I picked up my 4506-1 03 version Saturday. It was hardly fired with the original box and two mags. A few handling marks but very nice overall. Factory night sights which still work was a bonus.
I first became aware of these 4506-3's in a thread here some years ago. IIRC SW CQB 45 posted that he had gone shooting with a friend who had a 4506-1 with an excellent trigger and unusual accuracy. The box was marked with an "03" on the label. My 4516-3 is similarly marked as is this 4506-1.
Again, IIRC, member Wolfy filled us in on some left over LEO contract 4506-1's that Lew Horten had sold off which were 03's.
I have searched for one since and I must say after spending some quality time with this unusual 4506-1, it was well worth the wait!
I cleaned and lubed the 4506 prior to the range run. I discovered that the barrel is fit to the slide so tightly that it was difficult to remove the barrel from the slide. Usually once I take out the guide rod/recoil spring assembly the barrel falls right out. Not this time - it stayed put. I had to press it down rather forcefully on the hood to get it out. Same for putting it back. No undue wear showing on either the muzzle or the bushing - so I guess it was simply built to a very tight tolerance. Getting the barrel out and in remided me of trying to get a barrel back into a Briley bushing.
I could not locate one tool mark on this 4506-1. Usually I can find some inside the slide or in the mag well. Not this time. Flawless finish. The back of the slide mates up with the back of the frame with the precision of my Performance Center semi autos too. I am impressed with whoever put this one together. Too bad they don't still work there.
The trigger must have been worked over by the PC. It is as smooth and short in DA and as crisp in SA, as my PC Shorty 45. TINS it is as good as the Shorty.
The trigger probably contributed as much to the startling accuracy as did the slide/barrel fit. The widest group I shot was just under 3" at 25 yards. All the groups at 15 yards were under 2". At 10 yards and under they were just very tiny ragged holes. This 4506-1 was more accurate than any of my Performance Center guns and all my 3rd gen S&W's, as well as my Kimber Stainless target II. You can't miss with this gun!
Someone who can shoot could win lots of goodies with this gun. I wish the guy who did this trigger still worked there.
One last unusual thing happened during my 300 round outing. A malfunction! As rare as a malfunction with a S&W 3rd gen pistol is in my experience - I was VERY surprised.
It occured on round number 39. I was testing this gun for use as a duty pistol. So I had 100 rounds of Ranger 230 grain SXT as well as 200 rounds of range fodder ball. After firing four mags of ball and being amazed at how well this gun grouped, I figured I'd save myself some time and money (and quit while I was ahead! ) so I loaded up a mag of Ranger and fired away. I was loading eight round in the mags. Six, seven - and the slide locked back! I lowered the 4506-1 to check the problem and the round of 230 grain Ranger was rolling around in the open port. Not in the chamber - not held by the extractor - just rolling around on top of the follower till I tipped the 4506-1 sideways and it fell out on the carpet.
I checked the extractor claw for a chip - no. I looked at the round - AOK. Didn't even appear to have been grabbed by the extractor. The mags I was using were not my six carry/competition mags but my range mags. Older mags that I pick up at gunshows and may not clean as often as I should. Upon examining the mag the follower had a fair size gouge in the front and was very well worn.
I loaded up that mag with eight rounds of ball and shot again. On round six I got a fail to feed. A tap on the back of the slide and we were in business. 264 flawless rounds later - while NOT using the suspect mag - and this is going to be my new carry piece and absolute favorite S&W 45. Regards 18DAI.
I first became aware of these 4506-3's in a thread here some years ago. IIRC SW CQB 45 posted that he had gone shooting with a friend who had a 4506-1 with an excellent trigger and unusual accuracy. The box was marked with an "03" on the label. My 4516-3 is similarly marked as is this 4506-1.
Again, IIRC, member Wolfy filled us in on some left over LEO contract 4506-1's that Lew Horten had sold off which were 03's.
I have searched for one since and I must say after spending some quality time with this unusual 4506-1, it was well worth the wait!
I cleaned and lubed the 4506 prior to the range run. I discovered that the barrel is fit to the slide so tightly that it was difficult to remove the barrel from the slide. Usually once I take out the guide rod/recoil spring assembly the barrel falls right out. Not this time - it stayed put. I had to press it down rather forcefully on the hood to get it out. Same for putting it back. No undue wear showing on either the muzzle or the bushing - so I guess it was simply built to a very tight tolerance. Getting the barrel out and in remided me of trying to get a barrel back into a Briley bushing.
I could not locate one tool mark on this 4506-1. Usually I can find some inside the slide or in the mag well. Not this time. Flawless finish. The back of the slide mates up with the back of the frame with the precision of my Performance Center semi autos too. I am impressed with whoever put this one together. Too bad they don't still work there.
The trigger must have been worked over by the PC. It is as smooth and short in DA and as crisp in SA, as my PC Shorty 45. TINS it is as good as the Shorty.
The trigger probably contributed as much to the startling accuracy as did the slide/barrel fit. The widest group I shot was just under 3" at 25 yards. All the groups at 15 yards were under 2". At 10 yards and under they were just very tiny ragged holes. This 4506-1 was more accurate than any of my Performance Center guns and all my 3rd gen S&W's, as well as my Kimber Stainless target II. You can't miss with this gun!
Someone who can shoot could win lots of goodies with this gun. I wish the guy who did this trigger still worked there.
One last unusual thing happened during my 300 round outing. A malfunction! As rare as a malfunction with a S&W 3rd gen pistol is in my experience - I was VERY surprised.
It occured on round number 39. I was testing this gun for use as a duty pistol. So I had 100 rounds of Ranger 230 grain SXT as well as 200 rounds of range fodder ball. After firing four mags of ball and being amazed at how well this gun grouped, I figured I'd save myself some time and money (and quit while I was ahead!
) so I loaded up a mag of Ranger and fired away. I was loading eight round in the mags. Six, seven - and the slide locked back! I lowered the 4506-1 to check the problem and the round of 230 grain Ranger was rolling around in the open port. Not in the chamber - not held by the extractor - just rolling around on top of the follower till I tipped the 4506-1 sideways and it fell out on the carpet.I checked the extractor claw for a chip - no. I looked at the round - AOK. Didn't even appear to have been grabbed by the extractor. The mags I was using were not my six carry/competition mags but my range mags. Older mags that I pick up at gunshows and may not clean as often as I should. Upon examining the mag the follower had a fair size gouge in the front and was very well worn.
I loaded up that mag with eight rounds of ball and shot again. On round six I got a fail to feed. A tap on the back of the slide and we were in business. 264 flawless rounds later - while NOT using the suspect mag - and this is going to be my new carry piece and absolute favorite S&W 45.
Regards 18DAI.
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