745 problem

[razdog76]

I have had my 745 for a few years now. It is pretty much a safe queen... (I have 2 other S&W 45's).

Of my 3 (a late model 4506-1, and a 4563TSW) it is by far the least accurate with whatever I shoot.

The barrel crown in fine, I have replaced the main spring, the trigger is dandy, it does not have as much slide to frame slop as my 4506, and it cycles as a Smith 45 should. Also I have had my best friend shoot them and it is inaccurate for him too.

Any ideas on why it is performing like this, and what to do about it?

 

[razdog76]

I have had my 745 for a few years now. It is pretty much a safe queen... (I have 2 other S&W 45's).

Of my 3 (a late model 4506-1, and a 4563TSW) it is by far the least accurate with whatever I shoot.

The barrel crown in fine, I have replaced the main spring, the trigger is dandy, it does not have as much slide to frame slop as my 4506, and it cycles as a Smith 45 should. Also I have had my best friend shoot them and it is inaccurate for him too.

Any ideas on why it is performing like this, and what to do about it?

 

[WR Moore]

You might check with S&W and see what they'll do for you. The barrel may be off dimensionally.

I'm not sure if the 745 has a trigger overtravel stop. It may be adjusted a wee bit too tight and the hammer is snagging on the way down. This both slows the hammer and bumps the pistol making groups larger.

With an unloaded pistol, hold the trigger back and move the hammer through its travel, checking for anything catching. Then figure out how to hold the trigger all the way back, hold the hammer and check the firing pin for free travel.

 

[razdog76]

It does have an overtravel stop. I am not perceiving any catching, but I might re-adjust it to see if that helps.

Even though I not the original owner, there is a warranty card in the box. Maybe it is time to send it back to the factory.

 

[G-ManBart]

Have you tried it with a wide variety of ammo, handloads? Sometimes you'll get a gun that has very particular preferences, but will shoot great with what it likes. In autos it's almost all about barrel to slide fit...nothing else really matters unless it's ridiculously off.

If you handload you've got more options that if you shoot only factory ammo and changing bullet weights should make the biggest difference. If you shoot cast bullets it's worth trying bullets that are .002 larger (won't hurt anything at all and actually helps seal the bullet to barrel which cuts down on flame cutting erosion/wear) rather than the standard .001 larger. Heck, I'd probably try some .454 cast bullets meant for 45 Colt to see how they worked too....if it's not already a load on or over the limit, it'll be fine.

If nothing else, it won't hurt to send it back and have the factory take a peek. R,

 

[razdog76]

No I do not handload, and since none of them are my duty pistol I do not shoot them as much as I would like to.

It may be that the 745 prefers a handload, but I do not understand why the more refined pistol cannot keep up with a plain 4506-1 or the 4563TSW.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by razdog76:
I have had my 745 for a few years now. It is pretty much a safe queen... (I have 2 other S&W 45's).

Of my 3 (a late model 4506-1, and a 4563TSW) it is by far the least accurate with whatever I shoot.

The barrel crown in fine, I have replaced the main spring, the trigger is dandy, it does not have as much slide to frame slop as my 4506, and it cycles as a Smith 45 should. Also I have had my best friend shoot them and it is inaccurate for him too.

Any ideas on why it is performing like this, and what to do about it?

Remember the 745 was not designed for anything other than combat accuracy (4 inch groups at 25 yards). It is not a performance center match gun. It was designed for action shooting and similar shooting, not bullseye.

 

[Bullitholz]

My 4506 has a constriction in the barrel, right in front of the chamber, that really messes with the accuracy. From what I can glean from internet forums, some of these first run guns had defective barrels that had this problem and it had something to do with the barrels being plated.

I don't know how much truth there is to all of that but mine apparently has a similar condidtion. I slugged mine and it revealed that the bullet gets swaged down .001(out of round) before it leaves the muzzle, which kills accuracy.

 

[razdog76]

Originally posted by shawn mccarver:
Remember the 745 was not designed for anything other than combat accuracy (4 inch groups at 25 yards). It is not a performance center match gun. It was designed for action shooting and similar shooting, not bullseye.

Sure, but it it was designed as a refined SA 645 for gaming. Regardless it does not even measure up to my stock 4506-1.