As I now read the revolver forum daily, I feel the urge to inquire about Smith semi-autos. Very dangerous I'm sure, as I now have the lifetime revolver addiction after my first year of shooting/collecting. I like the 45s and from my limited reading on autos, it appears that the 3rd Gens like the 4506 are very popular, proven, all around good guns. I'm thinking the 4506, if I were to come across one or buy one, would be a good decision. Could someone please give me a list of models for all 3rd Gens in 45acp? Is there a model difference for different barrel lengths? Thank you for any information. I'm not looking to buy one right now but am trying to create my list of future purchases.

4505
4506
4513TSW
4536
4546
4553TSW
4556
4563TSW
4566(&TSW)
4567-NS
4576
4583TSW
4586(&TSW)
4596

That should keep you busy for awhile ...

Don't forget:

Shorty 45 PC
4516, -1, -2
457 (Yes, it's a 3rd gen)

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Is it safe?

And,the CS45 ...

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JR

4506 Full-size 5" barrel and 8 round mag
4566 Mid-size 4 1/2" barrel and 8 round mag
4516 and 457 Compact 3 1/2" barrel and 7 round mag
CS 45 Sub-compact 3 1/2" barrel and 6 round mag

I'd love to get the 4506 to go with my 1006. Had a chance this past summer to pick one up for $500 but passed on it. Now im regretting it

If you are in NE Ohio, I just saw one at a LGS, 4506-1 in good shape. I think it was 1 mag and no box though. Might have been asking $550, not sure I remember exactly though.

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Is it safe?

I would highly recommend checking out local FFLs for one.

My current 4566 ran me $400 OTD with three mags, an extra recoil spring and the original box.

S.E. Pa

..

Thanks guys for the info. Yes that should keep me busy for awhile. I own a glock 21, which I'm really not sure why I have, it was fairly priced and just figured I need one glock in the collection. Prices seem pretty fair for these 3rd gens, if the performance is as good as I've read. Will definitely keep my eyes open for one laying around.

huelsterb,

If you are used to DA revolvers, I strongly suggest you check out the DAO 45's. The 4586 (stainless steel, 4 1/4 inch barrel, 8 round mag) is probably the most common, as it was issued by more than a few police depts. The earlier "pre-TSW" versions have a unique frame and a shorter DAO trigger pull. The later TSW versions use the same frame as the 4566 and have a slightly longer trigger pull. They also have the other TSW enhancements, which I don't remember, mostly because I don't own one!

Other stainless options would include the 4556 (3 1/2 inch, 7 round mag), and the 4546 (5 inch, 8 round - and IIRC very rare). Alloy frame guns include the 4553 and the 4583 TSW.

These are all very nice guns, and are a bargain today...though prices are creeping northward!

Matt

Hmmmm.....no one mentioned the 4526.

Frame mount de-cocker.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

huelsterb, one of the great features of the 4506 family is that you can amaze your friends by filling the mag with empty cases and cycling it to slide stop without a hitch. The third gen 9mms and 40s will do the same thing. My house gun is a 4506. I installed a light rail and keep it in the lock box with a streamlight attached and stoked with 230gr Win. H.P. I feel pretty safe at night! :-)

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Billy 2 Beers.

That would be the 3.75" 4536. I have one in Kalifornistan pistol jail.

Once you've mastered the urge to get into 3rd gen Smith .45s, you can add 3rd gen .40s... and then the 9mms... might as well have one of each!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

I had the bug really bad a couple of years ago, and bought 12 or so of them. I still have a 4566, 4516, 4506 no dash, and 4506-1. All wonderful pistols.

Or the other way around. I have a number of 3rd gen 9mms and last year bought a 457 because I wanted at least one .45 ACP gun and I'm very comfortable with the Smith semis.

I'd love to get a couple more 9mms to add to the collection, but I'm not sure I can justify it right now.

Not that that will necessarily stop me.

S&W “Third Generation” numbering system:

The first two digits designate the caliber and frame type:
39xx – 9mm single stack magazines
59xx – 9mm double stack magazines
69xx – 9mm compact, double stack magazines
40xx – .40 S&W
10xx – 10mm auto
45xx – .45 ACP

The third digit indicates the trigger type and frame size:
xx4x – DAO
xx5x – DAO compact
xx8x – DAO
xx2x – DA with decocker
xx3x – DA with decocker
xx7x – DA with decocker compact
xx0x – DA
xx1x – DA compact
xx6x – DA large frame

The fourth digit designates the “frame” material. These guns all had stainless steel slides.
xxx3 – Aluminium alloy frame
xxx6 – Stainless Steel frame

Example: a model S&W 4553 would be a .45 ACP with a compact frame in double action only and with an aluminum alloy frame.

