Can anyone tell me about a 4566 S&W. Show me pictures if anyone has one please....Thanks

I don't have one but it is the 'compact' (or commander) version of the full-sized 4506. Same frame and capacity as a 4506 but it has a 4-1/4" barrel as opposed to the 5". Traditional DA/SA. I'm not sure if they all did but some had bobbed hammers.

Here's my 4566..not original..had different sights put on...(wider rear and fiber optic front). Gun is a tank..all stainless. Recoil seems less due to the weight.

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Model 36, 39-2

Thanks guys for the good info.

Here's my 4566:



What would you like to know? This one's entirely stock and it's been reliable as all heck. I've never, ever, had any type of feed or ejection failure, it's been easy to clean and maintain and it's been a good carry weapon.

The 4566 is certainly heavier than other pistols of similar size if that matters to you. It's got a steel frame whereas others might be alloy or some kind of plastic. However, it's that steel that I like, that I want and that contributes to it's ease-of-use with a larger caliber.

I happen to have used mine pretty well. It hasn't been a safe queen, a range-only gun, or babied for its life. It's been used, but not abused. It's resided on my side and used for its designed purpose. Like Timex, it's always "taken a licking and keeps on ticking."

Otherwise, the 4566 has a 4.25" bbl instead of the 5" bbl found in the 4506. That makes it less nose heavy, but it will also kick a little more instead of the 4506. There's less metal hanging out front. I don't find it objectionable and as I mentioned it's certainly more controllable than any of the lighter .45's. However, I really don't subscribe to the old wives tale that .45's are hard to control.

The 4566 also has the same capacity of the 4506 in the same size magazine and grip. It's 8+1 in a single stack magazine. Yes, there are double stack 45's out there, but they have much wider grips. I find the single stack grips a better fit for me and much easier to keep concealed. That's a big issue with me.

So, is there anything else you'd like to know?

Here's another pic of the 4566 with a few friends, a Colt 1911 Govt Model (5"bbl) and a Beretta 92F, for comparison:

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~No signature line

The 4566 is a great pistol, I would like one eventually. They have a comfortable grips and are accurate. Since I don't have a 4566 my 1066 will have to do.

Attached Images

2-21-09S&W_1066-6.jpg (49.6 KB, 1733 views)

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J.D. Roy

Look at my post down below under "New Toy".
Steve

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Steve

Thanks guys. I finally got smart enough to use the search feature and there are page after page of good info on the 4566and yes I am ordering one. I tried the M&Ps but I still like the 3rd gen.with the hammer dropping feature and the exposed hammer. I don't like striker fired pistols. I'm old and don't know much I guess.

Naaaaa, you're not old . . . just experienced! Just like you, I prefer a hammer instead of a striker. I also prefer a single action or a double action/single action as on the 3rd generation S&W pistols and others. The DAO's or long trigger pulls on the recent plastic striker fired pistols just seem wrong to me.

I also see no benefit to the funky trigger safety on some of the plastic pistols. I also don't like the feel. It seems useless.

If you're finger isn't in the trigger guard, and consequently not on the trigger, it's not going to fire. It applies to pistols both with and without trigger safetys. Then, if your finger is on the trigger, the trigger safety is disabled and it will fire when you pull it, just as it would if the trigger safety wasn't present. What's the point to the trigger safety? It's just and an issue of your finger placement regardless whether the trigger safety is there or not, so it seems it's a useless feature.

You'll be getting a lifetime pistol with a 4566 or other variation with a steel frame. If you take care of it, it'll take care of you!

I can't talk you into the wonderful cocked and locked 1911A1 style of pistol, can I? They have great steel frames and slides, exposed hammers and you don't have to worry about decocking them. They also have 99 years of history and proven performance behind them.

I'm just kidding you.

Good luck with your search for a 4566.

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~No signature line

I have the 4586, a similar model but with double action only trigger. It handles like a S&W revolver. It is a great shooting pistol and my preferred carry gun.

Firebird,

Are those the palm swell 1076 grips on your 1066? Or are those made for a regular frame model?

I like the looks of the 1076 grips and have often wondered how they would fit on a standard gun without the frame decocker. If yours are for the 1076 can you show a pic of the other side of your gun, and tell me how you like the fit of the grips on your gun? And if they're made for a standard gun please tell me where you got them. I'd love to put some on my 4566. Thanks!

