Which one would you rather have,a 645 or a 1911?
I have a 645 and know nothing about a S-W 1911.
Dick

Model 645.

645

Need we ask?? 645 all the way. 1911 are nice, but once you shoot the 645 its all over.
Take care and God Bless..HT

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I think the 645 was the beginning of a good development cycle that matured with the 4506. And I put the 4506 and the 1911 both very high on the semi-auto .45 scale. The SW1911's are better for me due to the grip configuration.

-TS

A 1911 because you can buy pretty much any part for it and have back up incase anything were to break. I also much prefer the 1911 style trigger if it is set up correctly with good parts.

I own two model S&W 25-2's and two Colt Gold cup 45 auto's (one stainless, one blued)as well as one Colt Combat Government 45 auto. I go through phases and am on the revolver phase right now. Although it is nice to have a 22 cal. coversion for the 45 auto just for fun plinking. GET BOTH, you will love the pair.

Wow. Apples and oranges.

I have all three. 645, 4506, and SW1911. They 645 is a different gun than the 1911.

They are different in the way they operate, SA only vs. DA/SA. As TexasSTEP pointed out, the grip angle is different.

As a duty gun, I'd much prefer the 645/4506 to the 1911. For bullseye competition, the 1911 is my better choice. For IDPA type competetion, I'd lean to the 645/4506 between the two.

For open carry, I'd just use whatever I felt like at the time.

If you can get both, do so. You'll quickly see what I mean.

Between the 645 and 4506. The 645 is heavier and as such absorbs recoil quite nicely. I do like the steel backstrap with it's no-slip checkering. The 4506 uses the wrap around plastic, which works well. They make two styles. Both are easy to get from S&W. the straight back and the bulged back.

I slightly prefer the 645, but love both.

Jimmy

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I agree two different guns. I like different, thus my example using the revolvers and the autos. Spices up life a little.

I agree completely , also being a fan of the 645 I agree with the 1911 being better for Target shooting I'd like to own both . But 645. All the way ! I just posted a new thread on this topic btw

Another vote for the 645. Simply more reliable than most 1911's. About the same weight too. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Well, shouldn’t the question be, 745 vs. 1911? You know, just to be more apples to apples. I really want to love my 745 but am having a tough time learning the “flick up” for off safety. I run a Colt 1911 .45 in USPSA Single Stack and am building a 9mm 1911 (rebarreled Colt 9X21 1911) for the same use with a little cheaper ammo. I would like to use my 745 but don’t think the rules really allow it (not 1911 enough) and that dang safety. I still might sneak it into a local match sometime. Now, as to the original question, 645 vs. 1911. No question I would go with the 645. I am just crazy about mine and have been since the first time I laid hands on it. And who wouldn't want DA first shot capability in a real carrying/using gun?

Come on guys another thread form 2009???????The dead have risen again!

Sometimes, a good thread needs to ferment for a while and it gets better with age. Anyhooo, I would vote for the 645 if you want the gun for carry/homey D. They are two completely different platforms and both have advantages over the other. As mentioned a couple of years ago, the 1911 platform is SA while the 645 is the traditional SA/DA. That in itself should be the deciding factor.

Of the two, I much prefer the 1911. Not that the 645 doesn't have a lot going for it, but the 1911 was the first CF handgun I ever shot, and I've got over 40 years experience with it now. My second favorite? SIG P-220, hands down.

Pretty funny this discussion coming up again , & again ... I guess like most things personal defense related It's a matter of preference . I was talking about this last night that even though there might be a "better" or "safer" gun out there for carrying in public , that someone who is trained with a 1911 or any firearm is most likely better off with whatever they received training with be it police or military. Whatever works for you is best . But still 645 !

I also own both. I own MANY 1911s, I only have one 645. Then I also have a 845 that I truly adore but that is a different thread.

These are two totally different firearms, both good in their own right.

Kind of like asking it you would rather have a Suburban or a Camaro, both will get you from point A to point B

645s are very rugged duty/combat firearms with moderate accuracy and not much upgradeability.

1911s everything from duty to target with an almost unlimited number of options. They are capable of far superior accuracy.

Many 1911s tend to be a little more finicky than 645s when it comes to ammo choices. The 645 is also more forgiving of operator error than the 1911 family of auto loaders

My vote is to the 1911

?. do mags for the 645 work in 1911's

Welcome to the forum Spud150. It’s good to have new members.

Negative. 645 mags only interchange with full size 45xx series 3rd generation pistols.

All the praise for the 645 this spring of 2013 seems to overshadow the 4506. I suspect that’s mostly due to the 645’s short production life. Less produced = more collector interest.

To answer the thread’s original question, either you’re shopping for a TDA pistol or a SA. If you haven’t decided that yet then it’s too early to look at specific models.

That's somewhat akin to comparing apples to oranges.
Both are great guns and I shoot both.
The 645 has DA first shot capability, feeds with superb reliability (some say it will feed empty brass cases).
A 1911 can be a more finicky feeder, can have it's trigger tuned for super crisp SA pull.
If I were going to carry the 645 would be my choice. For completion shooting in the ususal pistol games the 1911 would shine.

I do carry my 645 with custom coco boll grips in a simply rugged cuda. My friend has a very nice Kimber I shot once. Having said that I prefer the 645 . If you trust your life and others with something you want rugged reliability safer and less recoil . Save the over priced 1911 for the range and competition unless your trained with one.

