Of the rifles and pistols/revolvers I have this would be the last one I'd ever let go for any reason. I bought new in Sept 1990 after reading it's virtues in Combat magazine by Massaud Ayoob. it was the greatest investment I've made to date. I think it was $509 then. Never once with any sort of ammo has it ever failed to feed, fire and eject. It's fired everything from 200 gr SWCs to the notorious "Flying Ashtray" with equal reliability. After some 500-800 rounds I'd trust it with my life. I replaced the recoil spring once in it and retired it at around 900 rounds.I'm convinced you could chamber frozen green beans in it. It resides by the bedside.
4506-The legend
- Thread starter ColColt
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JAREDSHS
Member
You are so fortunate to own such a nice firearm. It has everything you need to protect your life and nothing you do not need. You made a good decision to own one. You are well armed. Thanks for sharing and stay safe.
Ha, you made me chuckle with the frozen green beans crack. 
Great post, although I definitely have to disagree with your decision to quit shooting it at 900 rounds. That pistol is ready for another 30,000 rounds.
Interesting that the rear sight is the old school 2nd Gen fixed blade, pre-Novak.
Great post, although I definitely have to disagree with your decision to quit shooting it at 900 rounds. That pistol is ready for another 30,000 rounds.
Interesting that the rear sight is the old school 2nd Gen fixed blade, pre-Novak.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
My 4506 will load and chamber 45 acp empty brass from it's magazine.......Never tried a can of green beans.
sctman800
Member
I am more of a revolver guy but still have three SA's I love and will never get rid of. 4506, 4513TSW the early 6+1 and a 645, these are my favorites. All will feed empty brass cycling by hand or loaded in a magazine and shot.
When I got the 4506 it was used and there was also a Ruger P-345 that I liked and asked how much for both. $400.00 out the door Ruger was less than one year old and came with factory box and 4 mags. 4506 came with 3 S&W mgs and a nice paddle holster so I made out nice. The 4506 would not extract reliably because of a chipped extractor. sent to S&W and when I got it back it has been flawless. Jim.
When I got the 4506 it was used and there was also a Ruger P-345 that I liked and asked how much for both. $400.00 out the door Ruger was less than one year old and came with factory box and 4 mags. 4506 came with 3 S&W mgs and a nice paddle holster so I made out nice. The 4506 would not extract reliably because of a chipped extractor. sent to S&W and when I got it back it has been flawless. Jim.
TAROMAN
US Veteran
Yes..
Me too!
You should trim the beans for overall cartridge length before you freeze them
Totally agree about the round count. It must be an error. He said 900 but left off a couple of zeros.
Kind Regards!
BrianD
Ha, you made me chuckle with the frozen green beans crack.
Great post, although I definitely have to disagree with your decision to quit shooting it at 900 rounds. That pistol is ready for another 30,000 rounds.
Interesting that the rear sight is the old school 2nd Gen fixed blade, pre-Novak.
You should trim the beans for overall cartridge length before you freeze them
Totally agree about the round count. It must be an error. He said 900 but left off a couple of zeros.
Kind Regards!
BrianD
Yendor357
Member
I do not understand “Retiring” a 4506, or any other gun for that matter.
While I’m at it, I don’t get buying a gun, and not firing it. When I’m dead and gone, I’m not going to care what the next person paid for my gun.
I recently bought a 20 year old unfired safe queen. (4506) I took it home, put a few drops of oil on it, took it out in the back yard and lit it up. It shot 4.5 inches high and an inch and a half to the left. Gasp! I replaced the front sight. I got it zeroed. I took it out the other day just to double check my zero. I put 3 out of 3, 200 grain XTP on a 2.25” black square, standing offhand at 25 yards. I’ve been taking it deer (tree stand) hunting with me. I haven’t drawn blood just yet.
If Smith ever reintroduced the 4506, This is what it would look like by the time the 20-somethings, the bean counters, and the lawyers got done with a perfect pistol: Plastic trigger and guide rod. The slide would have at least one “Caution!”; it would be cut for an optic. The frame would have a key lock hole. The frame would be either some oddball anodized color, or heaven forbid, polymer. The frame would also have an integral 1913 rail under the dust over, so the old holsters would no longer work. They messed up the revolvers. Let’s just leave well enough alone.
PS: I also recently bought an old (1977) Marlin 336 Texan that I believe had been unfired. It still has the “Genuine American Walnut” sticker on the fore end. The Texan will put 3 160 grain Hornady’s pretty close to an inch at 100 yards.
Shooting guns is a whole lot more fun than locking them away, never to see daylight, and letting them do what they were made to do.
While I’m at it, I don’t get buying a gun, and not firing it. When I’m dead and gone, I’m not going to care what the next person paid for my gun.