I have switched over to the Hogue slip on, but I was trying the 1076 palmswell when I took pictures. You should be able to buy them either from midway or S&W (over the phone)

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2-21-09S&W_1066-5.jpg (52.1 KB, 1250 views)

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J.D. Roy

I found some nice 4566s on GB and tried to bid but I was told I was blocked from bidding.Looks like I have been black balled. I guess they didn't like it when I filed a fraud claim on a less than truthful seller. I asked to return a misdescribed gun for a refund and was refused by seller and e-mails blocked.
You're on you own if you get ripped on GB. No help from postal inspector or FTC. I marked it up to expierence and took the loss. The gun was supposed to be factory new and perfect. Not so.

I just want to give a big thanks to FirebirdV8 for putting me on to the "FBI" 1076 palmswell grips for my 4566.

I only recently got my 4566 and I find the factory delrin grips a bit too thin, so I was trying to find better grips. I like the feel of the Hogue rubber grips, but I don't like rubber grips for concealed carry. I feel like my shirt might hang on the grip and unintentionally print badly. I tried some Hogue wood grips, luckily without buying them, and they're so big they make the beautiful single stack S&W feel like a Desert Eagle! I can't believe Hogue would make those grips so big and thick; I was really looking forward to getting some but there's no way I can use them.

I knew about the 1076 palmswell grips but it never occurred to me to try to put them on a regular frame gun. Not having owned or used a frame decocker gun, I guess I assumed that they wouldn't fit or work right. Then I saw FirebirdV8's picture of his 1066 with those grips and decided to get some and try them, and boy am I glad I did!

The difference in the feel of the grips is like night and day compared to the regular thin ones, and the small gap where the decocker goes is almost unnoticeable. They feel great, just what I wanted. I got them from Midway (part #953134) as FirebirdV8 suggested, and I can heartily recommend them to anyone who's not satisfied with the factory thin grip.

Now if I could just get Keith Brown to make some out of wood...

Here are a few of mine....Zebulon

I found a 4566 and bought it but the bad news is it made me want a 4516. I love the 4566.

I prefer one without a decocker, so here is a 4586 TSW.

Here is a shot of my 4566TSW.......I like everything about it,

Those are fine irons. Thanks for sharing.

The 4566 was my last service weapon. It replaced the 1076 my agency carried 'til about 1997. My 4566 was gifted to me upon retirement and it has surprised me how well it shoots after almost 10k rounds through it. Mine still wears the rubber Hogues I had on it.

There will soon be a flood of used 4566's in my area,as the dept. has adopted the M&P .45 and the guys will be buying and subsequently selling their old 4566's.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Don't forget about the 4563TSW. This is the aluminum (lighter weight) frame version. Here's my unfired one with the rail.

Here's another 4566 - enjoying some sun. Great gun!

Jerry

Beautiful example of the 4566 j38.

Please advise me if you ever want to part with it. Regards 18DAI.

J38
Did you bob the hammer yourself?

Cobroller, The bobbed hammer is pure factory. This gun originally shipped to the Rome, NY Police dept. in the late '90's.

18DAI, You'll be #1 on my list if I ever decide to part ways with this .45.

Best Regards,

Jerry

Think "Commander" version of 4506. The only difference between the 4506 and the 4566 is the shorter barrel and slide, and associated parts.

I have carried one of these in the past. Great .45!!

Im really enjoying reading about the 4566 , I am so into Smiths , I used to be one of those guys that only liked the Smith revolvers (66, 629,686) , a good buddy of mine said his department went with 5906 several years back, he claimed he was at the range and barrel melted while shooting, I was like I guess it could it could happen , but you would have to have shot a couple thousand rounds continuous! He claims he didnt , for whatever reason , anyway, I listened to him and never bought one , however , Recently I bought an SD 40 and I really like it , its said to be a cross between the sigma and mp series , and although it looks similiam to both It doesnt shoot like a sigma or the mp ,but for my purposes it will suit fine as a defense gun , I think it could be used as a duty carry for a small department with out problems!
Anyway back to 45 66 series , I am going to get one , I really the all steel handguns better than the polymers , just the feel of it , my Colt Government 1911 is like melted butter you just cant get enough of it! Im thinking this Smith is gonna have the same reaction!