Hi I think you will all have a good laugh ....OK....I bought a 3rd gen 910 used from an online gun shop...now I did some reading about the gun before it got here, and I picked it up at my local gun shop..anyway when I got it home and I am going over the gun and I don't see a firing pin just a hole in the breach face.. is this due to the safety feature ..when the mag is dropped from the gun the one in the chamber will not fire???? I see a small hole where the firing pin should be....can someone help me please. lol
Cynergy

Empty the gun. Make safe. Insert EMPTY Magazine. Then take the plugged end of a Bic pen, and drop in the barrel, pointing the barrel up at the ceiling.

Pull trigger, better yet, pull the trigger in single action mode. If the pen goes flying out of the barrel, your firing pin works. You will now have a hole in the plug of your Bic pen, so you can't do this too many times.

Remember, don't shoot yourself. Empty the gun first.

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Is it safe?

I wouldn't fee safe at night with my house gun in a lock box. Usually if you need a gun for defense, you need it right now. No time for fumbling trying to get to it. My 4506 resides under my pillow. That gives me a great sense of security and a warm fuzzy feeling.

"I wouldn't fee safe at night with my house gun in a lock box"


Guns are like parachutes...when you need one, you need it now!

OK,OK! lol! I guess I should have elaborated. I have two pillows in one pillow case. Between the two pillows is my 6906 with trijicons, stoked with Federal 9BP. The 4506 is in a Gunvault bolted to the bed frame. I used to keep the 4506 between the pillows but one night I must have turned wrong and it turned on the light and killed the batteries so now I keep it in the Gunvault. The 6906 is for instant response and the 4506 is for if I have to get up, put my drawers on and go see what the dogs are yapping about. There is also my trusty/crusty High Standard riot gun laying under the edge of the bed. :-) Sincerely, Bill

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Billy 2 Beers.

Fishslayer:

No, the 4526 would be the 4506 with a frame mounted decocker and 5 inch barrel. Also has a bobbed hammer that falls to half-cock when you drop it.

I just purchased one in about 99% condition.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Kelly Green,
Thanks for the numbering system, and answering my next question. Now there's so many too pick from. That could be a good or bad problem to have. The 4556 and 4586 sound appealing to me. I have my 25-5 45colt at my bedside but would like a 45 auto to help watch over me at night.

AHA! I see from Kelly Green's post that S&W decided that ONE number denoting decocker would have made things too simple, so they have THREE.

This post needs some pics: 645 transitional (a 4506...but stamped with old 645 model number) and a 4516-1.

Attached Images

100_1081.jpg (54.6 KB, 793 views)

More clarification photos

4566 (8 rnd mag, not mine) top, my 4513TSW (no rail! 7 rnd mag) below

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

4566 Non-TSW version.

Realzebub:

I'm in NE Ohio and very interested - can you please share the name of the LGS? (My wife will kill me.......but I really feel like I might need this gun...)

By the way - where are you located in NE Ohio?

PM sent DuckHunter.

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Is it safe?

Sorry for the necropost, but how did you go about getting a rail installed?

Matt

4586 DAO

mjb99, I'm a gunsmith so I installed it myself. I got the rail from Brownells and switched out the supplied 8-32 screws for 8-40. I like lots of thread contact. Once I had the holes drilled and tapped, I scribed the frame around the rail and roughed it up a bit for bite. Did the same to the rail. I mixed up some slow cure epoxy with plasma coating powdered metal (Nickel). The powder is about as fine as talcum powder. Slathered on the epoxy and torqued the screws to 35 in/lbs. The next day I removed the excess screw material with a dremel and sanding drum and she was good to go. probably didn't need to add the powdered metal but I am a firm believer in overkill! Bill

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Billy 2 Beers.

Do any of you know where I could get a 4506-1 Guide Rod Assembly?

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Saddlehorn

Bill,

Thanks for the details. It gives me some food for thought!

Matt

Numrich is out of stock and MidwayUSA does not list them. Try Brownell's or S&W I guess. What happened to yours?