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Old 01-11-2020, 03:27 PM
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Default The 4516 is one fine pistol

I just got back from the range. I was testing my new to me PC Recon 45. Thank you cherrypointmarine! Fine pistol! And thanks to BMCM for the "squidsix mods" and to squidsix for the inspiration to have them done.

The gun shot reliably and accurately, albeit a little to the right. But I am a lefty, so I think I had too much finger on the trigger. I will be shooting it again in a week or so.

One of the other guns I brought along was my old duty gun a 4516 "dash 3" LE Special order. I have had it for almost 15 years. I always qualified with a "100" shooting it. It has been one of my most accurate handguns. And today it proved it still is. While the Recon 45 shot tiny groups, the 4516-3 bested it, at all distances.

But the 4516-3 has been the only 3rd gen gun I own to give me trouble. It dislikes recoil springs that are nearing the end of their service lives and rejects mags with weak springs. And today it showed me it HATES Sig 230 grain Performance Ammunition. I think the problem was OAL and a thin/small case rim. Anyways, it failed to extract 3 times resulting in a feed jam. The type that "tap rack" won't clear. Not good.

I had to rip the mag out and tip it over to eject the empty casing. Afterwards, it ate over 200 rounds of S&B 230 ball and 25 rounds of RA45T with no issues. A quick "restore confidence drill" at the end of my range session resulted in 21 rounds down range - accurately, with no stoppages and two fast mag changes.

A great, albeit slightly heavy 45. After shooting it I wondered why I don't shoot and carry it more. That is going to change. Regards 18DAI
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Old 01-11-2020, 03:39 PM
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A great, albeit slightly heavy 45. After shooting it I wondered why I don't shoot and carry it more. That is going to change. Regards 18DAI

I don't wonder .......................

I had an early one 1990.... you are right a "great" gun...... but over time I found it just to "heavy" (36.5 oz) for daily concealed carry.

Carry guns are carried a lot more than they get shot. Turned in my 4516 for a Sig 245 ASAP; it is 10 oz lighter.

If I thought I'd be leaving the house and need a .45 I'd just add another 2oz and go to a 4566

Good luck...............

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Old 01-11-2020, 09:12 PM
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Well I have “heard” that when the Recon45’s barrel is cut down, (making it a somewhat normal P.C. compact .45,) they ALWAYS shoot to the right.

Just wondering if you’re thinking about replacing the rubber grips with the other factory offering? I did on mine but I’m undecided.

Mine came with the same adjustable rear sight as on my Shorty45 MKII but it also had the original rear with it. That is something I might change back also cause there seems to be an “issue” with owners messing up their one of the 603 made.

Great range report, thanks. Glad you like your Recon, nice addition for you.

Here’s another picture of my “modded” Recon. Pretty tame.

Jim
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Old 01-12-2020, 12:26 PM
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4T5GUY I am thinking of doing just that!

I have the Recon 45 broke down for cleaning this AM. I found a new OEM grip in my spares box. But I can't locate a rubber grip sleeve. May have to go Monday and pick one up.

So, the Hogues may last on it till after the next range trip. Reliability on the Recon 45 was top notch! It ate everything I tested it with. Including the Sig Performance Ammo that the 4516-3 rejected. And groups were nice and tiny! Just.......2 inches right of POA at 15 yards.

But, like I said earlier, probably me. Too much finger on the trigger/gripping light weight 45 too tight/shooting new to me gun......dunno. So a few more range trips before I change much about it.

And as nice as a 4516-3 is..........the Recon 45 carries MUCH better. Sorta like a 39XX series gun. In St Peters favorite caliber. And the accuracy < 10 yards is more than fine enough for social work. So it goes in the holster to work with me tonight. I'm too tired to tote the 4516-3 for 11 hours. Regards 18DAI
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Old 01-12-2020, 01:50 PM
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And groups were nice and tiny! Just.......2 inches right of POA at 15 yards.

18DAI
Just loosen the rear grub screw and bump or shove the backsight to the right a touch. This is where one of epj's sight pushers comes in handy... when you need to drift a fixed sight a tiny bit. Otherwise, it's pull the decocker body and clamp the slide in a vise with soft jaws then use a brass or copper drift & hammer to bump the sight.

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Old 01-12-2020, 02:16 PM
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Roger that. Will do! Thanks. Regards 18DAI
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Old 01-12-2020, 02:41 PM
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Those 4516's were King during their time - but as others have said, for the size and caliber, they are just heavy beasts for daily carry.
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Old 01-12-2020, 02:56 PM
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Hey Bill, do you have any experience with, or info you can pass along, concerning putting a dovetail adapter plate for an RDS on a 4516 - 1 ?
Here's what I know at this point, the adapter plate from egw for a 1911 fixed sight, the dovetail does fit but the rest of the plate needs a good bit of fitting. What say you or any of the others on the Forum?
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Old 01-12-2020, 04:17 PM
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Is it the SKU:49400 mount your referring to? I'd have to examine the parts firsthand to see what might/needs to be done to make it work. For one thing, a E-series 1911 or a 59xx is not as thick as a 4516 in the slide top forward of the dovetail. Neither does that 1911 have the raised lip at the rear of the slide. Makes me think a milled flat forward of the dovetail would be needed...


