencil barrel. All of them are excellent shooters and are not safe queens! They are definitely among my very favorite handguns of all time to shoot and enjoy. Thanks to "Social Distancing", I have now discovered that I don't need to cast or load any 38 Special ammo for quite a while. I had a chance to sort through boxes and boxes of "stuff", and found a lot of "stuff" that I sort of "forgot" that I had. Now I just need to get out in the woods and do some more "Social Distancing" with my Model 10's. They are most enjoyable so OP get out and get yourself one, but stay safe in doing so!

[wgg]

I never could understand the way some folks doted on model 10's. Late last year I decided to try one for myself. I found a like new 10-8, round-but 4" heavy barrel. I was concerned about the anemic 38 special. I looked at Hodgdon's load data for both 38 Special and +p. Hodgdon's CFE is impressive with standard pressure loads let alone +p. I carry mine constantly and have taken 2 hogs 100-125 lb.s or so, within the last week. MP 359 Hammer with the Penta hp and plus p load of Long Shot. Very impressed with the results. All in all a very balanced revolver, considering power and performance.

[ddixie884]

I have owned a few M-10s and they are hard to beat. My first quality firearm was a
Combat masterpiece and so I have two M-15s instead but I do have a M-12 I am fond of.....

[murf205]

They are just a damn good gun that shoots where you point it and doesn't take a gorilla to shoot it accurately. Remember, " It aint what you shoot, it's how you shoot it"

[6901]

Thanks for all the information and book recommendation!
Always appreciate the good nature of the people here!

[tazman]

I have been looking for a good model 10 locally for a while without any luck. I did run across a good model 13 so I purchased it.
I am pretending it is a model 10 and it shoots right to the sights.
Excellent gun. Hard to beat a S&W K frame.
I have a 17, 617, 13, 14, 15, and a 19. All are excellent shooters.

[Outpost75]

The 10-8 back to the 10-5 were good solid duty guns. The earlier and later ones less so.

[Boolseye]

My first high-caliber handgun was a model 66-1. It may also be the last one I would part with.


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[jumbeaux]

The 10-8 back to the 10-5 were good solid duty guns. The earlier and later ones less so.

Sir what makes the no dash Model 10 thru 10-4 less solid than the 10-5 thru 10-8 ?

rick

[M-Tecs]

Some info on the changes for each dash # here on post #3

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-rev...ariations.html

[Gregorious]

I have a 10-6 .357 S&W Magnum that I bought at 16 years old. Still a fine shooting handgun.

[Tatume]

From there on through the 10-8 models, the changes are pretty minor until you get to the 10-9, starting in 1988 which included the new yoke retention system, radius stud and floating hand hammer nose bushing on the tapered barrels. These are very desirable features for a S&W that you are going to shoot a lot with some top (not OVER the top) loads in.

As a minor disagreement, the radius studs are not desirable. The radius end of the stud is not supported by the side plate. This will usually not cause a problem, but it isn't an ideal condition.

The 10-10 applies the same package as above to the heavy barrels. Smith started using MIM instead of machined parts along about 1997, which some people complain about but I have never had a bit of a problem with MIM parts.

Agree. Although the older (pinned barrel) guns sometimes (certainly not always) have a nicer action, the MIM actions are very good, and are consistently good. I have many, and like all of them. The only tuning I've done is to shim the hammers and triggers to eliminate canting on the studs, and keep them clean and well-oiled internally. I can't swear that shimming makes any improvement, but it does no harm, and makes me feel confident.