1911heaven
Member
Alrighty out of sheer curiosity which one of these bad boys would you have if there could be only 1 for all around range to home defense 4566tsw or 4506-1 if both had night sights?
A little poll- 4506-1 or 4566tsw
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sgt.207
Member
I would take the 4506-1
squidsix
Member
Depends on this: Are you gonna carry it?
I CCW my 4506-1 from time to time, but a 4566 is more likely to be in my holster for certain.
I CCW my 4506-1 from time to time, but a 4566 is more likely to be in my holster for certain.
smith10
Member
Both great guns, I just prefer the commander sized 4566.
Silversmok3
Member
For home defense, id take the 4506.
If one has to leave the house to so much as check the mail, id take the 4566. Its a much more practical firearm to carry than the larger weapon.
If one has to leave the house to so much as check the mail, id take the 4566. Its a much more practical firearm to carry than the larger weapon.
CCWKY
Member
For Range Use and Home Defense, I'll take my 4506
I know it isn't an option, but I'd do a 4516 over either.
There is only a 3/4" difference between the barrel/slide length between the 4506-1 and the 4566TSW so the velocity difference would not be enough to bother me.
I like the quicker handling characteristics of the shorter 4566 and the rail on the TSW. For home defense, the ability to have a bright weapons light mounted to surprise, and possibly blind/disorient an assailant long enough to give me the edge is welcomed.
Since the 4566TSW's are less available, I'd take a 4566... and then cheat and find a 4506-1 upper to be able to swap whenever I want to.
I like the quicker handling characteristics of the shorter 4566 and the rail on the TSW. For home defense, the ability to have a bright weapons light mounted to surprise, and possibly blind/disorient an assailant long enough to give me the edge is welcomed.
Since the 4566TSW's are less available, I'd take a 4566... and then cheat and find a 4506-1 upper to be able to swap whenever I want to.
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OP
1911heaven
Member
ladder13-That one is already in the safe
OP
1911heaven
Member
This is getting good! I'm enjoying all of the input-good stuff!
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
4506-1 for me! I prefer the longer barrel and the bullet proof reliability of the bigger pistol! Dale
For range use or just keeping at home?
4506
For actually carrying around?
4566TSW
I'd sooner desire to carry a 4563TSW, though.
I carried an issued 4566TSW for a while, and I soon traded it in for an alloy compact weapon (since I was carrying it for a plainclothes assignment).
I know guys who are carrying 4566TSW's for plainclothes, and the weight becomes a "not uncommon" observation from folks wearing them for 8-12+ hours at a time.
I finished my career carrying a 4513TSW, which gave me only 1 rounds less magazine capacity. Not everyone may shoot the alloy compacts as well as the all-steel 4566TSW's, though. I've seen my fair share of folks who simply shot the heavier 4566TSW's better than the 4513TSW's, even though standard pressure ammo was being used. Just depends.
The heavier weight of the 4506 would make for a nice range experience.
Your safe wouldn't care which one was resting on the shelf.
As far as some parts are concerned, the older 4506/4566's might have less easily obtained barrels available at some point than the TSW's. The 4566 barrels are not the same as the 4566TSW barrels (like the 4006 barrels are not the same as the 4006TSW barrels). Last time I looked at some new production 4566TSW's and had called back to discuss some barrel questions with S&W, they were still making some revisions within the 4566TSW line.
I had a couple of 4566TSW's in front of me one day, made only about a year apart, and both had differently machined barrels (and a couple of the machining differences were easily noticeable). The barrels would work in either TSW, as I was told the newer changes were simply some design & machining improvements the engineers had incorporated. (This was something like 4 years ago.)
The 4506 (and its later revisions) are pretty well known and respected as real workhorses among the folks who like to own and shoot full-size 5" .45 pistols. Heavy, but that helps make for an enjoyable shooting experience ... until your arms and shoulders start to fatigue.
4506
For actually carrying around?
4566TSW
I'd sooner desire to carry a 4563TSW, though.
I carried an issued 4566TSW for a while, and I soon traded it in for an alloy compact weapon (since I was carrying it for a plainclothes assignment).
I know guys who are carrying 4566TSW's for plainclothes, and the weight becomes a "not uncommon" observation from folks wearing them for 8-12+ hours at a time.
I finished my career carrying a 4513TSW, which gave me only 1 rounds less magazine capacity. Not everyone may shoot the alloy compacts as well as the all-steel 4566TSW's, though. I've seen my fair share of folks who simply shot the heavier 4566TSW's better than the 4513TSW's, even though standard pressure ammo was being used. Just depends.
The heavier weight of the 4506 would make for a nice range experience.
Your safe wouldn't care which one was resting on the shelf.
As far as some parts are concerned, the older 4506/4566's might have less easily obtained barrels available at some point than the TSW's. The 4566 barrels are not the same as the 4566TSW barrels (like the 4006 barrels are not the same as the 4006TSW barrels). Last time I looked at some new production 4566TSW's and had called back to discuss some barrel questions with S&W, they were still making some revisions within the 4566TSW line.
I had a couple of 4566TSW's in front of me one day, made only about a year apart, and both had differently machined barrels (and a couple of the machining differences were easily noticeable). The barrels would work in either TSW, as I was told the newer changes were simply some design & machining improvements the engineers had incorporated. (This was something like 4 years ago.)
The 4506 (and its later revisions) are pretty well known and respected as real workhorses among the folks who like to own and shoot full-size 5" .45 pistols. Heavy, but that helps make for an enjoyable shooting experience ... until your arms and shoulders start to fatigue.
For range use: 4506-1
For home defense: 4506-1
For carry: 4506-1
For camping: 4506-1
For tactical use: 4506-1
For grilling steak: 4506-1
For long walks: 4506-1
For hunting bear: 4506-1
I guess I could have just said 4506-1.
For home defense: 4506-1
For carry: 4506-1
For camping: 4506-1
For tactical use: 4506-1
For grilling steak: 4506-1
For long walks: 4506-1
For hunting bear: 4506-1
I guess I could have just said 4506-1.
OK Hog Shooter
Member
Why get one when two will do? ...or three or four? Just get more! I prefer the 4566 but mostly because it's very similar in size to my 4006, which l've carried more than anything else.
Hog
Hog
I personally shoot the Commander lengths (4 to 4 1/4 barrels) better than the 5" lengths. It doesn't make any difference if its S&W 3rd gens or 1911's so I prefer the 4566. But, I would choose my 4513 before either one.
OP
1911heaven
Member
mlk18- sure you didn't want to throw a 4506 Lite or 4506 Junior in there somewhere haha!
Tim Nagel
US Veteran
4506 is my choice!
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