And / or removal of the raised lip aft of the dovetail...


I'd be somewhat hesitant to cut on the EGW mounts. Those are 7000 series aluminum which will corrode readily once you cut through the anodizing and will soon wind up looking like seagull poop.

If you're considering an RMR or like optic, perhaps the Trijicon RM62 steel block mount is an option for a custom fit.

Cheers
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Hey Bill, do you have any experience with, or info you can pass along, concerning putting a dovetail adapter plate for an RDS on a 4516 - 1 ?
Here's what I know at this point, the adapter plate from egw for a 1911 fixed sight, the dovetail does fit but the rest of the plate needs a good bit of fitting. What say you or any of the others on the Forum?
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Old 01-12-2020, 04:34 PM
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Hello, I saw the thread, " 4516 is one fine pistol",and I agree.
I own a 4516-1 which I purchased brand new in the late 1990's. I agree its heavy but its very reliable and I would trust my life with this firearm.

I keep it in the safe and regulated to the range. I am bit concerned that if something breaks or need parts I have to go on a internet search to locate parts and down time could be an issue if I relied on this gun as my primary defense gun.
I sometimes toy with the idea of selling it but realize they do not make these classics any more and that I would regret selling my 4516.

nm730
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Old 01-12-2020, 04:39 PM
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I've had a backup (in the safe) to all my primary carry guns since the mid-90s.
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Old 01-12-2020, 04:49 PM
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The 4516 series is a LITTLE heavy. The no dash is actually no heavier than an Officers model 1911 and all of the 4516 series is thinner than the comparable guns like the Sig 245, Sig 220 compact or the really not comparable guns like the m&p 45 compact.

And those of us who still lift weights and eat Wheaties also wear REAL reinforced gunbelts and good holsters - IE NOT Uncle Mikes, Fobus or Blackhawk. So we don't mind a little bit of weight in exchange for bet your life reliability and accuracy AND a hammer fired metal framed pistol.

nm730, I have well over 6K rounds through my 4516-3 (the majority of it donated to me by taxpayers) and another 2K through a 4516 no dash that I tested on this board. The only part I ever broke on ANY of my 4516s was a MIM mag catch which fractured like the cheap pot metal it was.

So, buy a steel mag catch, like I did, there are several for sale at Numrich's, Brownells and Ebay, and a few cases of 45 acp and go enjoy that fine 45. These are guns built when QA/QC was paid attention to. They are not fragile, at all. Regards 18DAI
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Old 01-12-2020, 04:54 PM
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Here's a picture of my S&W 4516-1.
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Old 01-12-2020, 04:58 PM
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18 DAI,

Thanks for the tip.
You are right Smith & Wesson third generation guns are built like tanks .

nm730
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Old 01-12-2020, 05:39 PM
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Love my 4516 no dash. And the 4506 hammer is the icing on the cake. GARY
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Old 01-12-2020, 05:40 PM
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is thinner than the comparable guns like the Sig 245, Sig 220 compact

And those of us who still lift weights and eat Wheaties also wear REAL reinforced gunbelts and good holsters - IE NOT Uncle Mikes, Fobus or Blackhawk. So we don't mind a little bit of weight in exchange for bet your life reliability and accuracy AND a hammer fired metal framed pistol.



Regards 18DAI
Well at 65+ I've still got room for my 245 inside my waist band in a Sparks Summer Special .... held up by a Wilderness Tactical 5 stitch Frequent Flyer belt.
But those Wheaties will keep you regular!!!!



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Old 01-12-2020, 05:49 PM
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And those of us who still lift weights and eat Wheaties also wear REAL reinforced gunbelts and good holsters - IE NOT Uncle Mikes, Fobus or Blackhawk. So we don't mind a little bit of weight in exchange for bet your life reliability and accuracy AND a hammer fired metal framed pistol.
Here Here!

Since last summer I've found myself reaching for my tuned up 4506 for primary CCW far more than any of my other pieces. Carried in Kramer horsehide #2 hangin' on a Galco SB6 and of course a couple realoads on the port side. Although I think I'll need a new belt soon...Seems I've run out of holes on the low end. With all that lifting weights and such, my feedbag has shrunk a bit

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Old 01-12-2020, 06:39 PM
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Bill, actually I bought the 49330 but I think the 49311 is the one I need. It appears the thickness of the mount forward of the dovetail is thinner.
I just may remove the raised lip and get the 49311.
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Old 01-19-2020, 06:41 PM
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Nice post 18DAI! I recently was lucky enough to also acquire a 4516-3, though unfortunately it hasn't made a trip to the range yet. I'm hoping to get it there soon but my schedule has been hectic lately.

I will say that it has a very smooth trigger and makes a nice companion piece to my 4506 (R4), which also has the laser markings, MIM components, and no 'dash' listed after the model number. That 4506 is a real sweetheart to shoot, and no doubt more accurate than I am!
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Old 01-19-2020, 06:50 PM
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Congrats my friend! The "dash 3" is a VERY scarce variant. Made after the official end of production for LE Special orders.

Mine is so smooth and so accurare, I think they recieved some special attention when they were made. Nice score TercGen!

I look forward to your range report and shooting impressions. Regards 18DAI
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