Having grown up around numerous firearms (most every member of my extended family is a gun owner), it was never really a question of if I would purchase my own gun, but when. Even though I had obtained a concealed carry permit in my early twenties, I didn’t bother purchasing a gun until I was 26 and worked in an extremely dangerous part of town. After doing a bit of research, I decided I wanted something with more capacity, stopping power, and safety than the .38 caliber revolvers most of my family carried. But I didn’t want to break the bank buying one. Beating the rush by exactly ten days, I walked into a local gun store and paid just over $400 for a brand-new Smith & Wesson Model 410 pistol on September 1, 2001.
The gun was chambered in the new-for-the-Nineties .40 S&W cartridge omnipresent in today’s police holsters. The company called the weapon the 411—until the Federal Assault Weapons Ban reduced its magazine capacity by one. The newly christened 410 was the big brother to the 9mm Model 910 that rounded out Smith & Wesson’s “Value Line”. Only the 910 survive today; it’s the last of S&W’s regular-production metal-framed pistols.
Based heavily on Smith & Wesson’s original post-WWII semi-auto (the Model 39), the 410’s “third generation” design is the company’s latest (and perhaps final) evolution of a hammer-fired, traditional-double-action, semi-automatic pistol. If you’re not familiar with traditional double action, it’s sort of a hybrid between a single-action-only pistol like a Model 1911 .45 Auto and a double-action-only gun like a Glock.
After you insert a loaded magazine and rack the slide to chamber a round, the hammer will be in the de-cocked position (assuming the thumb safety has been left engaged). The thumb safety’s engagement blocks the firing pin and fully disconnects the trigger from the firing mechanism.
Disengage the thumb safety and the gun is ready to fire a double-action shot—as soon as you pull the (fairly heavy) trigger. After firing the first shot double-action, the hammer will be automatically cocked by virtue of the slide’s rearward travel during the previous shot. This makes each subsequent shot a single-action affair with a much lighter trigger pull. (The first shot can be made single action by disengaging the thumb safety and manually cocking the hammer.)
If you want to stop firing before the magazine is empty and return the gun to a safe condition, re-engaging the thumb safety simultaneously de-cocks the hammer and disconnects the trigger. This without causing the gun to fire (though a round will remain in the chamber). If you press the magazine catch button and release the magazine, the Model 410 is completely inoperable. Even if there’s a round is in the chamber, the weapon will not fire; a feature rumored to have saved the lives of police officers wrestling with gun-grabbing perpetrators.
Although it might sound a little tricky, loading and firing the 410 is only slightly more complicated than today’s double-action-only handguns. The payoff: several of the 410’s safety features provide assurances sadly lacking from newer design’s passive safeties. For example,the Model 410 can be made ready to fire with the same singular thumb movement as a far-more-dangerous “cocked and locked” 1911 .45 Auto.
There’s a similar safety advantage over modern double-action-only guns: if my trigger was ever unintentionally pulled (God forbid), nothing would happen as long as the thumb safety was engaged. The same can’t be said for a Glock, which has no external safeties.
In case you hadn’t figured it out, safety is one of my top priorities. But so is being able to deploy my gun at a moment’s notice. I consider the Model 410 an excellent compromise between these competing priorities.
Of course, there are downsides to an older design like the Model 410. I typically shoot better groups with Springfield XDs and Glocks than I do with my Smith & Wesson. Recoil-wise—especially compared to modern polymer pistols—the 410’s metal frame is unforgiving. Again, the long, high-effort double-action trigger pull doesn’t do you any favors in the accuracy department, either.
As you can see, I’ve added Hogue rubber grips. They’ve reduced the gun’s kick considerably, and increased my level of physical comfort while shooting the gun. Accuracy is also improved; I’m consistently capable of attaining close groupings at self-defense distances.
My Model 410 is more than sufficient to protect myself and those I care about. Add to that the fact that I’ve only had half a dozen failures-to-feed (and no failures-to-extract) in nearly 3,000 rounds and you can see why I consider this solid, old design the perfect gun for me.
