Hello, new to the forum, just picked up a 4546 in a pawn shop..always wanted a 1911 type of 45acp did some trading on it and came out pretty good ..shot it some yesterday ,dont like the trigger pull (this is my first semi im a revolver guy) couldnt hit **** with it ...looking for any kind of info on this gun .
thx mikey

Welcome to the forum.

In the early to mid 1990s S&W introduced new 3rd generation pistols so often it was and still is referred to sarcastically as the new gun a week period. Many of those including your 4546 sold poorly and are now collectors items. We are unable to learn how many 4546s were manufactured but a member who has been collecting their serial numbers for many years estimates 600. Police departments were the main customers for DAO 3rd generation pistols and they strongly preferred the ¾” shorter 4586 which sold very well. At least that’s my theory of why the 4546 failed in the market place. Any how you are in a good position to trade for some sort of 1911 if you use the classifieds here as they are frequented by S&W collectors.

By the way, although the 3rd generation trigger is different feeling than most other brands’ DAOs it is manageable if you work it like it was the last half of a revolver DA pull. Center the first joint of your finger on the middle of trigger for leverage. A traditional crisp SA is easier to use in matches but you might learn to like your 4546 after you master its trigger.

These are rare, pics please

I have a 5946 DAO and i feel its an excellent trigger. A bit long but smooth, light and breaks crisp. I love it!

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I agree. Long and smooth, and really not as heavy as I had anticipated it was going to be.

I think I paid $550 NIB just a few months ago. Matter of fact, I think I started a thread about where I got mine from and the fact they had more.

Uncommon, but not rare.....well, not 1046 rare.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

i will post some pics when i get my phone cord bak ..i left it at the other house.... i shot gun again today from a rest was hitting pretty good i must have been jerking the thing ...trigger is still heavier than i would like maybe ill get used to it ..i thinking now i made a pretty good trade on this gun ..on more thing does anyone know what kind of clip fits these is it the same as a 1911 ?
thx

It takes the standard full size 45xx series magazines which do not interchange with any other pistol except the earlier 645. The earliest 645 magazines were all stainless., The first 45xx full size mags had red plastic followers. They were followed by improved ones with yellow followers then the current ones with black followers. All vintages work fine in my 45xx pistols and 645.

Wolff has reduced power springs. The may help a lot depending on what's in it now.

The best thing about 45xx pistols is their reliability. Unlike 1911s they’ll feed sharp corner SWCs designed for revolvers and, manually cycled, empty cases.

my mag has orange... i found some mags at midway for $33 ..i also cked out the wolff springs does anyone know how much skill and tools it takes to change these out ? yes i tryed and it does indeed chamber and eject emptys...!!!

I should have written the first 45xx magazines had "reddish orange followers". Some folks call them red, others call them orange. IIRC latter 645 magazines that still had metal base plates also had the reddish orange followers.

S&W's MSRP is in the high $30s so $33 isn't bad IF they are new S&W factory mags. However, at least before the buying panic used ones surfaced often enough at gun shows, in the ads here and on the internet auctions for less.

For most pistols I think paying more for factory mags saves money in the long run compared to after market mags. The reason is each time you try out a new load you have to test it in each type of magazine you use. Over the years that can take a lot of ammo.

If you have the mechanical ability to remove all the internals from your revolvers or other pistols you'll do fine changing springs in a 3rd generation.

There’s expert advise available here is you ask. Member Fastbolt posts great detailed info on 3rd generation pistols. You might enjoy reading some of his posts.

thanks for the info i can take a revolver apart ok so maybe ill try the spring deal ....does anyone know how safe are these guns to carry one in the chamber ...theres no safty you know ???

It is just as safe as carrying a loaded revolver.

It does have safeties but they are passive rather than active.