Back in early 1991, a good friend of mine wanted to purchase a handgun. I tried to sway him towards a smaller beginner's type weapon. However, he wanted a big boy. So, off we went to Turner's Outdoorsman in Pasadena, CA, where I helped him pick out a large automatic, a Model 4566. In 1993, after firing only a couple of boxes of ammo, he traded it to me for something, I can't recall what. I liked the pistol and fired it a few times, but at the time I was not into S&W 3rd Gen Autos. Sometime after that, in around 1996, I traded the 4566 to my older brother. For the life of me I cannot recall the details of that deal.


Fast forward to 2006, after stuffing ourselves at Thanksgiving dinner, I was pressing my brother to sell me a non-S&W handgun that I had taken a fancy to. He would not sell it to me, but proposed a multi-gun trade that would get me the non-S&W handgun I wanted, but I had to take back the 4566 that I had traded to him 10 years earlier. Again, I cannot recall the other stuff involved, but I ended up with the 4566 again.


My brother had shot the 4566 quite a bit. I completely disassemble the pistol (had to learn to do that). I assessed my new project and determined I needed to replace the trigger play spring (had to learn to do that). It needed a number other parts replaced, including recoil spring, side plate, factory grip, and the hammer/main spring (I got to know a few of the S&W techs who use to take parts orders over the phone). When I completed my little project, I had a very nice 4566 with a new trigger play spring, hammer/main spring, side plate, factory grip, and a Wolff 19# recoil spring. The magazines I received from my brother got new Wolff +5% springs as well as S&W followers and bases. I also discovered a new obsession, finding and buying nice S&W 3rd Gen Autos.


With the little 4566 project complete, I put the pistol in the gun safe and focused on finding, buying and shooting 3rd Gens. I recently found and purchased a very nice 4586 which is essentially a DAO 4566. While suffering the many "California" waits to pick it up, I decided to dig out the 4566 and take it for a spin last week. It shot okay, but I felt I could do better. So, earlier today I took it out the range again to see if I could get a target or two worth posting. Nothing like rediscovering an old friend with so much to offer.

I carried a 4506 for several years and loved it.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Tried to make a deal on a clean round guard 4566 at a local shop a few months back. Have a nice 1066 would have loved a good 4566 to go with it but just couldnt make a deal. Congrats on the 4566.

Great pistols! Which should still be in production competing with Sigs hammer fired metal framed 45s. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

That's a nice looking 4566 with square trigger guard. Any idea how many of them were produced? Where do you go shoot? Used to go to Santa Anita Firing Range but they closed many years ago.

I don't even recall S&W making a 4566 with the square trigger guard. Glad you got it out and enjoyed shooting it.

Great looking 3rd gen

I'm back to carrying my 3953 that I bought in 1990 or 1991 (the memory is going!) and love it!

As far as I'm concerned the S&W 3rd gen autos are the finest auto's S&W has made

I was looking for a 4506 when I found my 4566.
I love it.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

The story of,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"The Three .45s"

The 4505/6 is just to big..............( for extended/concealed carry)

The 4516 is just to heavy ..............(for its size/ I'll stick to my 3913)

The 4566......is just right.....................(with IMO a set of Hogue grips)

I use to shoot at Agoura Hills Shooting Range, but that closed down back around 2009 or so. Now, I am a member at The Firing Line in Northridge. The Firing Line has a location in Burbank, too.


I don't know exact production figures, but according the Standard Catalog of S&W, the 4566 with squared trigger guard was only offered '91-'92, product code 104406. The 3rd trigger guard was product code 108225 and offered '93-'99.

Great guns! I rue the day I sold mine. I had three of them. All of them were some of the most accurate .45s I've ever owned.

They are just perfect in my humble opinion. The decock-only 4566 TSW (without the rail) is the high water mark in the series. Mine was the absolute, hands-down most accurate DA .45 I ever shot.

Agreed. My 4566 has the Hogue rubber grip. It appears to have been installed by the PO.
I was going to swap it out for a factory grip, but the factory grip is awfully thin.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?