Experiences with S&W stainless steel .45's

[1/74SIS]

Hello,

18DAI:
1.The city guns had Novak style night sights, with stardard S&W roll marks.[ My personal 4506 and a couple of my Smith revolvers have the 2.SIS logo engraved on them].
3.Don't recall the serial number prefix.
4.SIS did not have a particular holster. I believe I used Ted Blocker and Aker holsters.
5. Mag. pouches were either single or double, detectives choice. I usually wore one, but that would be adjusted based on the case we were working. I normanlly wore one .45 and spare mag or mags, had something else on my ankle or pocket, another .45 between the seat and shoulder weapons in the back seat.
6. Chief Beck seems like a good man. I've seen him wearing a S&W .45 uniform. He may have started a school for officers that haven't been trained on the DA auto. Sounds like something the department would do--good idea--bet I haven't heard.

JH

 

[SW CQB 45]

I think what SIS is saying...

You cut barrel and spring length and combine that with non traditional shooting positions and add the stress of a deadly encounter and the shorter guns have a tendacy to malfunction.

 

[Chili Vega]

CALREB is right, feeding problems. Live rounds would get caught in various positions in the chamber/breech face area. Somethimes it would be ball ammo other times it would be hollow points.

CALREB knows what's he's talking about--he's worked on more than one of my guns!

Bob, I'am loving retirement--didn't stick around there too long!

JH

John, does this mean you're not retired??? Say it ain't so.

Charlie Varga

 

[18DAI]

CALREB does using Wolff extra power mag springs alleviate the feed problems with the sub 4" 45's?

What do you recommend to insure reliability in the 4516 models? Thanks for your time! Regards 18DAI.

 

[Leiden]

While I'm not CALEB, and I'm sure his experience in the inner-working of 4516s surpasses mine, I've carried one on-duty for a while.

When I started carrying it the armory replaced the magazine springs with Wolff +10% magazine springs (same spring as the 4506) and replaced the standard factory 15 pound spring with the Wolff 19 pound spring. They also polished the breachface until it was like mirror, but made sure not to remove enough metal to affect headspacing.

The pistol works flawlessly, but it worked the same before the work was done.

CALREB does using Wolff extra power mag springs alleviate the feed problems with the sub 4" 45's?

What do you recommend to insure reliability in the 4516 models? Thanks for your time! Regards 18DAI.

 

[18DAI]

Thanks Leiden!! I'll order some of those Wolff mag springs this week!

My 4516-3 is too sweet a compact 45 to do without! Regards 18DAI.

 

[Leiden]

I forgot you have the -3 and have the two spring recoil system. I wish I could convert my -1 to the newer system. When I spoke to S&W about it they told me to buy a M&P .45.

Even with the +10% magazine springs they're not over hard to load.

 

[Tim Nagel]

1/74SIS great post, nice to hear about your experience with the S&W 45's. I'm 19 year veteran LE Officer in Ohio, we now issue the Glock 22 40, but many Ohio LE Agencies still issue and use the 4506 and 4566. They are getting hard to find here in Ohio! Stay safe!

 

[revolve]

We carried 645s and 4506s and 4516s for detectives for years. No problems whatsoever with exception of the silly screw on the safety of the earlier 4506s. Nothing a little blue locktite wouldn't take care of. Now we carry Glock 21SFs and 30SFs...No problems there either but those old S&W 45s were SOLID guns.

 

[Lostman]

I've been gone from the forum for a while, but this thread caught my eye straight away when I checked in today. I've been interested to see some experience info. with stainless Smith .45s, so I'm delighted to see this discussion. I have a 4596, which I carried as a duty weapon for 12 years. In that time the weapon was, and still is, astonishingly reliable. I also own two 1911s and a Glock 30 and like them all very much, but I would still --- without hesitation --- select my 4596 as the one to bring to the party.

 

[18DAI]

1/74SIS can you share a few more experiences with us? Regards 18DAI.

 

[snowman.45]

645, 4506, 4516, 4566

When I entered LE in 1977, we had to carry revolvers. Being raised by a military father, I had an inherited love for the 1911. I tried my best to convince my Chief that we needed to move into the 20th Century and issue (or at least allow) autos. While I pressed hard for the 1911, he wouldn't go for it. He finally allowed me to look into other autos, but they had to be steel-framed, .45 ACP, double action and American made. That was about the time S&W introduced the 645. I tested one and immediately went out and bought my own. After revising the firearms policy, we were allowed to carry, and eventually issue the 645.

I began to look for a compact DA .45 for off-duty and plain-clothes use. About that time, the 4516 came along and I went out and bought one. Both the 645 and the 4516 would feed empty brass, and I never had any problems with either of them. When the 4506 came out, I sold the 645 and got one. I loved these pistols, but started having trouble with malfunctions related to some magazine issues. S&W replaced the magazines with one containing a newly designed follower. This cured the biggest part of the problem.

We decided it was time to test other pistols due to the mag problem. The Chief told me to make sure to check the Glock. I told him that it did not conform to our policy. He insisted we test it anyway. To make a long story short, they G21 shot astonishingly well and was reliable, not to mention the increased capacity. We then adopted the G21, and the S&W pistols were removed from our issued weapons inventory.

