3rd gen accuracy capability
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Dandecoteau
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Picked up a 4506 (made in 89) yesterday. I had a 5906 that somebody did some work to it. Really nice trigger, cerakote, etc. that was the most accurate gun a owned. Traded it for a gen 2 glock 21.
Anyways, shot the 4506 today along with my beretta m9a1, glock 21, and a little ruger.
When I was shooting the 4506 well, incredible accuracy. Non rest at 15 yards was a 2-3 inch group. That's good enough for me, not sure if that's even decent or not.
I would shoot my glock 21 (45acp) for 20-30 rounds and I would shoot that really really well. It was set up for match shooting. It's easy when the glock points so easy and has almost as little recoil as my beretta.
Then I would pick up my 4506 and start shooting away. I guess I would be anticipating the recoil and I would shoot low. I would be interested to shoot the 4506 from a rest at 25 yards. Iv heard it can be 1-2 inch groups.
If I concentrate, and control my breathing, wherever the 4506 is pointed, that's where the bullet will go.
All this is useless when you consider the shooter is the most important factor in accuracy.
The gun is very capable of extreme accuracy. Unless something is broken bent etc.
The shooter makes the gun accurate, the gun doesn't make the shooter accurate.
Anyways, shot the 4506 today along with my beretta m9a1, glock 21, and a little ruger.
When I was shooting the 4506 well, incredible accuracy. Non rest at 15 yards was a 2-3 inch group. That's good enough for me, not sure if that's even decent or not.
I would shoot my glock 21 (45acp) for 20-30 rounds and I would shoot that really really well. It was set up for match shooting. It's easy when the glock points so easy and has almost as little recoil as my beretta.
Then I would pick up my 4506 and start shooting away. I guess I would be anticipating the recoil and I would shoot low. I would be interested to shoot the 4506 from a rest at 25 yards. Iv heard it can be 1-2 inch groups.
If I concentrate, and control my breathing, wherever the 4506 is pointed, that's where the bullet will go.
All this is useless when you consider the shooter is the most important factor in accuracy.
The gun is very capable of extreme accuracy. Unless something is broken bent etc.
The shooter makes the gun accurate, the gun doesn't make the shooter accurate.
I still own a small collection of 3rd gen guns including some low production Performance Center pieces. I also have some VERY accurate pistols from other manufacturers including Colt, HK, Sig et.al.
The most accurate of them, in my hands, is my PC Shorty 45 MKII. At 15 yards it will put 7 rounds of Winchester RA45T into a sub 2 inch ragged hole. Freehand.
According to my shooting partner, who was the Captain of the Sheriffs pistol team, an instructor and a better shot than I, the most accurate gun I own, in his hands, is a 4506-1"dash 3". He gets a 1 to sub 2 inch group with that gun at 25 yards, freehand, using RA45T. I can get sub 3 inch groups at 25 yards with it.....if I don't drink the whole mug of coffee on the way to the local range.
IMO the inherent accuracy of this 4506-1 is due to the incredibly tight fit of the barrel to the side as well as the buttery smooth DA trigger and short crisp SA trigger. Back in the day s&w knew how to build a good looking accurate gun with a great trigger.
All that said, I have never come across a 3rd gen gun that I would call horribly inaccurate. My 910 pistol had a poorly bored original barrel that produced 4 to 5 inch groups at 15 yards with all manner of 9mm ammo. My smith replaced the barrel and the groups settled down th 2.5 to 3 inches at 15 yards using 147 grain 9mm. It remains my least accurate 3rd gen pistol....but still better than any 9mm the current company calling itself s&w produces today. Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI
The most accurate of them, in my hands, is my PC Shorty 45 MKII. At 15 yards it will put 7 rounds of Winchester RA45T into a sub 2 inch ragged hole. Freehand.
According to my shooting partner, who was the Captain of the Sheriffs pistol team, an instructor and a better shot than I, the most accurate gun I own, in his hands, is a 4506-1"dash 3". He gets a 1 to sub 2 inch group with that gun at 25 yards, freehand, using RA45T. I can get sub 3 inch groups at 25 yards with it.....if I don't drink the whole mug of coffee on the way to the local range.
IMO the inherent accuracy of this 4506-1 is due to the incredibly tight fit of the barrel to the side as well as the buttery smooth DA trigger and short crisp SA trigger. Back in the day s&w knew how to build a good looking accurate gun with a great trigger.