I have to agree with you on everything about the s&w model 410. This weapon is one of the greatest pistol i have owned. Trigger pull feel comfort knock down power it gets respect. I still have factory grips how much did the hogue grip cost you. email me back maalman@hotmail.com
i just got last new one anywhere. it was made in 2004…very dusty….but brand new in box.
love this gun…have 4 mags for it..two for practice and two loaded w/ golden saber hollowpoints for home protection. light, accurate and good value for the money
I was wondering when Smith & Wesson quit making them. The 9mm version seems to be the only 3rd generation all-metal semi-autos S&W current sells (other than the 1911s and Performance Center models).
My regular carry ammo is ultra-light-and-fast Cor-Bon 135-grain jacketed hollow points (1325 fps muzzle velocity and 526lbs. instrumental energy); however, I've also carried 165-grain Speer Gold Dot hollow point ammo, as well. The Cor-Bon stuff is really hot, and I've put less than 100 rounds of it through the gun over the years, but it always feeds, fires, and ejects flawlessly.
It's been a while, but as I recall, I paid about $15 for them at a local gun show (and only $10 for my cheap-but-functional nylon holster).
Just picked up a used SW410. It seems to shoot down and to the right. I can adjust the to the right with the windage adjustment on the sights and compensate for the down part. It fits nice in the hand well and I really didn't notice and hard recoil.
One odd thing, mt magazine only holds 7 rounds. The indicator on the side says ten, but only 7 rounds fit. Has anyone heard of this? Is there something I need to do to load 10?
Thanks!
Hi Mike,
My gun has always shot to point-of-aim fairly well (especially at the shorter distances I usually practice), so I don't know what to tell you about that.
However, regarding the magazine, I would check the spring and the follower to make sure they're both assembled facing the right way. (I believe the mag will actually partially load with the follower in backwards).
If you can't find anything wrong there, just spring (pardon the pun) for a new magazine at a gun show or online. Most S&W 3rd Generations like this used the same .40 S&W magazine, so you should be able to pick one up for $30 or less. Since such a high percentage of malfunctions are magazine related, investing in one (or more) that you have no lingering doubts about should be an easy decision.
Would the 910 magazine fit in the model 410? Since the 9mm is slightly smaller than the .40 the difference in diameters might prohibit a full 10 rounds of .40 in a 9mm magazine even though it would feed and work….
There are very few cases in which magazines are interchangeable across calibers (.40S&W<–> .357 SIG being a notable exception). I do not believe 910 mags are compatible with the 410. Try the 4006/4003 mags which are currently on sale with CDNN for only $9.99 (factory used) or around 30 bucks new anywhere else. These are 11rd mags and will more than suffice! Good luck!
Best gun i ever have, never mised fired with over 4000 rounds.can some one tell me where i can find parts for spare.
“Recoil-wise—especially compared to modern polymer pistols—the 410’s metal frame is unforgiving” Don, are you saying that recoil is worse with this pistol than your XD? If so, I find that interesting. My SIG pistols shoot much softer than my equally calibered polymer guns. I’m doing a write-up on a friends CZ75 SP01 Tactical and I can barely notice any recoil, so much so that I thought the first round was a squib!
Great article. I have owned my SW – 410 for several years. It is very accurate and I have never experienced a “Fail to Feed”, however, I am far from 3000 rounds fired.
I find the recoil somewhat hard, but can be on target quickly after each round. Also, as you said, the double action is heavier than single action, but with that knowledge, I am prepared on the first round.
I have resorted to factory rounds only, due to the fact that some reloaders tend to over charge the round, resulting in flat primers. I was afraid that I would damage my gun, so quit using the reloads (I don’t own a reloader).
I agree that rubber grips are better and am planning on buying a set for my 410. I have a nice SW67 38 special. I replaced the factory grips with a set of Packmyers. They are great grips allowed me to shoot a near perfect score. Prior to swapping grips the gun would mover around a bit in my grip durring rapid fire.
Anyway, great article and I look forward to reading more of your articles.
