Thread update.
Based on some additional posts and PM's I thought I would update this thread a little with some thoughts about 4506-1's OTHER than the R4 variant and the unofficial "dash3" subsets of same.
Lest we lose sight of the forest for the trees, EVERY 4506-1 and for that matter all 4506's, are outstanding firearms. Well made, accurate and reliable. And all look very nice too, whether it is the adjustable sight variant or the fixed sight models.
These guns were largely made when S&W made still paid attention to things like good triggers and reliability right out of the box. LE guns made later were still looked after by QA/QC people.
So, I wouldn't be disappointed in the least if I found I had a 4506-1 R1, or a 4506-1 R3 rather than the R4 that we have focused on here.
In fact, the recent 4506-1 R1 I picked up at the local pawn shop has proven itself every bit as accurate, in my hands as well as shooters more skilled than I, as my later 4506-1 R4 dash 3's.
This past Saturday I went to the range with an old friend and shooting partner. Our schedules have not allowed for a time we could meet up in some months. I brought the 4506-1 R1 and a PC 4566 45 CQB.
My friend is a former competition shooter, firearms instructor, former captain of the local Sheriffs pistol team (back when they had one) and a crack shot with just about any firearm I've ever seen him shoot. He had not shot either of these pistols of mine.
He shot the PC 4566 first. He put 8 rounds of WWB into just under 3 inches at 15 yards. One low flyer. I had a couple of low shots with the same gun and a slightly larger than 3 inch group. I don't care for the trigger on this gun as it bottoms out against the frame as the shot breaks.
He commented that he liked the gun and it was quite accurate.
Then he shot the 4506-1 R1. He put 8 rounds of WWB into a 1.25 inch group at 15 yards. "I really like this gun!" he proclaimed. "Is it a Performance Center piece too?". Nope. Pawn shop rescue that cost me $300 bucks. He found that hard to believe. "Are you kiddin me? I'll give you $400 for it right now!". Nope not for sale. I'm carrying it. "Were I you I'd sell that performance center gun and buy four more of these 4506's!"
We did some drills with the gun too. We did the 5X5X5 drill first. Place a silouette target with a 5X5 square on the chest at 5 feet and then dump 5 rounds into the square as fast as you can pull the trigger. Anything not in the square is a miss. We both shot small groups with no misses.
Then we did double taps on the same targets at the 3 yard line. We both had several instances of holes touching on the target. Again, no misses. I did notice that when going from low ready on the first shot I would center it and the second shot always went high right. Still a bullseye but at 2 o'clock to the first hit. Since I did it every time my friend noticed it and commented that I had too much finger on the trigger.
I relate this story to illustrate a couple of things. One, it is ALWAYS the indian and NOT the arrow. Two, guns are more accurate than the people shooting them. What often needs to happen after someone learns this lesson, is for them to find the gun that they shoot most accurately. For me that happens to be the 4506-1. In any variant of same!
So, don't be disappointed when you learn your 4506-1 is not an R4 or dash 3 as we here refer to them. It is still a 4506-1! Probably the finest duty, home defense, competition and self defense 45 made. By anyone! And even at the recent $700 pricing for a LNIB example, is still a better buy than other currently produced model pistols.
Regards 18DAI
Regards 18DAI
.....hope someone here ends up with it
