Picked this up last weekend.
I sold a finicky Colt Govt model Series 70 1911 my father had purchased in the mid 80s. It has always been finicky been to a couple smiths over the yrs got tired of a gun I had in the safe but didnt shoot. We all know a malfunction prone gun is no fun to take out.
So got 450 for it it had a pretty low round count as well.
This was in the case came in original box and was virtually unfired.
So I pd 61 bucks and change difference and took her home.

Got it to the range for a quick run of 100 240gr fmj and 4 Defensive rounds I had left in a box.
Fired all with no issues.
I WAS NOT working real hard on grouping I just wanted to confirm it functioned properly. It did.



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Good catch - it looks to be in great shape. Be careful at the range, it looks like an alien was trying to barge in on your target photo in the upper right. They can be very underhanded if you don't watch them ...

Fat arse finger alien. LOL.


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Nice. I love mine--just picked it up a month or so ago. I've got 300 rounds through it so far, no problems. Yours looks pristine--mine has some scuffs and a bushing that creeps out a few mms. But nothing that affects function or accuracy.

I find mine groups very tight, though certain ammo has the tendency to creep left--but still tight groups. I had some brass to the face with range reman and Federal 230, but I kinda think it was bouncing off the wall/ceiling.

In any case... it's a superbly dense-feeling, nicely overbuilt little hand cannon. Rides pretty well AIWB, too. I love it.

Very nice! A compact 45 is one of the holes in my third gen collection.

Are there any practical differences between the no dash, -1, and -2? Is there a reason to buy one over the others?

Well from what I have read about them the -2 is the best version.
I saw the recoil assy is different between them and iirc the feed ramp and or mag follower was changed.

I really had very little knowledge of them when I bought it. I like the 3rd gens overall and will be on the look out for other models.

Dependable reliable and well built.




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If I had to guess Id say the gun had seen maybe a box of ammo if any at all. It is Virtually new.





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At 18DAI's persistent urging, I recently became a .45 aficionado. You'll love the caliber and your new pistol. Congratulations!

My daily shield carry is 45acp. I was carrying a 40 shield until they unleashed this little beast. I love it soft shooter for small gun large caliber. The Gen3 is a joy to shoot very happy with it what little Ive shot it.


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I have two S&W Gen 3 45's 4506 and 4566 TSW. Now I am on the lookout for a 4516-1 or -2. Just wondering what they are going for. That one Texas40 got is great looking hope to find one soon. guess have to keep looking any one have one extra one let me know

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There are hours of reading outlining the differences between them. Me, I have a no dash, & that's the only one I would own. It's the original, & has never let me down. GARY

I have a 4516-2 I bought new maybe fifteen years ago...Took it out last week and fired fifty rounds out of it. Shoots real good and accurate.The balance of the gun is just terrific.. Only problem I have is racking the slide. Gets difficult with the safety on the slide..

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I found it beneficial that it is located there. I find it helps as you can push against the lever and not need to squeeze as hard on the slide.




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Gary
Does yours have a single or dual recoil spring. As I recall that was one of the items that differs in what I read.
Fill me in on any info you have if you would please sir.
I plan to do a lot more reading up on the model.
I was able to download the manual from SW site.


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I put a spurred hammer on my @'94 4516-2. I put it on soon after I got it. I know most here don't think that's a great idea on a compact, and I agree with them. I have the original non-spurred so I can change it back, but the spurred one is still great for me.

Like a stiff sprung 1911, (or others,) cocking the hammer before pulling the slide back to chamber a round makes it easier to do. That's not why I did it though.

I know you will enjoy that new, (cause it is,) 4516-2.

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Congrats on purchasing a great gun!! I've had my 4516-2 for roughly 10 years now and it is still one of my absolute favorites!!

Great advice. I will check around to see if a hammer is still available for my 4516-2.

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Mine has the dual spring assy, just as the day it left S&W. But I located a 4506 hammer, & installed it on the gun. To me, a SA/DA gun is useless if it can't be cocked for the first round. Did that to my 3913 also. GARY

There's a couple threads on here that go into more detail... but... in a nutshell:

No dash - Has a thinner slide and a stepped (i.e., thinned down) frame, with a dual spring setup. Some say it needed more weight in the slide to be reliable.

Dash 1 - Beefed up slide; no stepped frame. Single recoil spring. Some said the single spring wasn't 100% reliable.

Dash 2 - Same beefed up slide/frame, but with a dual recoil spring and thinner guide rod. Also has an extended beavertail, and I think the feed ramp might have a slightly different contour.

I held out for a dash 2. Figured that was the most "mature" of the line.

I actually liked the way it shot.
The feel was good on the take up and the break was good the short reset of follow ups was also nice to me anyway.


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Check out bluebelly2's videos on YouTube, I think he's a member here as well.
He knows these guns from soup to nuts.

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Sure you did

But with the Dash 2 they started using mim trigger parts. This was a cost cutting move, & in my opinion not as good as the previous trigger parts. GARY

I'm pretty sure most -2s had forged hammers/triggers--not MIM. On mine, the parts are black, but I'm 99% sure they're forged parts with some kind of a coating. Same on my 6904.

I remember reading that they started using MIM in the very late -2s. And in the "-3," which I think was a contract run after the -2s officially ended production.

Mind you, I have learned just everything mentioned here from reading 18DAI's posts. So, correct me if I have anything wrong.

If your gun is stainless, & your trigger parts are black, I believe they are mim. GARY.

That is a really neat pistol. I had a nice low round count Colt Series 70 Lightweight Commander that never worked properly and I didn't trust the locals to get it running properly either so I sold it. Wish I had had the opportunity to upgrade in the manner you did. Well done!!

