First Gun of 2004: S&W 1086

[Beren]

Well, I finally brought home my first gun purchase of 2004: a used S&W 1086. No box and only one magazine, but I do have a few more that came with my 1076. It has night sights and they're still usable in low light - barely. However, they're either dirty or the white rings have worn off, making it difficult to get a sight picture in daylight! Holster wear, and it does show signs of having been fired more than a few times. We'll see how she looks after she's cleaned up.

Price: $420 out the door. Good/bad? I could've bought another 1076 off KYimports for $370 + S/H + transfer, which would have brought it up to around the same price.

 

[Erich]

Good on yer!

I think you did just fine, esp. considering that it has night sights.

So, you can mail that slide to Trijicon and have them refresh your lamps for $55 (postage included) - a buck a curie. Hit the Trijicon site for contact info and give them a call before sending it. I'm pretty sure this will take care of your daylight problem, too.

Have fun with it!

 

[Myself]

I think you did well.

I have been looking for a 1086 for a while at a reasonable price and have not found one.

Good luck with your new toy.

 

[agtman]

Yep, that sounds like a decent deal. Good find.

 

[Beren]

Interesting notes so far:

1. The recoil spring guide rod looks "eroded" near the front. It curves inward slightly right near the tip.

2. The 1086 is noticably heavier than my 1076, but not heavy enough to be a problem for me.

3. It was pretty filthy. I might need to soak it in something to get the lead stains off the frame, but the barrel seems okay inside.

4. The Hogue grips are fairly worn. Easily replaced if I decide to do so.

I'm going to check into that "night sight recharge" recommendation. I couldn't find anything about such a service on their website, but I'll give them a call monday. I might even see if they'd convert my 1076 sights into night sights or replace them.

Questions:

What lb recoil spring should I use if I replace the current one?

Anyone have recommendations on different grips? (It only came with the Hogue grips which are nice, but...)

OWB Holster recommendations for 1086?

Thanks guys. Pictures coming in a few days.

They had a S&W Mod. 57 (iirc) in .41 Magnum that I almost bought instead. I might end up going back for it..

They also had a Performance Center S&W 629 2.5 inch. Pretty, but $890 is alot of money...

 

[Badger Arms]

I've generally stayed away from the 10xx series from Smith. It's my understanding that they were discontinued for a reason, and that reason was durability. That 10mm pounds even sound guns. Might explain the unusual wear you describe.

 

[Marcus]

Patently untrue. The 10XX series Smiths are in the running for the strongest 10mm handguns ever made. Their only rivals are the Glock 20/29. Smith discontinued them due to poor sales. Shame the internet wasn`t as big back then to spread the word about the 10mm,they`d probably still be with us.

Beren,good buy. Not a real common model,cool. Marcus

 

[JNewell]

It's my understanding that they were discontinued for a reason, and that reason was durability.

Read posts from active users of the 10xx pistols (the most active place IMO is GlockTalk's 10 Ring, oddly enough). There are lots of folks putting a lot of hot 10s downrange in these pistols with absolutely no reported problems. I'd say they may well be the best pistols S&W made, at least until the TSWs.

 

[Badger Arms]

Having no firsthand experience, I'll have to defer to others on this one. I've sold two in my time and both users are still happy. Up here, it's a good backup to the hunting rifle. Flat trajectory, good energy, flatter and lighter than a 44 or Glock, all stainless steel.

 

[MiniZ]

A good buy. Not a screamin' deal, but considering it isn't the most common model, and you got night sights, you did well.

 

[Marko Kloos]

The Smith 10xx-series are excellent guns, easily the best autochuckers out of S&W. They are built like tanks, accurate, very reliable, and easy to shoot. Get yourself a 20# spring from Wolff, stock up on single-stack 10mm Smith mags, and enjoy the gun.

I used to have a 1066, and now I deeply regret having parted with it. That sucker would feed anything, from lead SWC target loads to Georgia Arms 155 grain screamers.

 

[Grayrider]

Gotta agree with the rest of you on the 10xx series. Tough as tough can be. My 1076 ran with hotter 'n hell ammo that everything else choked on. Should never have sold it. That is why I have another one on the way as I type this. 1911s are my first love, but it is hard to beat a gun as tough and reliable as a Smith 10mm. One of these days I will run across an orphan 1026. Missed one cheap at a show a while back and been kicking myself since.

GR

 

[Beren]

Sadly, after an extended range session, I have discovered that double-action only pistols do not agree with me regardless of how buttery smooth the action may be. The 1086 functioned flawlessly and was as accurate as anything can be in my hands. The frame soaked up the recoil; it felt like shooting hot 9mm rounds, if that..

I plan to post this pistol for sale in the appropriate forum in a few days, but I thought I would give first dibs to those kind enough to have participated in this thread.

Special 48-hour offer: $400, shipped to your FFL, and in the lower 48 states we split the shipping costs. One magazine, no box, though I'll have to put it in something to ship it. Payment by postal money order, etc etc.