457 build opinions

[wnycollector]

Both my 457S (BDK) and 457 (BAY) have beveled mag wells. In fact, other than my very early (1989) 5906 they all have some degree of bevel on them.

My TDR 457 also has the beveled mag well.

 

[Heymatt]

Step 3
Slide on, waiting for mag catch parts and factory delrin grip. Slide sits a little forward on the frame. Is that correctable?
Getting closer to a final decision on the special touches from some forum members

 

[Heymatt]

Step 4. Decisions finalized. Results to follow��

 

[Heymatt]

So, while waiting for the work to be finished, here's what the plan was.
Bead blast the slide and barrel to remove the polished look and get rid of some light scratches.
Polish the barrel bushing and guide rod tip.
Shave the ambi safety and slide stop to thin it down while still retaining the ambi safety.
Single side safety is still an option if I want it.
Blast the ambi safety back to bare stainless.
Smooth out the trigger action.
Leave the MIM hammer for now, have a flash chrome if I change my mind.
Order up a set of Tercgen grips to finish it off.

 

[Heymatt]

I've found two setups for the mag catch, both are metal with the plastic button and tornado spring. You're saying the actual catch was nylon?

 

[18DAI]

Yes Heymatt. On some 457s the mag catch was a nylon part. Just like the disconnector. There isn't really a problem with it, till it wears from VERY heavy use.

Mine wore out and mags started dropping while firing. So, I replaced it with a metal catch. No problems since.

IIRC, S&W was aware of this and on LE ordered guns - like the CPD 457D - the catch was metal. The LE Special order 457 I just bought off the big auction site has a metal catch too. Regards 18DAI

 

[Heymatt]

Well, here it is. The frame finish didn't hold up as well as expected, but hey. It's gonna get used. Other finish options are available if it bothers me. For now it's just fine

 

[squidsix]

That looks awesome! Nicely done

 

[18DAI]

Beautiful! Congrats!

 

[quikdraw67]

Sweet, congrats.

 

[Heymatt]

Well, finally got to the range with this one. It's been almost two months now since final assembly.
Haven't been to the range in 5 months, so I was a little off on the first mag. First two a little right at 7 yds. After that, if I did my job, it was literally point and shoot
Discovered one of my mags wouldn't hold open on last round. So some mag springs will be in order. The other 5 mags ran like champs. 125 rounds of 230g S&B and no FTF or FTE. Looks like it'll be a keeper.
Many thanks again to Guzzitaco and all who offered their support and opinions.

 

[Heymatt]

Updated pics. Had the frame redone, put on the Tercgen grips and added a Don Hume holster. Which should fit the 4513TSW just fine also!

 

[Heymatt]

Just out of curiosity, I pulled out my scale and checked the weights on the three different .45 slides.
All have dual recoil springs and metal guide rods, with barrel.
457 blued complete, single sided safety, 1.05#
4516 stainless complete, ambi safety, 1.1#
4513TSW stainless complete, ambi safety, 1.1#
Pretty darn close!

 

[guzzitaco]

Just out of curiosity, I pulled out my scale and checked the weights on the three different .45 slides.
All have dual recoil springs and metal guide rods, with barrel.
457 blued complete, single sided safety, 1.05#
4516 stainless complete, ambi safety, 1.1#
4513TSW stainless complete, ambi safety, 1.1#
Pretty darn close!

the plastic sights is probably the reason the M457 is a bit lighter...

 

[stevelutah]

Your 457 is cool. Love the 457. Carried one as EDC for a long time. Lost count of rounds years ago with never A hickup. I knew the sites were plastc but was unaware of the nylon mag catch. Can you point me to where or what I would need to get a metal one?

Thanks for a great thread.

Steve

 

[Heymatt]

Thanks, it was my first project!
Midway has the metal mag catch from time to time. Another option is to use the mag catch and nut from a 4516 with the "tornado" spring from a 457, add a drop of blue loctite to keep the nut in place once you get it adjusted.

Just took a look, Midway has the metal mag catch, spring and plastic nut in stock.

Ooops, it's 4513 mag catch listed at Midway

 

[Heymatt]

the plastic sights is probably the reason the M457 is a bit lighter...

Can they be swapped over to the metal Novak's?

 

[GaryS]

I think BMCM recut the notches to fit Novak sights on a 457. There's a thread here somewhere that contains that info and probably has pictures.

As I recall, he had to weld some metal in and then recut from there.

Can they be swapped over to the metal Novak's?

 

[guzzitaco]

Can they be swapped over to the metal Novak's?

you can use a M4516 rear metal sight

you can use a set of trijicon night sights (hard to find right now)

you can use a front only trijicon night sight with a M4516 rear sight...

XSsights has discontinued the 3rd gen sights, perhaps they have some left, you may want to give them a call...

I prefer the rear Novak to any other option. Over the past 2 years with some sights experimentation, I have concluded the the best built rear sights are the Novak. The steel is hard, very hard and it is almost impossible to ding them when you remove them using a brass punch...very well build IMHO

hope this helps

 

[Heymatt]

Alright, both slides are finished. Both look great, but which one looks better?