I finally received the 457 I had ordered a week ago and picked it up at the range this morning. I oiled the locking lugs an, barrel and slide rails and just started shooting it. It was a joy!

I had some WWB 230 gr Wally World ammo along with about 30 rounds of the old style Speer 200 gr JHP. I went back and forth between the two magazines and all was going well until the last mag full of seven. When it got to the next to the last round I had a nose dive into the feed ramp. I'm not sure what caused this as both mags were new and from what I could tell, this pistol couldn't have had more than a box through it. I nearly looked brand new. Also, I had some Ranger T 230 gr that it feed beautifully.

Possibly the mags being new may have been dry as I saw no other reason for the jam. I brought it home and took my Dremyl tool and polished the feed ramp and a couple places on the slide that looked nicked a little.

Other than that one round, it is a very sweet shooting pistol and is destined to be a favorite. Actually, although cheaper, it gave better groups than my 4566TSW. I've never had a Smith that wouldn't feed the old Flying Ashtray but this one balked on that one round.

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So... only one mag, one bullet? You should see if that could be repeated now that you have smoothed out the ramp. Could be the mag too though, at least it's a good reason to get back to the range. Those are one of my most sought-after pistols and just that much better than the CS45 because of the slightly longer barrel and the "extra" round (IMHO).

I'd love to find a new blued like yours one someday to go with my stainless. These are really great guns.

That's a beauty. I was surprised how well it shot today. Just to be on the safe side, I replaced the recoil spring (both) and noticed the one in the pistol was about 3/8-1/2" shorter than the new ones I bought. Probably no big thing but made me feel better anyway. I don't think many rounds have been through it at all after breaking it down for cleaning after the range.

Maybe I can find a stainless one like yours some day so mine will have a buddy.

The 457 is as reliable an auto as any gun Smith has produced. One nose dive can be caused by any number of reasons. Because it is very light, recoil is relatively stout for a 45, and to get the slide to function fully to the rear, pick up a new round, and send it fully into the chamber, requires a strong and locked wrist. Limp wristing is a common cause of jams in most any auto, so make certain you lock your arm and wrist thru the entire cycle......for every round. I'm betting you won't have too many more jams with this well made, simple, and reliable firearm. I don't shoot mine that often anymore, still preferring to shoot one of my Government Model Colts, but when I do, I still marvel at the way it feels and functions. Nice purchase.

This pistol was listed as used but upon examining it, it looked internally and externally nearly new. It only came with one magazine which was probably new due to the little raised "indent" on the follower still being intact and the usual streak going from fore to aft as the rim of the case slides across the follower while shooting wasn't there. It only takes a few rounds to show up but the follower looked new. Also, the spring was painted yellow.

I had bought two extra magazines and those were the ones I used when I first tried it out. I always thought a nose dive was a magazine problem and the one that did that I marked. I'll check it out again next time but, visually it looks perfect.

I tapped the bottom of the magazine to be sure it was seated, racked the slide all the way back and it chambered the round, fired and fed the last one fine. The round that nosed dived on the feed ramp hadn't made it under the extractor claw or would have been ejected when I brought the slide rearward. I'm still thinking maybe a dry magazine as it was new but, I'm grasping at straws. Limp wrist possible but, after about fifty rounds that session I just don't know.