Here's my 4566, bobed hammer, an decock only, not a safety lever.

I'm hoping to run into a 4566 soon. After getting a 4506 with square triggerguard (because I wanted a 645 (I couldn't afford one when they first came out)), I've gotten a 4513TSW and 4586. I don't know why I want a 4566 now...but I just do.

Interesting, the older 4506 is seems lighter than the 4586. I guess all the lightening done before they standardized the 4500 and 1000 series did make a difference.

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Thanks,
KPSqured

Another 4566 TSW

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Smith & Wesson 4566 TSW.jpg (85.6 KB, 190 views)

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JR

The 4566 is one of my favorite models in the 45xx 3rd gen line up.

Great thread. Just ordered my 4566. Ex police gun. Hoping that it arrives next week.
Wanted one for carry as it uses the same mags as my 457.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Where are you guys getting these? Are they at local shops from PD trade ins? I haven't sen them from the normal sources (Century, CDNN, Summit, Aim, etc).

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NRA Certified Instructor

Summit Gunbroker in MO has some, as does Midwest Gun Exchange in IN. Mine is coming from Midwest. $399

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I thought the 457 used the same mags as a 4513 and 4516, 7 rounders...which are shorter mags than used in a 4566...and won't fit.

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Thanks,
KPSqured

Duh! Typo.

Should read: same mags as my 745.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I'm a retard

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I miss my 4546 the most.

$279 is the 4043, 4566s are still $495.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I SWEAR this was the thread talking about the 4043s

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I miss my 4546 the most.

Thanks for reply, I saw the ones on Summit. For some reason I was thinking that the black Melonite ones were out there.

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NRA Certified Instructor

The Cheaper Than Dirt in Mckinney (I think that's the town) had some for $619 new two months ago.

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I miss my 4546 the most.

Anybody know the dates of manufacture of the 4566? Shops look at it as if it was WWII vintage.
Second--I'm trying to find adjustable rear sights. The 10mm is close to the same size and has sights adjustable for elevation and windage. Smith people don't know anything except what they see on their computer. Will 10mm sights work (same dovetail and angles). Brownell's no help either. Thor

I'm very fond of my 4566. That pistol, and my 1066 are not likely to ever be traded or sold. While I shoot mainly M&Ps now, they are great guns.

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Dave Frost

Thye 4566 IMHO is one of the best 3rd Gens to be had anywhere for any price. I have two (one is the 'slick' and the other is the 'Rail Gun').

This weekend, I did my home action job on them. That is: Detail strip and clean, as well as polish the sides of the trigger engagement areas and the sides of the drawbar. This, in concert with the addition of Wilson Combat 17# mainsprings makes them have a SMOOTH DA pull of 8# and a SA pull of approx. 3.5#

I also changed out the black MIM triggers with the Brownells-cataloged 4006 CHP (listed in their schematic pages) flash-chromed Triggers three weeks ago. I like the 'old school' stainless look better. The grip pins were also changed out

I have done much of the work myself. These were former Atlanta, GA area LE pistols. Upon receipt, they were FILTHY and buffed from holster wear.

I bathed them in CLP and used Red and Green Scotchbrite pads to polish out the scratches. I cleaned them in hot, soapy water with Dial Anti-Bacterial soap. I them dryed them and sprayed them again with CLP Break Free and finished them with 2400-grit paper. The effect was the SAME as a light bead blast. Smooth as a baby's bottom with no glare.

I secured a quantity of Ed Brown Competition safeties from Gun Broker. I thought I bought 1/ea for $57. Turns out, I bought 9/ea. They have gone on all of my 7 3rd Gens, with the exception of the wife's 3914.

The grips are the S&W units that have been sent to ROBAR in The Valley of the Sun to be stippled.

Bottom Line: The 4566/63 and TSW guns are exceedingly serviceable guns that are overbuilt and will last a lifetime. I actually prefer the 4566 to the 1911. I know that's blasphemy, but for the LEO or homeowner, they are one of the safest and trouble-free pistols one can have.

18DAI: Hope you like the new look!

gtoppcop those are beautiful 4566's!!

I may look into a set of those grips for my melonite 4566.

You are a VERY talented gentleman with obvious good taste! Best regards, 18DAI

In winter; 4566 in a shoulder rig.
In Summer; 457 in an IWB.
I like it when things are simple and effective.