All that said, I have never come across a 3rd gen gun that I would call horribly inaccurate. My 910 pistol had a poorly bored original barrel that produced 4 to 5 inch groups at 15 yards with all manner of 9mm ammo. My smith replaced the barrel and the groups settled down th 2.5 to 3 inches at 15 yards using 147 grain 9mm. It remains my least accurate 3rd gen pistol....but still better than any 9mm the current company calling itself s&w produces today. Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI
Arik
Member
Are you looking for something specific or just curious?
I've had a few, they've all seemed very accurate. About 2 years ago I dragged out all my 45s just to see which is most accurate. I've shot them all and they are all very capable but I never shot them side by side with the same ammo. It was just 4 guns. S&W 4566, W. German Sig P220, Springfield TRP 1911 and Glock 21. All the guns are factory. ....no aftermarket or enhanced parts. Using typical range wolf steel case ammo. First I shot 3 rounds each then 5 rounds each. I had photos but unfortunately I deleted them some time ago.
I was surprised at the #1. Glock came in last if you want to look only at accuracy.....but not by much. As far as self defense/combat accuracy they all did great. #1 was the W. German Sig P220. I was sure it would be the 1911. #2 was the 1911 and 3rd place was the S&W. Shooting was done at just over 10 yards and not benched. I didn't measure anything but the slight difference was visible to the naked eye. Of course different ammo may have had different results but I was more than satisfied with all 4
I've had a few, they've all seemed very accurate. About 2 years ago I dragged out all my 45s just to see which is most accurate. I've shot them all and they are all very capable but I never shot them side by side with the same ammo. It was just 4 guns. S&W 4566, W. German Sig P220, Springfield TRP 1911 and Glock 21. All the guns are factory. ....no aftermarket or enhanced parts. Using typical range wolf steel case ammo. First I shot 3 rounds each then 5 rounds each. I had photos but unfortunately I deleted them some time ago.
I was surprised at the #1. Glock came in last if you want to look only at accuracy.....but not by much. As far as self defense/combat accuracy they all did great. #1 was the W. German Sig P220. I was sure it would be the 1911. #2 was the 1911 and 3rd place was the S&W. Shooting was done at just over 10 yards and not benched. I didn't measure anything but the slight difference was visible to the naked eye. Of course different ammo may have had different results but I was more than satisfied with all 4
We hear all the time that the "value series" 3rd Gens were not as inherently accurate as their original series counterparts or similar PC guns. As one who owns three value series 3rd Gens and may eventually be in the market for several more, I'd like to know once and for all if this is true or just a myth.
My own informal testing has been far from conclusive, but I am old and I'm sure that any less inherent accuracy still leaves the pistols well within the bounds of my own talent (or lack thereof). 
I understand the engineering differences that would suggest less inherent accuracy. That's not my question. What I'd like to know is if those differences translate to less accuracy in the real world.
It has been a long time since I shot any of these guns and I couldn't remember anything either way on this matter. I just wanted some real numbers from current shooters, considering some very imprecise comments I had read recently. Thanks for the detailed replies, always willing to hear more...
YNOTASNUBBIE
Member
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
What few I still have are solid 3 inch groups at 25yds, those being a 645, 5906, 4046 (though it has its days ) and an old 5946.
The most accurate 3rd gen I ever fired was the 3913!
) and an old 5946.The most accurate 3rd gen I ever fired was the 3913!
Disabled1
US Veteran
At 7 yards I can usually shoot a 2-2.5" group with my 5906. At 20-25 yards I can shoot anywhere from a 3.5" to 5" group. I know, that might not sound too good, but, I only get to shoot about every 2 months or so. 
KSDeputy
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All of the guns I have are accurate. The 4506, CS 45, 4513 TSW, and others in smaller calibers. We carried issued 645, then changed to the 4506. As it has the longest barrel of any I have, it is the most accurate. My CS 45 comes next as it is now my carry pistol and is used to qualify yearly. I don't qualify with the smaller calibers often.
For me, I recently "got out" my long ago put away 3953, which I carried until I got a Glock 30 in approx. 1998 or so. I proceeded to "shoot the X out of the target", as a few friends I was shooting with wanted to know why I stopped carrying it, to which I replied "what do you mean, it's once again my carry piece" and now the G30 is going into the dark recesses of my safe. Was, and still seems to be, the most accurate gun for me.
