Hi, im currently in the market for a new simi auto i have looked at afew and am seriously thinking about a S&W 4506 i have my eye on. Any feedbak on this model will be much appreciated. Also is it consided a 1911? And what would be a fair price for one in 90% condition? Thanks.
Potential Handgun Purchase
- Thread starter bob1981
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Hi, im currently in the market for a new simi auto i have looked at afew and am seriously thinking about a S&W 4506 i have my eye on. Any feedbak on this model will be much appreciated. Also is it consided a 1911? And what would be a fair price for one in 90% condition? Thanks.
silvercorvette
Member
There are hundreds of different makes and options for 1911s, I just bought a new toreass 1911 for $500 a few weeks ago, I bought a new S&W 1911 a few years ago for somewhere around $1,500 (maybe it was even a few hundred higher or lower it was a while ago and my memory isn't that good) the point is a 1911 can go for a few hundred to a few thousand it depends on the gun
GatorFarmer
Member
The 4506 is 3rd Generation S&W auto. It's a traditional double action. Thus it is not considered a 1911 type pistol
Jack Flash
Member
Welcome to the Forum, Bob!
I have a 1911 (Springfield Armory) and like it well enough. I find for most of my shooting that I prefer revolvers.
If you are just getting into handguns, you may find that a good used revolver is a good place to start. Semi-autos are fine, but since they are more complicated (thus more can go wrong with them), they usually take more time and practice to master.
About prices: I saw a nice Colt 1911 for $500 at a local shop. Someone had drilled and tapped the slide for optical mounts(?) or the like. Hence the very reasonable price. I should have bought it just to shoot it for a while then trade it away. I hesitated, and it was gone the next day. Other Colts I have seen run $1000 or so. Lots of companies make high-quality 1911 clones, from basic models to ones with all the bells and whistles.
If you are set on a 1911, the best thing to do is go around to all the shops in your area and see what they have. In the process, talk to as many people as you can. Educating yourself takes some time and patience, but it will pay off.
I have a 1911 (Springfield Armory) and like it well enough. I find for most of my shooting that I prefer revolvers.
If you are just getting into handguns, you may find that a good used revolver is a good place to start. Semi-autos are fine, but since they are more complicated (thus more can go wrong with them), they usually take more time and practice to master.
About prices: I saw a nice Colt 1911 for $500 at a local shop. Someone had drilled and tapped the slide for optical mounts(?) or the like. Hence the very reasonable price. I should have bought it just to shoot it for a while then trade it away. I hesitated, and it was gone the next day. Other Colts I have seen run $1000 or so. Lots of companies make high-quality 1911 clones, from basic models to ones with all the bells and whistles.
If you are set on a 1911, the best thing to do is go around to all the shops in your area and see what they have. In the process, talk to as many people as you can. Educating yourself takes some time and patience, but it will pay off.
silvercorvette
Member
I wasn't sure about the question, I thought he was trying to make up his mind between a 1911 style or a 4506. A revolver is probably best for a new shooter but a 4506 would be a good because he is less likely to have an A/D or N/D with a TDA
PS the fact the 1911 does not have a magazine safety and the 4506 does may also make a A/D or N/D less likely.
Wheelgunner840
Member
Hi Bob. Welcome to the forum. I have another discontinued S&W Semi-auto that is very similar. Mine is the 4566. It has a 4 1/4"bbl. The 4506 has a slightly longer barrel at 5". As has been mentioned above, this model is a traditional DA, and nothing about it is 1911ish.
I would first ask you, what purpose will this gun fill? Occassional target practice at the rang? Home defense? Possible CCW?
I ask this because it is a heavy gun. Mine is a bit lighter than the 4506, and I wouldn't consider carrying it on a regular basis. It only has an 8 rd. mag. capacity, and I am also not a big fan of slide mounted thumb safeties. They are in the way when racking the slide, and the S&W thumb safety on this model works opposite that of a 1911 type safety.
That is to say that the safety lever is in the "up" position to fire, and "down" position engages the safety. I have trained myself with a 1911, and have fired 10s of thousands of rounds through it and guns with the same type safety. I don't fancy carrying a gun that works opposite from what I am very used to using.