I purchased a 410 in 2000, and I’t remains my favorite handgun. The gun fits my hand like a glove, and although I don’t shoot it very often, It’s a dream to operate. Recoil is noticeable, but the 40S&W is a powerful cartridge, so It’s “tollerated”. I have a Glock in .357 and I must say, the recoil is down right violent! No malfunctions with the 410, and for the price (around $450.00) I am very satisfied!
the model 410 i have is in 99.9 perfect condition. looking for best offer.
YOU STILL HAVE IT
I have the S&W model 411 (same as 410 only holds one more round). I’ve had it since new Aug.’99 and have never had ANY FTF or FTE’s. This is a very reliable weapon and I would have yours checked out by a gunsmith to see what’s wrong with it. Model 411 mags swap easily with the 410’s and give you 11 +1 capacity. The snappy recoil is because the .40 S&W is a high pressure (36,000 psi) cartridge as opposed to a .45acp’s 21,000 psi. I have’nt found the Smith’s recoil to be any different than any other pistol firing the same cartridge.
Great pistol. Very reliable, I have owned it for around three years not a single jam even with a few reloaded range rounds here and there. Yes the recoil is strong, it’s a .4o cal, gonna kick a bit. I plan on getting the Hogue rubber grip for it, may look into the packmyers as well. Did see a few tuxedo (stainless steel slide with steel pins black hammer and etching, black frame) custom paint job on a few. Looked pretty amazing for a good ole’ solid steel semi-auto. Some even had wooden grips with the tuxedo finish that I prefered. Excellent purchase, I will never part with it.
…meanwhile, the rest of us will just have to continue using our brains to know how many rounds we fired…
I have a 411 I bought at the Bullet Hole in Belleville as well. I bought mine twenty years ago and only have fired it occasionally. It’s a great gun. I think the 411 was one of S&Ws first attempts at a steel/polymer gun. I have started to get back into shooting and am waiting for my m&p 40 to arrive. On the fence about keeping the gun and upgrading the grips, or selling it. My son shoots with me now and I do like the safeties for that reason. My new pistol only has a trigger safety. That is going to take some getting used to.
I am glad I found a forum where other people appreciate the value of the 410/411.
So I just bought a s and w 411 and cannotfind any info on them besides the fact that its basically the same as the 410 any comments??? And finding it a little difficult to disassemble…
Jared,
Here is a link for a YouTube video of a model 410. It’s an interesting video and the guy breaks the gun down and puts it back together. The 410 and the 411 breakdown the same way.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rUqYoZZoKb0
Good link, KT. Pulling out the slide lock at half cock is the hardest to do without maring the finish. I have use a wood chopstick with a flat edge, also used a wooden popsicle sticky to pry it out. Amazed what home made tools you accumulate in your cleaning kit.
Correction on my first post. I never really paid much attention to the material used for my pistol, it not a polymer, I think its a lighter grade metal. In the 410 video, the guy says it’s an aluminum alloy. So I guess that’s the same on the 411. There is so little info available on the specs for the 410 or 411.
I found another good youtube video. This one is about the Model 411.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyYtd02UepA
I almost sold my 411 and then I got nostalgic and decided to keep it. I like the fact that its an older, solid, gun. I recently bought a M&P and a Sig SP2022. After firing both, I’ve realized I like a heavier gun and a hammer mechanism. Striker fired is not for me.
I guess I am more old school than I thought…
Very well written article and informative, Just picked up a 410 for under $275, but alas, no original packaging. Weapon is 98% and function fires with no problem. And I agree, that this one will be a keeper!
I found the posts very informative and well written. Just picked up my first Model 410, for under $375. 98% and function fires flawlessly. Not bad for a “Gander” gun. I’ll consider trades or outright cash. LMK
Are any of these weapons available for purchase?
My name really is Billy Pierce
are you in tucson? friends with Doc?
I am not familiar with this pacticular handgun. I would imagine that the decocker is better than many from Europe, but many European handguns have these same features, with a unusually heavy trigger, but the same safty issues apply. I leave my bedroom P-64 with the mag hanging and the safety on(1 in the pipe). It works for me.