This is not a verses thread, as I have no doubt I could love them both. I have 3900 series pistols and 1911s enjoy them. Was tempted to go 10mm, but maybe that's more than I want to bite off. Why not a 45 S&W? Other than being different, what does the 4500 series bring to the table that perhaps the 1911 doesn't. I have zero issues carrying condition one.

Well 4506's will load empty cases as will 645s and 745s, and they can be used as a club when necessary. I should add I have all of the above and a Norinco 1911A1 whose steel is extremely good. Dave_n

They are heavier and thicker than 1911s. They are well-built and accurate; I carried one 20-odd years ago but just don't shoot DA semi-auto as well as SA.

I too am a fan of the 3rd Gen .45 semi-autos. It's hard not to be impressed cycling thru an entire mag of empty brass where others won't even swallow one or two. Regardless of everyone's personal likes, dislikes and opinions it really only comes down to how well it feels when YOU shoot one. I've shot 1911s before and I could own one (or several) if I want; I just never wanted.

Just consider that although a great many were made and parts are still available, they are today a finite resource whereas 1911s are still being produced.

My two cents worth.

To me, the best feeling guns (as in holding in your hands) are the 1911 and the Smith & Wesson 645!

a 45 Series gun brings to the table the double action/no safety carry method or use method.

I can load up my 4506-1 with a round in the chamber safety off and not have to worry about swiping that safety off should I need the weapon......advantage to someone new/not versed in swiping off a 1911 safety.

the 1911 can not safely be loaded and left safety off.....at least I wouldnt....


that said I own 1911s and 4506....shoot both well and train with both......I carry the 1911.

A 4500 series pistol is NOT heavier than the equivalent all steel 1911. It's actually just a bit lighter. There's more steel mass in the slide and forward part of the frame. Consequently, the weapon has a more nose heavy feel. So, comments about the 4506 being a comparative boat anchor are born out of ignorance, not data.

The 4500 series pistol is a stronger, more durable and safer service pistol when compared to the 1911. Unless your shooting bullseye competition, there's nothing a 1911 does better than a 4506. I say that as someone who lived professionally with the 1911 for twenty five years.

If you include personal preference into the mix then all bets are off, pick whatever appeals to you. On the other hand, I've worked on both enough to know the structural and mechanical differences. A 4506 will still be going strong when a 1911 is going to the bench for a rebuild. The Smith is long out of production, so that's a negative, but parts are still out there. Chances are, you won't need them.

The 4506 is a bit more than an ounce heavier than than a 1911A1 dry, more fully loaded because of the additional round. It was noticeably heavier on a Sam Browne in exactly the same model Safariland holster. I'm not trying to be argumentative, just sharing.

Exactly so you should get a S&W 45XX to see for yourself. If you decide that they are not the way to go sell it or trade it. I suspect you just might like it.

I was a Colt .45 “snob” for a long time. .45acp = Colt. I got my first very used GI one at 17 and started taking it apart/improving everything right away. I also realized I had to learn how to reload too. (RCBS single stage. )

Even though I was a big fan of S&W revolvers I was apprehensive of a S&W semi in .45. My first one was my 4506-1 and I’ve never looked back. I bought it brand new with my also brand new FFL at that time.

I‘ve sold most of my .45 Colts but still have four very special, (to me,) ones. I think I have 14 S&W 45XX’s and don’t intend on parting with any.

Jim

I would go to a range or find a friend with a 10mm and shoot it. I grew up on S&W's, my wife on 1911's, we both can shoot/carry both, but with more than 50 years of shooting S & W's, I like the DA and not worrying about a safety, both are fine choices! Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

Reliability is a primary reason I chose the 4506-1 over any 1911. And in over 50 years of shooting handguns, I have yet to find a 1911 that is as reliable as a 4506.

And I have had some nice ones too. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Generally speaking, the S&W x45/45xx pistols are more likely to be 100% reliable with hollow point ammo than an off-the-shelf M1911.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Shortly before I retired, my Sheriff's Office changed from model 645 to model 4506. I took it to the range once ( 50 round course ). As per our contract, when I retired I was given my duty weapon. It was well cleaned and has been in the safe ever since. These guns are built like tanks, and I would prefer one to a single action 1911 any time.

I recently got my first S&W 3rd Gen (a 908 9mm) and my first impression on holding it was, wow, that's a high bore axis. Not unlike the only Sig I've ever held, seemed higher than the 1911.

Soon realized I didn't like the grip angle either, seems steeper than the 1911 (the other way from Glock). And the single-stacks have only a straight backstrap, I guess the double-stacks have a curved grip available that I might like better. But anyway, I pretty much immediately didn't like it.

Trigger is obviously no 1911, but then you have DA available which was my main interest. I'm dubious about the DA/SA, but a DAO mod may be workable.

Gave it a chance, dry-fired while waiting for my range to become unvirus. First time I had it out, had a couple FTE's while the Glock eating the same ammo was fine. So mine doesn't have the vaunted reliability, at least not yet.

So I think you probably should hold one, see what you think about the bore, grip, and trigger before buying.

Your points are valid. Especially if you have a lot of time behind a 1911, the grip angle will feel a little "off" to you.