Hand size is everything. The 1911 fits my hand much better, has a better trigger, and I still own it. There is no question in my mind but that the 645 is a better gun for someone whose hand it fits well. More reliable, doesn't need upgrading because it already has what it needs. I did have a friend who had one with adjustable sights, and it was also more accurate than mine for some reason. But mine was good enough.

But if a 1911 is faster to shoot ( in your hands) and easier to carry, what can you do?

I've shot both, owned a 645. I haven't shot a 1911 since I was in the Army 37 years ago. If memory serves me correctly the 1911 wasn't as heavy as the 645, but i liked the feel and function of the 645 way better and can hit a target just as accuratly with the 645 now as I could with the 1911 when I was 20. I do have a bias for the 645 tho, SA/DA...... Never did like SA or stikers. Only reason I got rid of the 645 was because I wanted a 45 for CC and funds being what they are here I had to trade it in to get something lighter/smaller. It sure was a pretty gun tho, I loved it.......

I prefer the 645 hands down, never owned a 1911.

The 645, as well as all of the 3rd gen S&W .45's, are an improvement on the 1911. Only the 1911 triggers to me are a bit better.

I own both 1911s and a 645. I carry the 1911s but shoot the 645 at the range. The 645 is a showpiece gun while most of my 1911s are just for shooting or EDC. I like them both.

I'd carry my 645 more if I could find a shoulder holster for it. 1911 has more extras and holsters. Can't go wrong either way. Something about gun steel that just feels right. Nothing against the M&P boys.

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John 3:16

1911 of course!!!

1911

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Sure you did

I would think it would depend on how much the shooter/gun owner is willing to put behind the particular configuration.

I know many officers who bought SW 3rd Gen who could not hit the side of a barn much less any decent grouping because they were not willing to learn/train with the DA/SA.

On the other hand, I know many officers who think the shorter trigger press of a modern 1911 pistol will make them a better shot. again, not putting any effort in the area of marksmanship.

One officer bought a 2000$ Ed Brown Special Forces and did not qualify with it. I offered him 500$ for that piece of **** shooter. He did not bite.

I have owned both 3rd Gen SW and modern 1911s. I much prefer the 1911 system but if my dept said no more 1911s on duty.....guess I would have to go back to 45xxsomething.

Borrow someones 1911 that works and give it a test run. You get what you pay for. In today's market, I like companies that offer lifetime warranties. if it dont work, they will make it work.

I guess I have been lucky with my 1911s. I have seven of them....they all run. When I had Smiths....they all ran. Every now and then bugs pop up....just fix them.

good luck

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I would rather have a 1911. More magazines, parts readily available, etc. The 645 was a very fine pistol, but parts are going to become a problem in the future as the model was discontinued many years ago.

Another advantage the 1911 has is it comes in many sizes. From 3" barrels up to 6" barrels. Far easier to hide the 3" than it is to hide the 645 for CCW. For CCW, a CS45 would be better. Or a CS40 even. But like the 645, S&W stopped making the CS40 too.

New here but, I have owned both and carried both. The only point I would make is that many 1911s need some tweaking to run properly. Most Smith 45s I have encountered were reliable out of the box and had fewer feeding issues. But, if reliability and training are equal, I would say its strictly personal preference. Mine would be for the 645.

I have a Beretta 92 and a Taurus 100. When I had my 645 all 3 fit in the same holsters.... even the molded holsters. I bought holsters made for the Beretta because they had the biggest selection and the 645 fit better than the Taurus. Seems the Taurus is a hair wider and was a little tight untill the holster got broke in a little...... But the 645 fit like a glove right out of the bag.

I dont look in cops holsters to take a poll, but I don't think I've seen a 1911 in a LEO holster in a long time. I thought most Dept. were even going to DAO for liability issues.

The dept I work for issues Glock 21 however you can carry personally owned firearms that meet guidelines and you have to show proficiency/qual.

Single Action 1911 style is in our General Orders.

Out of 115 officer dept, very few carry 1911 style. I can only think of 4 off the top of my head which includes me.

I turned in my issued Glock 21 since we are having problems getting Glocks for new hires.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

In my mind, the 645 is everything the 1911 should have been.. SA/DA, 8 round standard capacity, ambidextrous safety/decocker, and the damned thing will chamber anything you try to feed it. Definitely refinements that are to be appreciated in a carry gun.

Everything he said!!! Have several 645s but only one M1911.

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Bill

Eh, I vote hybrid... S&W 945.

I've had a couple 645's, accuracy was not their forte, feeding empty cases was impressive. Why I'd need to feed empty cases I don't know, but it was cool.

Depends on intended used, IMO. Safe queen and occasional shooter? A nice 645 would be cool. For a gun you're going to run hard for self defense, CCW, LE duty or competition, I'd take a S&W E Series 1911 for sure.

Every year that goes by parts, including high wear items like mags and their associated components, get harder to find for our beloved metal framed S&Ws.


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I bought a brand new 645 when they first came out.I didn't like the 45 acp round until I fired it out of a 1911. I traded the 645 in towards a 1911 and never looked back. The 645 worked fine enough,and it looked good to see a semi auto with a factory red ramp.But it sat high in the hand due to poor grip design that they quickly corrected in the 4506.I found it not to be a natural pointer like the 1911.