After all these years, I am still required to carry a Glock on duty. However, I got to really missing my old S&W .45's. I ended up finding a 4566, a 4516 and a 4553. I can happily report that I have found them to be everything I remembered. I particulary like the 4566 and carry it off-duty alot. These are great guns.

 

[mod.19]

I really like my 645's.
They are becoming my main carry pistols when a 49 in the pocket seems a little too little. I'm working on making a Sparks VM-II and a Tucker HF-1 work with them for EDC in various dress situations. They are the "poster child" of reliability in .45acp.

Steven B.

 

[azasadny]

My father gave me a 645 that he bought years ago and never fired it. I have taken the gun to the range many times with my reloads and I have never had a problem with the gun, it's very reliable accurate and heavy!!!

 

[Tim Nagel]

S&W read these posts, take note, offer the 3rd generation 45's again!

 

[4506517]

This might start a flame fest like it did on the "other" board, but anyway....my agency recently switched to the M&P full size 45 from the 4566....and most of us want to switch back. Every single one of our M&Ps has been replaced. The first issue all at once and many guys are on their third pistol. Finish chipping off, failures to feed, to fire, sights falling off, magazines failing, magazines rusting.....funny thing is not one 4566 was ever replaced or had these issues. I personally own two 4506s and a pristine 1006.....and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

 

[Viper7]

S&W read these posts, take note, offer the 3rd generation 45's again!

It wouldn't hurt my feelings. I had an 4586 until it was stolen last August. It was large and heavy, but was a fine shooter and range gun. A month ago I decided my 1911 collection was complete, so I started looking for 3rd gen S&W's with alloy frames. I bought a 4043 that functioned well [don't they all] but had some holster wear for well under $300. An hour with some scrub pads and polish and it looked great, but the NS's are a bit dim. I still prefer the 45, so last week I bought a used 4563TSW that was advertised as excellent throughout with bright NS's. He didn't lie. I paid more because of the condition, but when I got the pistol yesterday there wasn't a mark on it and the interior was pristine. It didn't look like it had ever been carried and shot little if at all. It came with all the original equipment and three mags. Thursday I found a brand new 470S at a small store in MA. It had been overlooked in a dist's warehouse, so I bought it. None of these guns cost anywhere near the original prices and I have my collection of 3rd gens started.

BTW, I have a M&P c 45 that has been perfect and is very accurate, but it just doesn't feel like the metal pistols.

 

[vista461]

Haven't had any experience shooting one , but I held a 4566 at Cabelas today and it fit my hand like a glove. I need to win the lottery.
Although as he was putting the mag back in after I handed it back the baseplate popped off and the spring and baseplate went shooting onto the counter.lol

 

[Leiden]

Not so much about using a steel 3rd gen .45, but here's an interesting experience I just had with my 4506 while on-duty... I just cleared an assist to another agency that involved a few of us from the Sheriff's Office. A supervisor from the police department came straight over to me to get a situation report and to see what we were going to do, instead of going to our supervisor, who was standing next to me. Later on I asked that police supervisor why he came to me and he said because I was wearing leather gear and carried a 4506, whereas everyone else was wearing Bianchi Accumold and carrying a Glock. He figured I must have been around a long time, and naturally the ranking officer, as I had what he called a "steel .45."

Interestingly enough, I've had this happen before. I guess what we carry says something to others.

 

[boingboing]

Not so much about using a steel 3rd gen .45, but here's an interesting experience I just had with my 4506 while on-duty... I just cleared an assist to another agency that involved a few of us from the Sheriff's Office. A supervisor from the police department came straight over to me to get a situation report and to see what we were going to do, instead of going to our supervisor, who was standing next to me. Later on I asked that police supervisor why he came to me and he said because I was wearing leather gear and carried a 4506, whereas everyone else was wearing Bianchi Accumold and carrying a Glock. He figured I must have been around a long time, and naturally the ranking officer, as I had what he called a "steel .45."

Interestingly enough, I've had this happen before. I guess what we carry says something to others.

Ya' know, that's kind funny you should say that. Here in my part of the world every agency and their brother issues glocks. My agency and two others in the metro area allow officers to carry what they want. I've carried an HK, 1911 but I've been carrying three different TSW's (three different guns for three different seasons) for quite some time now. I've discovered over the years that cops and everyone else always look at the holster and what's in it. Every time I go downtown to book someone I get quizzical looks every time I either put my gun in or take my gun out of the lock box. And, when I'm questioned about what I'm carrying my answer always seems to either astonish, amuse or baffel. The "why do you carry that" question always gets asked. And my answer is simple: The first handgun I ever owned and carried as a rookie was an early model 5904 and I guess I just have an affinity for 3rd Gens. I know my Smiths work everytime I pull the trigger. Sure they bobble every now and then but what gun doesn't? Besides, if I ever run out of ammo, I can crack your skull with it. Can you do the same with your glock? My guys call me "old school" not because of my age but because I wear leather gear and carry a steel gun. And, I must say, that I am flattered.