Mistake to get into an M645?

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1sailor

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I have a Sig 1911 Match Elite Duo Tone that I have put about 300 rounds through. Beautiful gun, everyone who sees it says so and, it's as accurate as all get out. I'm not real crazy about it though. It didn't take me long to decide I'm just not a 1911 kind of guy. I'm thinking about replacing it with a different full size .45 since I want to keep at least one pisol in that caliber. I was seriously considering a 645 but having read that parts are no longer available I'm wondering if that's such a good idea. All the springs are available from Wolff but what if I bust the sear or some such part. Am I pretty much up a creek at that point? I'm a shooter, not a collector.
 
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I can think of several ways to break a sear in a 645, most require a bench vise and a sledgehammer. Seriously though, all those S&W 45's ... 645, 4506, 4506-1, 4566, 4516 and so on, et al. are extraordinarily robust. With reasonable care, any of those guns will easily outlast any of us and probably the next generation too. Parts are still out there to be had so don't get to spun up over the parts situation. Get what you like and enjoy it. And even if something does break, there's plenty of folks here to help you get it running again.

You know I'd wager it's been over 100 years since the the U.S. Armory at Springfield ceased making parts for the US Krag rifle. That facility shut down for good in 1968. Even so, that parts situation doesn't keep me from taking my Great Grandfather's issued 1898 Krag out for a spin from time to time:D

Cheers
Bill

1sailor said:
I have a Sig 1911 Match Elite Duo Tone that I have put about 300 rounds through. Beautiful gun, everyone who sees it says so and, it's as accurate as all get out. I'm not real crazy about it though. It didn't take me long to decide I'm just not a 1911 kind of guy. I'm thinking about replacing it with a different full size .45 since I want to keep at least one pisol in that caliber. I was seriously considering a 645 but having read that parts are no longer available I'm wondering if that's such a good idea. All the springs are available from Wolff but what if I bust the sear or some such part. Am I pretty much up a creek at that point? I'm a shooter, not a collector.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Sailor. I am a bit biased as I own quite a few of the Gen 2 and Gen 3 all steel S&W's including many 645's. The only issue I have ever had with only one of mine ( a LEO trade in, in rough, neglected shape ) was a faulty sear spring. This was fixed although the repair facility subsequently dropped and broke my rear sight grr :mad:. I absolutely love these models and trust my life to them. I also am a shooter. I don't buy guns to sit in the safe, I buy them to shoot, enjoy, and educate the younger shooters who always ask about them. I am proud of my S&W's and love shooting them all. In my humble opinion you cannot go wrong. There are many forum members who can help you if you need a repair or a part. Someone always knows something. Between Fastbolt and 18DAI, I usually can get the help I need. Hope this helps! :)
 
I had one many years ago.The only reason I traded out of it was the size.Not heavy, but too big for a .45 acp I thought.
 
As a shooter, not only did you not make a mistake, you scored! ;)

The 645 is one of........if not THE finest, production TDA 45's ever made. By anyone.

Durable, reliable - right out of the box, accurate and good looking. Both of mine have proven as/more accurate than my Kimber Stainless Target II AND Colt Combat Elite

A 645 was also used as the original prototype for the S&W 10mm pistols. And fired plenty, with no breakages. I've shot two different 645's plenty. The only thing I have to report is that it would take a jackhammer to get the smile off my face. :)

Buy it, shoot it, love it! Regards 18DAI
 
I just joined the S&W metal pistol bandwagon so I may be a bit biased, but these guns are great. From all the reading and handling they are by all accounts sturdy firearms.

I'm a shooter as well, if I don't shoot it, I don't own it so I may not be the best person to ask, but the fun factor of shooting these handguns is to good to pass up on.

Go for it, if you end up not liking it (probably won't happen) you can always sell it.
 
If you want a shooter and available parts every where then get a 1911. Buy a Colt gold cup or national match put a thousand rounds through it and sell it for what you paid for it 2 years later. Just my opinion, I am a third gen lover as well but the 45 is a SAA or 1911 kind of caliber. Those are the benchmarks for which other makes just fall short of.
 
James&theGiant1911 said:
If you want a shooter and available parts every where then get a 1911. Buy a Colt gold cup or national match put a thousand rounds through it and sell it for what you paid for it 2 years later. Just my opinion, I am a third gen lover as well but the 45 is a SAA or 1911 kind of caliber. Those are the benchmarks for which other makes just fall short of.
Click to expand...

