S&W PD4040

[benEzra]

Just saw the new G&A article on the S&W PD4040. Basically a 3913LS strengthened to take the added stress of the .40S&W (scandium alloy frame, among other things). Just the thing for all us 3913 fans who'd like to have the same gun in a larger caliber . . . is this what the 4013 should have been? (Now I want one . . .)

 

[fastbolt]

Oh yeah ...

I "had" to buy a new 4013TSW (9+1 capacity) because I couldn't find a left over NIB 4013. Of course, the 4013TSW has been a terrific pistol, and the similarity of the grip frame dimensions to my issued 6906 makes for a very easy adaptation when shooting. It's a very nicely made compact .40, and one of our folks who owns a compact Glock .40 actually went out and bought a 4013TSW of his own after shooting mine, and then "retired" his Glock .40 ...

The thing is, I really like my 3913, and I've always wanted a single column magazine equipped .40 S&W pistol of similar size. I just snoozed when the 4013 was being produced.

Now, with the added strength of the Scandium alloyed aluminum frame, all I'm waiting for is the introduction of a stainless steel slide ... and I'll be buying one of the new models.

I really like the SW99 series ... I own a full sized one and I'm issued another full sized one ... and I liked the SW99 Compact .40 I shot ( a couple of our folks have bought them for off duty weapons). It's just that a compact metal-framed 9mm & .40 with single column magazines simply "fits" my hand so well.

 

[Marcus]

The 4040PD wasn`t "strengthened to take the added stress of the .40S&W" by making the frame out of scandium. The 4013,4053 etc. never had any durability issues at all. The 4040 is really nothing new just the good ol 4013 with a tiny bit lighter frame and a black finish. Looks like a nice gun though. Marcus

 

[Big Mike]

I read the article too. I don't know the metalurgy of Scandium, so I'm curious as to how the pistol holds up??? Looks like a powerful package though. Here's a pic off of S&W's site:

 

[Alan Fud]

Posted by fastbolt: ... all I'm waiting for is the introduction of a stainless steel slide ... and I'll be buying one of the new models ...

I prefer stainless myself and I contact S&W both by e-mail & telephone and was told that there are no plans to produce the 4040PD in a stainless steel finish.

What to do

 

[PCRCCW]

Well, now that is a nice little 40! Its about time S&W started looking at better CCW style guns.........damn. Im broke and that SUCKS!

Shoot well..............

 

[racenutz]

This gun might just save me from having to buy a Ladysmith

I know it's a small detail but I really like the way the front of the slide & dust cover is profiled on a 3913LS & feel it makes the gun look much better than the regular models.

I just don't know if I'd feel right shooting a ladies gun

BTW, yes I'm kidding

 

[JNewell]

I'm curious as to how the pistol holds up

Yes, me too. I'm not an engineer but I'll bet the stresses on the frame are different than those on the revolvers.

Edited to note that the regular aluminum alloy version has a good track record, so it would be very surprising if there are any issues with the scandium frame version...

 

[Newton]

Reminds me of the SiG P239 in .40, the only difference being that I'd buy the SiG

 

[SnWnMe]

I sort of worry about that funny magazine follower. It has a metal ball in it so it will lock back after the last round?

 

[PCRCCW]

Hell, I wouldnt worry about it. Id like it, Ive had followers get chewed up and spit out by the slide stop........this would help.

Shoot well.

 

[fastbolt]

The reason I'm going to hold out for a stainless slide is because the early CS series was initially only supposed to be available with blued carbon steel slides ... and then stainless slides replaced them ...

I'm lazy, and I like stainless, if possible ...

Scandium ... Interesting history.

When I was asking about the possibility of a pistol with a Scandium frame AND SLIDE, I was told that there weren't any immediate plans for such a model ... and then the guy told me about the "interesting problems" that would have to be resolved before such a thing could even be considered. Apparently .... just maybe ... nothing "official", mind you ... strictly hypthetically speaking ... ... Ahem ... some "testing" MAY have revealed some interesting results, so far ...

Slide velocities with significantly decreased slide masses are ... hypothetically, mind you ... wild.

He also said that watching the high speed imagery of how a Scandium alloyed frame behaved under recoil ... think .357 Magnum ... was fascinating. Picture the rippling surface of a pond when a rock is thrown in it.

The increased strength of aluminum after being alloyed with minute amounts of Scandium, and the ability of the alloy to withstand certain stresses, is really incredible.

I really like my 4013TSW ... but the thought of a 7+1 compact Scandium alloyed aluminum 4013-type pistol is VERY appealing. Also, if & when S&W decides to produce a Scandium/aluminum 908S/3913TSW or CS9, I just may have to "upgrade" some of my pistols.

For some weird reason, when I was asking about the possibility of a Scandium frame & slide pistol ... the fellow I was talking to started to mumble about how it might be interesting to see how a .380 pistol did with those components ... and mumbled about how S&W was licensed to make the Walther PPK design ... mumble, mumble ... I imagine it might be easier, in some repsects, to develop a blowback design pistol to experiment with spring rates, at first ... but I'm merely a layperson.

Just imagine what the design engineers at S&W are probably "considering", as we speak ...

I love surprises like that ...

 

[benEzra]

know it's a small detail but I really like the way the front of the slide & dust cover is profiled on a 3913LS & feel it makes the gun look much better than the regular models.

Yup. I bought a 3913LS for the same reason. Also makes reholstering easier, IMHO, but looks were the main factor. And I've never been kidded about the "LadySmith" logo in several years of shooting it at the range. Instead, all I hear is "ooh, nice gun . . ."

I sort of worry about that funny magazine follower. It has a metal ball in it so it will lock back after the last round?

That's not a ball bearing for smoother follower movement up the magazine, is it?

 

[extremefishin00]

Wasn't the ball there to keep the cartridges from moving forward in the magazine and creating a malfunction? I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was introduced i the Devel guns and carried over to the regular production S&W compacts.

Chris

 

[SnWnMe]

I read the article in G&A and it said it was for actuating the slide lock

 

[benEzra]

Oops, you're right. (That's what I get for just looking at the photos and not reading the article to the end. And I even bought the magazine.)

I also like the fact that it has a single-side safety, making it that much slimmer.