bluetopper
Member
Has there been a model that was manufactured as a 5" target 45acp, non 1911. Maybe the 4506 but weren't the vast majority of those shipped with non adjustable sights? Please enlighten me.
Model that is a target 45?
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845 and 945
adrianolsen
Member
645, 745 too
The Model 745 is a Single Action Only version of the Model 645. However there is not additional accurizing that occurs on the Model 745 over the Model 645.
The Model 845 Limited is a pistol that Smith & Wesson designed as a successor to the Model 52. Smith & Wesson chose not to produce this firearm
About 10 years after the Model 845 Limited's design, it became known to Lew Horton. Lew commissioned the Performance Center to build this pistol. It was introduced in 1995 with a claimed total of 435 pistols produced
These are FANTASTIC shooting firearms and if you are a Model 52 shooter you will recognize them as the true successor to the Model 52 even down to the trigger follow through
Well after all of these were sold out there was still a demand. So Lew Horton came up with the 845 Model of 1988. This pistol added front cocking serrations, which was popular at that time. It also put a Billboard on the left side of the slide. This is something that many shooters objected to. Fortunately it is does not affect the pistols performance and if it really bothers you, it can be buffed off the slide. Approximately 150 of these were manufactured
With either pistol,if you do your part, these will shoot one ragged hole. Just like the old Model 52
BTW, these pistols utilize the 645/4506/745 magazines so there are plenty of them in the market place
The Model 845 Limited is a pistol that Smith & Wesson designed as a successor to the Model 52. Smith & Wesson chose not to produce this firearm
About 10 years after the Model 845 Limited's design, it became known to Lew Horton. Lew commissioned the Performance Center to build this pistol. It was introduced in 1995 with a claimed total of 435 pistols produced
These are FANTASTIC shooting firearms and if you are a Model 52 shooter you will recognize them as the true successor to the Model 52 even down to the trigger follow through
Well after all of these were sold out there was still a demand. So Lew Horton came up with the 845 Model of 1988. This pistol added front cocking serrations, which was popular at that time. It also put a Billboard on the left side of the slide. This is something that many shooters objected to. Fortunately it is does not affect the pistols performance and if it really bothers you, it can be buffed off the slide. Approximately 150 of these were manufactured
With either pistol,if you do your part, these will shoot one ragged hole. Just like the old Model 52
BTW, these pistols utilize the 645/4506/745 magazines so there are plenty of them in the market place
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You aren't giving us a ton of info to go on but if I get one guess it's going to be a Model 745. Introduced in 1985 with a special serial prefix of "DVC" and IPSC Commemorative lettering on the right side of the slide. All of this first version had a fixed rear sight but it looked very much like an early version of a Novak low mount. This was a two tone pistol, stainless frame and blued slide. It was single action only and the left side only thumb safety was also a departure from the established S&W design, no decocker but securely blocks the firing pin from the hammer and from any forward movement.
There were two later versions of the 745 made. The bulk looked exactly like the IPSC Commemorative pistol but without the anniversary lettering on the slide and more traditional serial number alpha prefix. The very last version of the 745 was offered in 1990 with an adjustable rear sight.
In general design and layout, the 745 series was similar to the 845 Performance Center guns. In fitment, trigger and pure accuracy capability, the 745 and 845 are like night and day or perhaps like night and three weeks later.
The 745's are great pistols and capable of great "combat accuracy." I love to use my 745's to mow down steel plates. However for gilt-edged accuracy (I'm not joking) an 845 is my choice.
The 645 and 4506's are generally considered "service grade accurate". My adjustable sight 4506-1 can regularly put holes in holes on target with my favorite hard cast handloads.
My 745 is a great looking pistol with a nice trigger but honestly not any more accurate than my 4506-1. Both can and do print respectively.
The 845 and 945 are more capable of "true target accuracy" as intended and expected. They are works of usable art and craftsmanship.
Jim
My 745 is a great looking pistol with a nice trigger but honestly not any more accurate than my 4506-1. Both can and do print respectively.
The 845 and 945 are more capable of "true target accuracy" as intended and expected. They are works of usable art and craftsmanship.
Jim
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I have also noticed that the 745 has a particular affinity for the cast 200gr LSWC of the classic H&G68 design. While my 845's are outrageously consistent with almost anything you feed them, my 745 pistols seem to absolutely give better accuracy with a cast lead target wadcutter than they do with plated 200's and 230's.
And yes, it's duly noted that nobody chooses a low-end, economical plated pistol bullet when their goal is ultimate accuracy on paper however, as I've used a truckload of them from nearly every company that's made them, I can tell you from much experience that the 845 does very well with both Berry's and Xtreme plated bullets. Last summer I took down a prairie dog at a ranged 53 yards with an Xtreme 200gr plated flat point from my 845 Limited.
These same loads are nothing particular impressive from either of my 745 pistols. But feed the 745's the 200gr LSWC and they can impress!
Hoytx10,
The 745 was not a Performance Center offering. It was manufactured on the production side of Smith & Wesson
Just think of a 645 with a good single action trigger and you have the 745
When the 745 was chosen to be the 10th Anniversary IPSC Commemorative Smith & Wesson Built around 5,100 pieces with the DVC serial prefix in 1986.