Depending on what this gun will be used for, it may make a fine choice. I still have mine, and it comes out to the range on rare occassions. It shoots well, and has been 100% reliable with many different types of ammo. The trigger stinks, but most of the older S&W Semi-autos had lousy triggers.
Have you considered the Springfield XD-45 line? 14 rd. mags, much lighter, dead balls accurate, decent trigger, and I find that it fits my hand like a glove. There are a ton of very good semi-autos out there, but you must consider it's purpose if you are to pick one that will suit that purpose.
The 4506 ranges in price, according to my books, from $680(NIB) to $210 for one in poor condition.
Hope this was helpful. Good luck.
WG840
I would first ask you, what purpose will this gun fill? Occassional target practice at the rang? Home defense? Possible CCW?
I ask this because it is a heavy gun. Mine is a bit lighter than the 4506, and I wouldn't consider carrying it on a regular basis. It only has an 8 rd. mag. capacity, and I am also not a big fan of slide mounted thumb safeties. They are in the way when racking the slide, and the S&W thumb safety on this model works opposite that of a 1911 type safety.
That is to say that the safety lever is in the "up" position to fire, and "down" position engages the safety. I have trained myself with a 1911, and have fired 10s of thousands of rounds through it and guns with the same type safety. I don't fancy carrying a gun that works opposite from what I am very used to using.
Depending on what this gun will be used for, it may make a fine choice. I still have mine, and it comes out to the range on rare occassions. It shoots well, and has been 100% reliable with many different types of ammo. The trigger stinks, but most of the older S&W Semi-autos had lousy triggers.
Have you considered the Springfield XD-45 line? 14 rd. mags, much lighter, dead balls accurate, decent trigger, and I find that it fits my hand like a glove. There are a ton of very good semi-autos out there, but you must consider it's purpose if you are to pick one that will suit that purpose.
The 4506 ranges in price, according to my books, from $680(NIB) to $210 for one in poor condition.
Hope this was helpful. Good luck.
WG840
dennis40x
US Veteran
The S&W 4506 is a traditional DA design. The first shot is DA and subsequent shots are SA. The slide mounted safety services two functions one as a safety and the other as a decocker. The 4506 is rock solid and out Glocks the Glock in reliability.
The 1911 is SA only. There are numerous manufactures maybe too many to be honest. The 1911 is a tinker’s delight to a degree. I wouldn’t buy a used one unless I was knowledgeable and experienced with the 1911. Buy one new with the best warranty available it’s less painful that way.
I own several 1911 pistols. If it was to be my first semiautomatic pistol I’d pass on it. You may be better served with the new MP product line series pistols.
The 1911 is SA only. There are numerous manufactures maybe too many to be honest. The 1911 is a tinker’s delight to a degree. I wouldn’t buy a used one unless I was knowledgeable and experienced with the 1911. Buy one new with the best warranty available it’s less painful that way.
I own several 1911 pistols. If it was to be my first semiautomatic pistol I’d pass on it. You may be better served with the new MP product line series pistols.
ncy54
Member
The other posters have already discussed the differences between the 4506 and the 1911 in design, so I'll add some other things, since I've owed them both.
1. 4506 will feed anything, 1911's out of the box are a bit more finicky.
2. 4506 is "defense" accurate (4"-6" at 25 yards). 1911's range from "defense" accurate to "competition" accurate (1.5" ten round group at 50 yards from a Ransom Rest).
3. 1911 has an unbelievable aftermarket parts and accessories supply. 4506 has virtually nothing.
IMO, the 1911 is a better choice, but YMMV, depending on your intended use.
1. 4506 will feed anything, 1911's out of the box are a bit more finicky.
2. 4506 is "defense" accurate (4"-6" at 25 yards). 1911's range from "defense" accurate to "competition" accurate (1.5" ten round group at 50 yards from a Ransom Rest).
3. 1911 has an unbelievable aftermarket parts and accessories supply. 4506 has virtually nothing.
IMO, the 1911 is a better choice, but YMMV, depending on your intended use.
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
- Locked