Just one person's opinion -- and no doubt a minority view on this forum as well. :rolleyes:
 
SonnyJames said:
Hi Sailor. I am a bit biased as I own quite a few of the Gen 2 and Gen 3 all steel S&W's including many 645's. The only issue I have ever had with only one of mine ( a LEO trade in, in rough, neglected shape ) was a faulty sear spring. This was fixed although the repair facility subsequently dropped and broke my rear sight grr :mad:. I absolutely love these models and trust my life to them. I also am a shooter. I don't buy guns to sit in the safe, I buy them to shoot, enjoy, and educate the younger shooters who always ask about them. I am proud of my S&W's and love shooting them all. In my humble opinion you cannot go wrong. There are many forum members who can help you if you need a repair or a part. Someone always knows something. Between Fastbolt and 18DAI, I usually can get the help I need. Hope this helps! :)
Click to expand...


And don't forget BMCM! His projects & revamps inspire quite a few of us to step out of our comfort zone & try some of the things he does with effortless craftsmanship!:cool::cool::cool:
 
I wouldn't sweat the lack of parts from S&W...
Why??

Pretty simple, there are places like Numrich & Jack First & other parts suppliers who buy gun parts...and resell by the part.
You can find parts for really really low production firearms...
so what makes one think there won't be plenty of S&W parts??

Note...one controversial thing some PD's do after a buyback,
is to disassemble the firearms, sell the parts to Numrich/others,
then melt the frames only.
I look at it this way, I'd rather have them sell the parts & melt the frame,
than the whole dang gun!!

Then, as we've seen with MANY other firearms,
needed parts will appear if there is a need...
where there is a buck to be made, SOMEONE will make it!!
Given the MILLIONS of 3rd gen pistols made,
I think SOMEONE, or several someones will step up to make some bucks.

Look, the Ruger 1022 is a decent design which Ruger produces as cheaply as possible.
This means, that they MFR to Milspec (loose tolerances) and allow Owners to mod after purchase...
Volquarzen and others have made BILLIONS making BETTER 1022 parts than Ruger cares to make.
So much so that the market is literally glutted with 1022 parts...
so the smart MFR's Branch Out...make OTHER parts to keep money rolling in...
because if you are only getting .1% sales out of a total of 7.6 million rifles parts,
it makes sense to diversify...like DIP, Inc.
They started making 1022 parts, then found out that Marlin had little aftermarket...
so they started making Marlin 60/795 trigger guards as well...
they captured 100% of the market of over 28 million rifles...
Makes sense, right? Watched their profit margins quadruple in one year...
and boosted their staff & capabilities...life's good when you have a monopoly ;)

So...Who is going to step up and make a few million??
We'll see who has the brains and the foresight to pick up CNC mini-robots for $2-grand each and start making parts & cash...
or those who already have CNC capability and just try out one part on one machine...
use the profits to buy another machine and start multiplying...
:D
 
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And granted, that's a bit of a simplification, because CNC is beautiful,
but gunsmithing is an art...S&W's do need a wee bit of hand-fitting to get the best out of them...
so the parts have to be Really Good...and so do the people making them.
 
Of my 7 pistols (Glocks, Smiths, 1911) none are as accurate as my cheap, Turkish-made 1911 with a few basic upgrades. I agree with you, though--the 1911 doesn't excite me much, but I always want to have one in the collection, in some form.

I'm a big Glock fan, so my recommendation for a .45cal shooter would be along those lines. Maybe not as accurate, but they're simple and the (up to) 3rd gen Glocks have a stellar reputation. I've heard so-so things about the current gen 4's. I currently have a G36 to fulfill the .45cal CCW role. It's damn accurate and is getting more reliable the more I shoot it.
 
since this is a S&W forum, may I suggest an MP .45c, if in the H&K forum USP .45c.
 
Having carried a 645 issued firearm, I would encourage you to get a 4506 instead. That is what we were issued when our 645's were replaced. It is a fine weapon.
 
My only issue with the 645, the screws attaching the ambi-safety and grips would come loose... the 4506 solved this problem....

But I wouldn't pass on an opportunity for a 645 nor a 4506!!
 
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