Several other variations of the 745 also were produced. Nine different Model 745 product codes exist including 2 versions with adjustable sights. Production on these ran until roughly 1990 and totaled over 20,000 pistols
IPSC selected Colt to build the 20th Anniversary IPSC Commemorative. Three different grades were made available. There was a Tactical Grade (1500), the Superior Tactical Grade (500) and the Deluxe. Only 50 of the Deluxe pistols were produced. The Deluxe had the DVC serial number prefix and sported African Elephant Ivory grips
Both of my IPSC commemoratives are serial numbered DVC43
The 30th Anniversary IPSC commemorative was produced by STI and was priced way too high for me to buy one.
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SGT ROCK 11B
Member
As a cop I carried a 4506 in the early 1990s.
cherrypointmarine
Member
I have 2 745's , one is the IPSC 10th anniversary model and one is the plain Jane model . The plain model I had guzzitaco mount an Sig Romeo on and it's an awesome piece . There's also one of each 845 models in the safe . If you hold them side by side you can see the difference in the width . Don't know which model the OP wrote about , but any of the models mentioned are truly awesome pieces . If nothing else we've given him plenty of food for thought .
I'm sorry but it was. It's actually listed in the Performance Center section of the SCSW 3rd and 4th.
I knew it was different, called S&W CS and actually got someone who was interested in it. He suggested contacting Earl which I did. Then I bid on it and ended up high bid at $700.00. The Factory Letter explained a little more.
Jim
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Yendor357
Member
Like Stevens' pistols, my ex-745, 645, and 4506 did/do indeed shoot cast 200 grain SWC very well…..ok, pretty well. I can quite often shoot a 5 shot group from braced sitting at 25 yards that will measure 2.25 inches. Seldom can I break the 2 inch mark at 25. What usually happens is I put 4 close together, but somewhere along the line, I'll throw one a couple inches out; spoiling a potentially good group.
The Lyman 451630 bullets that I cast shoot as good as commercial cast, sometimes better. I usually burn 5.5 grains of a fast burning pistol propellant.
Oddly enough, I shoot the old Police Trade In 645 that I now have, better than I could with the pretty 745 I owned years ago. Even with the fairly crude sights on the 645, it will hold its own.
*My tip of the day: If you have a pistol that is all that terribly accurate, be very certain to have it perfectly Zeroed. That way your hits will always be real close. With a 45, real close usually gets the job done.
My 645 and my old 745 shot 185 JHPs even better than the cast 200 SWC. I have a couple of times, put 5 185s under 2 inches at 25Y. I've begun to experiment with +P hand loads with the 200 XTP. I'm getting really good results with the hot 200s.
I'd love to have an 845.
Pistol shooting isn't easy. If it was, we'd all be doing something else.
The Lyman 451630 bullets that I cast shoot as good as commercial cast, sometimes better. I usually burn 5.5 grains of a fast burning pistol propellant.
Oddly enough, I shoot the old Police Trade In 645 that I now have, better than I could with the pretty 745 I owned years ago. Even with the fairly crude sights on the 645, it will hold its own.
*My tip of the day: If you have a pistol that is all that terribly accurate, be very certain to have it perfectly Zeroed. That way your hits will always be real close. With a 45, real close usually gets the job done.
My 645 and my old 745 shot 185 JHPs even better than the cast 200 SWC. I have a couple of times, put 5 185s under 2 inches at 25Y. I've begun to experiment with +P hand loads with the 200 XTP. I'm getting really good results with the hot 200s.
I'd love to have an 845.
Pistol shooting isn't easy. If it was, we'd all be doing something else.
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squidsix
Member
Don't forget the 945 in all its configurations. This was a very accurate single action pistol laid out similarly to the 1911, but unique enough to share no parts. They were really amazing shooters.
Jim Watson
Member
There is the .45 Target Champion which I think to be the EU market version of the 845.
The fixed sight on the 745 is the Novak Competition sight, which my gunsmith calls the "doorstop sight." I have used a couple when I did not want to pay a hundred bucks to have a slide machined for a low mount.
The fixed sight on the 745 is the Novak Competition sight, which my gunsmith calls the "doorstop sight." I have used a couple when I did not want to pay a hundred bucks to have a slide machined for a low mount.
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I just acquired a 745 that is a mirror image of yours Jim, serial precedes yours by only 4 numbers. When I saw it, my hope was this would be another of the same PC run, but mine is a product code 103906. According to the 4th edition SCSW, it's features list it as 5" B/S 8SH AS Special 1990, which I'm assuming was a special production run.
Well as most here know, the 745 "PC Special" was just S&W using up left over parts, (in 1998.) Apparently they couldn't find any 745 backstraps because it looks like they modified a 659 one. In fact it isn't perfectly fit and has a lanyard loop ha ha.
It is what it is and isn't what it isn't. I'm still happy it lives next to my "real" PC's. Fit, finish and function is outstanding.
Jim
