Model 4506 Questions

[Stacey4n6]

Does anyone know the specs on the Model 4506? I am trying to figure out the trajectory and needing the following specs:

-velocity
-sight range in yards
-sight height
-muzzle elevation
-max range
-ballistic coefficent (which I can figure out with the other info)
-projectile travel distance

I have to determine if the weapon (this above) fired a shot that was approximately 200 yards away.

I have researched the specs but havent come up with a definitive answer, and S&W doesnt have a manual for this model.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Stacey4n6]

Also does anyone know the grain of a winchester 45 caliber bullet? There are two different grains (230 and 185). The exterior of the ammunition only states 45 Auto. There is no grain or any other identifying markings.
I do not know if it is flat nosed or a full metal jacket since that information wasnt presented.

 

[18DAI]

Winchester makes several types of 45 round, both ball and jacketed hollow point.

I'm unaware of a "flat nosed" 45 round made by Winchester. If the casing....if you have the casing, is nickel, odds are it is one of the premium self defense jacketed hollow points. Perhaps the Winchester Ranger brand. If it is brass it is probably one of the cheaper range fodder rounds.......unless.....it was a reloaded round.

Do you have the expended bullet? Any pics?

While most of what you asked for are variables that would probably need to be worked backwards - from the point of impact rather than from the muzzle of the pistol - and for which I don't have the answers - I'm curious. How do you know a 4506 fired the round? Regards 18DAI

 

[Slowroller78]

Also does anyone know the grain of a winchester 45 caliber bullet? There are two different grains (230 and 185). The exterior of the ammunition only states 45 Auto. There is no grain or any other identifying markings.
I do not know if it is flat nosed or a full metal jacket since that information wasnt presented.

Stacey, I am no ballistic whiz, and someone more knowledgable than I will probably chime in later. But the .45 ACP, as you know, was originally designed for use in the M1911. It was loaded with a 230 grain bullet to 830 or 850 fps, if I recall correctly.

A 200 yard shot with your 4506 would be a long haul for a .45 ACP. Not saying it is impossible, but would take a good deal of hold over.

Modern self defense ammo is loaded to a little high velocities in some cases, depending on bullet weight, etc.

You might consult a reloading manual, or a ballistic calculator to find the BC, and other information you are looking for.

Hope this helps.​

 

[Slowroller78]

Winchester makes several types of 45 round, both ball and jacketed hollow point.

I'm unaware of a "flat nosed" 45 round made by Winchester. If the casing....if you have the casing, is nickel, odds are it is one of the premium self defense jacketed hollow points. Perhaps the Winchester Ranger brand. If it is brass it is probably one of the cheaper range fodder rounds.......unless.....it was a reloaded round.

Do you have the expended bullet? Any pics?

While most of what you asked for are variables that would probably need to be worked backwards - from the point of impact rather than from the muzzle of the pistol - and for which I don't have the answers - I'm curious. How do you know a 4506 fired the round? Regards 18DAI

Hey Stacey, didn't pick up on the fact you were trying to back track the round on my first reading. Old eyes!

18DAI sez it; if you have any photos of the cartridge case or spent bullet, that might help. If it is a commercial loading, bullets weights are normally 230 or 185 grains for Winchester I think. Not sure if it is currently loaded, but they used to offer a 185 or 200 grain flat nose bullet for target shooters, not sure.

SR78

 

[Stacey4n6]

Winchester makes several types of 45 round, both ball and jacketed hollow point.

I'm unaware of a "flat nosed" 45 round made by Winchester. If the casing....if you have the casing, is nickel, odds are it is one of the premium self defense jacketed hollow points. Perhaps the Winchester Ranger brand. If it is brass it is probably one of the cheaper range fodder rounds.......unless.....it was a reloaded round.

Do you have the expended bullet? Any pics?

While most of what you asked for are variables that would probably need to be worked backwards - from the point of impact rather than from the muzzle of the pistol - and for which I don't have the answers - I'm curious. How do you know a 4506 fired the round? Regards 18DAI

Thanks for the information. I actually do not know any of the questions you have asked. The only information I have is that the projectile was a 45 caliber and matched to the 4506. I do not have a make or model or color, but was able to look at pictures and see a box of Winchester 45 Auto ammunition (so with deductive reasoning I have gathered this was the ammunition used)!

With that being said, this is the only information I have on the ammunition. I have a request in for the type of ammunition used, but I am not sure I will be granted this information for my investigation.

 

[Stacey4n6]

Stacey, I am no ballistic whiz, and someone more knowledgable than I will probably chime in later. But the .45 ACP, as you know, was originally designed for use in the M1911. It was loaded with a 230 grain bullet to 830 or 850 fps, if I recall correctly.

A 200 yard shot with your 4506 would be a long haul for a .45 ACP. Not saying it is impossible, but would take a good deal of hold over.

Modern self defense ammo is loaded to a little high velocities in some cases, depending on bullet weight, etc.

You might consult a reloading manual, or a ballistic calculator to find the BC, and other information you are looking for.

Hope this helps.​

Thank you!!! I have the ballistics calculator but it asks for all the information in my first post...which I do not have. I have gotten the BC and a couple others listed above, but not enough to fully get the information I need.
I know that if a weapon is fired in the air, it will travel close to a mile in range, but if fired from a standing position straight then it should only travel approximately 50 meters.

But this is all still relying on the data that I have, which might not be accurate due to not know the make and model of ammunition.

I just thought I would try to put this out there and see if someone happened to know all of the Model 4506 information, so at least I could eliminate that aspect of this.
I appreciate your input and help!!!

btw if you have any good ballistic calculator/calculations please let me know. The one Ive been using is beginning to seem outdated.​

 

[novalty]

Here is a good YouTube video of it's smaller brother the 4566TSW. Enjoy!

 

[BUFF]

Stacey4n6, you need an awful lot more information than you have. A bullet fired from a .45 ACP will travel a lot further than 50 meters if the pistol is held level. Many formal handgun target matches include portions fired at 50 yards. A fellow I shot metallic silhouette matches with in the late 1970's used a T/C Contender in .45 ACP and could make a good percentage of hits at 200 meters.

Ballistic coefficients for bullets commonly loaded into .45 ACP run from about .100 to .195, and muzzle velocities from the M-4506's 5 inch barrel can run from 650 fps to almost 1,000 fps. A quick example from a manual sitting here shows that a typical 230 grain round nose bullet (B.C. of .16) fired at a muzzle velocity of 1,000 fps (granted, a little high) and zeroed at 50 yards will strike the target 1.5 inches low at the muzzle, 8.3 inches low at 100 yards, 58.7 inches low at 200 yards and 102.9 inches low at 250 yards.

(note to metallic silhouette shooters: Yeah, I know, it was a lousy cartridge choice, but it was all he had! The chickens and pigs at 50 and 100 meters were easy shots for him, but the turkeys and rams just stood there after being hit...)

 

[Mack]

Stacy,
All of your questions pertain to .45 ACP ballistics not specific to a 4506. And yes a .45 ACP will travel well beyond 200 yards, aimed fire is difficult at longer distances but not impossible. From personal experience I have kept 9 out of 14? shots in the body of a silhouette target at 125 yards using a Colt 1911 made in 1917 with the small sights. Course this was many years ago when I had better eyes and I was prone at the time but by aiming a little above the head of the target this was doable. Ha, I found a picture of the target and it's got 9 holes in it, maybe I fired two clips at it . Anyway six in the body and three in the right arm, no way could I still shoot this good. BTW this was around the 77-78 time frame and today I suffer from CRS.