Was at the LGS last Saturday picking up my daughter's first rifle (Ruger 10/22) when I looked in the consignment section and there it was - a very serious looking S&W 457. Awesome compact .45

After getting my 6906 and putting the 3913 on layaway, my brother told me about the 4516 he used to carry and how great it was. For once I had some extra money and decided to look at it. Picked it up and it felt great.

Was debating in my head and asked "OK to dry fire?" Salesman nodded yes and I checked the chamber again then pulled the trigger in double action....... It was very smooth and light! Almost as good as some of my tuned revolvers! Single action has some takeup but is great as well. Next words I said were "Im taking this one too". Paid $450 for it. A little on the high side but I think I just paid a little too soon. $450 for a great compact .45 seems to be a bargain. New Glocks there are all over $500.

$450 is a fair price for a superb 457. Congrats!

I look forward to your range report. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Thanks 18 DAI ! Now I just need a full size 3rd Gen.

You will like it, now start finding some more magazines.

No doubt! Definitely need at least one more. Which ones fit?

Congratulations. That was a very nice find and I think the price is good too! It look like it's in superb condition.

Regarding your next quest of finding a full size 3rd Gen., please allow me to make a recommendation. I have a 4506 no dash that I've had for a little less than a year. I've been shooting it at least once per week. I've quickly grown to love this gun. My accuracy with this gun has astonished me. I never would have dreamed I could be so accurate with a .45 even with its fixed sights. It has never failed to fire, feed or extract. Mine has the older style square trigger guard that I've learned to like as well. So, if you run across a nice 4506 at a nice price, give it your attention.

it's funny how a 4506 of any variant becomes one of the "must take" guns when heading to the range.....when I went to my buddys place this past weekend to do a little shooting as we always seem to end up doing.....his son who is somewhat of a 1911 "snob" (no disrespect intended to the 1911 fans).....and thinks if it ain't a 1911 then it ain't worth having....even though I didn't even come close to changing his mind set......I had to needle him a bit when he kept getting on target better with my 4506-1 than his Remington 1911.....he grudgingly acknowledged that he "kinda" liked the 4506-1....even though it was an "old" Smith.....he gets it from his dad....his dad hates Smith autos because he had a negligent discharge some 20 years back that at the time almost injured his then new wife.....if memory serves me it was a model 59...but back to OP's 457 which looks NIB at a smokin price....I know a guy that knows a guy to score those 7 round mags new in package...PM me if you are interested

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witty signature goes here

Ok, I am taking this thread as a sign. I have been looking at 457s today and pondering a purchase, and right before I saw this thread I found out from a friend I was chatting with that a local shop has a 457 in stock. A sign, I tell you. It must be a sign.

It would be a bad omen to ignore "a sign".

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JeepinSoldier:

Looks like a good find to me. I really like the compact 45's. I hope you will too.

PS: I believe they take the same mags as the 4516, hopefully someone else can confirm.

Ahhhh youth. When I was a young Sergeant the sun rose and set on the Colt 1911 for me. I took it to the range most Saturday's and shot several hundred rounds each time. The only other handguns I owned were my 4" Model 19 and a Browning Buckmark Pro target.

Now that I am older and wiser I can appreciate a 5" 625 and compact 457 in .45 as well as......... wait for it......... 9mm's!!

Would really appreciate a line on another 457 magazine. PM sent. Thanks!

Thank you for the recommendation. I think a nice 4506 or 5943 might be next...... Running out of room in the safe.

Had a Smith and Wesson compact day at the range today. Loads of fun!!

Took the new to me 457, 3913, and also shot the 940 for the first time today.

Unfortunately age is catching up to me and I'm losing my near vision, especially in the dark of the indoor ranges. So Im sure that the guns can shoot better than I can now until I figure this out. Wore my glasses and the front sight was sharp focus and the target at 15 to 25 yards was very difficult to see.

Anyway - the 457 was amazing! I had read that the 457 recoiled less than a full size 1911. While recoil is subjective, I would say that it is the same or a little less. Surprising for a lightweight, compact pistol. Function was 100 percent with my 230 grain FMJ handloads. Next time Ill try some Speer Gold dot.

I can see this pistol becoming a regular range companion.