Any S&W 4506 shooters here?

[seagiant]

Hi,
     Just did some wheelin and dealing with my local dealer and ended up with a NIB 4506. Was wondering if anyone else shoots this beast. I was hoping actually to run into an 1006 but I couldn't let this one get away. I took off the factory grips and put on some Hogue rubber right in the store and that made a huge difference in how it felt in the hand. Went to the range and shot 100 rounds with not one hiccup (my 200gr. reloads) I've ordered new springs and some black followers for the 2 original mags. They have orange followers and worked ok but I heard there was problems with them. If anyone has any ideas or experience with this pistol I'd be happy to listen! Thanks

[warrior1]

I just got one myself still getting used to it.seems to shoot straight been using 230 gr lrn.i do not have loads at fingertips
but gun shoots straight and i believe with practice it can be a real shooter.good luck with yours. adn

[Keith L]

I have one that is my primary home defense weapon.  I have fired thousands of rounds through it with no problems.  I have shot a mix of reloads and all kinds of factory loads with acceptable accuracy and utter reliability.  I do trust my life to it.

[seagiant]

Hi Gentlemen,
                     Thanks for the info,what color followers do you have. I got the dealer to throw in a new S&W factory mag on the deal and it had the black follower. The two original mags have the orange so I ordered two more black from Midway and some new springs. The two original mags felt weak in the springs compared to the new mag! Something you might want to look into. I think these pistols were only made for a couple of years in the early 90's. Springs don't last forever and can make a big difference in reliability! Thanks again!

[Keith L]

I have a bunch of mags, some came with the gun and I got a few from ebay.  I have a mix of colors and they all seem to work fine.  I rotate the loaded mags that I keep with the gun every week, and have replaced the springs in all of them.

[DWTim]

In case the OP is still keeping an eye on this thread...

I am not now and never was much of a pistol fan, but the 4506 was the first full-size .45 I shot. It left a favorable impression on me; a nice big, heavy gun that is very comfortable in my hand. I when out and bought a used one with a couple blemishes on the finish. It has yet to malfunction on me, with any of the extremes in commercial or hand-loaded ammo I've run through it. It's easy on my precious loadin' brass, and very accurate with the right loads.

The trigger is God-awful and to the best of my knowledge, can't easily be corrected.

[revo]

I had a used 4506 a few years ago. I shot the crap out of it and it never so much as sneezed. But like a boob, I traded it.

That thing was a beast, man. Big ole 45 with a crappy trigger indeed. But man, if there was ever a truck gun, that was it.

I also put the Hogues on it too. Felt better and looked a little better.

My mags did not have orange followers.

Have fun with that gun.

[Keith L]

I have to agree that it isn't a 1911 trigger wise, but for what it is I don't mind the trigger.  And they seem to keep on ticking...

[jakes10mm]

Past owner here.  I got back into USPSA shooting and initially intended on using the 4506, but went back to a 1911 since 10-rd mags were available.  Overall, a very nice pistol.  I tried Hogue grips initially, but found a set of S&W factory plastic ones with the arched backstrap.  I like them better as you can shift your grip easier after pulling it from a holster.  I didn't directly state it, but the 4506 was sacrificed to finance the 1911.  After shooting the 4506, the 1911 felt like a little Ruger 22 in my hands.

[Luckyducker]

Seagiant, is your new pistol a 4506 or a 4506-1?  I have a 4506-1 that I bought used at a gun show about 8 months ago and just one time it stove piped on me.  I only shoot my own handloads in it and it is OK but someday I might find the right deal on a decent 1911 and trade it.  BTW, the 4506-1 has the heavier slide which has always been used on the 1006.  Don't quote me on this but I think a barrel change might be all that is needed to shoot the 10mm through the 4506-1.  The 4506-1 is built like a Russian T-34 tank and is utterly reliable.  I think for a revolver shooter like me it takes some getting used to but these seem to be fairly accurate and I am getting more comfortable with the take-up in the trigger but I have only put about 300 rounds through mine.  I hate having to dig through the grass and stuff looking for my ejected brass and might get in an inventive mood sometime and come up with a brass catcher to use at the range to make this chore at lot easier.  Mine already had the Hogue grips on when I bought it and they had another one beside it that had the S&W factory stocks and I picked this one because it felt better in my hands.

[demented]

 I have both the 4506 and the shorter 4566.  Other than being heavy, I don't think there is a better D/A pistol to be had.  Both mine are 100% reliable with anything close to being a decent load, even my sometimes crappy reloads.  I also own a 1006 10MM, 5906, 4006.  Yes, I am a Smith pistol fan.

[revo]

I saw somewhere that the 4506 is still being produced as a particular police org needs new supply. I think it was in CA?? I may have this all screwed up, but I know I saw something like this somewhere. The folks also said they're contacting Smith asking them to reissue it. Anyone hear these rumblings?

If they brought the 4506 back, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. I'm a revolver-only guy, but a revolver guy NEEDS a 4506. "Built like a tank" is an understatement.