Experiences with S&W stainless steel .45's

[BAM-BAM]

I normally don’t resurrect dormant threads, but this one is a doozy. I can’t believe I missed it originally and during its previous resurrections. I only found it today by doing a tag search.

It is mentioned almost in passing that 645s and 4506s will fit in holsters meant for the Sig P220. Say what? I carried my trusty 220 in a Galco shoulder holster for years. I gave the 220 to my son when I retired but he’s a lefty so he had no use for the leather.

I rooted around and found it somehow. And, yep, the 645 I got a couple weeks ago fits great, though the business end sticks out a little farther than the Sig did. The mags fit the pouches, too.

I should probably pop for a new harness, since the four points of it are attached to the holster and mag pouch with: 1- Superglue, 2 - a piece of leather shoelace, 3 - a plastic flex cuff, cut short, and 4 - nothing but optimism.

Seems like a good cold-weather felon repellant set up to me.

Goes to show there can be gold in these old threads.

Wow old thread...... my last input was 2016

I've got an old Galco "Miami Vice" set up for single stack..... winter walks it works well with my Sig 245 or 220 and my Smith 4566..... all with 2 extra mags..... for the 245 spare mags are 8rd with Xgrips adaptors. Must admit that I tend to favor the alloy frame Sigs to the all Steel 4566 for a walk in the park!

It also works well with my Beretta 92 Compact Type-M single stack.


As they all have exposed hammers they are nice and secure with the thumb-break.

I've got a second one set up for double stack mags..... generally for my Beretta 92s either of the short (4.2")slide Compact or Centurion. IIRC it's a bit loose with a 3rd gen gun like the 5906 or 915.
Both were picked up "un- used" in the 90s at about $.25 on the dollar for a new one at the time.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

I bought a 4566 new when they first came out.

It was my go to gun for many years. It still rides in the truck with me. Since then I have picked up another one as a spare plus a 645 and a 4506. I like them almost as much as my two 1006s.

 

[ColColt]

I still have the 4506 I bought back in 1990. Never trade/sell that wonderful pistol. Never has it ever failed in any way. It resides under my pillow as it has for years.

The 4516-1 sits with me in the computer room. Once BMCM set me straight on the recoil spring I had installed backwards no further problem with it either.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I might be a fan of the steel .45 automatics.



Model 645

Model 745

Model 4506-1

Model 4566

Model 4566TSW

Model 4566TSW

 

[rainyknight]

Well all I can say is wow. That was a great read covering almost ten years. A lot of great information and I must say thanks to all that contributed to it. Now I have to go out and find myself a .45 third gen.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

My 45's are my favorites . 645, 745 , 845 and 945's I like them all . I have to include my Recon45 also . Among others i have 457's , CS45 , 4586 , 4536 , 4566TSW and some others . One can't have too many 45's . Here's a couple of them .

 

[squidsix]

Just re-reading this thread. I dearly miss Leiden and 18DAI talking about their lives of service. Leiden got my sold on a 4516 many years ago (still have it) and 18DAI was one of the folks who helped me out with my Recon 45. If you want to read some good stuff, and love S&W .45 pistols, go back and read these guys’ posts over the years. Hard to beat

 

[BigMuddy]

I too have enjoyed reading through this again as I’m a big fan of the large frame steel S&W 45’s. Bought a 645 when first available, even before Sonny Crockett . Regrettably let that one go, but replaced it a few years ago. Still waiting for my first malfunction with a 645…hasn’t happened yet.

With all the great info in this thread I was surprised at no mention of the 4546. I know they’re a bit of a rare bird and what little I know about them I learned on this forum. In my LGS in among the black plastic I saw the first 4546 I’d ever laid eyes on in the case. I wasn’t that interested, but after reading a bit about them, and seeing it sitting there for a few months, I made an offer and it was accepted. I really didn’t expect to keep it but thought it might make good trade material. No box, but was in great condition. Took it straight to the ranch to see how it worked. Only problem was I only brought one box of ammo. It was a lot of fun and amazingly, to me anyway, extremely easy to hit with. I was able to “ding steel” consistently at targets as far as 75 yards out. Later took it to my buddy’s house to show it off. At his home range we were able to ring targets out to 100 yards. He was so impressed he told me I’d be crazy to get rid of it. So far it’s still mine.

Again thanks for all the info here. I too like the real world stories. Some have commented on wanting these big autos back in production but I doubt we’ll see it. Plastic is way cheaper and unfortunately more popular I’m afraid.

Dan

 

[finesse_r]

Any one use a 4513TSW?

 

[ACEd]

Any one use a 4513TSW?

4513TSW are Aluminum Frames