I recently bought a 20 year old unfired safe queen. (4506) I took it home, put a few drops of oil on it, took it out in the back yard and lit it up. It shot 4.5 inches high and an inch and a half to the left. Gasp! I replaced the front sight. I got it zeroed. I took it out the other day just to double check my zero. I put 3 out of 3, 200 grain XTP on a 2.25” black square, standing offhand at 25 yards. I’ve been taking it deer (tree stand) hunting with me. I haven’t drawn blood just yet.
If Smith ever reintroduced the 4506, This is what it would look like by the time the 20-somethings, the bean counters, and the lawyers got done with a perfect pistol: Plastic trigger and guide rod. The slide would have at least one “Caution!”; it would be cut for an optic. The frame would have a key lock hole. The frame would be either some oddball anodized color, or heaven forbid, polymer. The frame would also have an integral 1913 rail under the dust over, so the old holsters would no longer work. They messed up the revolvers. Let’s just leave well enough alone.
PS: I also recently bought an old (1977) Marlin 336 Texan that I believe had been unfired. It still has the “Genuine American Walnut” sticker on the fore end. The Texan will put 3 160 grain Hornady’s pretty close to an inch at 100 yards.
Shooting guns is a whole lot more fun than locking them away, never to see daylight, and letting them do what they were made to do.
Yendor357-I said I put some 900 rounds through it. It may have been 800-1200...don't recall for sure. I guess I had in my mind(since I had several others I shot more) don't push this reliability. Parts are not easy to come by for these models anymore. Knowing it was good to go in any situation I decided to hold on to it and keep it close by the bed as my go to pistol in case of need. It's the only one I trust 100% for that.
03Fatboy
Member
They don’t really break with minimal routine maintenance. Enjoy it!
If you're so worried about parts, just get yourself a spare
Seriously though, these pistols are so magnificently robust & reliable, parts availability is the least of my concerns. Even when poorly cared for, the possibility of something critical breaking is laughably remote. And even then parts are still available from several sources. and there are a few folks who can fabricate replacement bits.
I own a several 3rd gen pistols and that #40 pistol in the pic above, well, I carry that one far more than any other. Don't let parts availability dictate whether you enjoy the weapon and maintain your skills with it. None of us are going to be around forever, however the 4506 sure will be.
The rising cost and shrinking availability of ammo and components is waaaaay more concerning.
Cheers
Bill
Seriously though, these pistols are so magnificently robust & reliable, parts availability is the least of my concerns. Even when poorly cared for, the possibility of something critical breaking is laughably remote. And even then parts are still available from several sources. and there are a few folks who can fabricate replacement bits.
I own a several 3rd gen pistols and that #40 pistol in the pic above, well, I carry that one far more than any other. Don't let parts availability dictate whether you enjoy the weapon and maintain your skills with it. None of us are going to be around forever, however the 4506 sure will be.
The rising cost and shrinking availability of ammo and components is waaaaay more concerning.
Cheers
Bill
It's not retired! It's still guarding your household! Take 'er out for a spin every now and then and let it do what it was built to do, fire rounds downrange.
I've not yet acquired a 4506, but I do have a couple of it's little brothers, a 4516 (ND) and a KSP 4566 TSW guarding my household. The 4516 is my normal "cold weather" carry gun when I'm wearing heavier clothing.
All of the 3rd gen 45's put out by S&W are awesome, and even their 45 Shield for that matter. (Not leaving out my 745 either).
I guess I do need to find a 4506 to join the family!
I've not yet acquired a 4506, but I do have a couple of it's little brothers, a 4516 (ND) and a KSP 4566 TSW guarding my household. The 4516 is my normal "cold weather" carry gun when I'm wearing heavier clothing.
All of the 3rd gen 45's put out by S&W are awesome, and even their 45 Shield for that matter. (Not leaving out my 745 either).
I guess I do need to find a 4506 to join the family!
My Winchester model 12 is 105 years old........It has had ONE ejector spring replaced......Still shooting it........All my 3rd gen guns get shot.......After I die who cares?
Point is.......Quality guns seldom require "spare parts".
ezb57
Member
Damn Ive been after a 4506 for decades now, they just dont show up in these parts.
I did buy one off GB years back but had to sell it off before I could take possession because it was a plain 4506, and the BS California roster of approved guns at the time only showed a 4506-1 and my FFL would not release it to me. Came with Galco Miami shoulder rig too. Im still pissed.
I did buy one off GB years back but had to sell it off before I could take possession because it was a plain 4506, and the BS California roster of approved guns at the time only showed a 4506-1 and my FFL would not release it to me. Came with Galco Miami shoulder rig too. Im still pissed.
Very nice. Thank you for the show. This model is definitely worth being on Christmas list.
Frank Black
Member
Same for my 2nd Gen 645 … I’ve also never had a hint of a bobble with my 4566 either.
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