You might want to try the curved backstraps. At least for my hand, they feel great.

It took me a little bit to warm to the 45** series, but I eventually did.

I'm surprised by the reliability issues you had though as reliability is typically a strength of these guns.

Our agency had no malfunction issues with 4506s or 4566s - we used ball for training and 230 grain HydraShock for duty.

Malph - I just found out there were curved backstraps a couple days ago, I think that would make the grip angle feel better as well... but apparently the curved straps were only made for double-stacks? How about the 45's?

My 4506 (no dash) came with curved backstraps on the grips while my 4506-1 and my 4046TSW had flat backstraps. For me it didn't matter either way - all of them got replaced with aftermarket Hogue grips.

Mike, they were made for both single and double stacks.

Let me know if you have trouble locating any for your 4506.

To me, the 4500 series is a heckuva lot easier to field strip than the 1911 model, and less likely to idiot-scratch in the process if you're not being careful.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

On the weight/balance issue, I've shot both 4506s and 4566s.

The 4.25" 4566 is the better balanced weapon of the two, and doesn't feel 'muzzle heavy' in handling. Yet the 4566's weight absorbs recoil just about as well as its 5" sibling.

I also found a noticeable difference in felt-recoil as between my Sig P220 (a late '80s 'Made in W.Germany' model) and my 4566 when shooting the same 230gn ball ammo. Not even close. More muzzle flip with the Sig.

Frank Black I experienced the same thing. Unpleasant recoil pulse in the 220. And it was thicker than the 4566 too.

I chose the 4566 and never looked back. Better trigger on the Smith too. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I’ve gotten curved grips for all my S&W pistols that they were available for. (9mm & .45 acp.) I actually do go back and forth between the straight and curved options.

I just looked and my 4506-1 and 4566. They both have the curved grips on but it looks like I have the straight ones on my 845 and CQB now so they must have worked better for whatever reason at that time.

It’s kinda like the arched vs flat Colt mainspring housings, some just feel better at a different time. It’s nice to have different options.

Jim

I've owned several of the 4500 series guns. All the ones I owned were super reliable, but I found none of them to be as accurate as some other designs. Accurate enough for defense use for sure, just not target guns.

I spent $20 (Hogue grips) to make my 4506 a reliable & accurate shooter.

I spent way (way) more than that on my 1911 Mk.IV to get what I wanted & achieve similar results.

If you want to bump your firepower up to 45 Super the 4506 (again) is the easier & cheaper option.

And I still like the felt recoil from the 4506 better too.

(As viewed, w/empty mags, the 4506 weighs 0.7oz more; 41.0 -vs- 41.7oz.)

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Waiting for the break of day

Like BLUEDOT37 said...the 4506 will shoot .45 Super with NO mods although you will really want at least the extra power firing pin return spring...

When the Civilian Marksmanship Program loosened the rules for Service Pistol competition I bought a 4506 to try based on forum reports about accuracy. Even with two hands and a lot of practice I had a hard time keeping all shots on a B-8C repair center at 25 yards. 50 yards was wasting match ammo. The 1911 I use for Service Pistol, a Series 80 Gold Cup with a fitted Kings bushing and a 4.25 pound trigger job, with the same ammo needed little effort to be on the repair center when shot one handed.

The 4506 got sold to a happy new owner.

Owned and carried both. Found the 4500s to be very reliable, but thicker. However, the big difference is they are gone and the 1911s are not. Must be a reason.

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Metro Man

Nostalgia in the case of the 1911 and the realities of the modern market for the 4506. None of it has to do with superiority.

I find the 4506 to be an excellent service pistol, but when I was shooting bullseye I never would have considered it for that purpose. You can work a pretty nice trigger onto it, but nothing like a target 1911.

Brownell's has both curved and straight for 45xx and 59xx frames.

Smiles,

The S&W 4506 may be the best general production 45 ACP handgun ever built. Just ask me!

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I have had two 4506's, I stupidly sold the first one for a nice profit, and then bought another more expensive one that pretty much put me even. Oh, I forgot my ex-PD 4586. It ate anything too, but it was DAO and it was all gouged up on the right side. I'm guessing it was slid on a sidewalk at least 20 feet. I still sold it for a little profit.

All of my 45XX will eat/ate anything, even some of a friend's reloads that seem to have problems in most any 1911 he puts them in.

I'm not a big 1911 fan at all, but I love 4506's, along with Sig P220's, and SAR K2 45's. All of them eat anything, and the SAR holds 14 rounds.

You have to remember the 45XX pistols really compete with other similar action types, mainly the Sig P220.

The DA/SA 4506/4566 guns, which saw fairly extensive L.E. use, were designed for street use, not NRA bullseye competitions, IPSC matches, or other gun-games.

So comparing them to a match-tuned SA 1911 is really irrelevant.

Accuracy-wise, my 4566 (which is a late model DA/SA decock-only) doesn't compete even with my 'carry' 1911, which isn't match-tuned.

However, starting from a concealed draw, I'm actually faster with the 4566 because I don't have to swipe off a safety before the first round files. And at any real-world 'combat distance,' I can put all 8+1 rounds in the upper thoracic area of a reduced silhouette target.

That's good enough for self-defense on the street or in my home.

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