Congrats on the 4516-2! Fine compact 45. I carried one on the job for years. Extremely accurate, especially given its smaller size and shorter barrel.

Bet your life reliable too. I still take mine to the range. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Hopefully I can get it out soon and run a few hundred through it. What Little I shot it so far was a joy.


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I just bought another 4516-2

As I was saying, the one I have isn't exactly pristine. This one looks excellent. Snuck it off GB at a fantastic price too--less than $500. I figure I'll keep the one I like better.

Since my rule was no new guns for a while, I can kinda justify a purchase if I sell one off. Kinda.

In another thread, I had mentioned possibly going for a 4566TSW KSP. Figured that would be too expensive... and I'm really after a totable .45, not another a full-size (ish) affair. For that, I have the 645.

Another thing...

I noticed that the barrel lockup is kinda loose on my current 4516. And by loose, I mean it has a discernible amount of vertical play if you push down on the barrel hood while in battery. Again, the gun has had no problems, and it seems pretty accurate. But my 645 locks up tight as a drum. Barrel doesn't budge if I push on it.

Anybody notice loose lockup on their 4516?

As has been pointed out (in threads by BMCM) one of the pluses of the MIMs hammers is a smoother DA trigger pull because of the inherintly smoother finish of it's contact point than that of the forged hammers, which tended to be rougher from the factory.
.

stiff/notchy decocker lever

( Rats! Looks like PhotoBucket killed his pics in it! )

.

I found I had saved the thread as a .pdf (good thing I guess). Here's that picture.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

I remember that, but my 4516, & 3913 never see DA use, as they both have forged 5906 hammers. S&W did not start using mim parts because of a better DA trigger pull. It was a cost saving measure. GARY

I didn't say that's why they made them. You said they are not as good. Maybe we can agree a smoother trigger pull was a by-product of their cost savings, which some would agree makes it better.

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Waiting for the break of day

To me a stronger part is more important than a smoother DA trigger. Ever seen a mim crankshaft, or connecting rod? GARY

Well that's a poor analogy.

Irregardless of whether they are stronger or not you don't see reports of broken MIM hammers or triggers, in either pistols or revolvers, around this forum.

My MIM revolvers have way more magnum rounds thru them, & abuse, than any of my 3rd Gens & I've never broken one, nor heard of one broken. It's just an ill founded bias, but you're welcome to it. I'm fine with either & it wouldn't deter me from buying an otherwise fine weapon.

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Waiting for the break of day

Than we agree to disagree. Saw a nice 6906 the other day at the LGS. I was all set to buy it until I saw the black trigger, & hammer. I walked. I'm old school. GARY.

While all MIM hammers and triggers are black, not all black hammers and triggers are MIM.

If that "old school" is still open, you might wish to enroll for an "update".

John

Why would a stainless 6906 have black trigger parts unless they were mim? Over the years I have learned "newer isn't always better". Or "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". GARY.

Nope
4586
4616-2

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Sure you did

You can debate with me until the cows come home. Except for a CS45, I will not buy a stainless 3rd gen gun unless the trigger parts are milled stainless. In MY opinion, MIM is inferior, & a cost saving measure. And when I do find a CS45, I will replace the MIM trigger parts with 4506 milled trigger parts. GARY.

Are you saying you honestly didn't know?

S&W eventually installed black FORGED hammers and triggers on most of the 3rd gen stainless models, replacing the "flash chromed", forged hammers and triggers.
At the time, we assumed it was for reasons of style (the black accents looked cool).
In retrospect, perhaps it was because S&W had no workable "silver" spurred hammers for their flagship model 4006, or maybe it was in anticipation of MIM parts.

Start taking a closer look at SS 3rd gens with black hammers and if you don't see "sunken sides" on the hammer, you are staring at a forging.

"Newer isn't always better", but the substantial investment in MIM casting machinery resulted in lighter, smoother, more dimensionally consistent parts with drastically reduced rates of rejection.

It was broke.
They fixed it.

John

Knowledge is Power

The photo you posted was the first time I have EVER seen a stainless 3rd gen gun with black trigger parts that were not MIM. But I'm not into the 2 tone look. GARY

Then you will never own a 3rd gen as S&W never installed a milled stainless trigger on a production 3rd gen.

I guess you really don't know.

John

My 3913, & 4516 no dash would not agree with you. I can text the photo's to you if you want to see them. GARY

On the contrary.
They would agree with me most exuberantly!

Those silver colored parts you think are stainless are actually "flash chromed" forged carbon steel.

C'mon back to school, Gary!
You got a lot of learnin' to catch up on.

John

Stainless, flash chromed, they are forged, & NOT MIM. That's all that matters. Quit being an *****hole. I'm done with this topic. GARY

I apologize, Gary.

I often forget how embarrassing ignorance can be when it is revealed before others.

John

Not sure what the trigger and hammer are to me they appear to be machined not cast parts. Definitely black.
Any way another 300 flawless rounds today.
Shoot aluminum steel and brass case. Had one ftf on a steel case. All in all Id call it reliable.
Joy to shoot for sure.
Rang the 12 in gong at 25 yds no problem.


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Yes, the 4516 is fun to shoot and almost boringly reliable!
And I've never fired a Smith that couldn't hold "minute of bad guy".

I can't tell from your picture, but if your hammer has "sunken sides" and your trigger has a small circle on the side, they are MIM.
If not they are blackened forged carbon steel.

Enjoy yours.
I like mine.

John

Just a quick picture of the different hammers. You can see the indented part on the MIM ones.

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Trigger has no circle I can see and hammer is smooth.



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