new to me 645 questions/pics

[clinttho]

Well, new to me. I've always wanted a 3rd gen 9mm nut local people and shops always wanted 5 or 600 dollars for very well used ones. So last week I stumbled across this very nice 645 at the local gunstore on consignment. It came with 4 mags, 2 mag holster and gun holster for $475. The mags I've read were very hard to come by and expensive and the gun looks unused as do the mags so I went for it. I've been on a 45 kick lately anyway so I bought it.

I have a few questions I've searched for and can't seem to find a clear answer or link to one. in the meantime, I'll keep looking.

1. What other 3rd gen 45acp S&W holsters are compatible with this? I've read the 4506 but I have to mail order this so I'd like to be pretty sure before hand (the uncle mike's nylon one it came with won't do)

2. Grips- Probably keep them stock but will the hogue rubber ones for the 4506 fit the 645?

3. Any upgrades recommended for this gun? I've been doing as much research as possible on it since I've had it the last week but the 3rd gens seem far more popular than the 2nd gen/645.

Thank you in advance. I know this is my first post, hope I'm not stepping on any toes or wasting a lot of people's time.

-Clint

Pics

[29aholic]

Holsters for any of the full size guns should be compatible. 645, 745, 1006, 4006 as long as they don't have a rail. Some of the models have a square trigger guard, but that wouldn't be an issue for you as the round trigger guard will fit fine. If you go with a belt slide type holster it broadens your options.


The right side safety screw can be an issue and probably needs Loc-Tited or removed and stored.


I wouldn't think mags. would be hard to find, but I've never looked. You got 4 so unless you are planning on taking on a biker club you are probably set.


Cant say on the grips.

[clinttho]

Thanks for the reply and I did notice the decocker screw was a bit loose on the right. I'd rather remove it and have a left-side only decocker if possible. Thank you also for the suggestions re: holsters. I've plenty of mags I think, besides its just a tool to get to your rifle, right?

[ab4ka]

Very nice!

I could be wrong but if you look carefully at the trigger guard it looks to me like it might have originally had a square trigger guard that's been ground down. Is there any evidence of grinding or buffing?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[Sevens]

Original 645 have a metal floor plate, but all 4506 mags work perfectly well and 4506 mags can be had by the zillion.

Pachmayr made a fantastic rubber grip for the 645, it is long out of production. You will definitely run in to a set eventually at a gun show or dirty old school gun store but you can't order a new one and 645/4506 grips are wildly different.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

At $475 for that package you did well. Shoot it, carry it, enjoy it. The 645 has been discussed at great length in this forum and you will read little if anything bad about it. One of the best guns made by S&W, a true tank that makes shooting .45ACP fun.

[clinttho]

Originally Posted by ab4ka

Very nice!

I could be wrong but if you look carefully at the trigger guard it looks to me like it might have originally had a square trigger guard that's been ground down. Is there any evidence of grinding or buffing?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

I can't see any evidence of it but I don't have the greatest eye for that sort of thing. I don't plan to sell it, hopefully if the trigger guard has been grinded on it won't affect the function.

[ab4ka]

Absolutely not! It's just something that caught my eye. It's a great looking gun...enjoy!

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[clinttho]

Originally Posted by Sevens

Original 645 have a metal floor plate, but all 4506 mags work perfectly well and 4506 mags can be had by the zillion.

Pachmayr made a fantastic rubber grip for the 645, it is long out of production. You will definitely run in to a set eventually at a gun show or dirty old school gun store but you can't order a new one and 645/4506 grips are wildly different.

That's useful information, thank you very much for sharing. I guess this and the 4506 are kind of magazine/holster interchangable which helps me on the holster end, at least!

[ZoomieG]

Clinttho,

Very nice 645. Some of your questions have answers, but here's some more data points. For reference, I have compared the 645, 4506-1, 1006, and 4006 in person.

Not sure anybody pointed it out yet, but the 645 is a 2nd Gen. The 4506 is it's 3rd gen development, and the 4506-1 has more minor changes. The 645 and 745 are the most similar, with the 745 being a single-action variant of the 645 marketed to competition shooting.

645 and 4506 grips are entirely different and non-interchangeable; this was one of the big changes made for 3rd gen.

I'm pretty sure all 645s came from the factory with a square or ***oked' trigger guard. Early 4506's had the same. Late 4506's, and certainly the Dash-1s, all had round trigger guards. Yours looks to have originally had the square/hooked guard, and has been ground off (looks well done). This can be a sticking point for holsters. If you can find a large frame holster designed for a square trigger guard, it will work (645, 745, early 4506). Holsters designed for the 1006 and 4506-1 might not (round triggerguard, and frame is slimmer). Someone above mentioned 4006, but that is a smaller frame/barrel size (9/40 instead of 45), and will not work.

As for mags, Pro-mags are readily available online, but have a bad reputation. Should be fine for range use, though, and are available in 10-round capacity. As mentioned above, 645 and 4506 mags are the same, minus the floor plate, and are compatible. Sometimes they can be found on Midway or Brownells, but good luck right now.

As for upgrades, wood grips are available if you look around, but you're more or less stuck with the sights, unless you get the front ground off and dovetailed.

Hope this helps
zG

[clinttho]

Originally Posted by ZoomieG

Clinttho,

Very nice 645. Some of your questions have answers, but here's some more data points. For reference, I have compared the 645, 4506-1, 1006, and 4006 in person.

Not sure anybody pointed it out yet, but the 645 is a 2nd Gen. The 4506 is it's 3rd gen development, and the 4506-1 has more minor changes. The 645 and 745 are the most similar, with the 745 being a single-action variant of the 645 marketed to competition shooting.

645 and 4506 grips are entirely different and non-interchangeable; this was one of the big changes made for 3rd gen.

I'm pretty sure all 645s came from the factory with a square or ***oked' trigger guard. Early 4506's had the same. Late 4506's, and certainly the Dash-1s, all had round trigger guards. Yours looks to have originally had the square/hooked guard, and has been ground off (looks well done). This can be a sticking point for holsters. If you can find a large frame holster designed for a square trigger guard, it will work (645, 745, early 4506). Holsters designed for the 1006 and 4506-1 might not (round triggerguard, and frame is slimmer). Someone above mentioned 4006, but that is a smaller frame/barrel size (9/40 instead of 45), and will not work.

As for mags, Pro-mags are readily available online, but have a bad reputation. Should be fine for range use, though, and are available in 10-round capacity. As mentioned above, 645 and 4506 mags are the same, minus the floor plate, and are compatible. Sometimes they can be found on Midway or Brownells, but good luck right now.

As for upgrades, wood grips are available if you look around, but you're more or less stuck with the sights, unless you get the front ground off and dovetailed.

Hope this helps
zG

Great post, you helped me a lot. I may keep the grips, I'm happy with everything else but the holster. I'm used to the smith and Wesson sights and they work well. Thank you again. Esp regarding the holster situation.