S&W 4516-1s unreliable? Unpossible!

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Saw this over on Auction Arms; "You are bidding on a LNIB S&W 4516-2. The -2 variant of the 4516 was developed to correct the unreliability that plagued the 4516 and -1 variants."

I'm an original owner of a 4516-1 and it's never been anything but a workhorse; only thing I've ever done to it is a an extra power Wolff recoil spring.

Anyone ever hear of problems with the 4516-1? Just curious.

 

[KurtC]

As I recall, the 4516 had the old style frame and slide, with the reduced areas.

The 4516-1 had the smooth frame and slide.

The 4516-2 revision started using the MIM hammer and trigger.

They were all reliable, with the -1 being the nicest.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

My dad had a 4516 (no dash, for the record). Shot somewhere over 2000 rounds through it (stopped counting). I think it jammed once during the first 50 and never had a problem again. He sold it b/c he fell in love with a 4013TSW (which he subsequently gave to me).

 

[Z_Infidel]

My 4516-1 has had one FTF that occurred when the pistol was nearly dry. Other than that it has been rock solid and a great shooter.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Ok these sound like my experience as well; other than being a heavy little chunk o' steel, it's a great little gun.

Thanks guys.

 

[The Reverend]

Greetings All

I guess I should have been more clear in my post. Here is the skinny on the early 4516s from a S&W service rep I corresponded with.

the very early units, marked as "Model 4516", without any engineering changes had some problems. The problem, as I recall was with slide mass, and comparing the non-dash units to the later -1 or -2 pieces, you will see that the slide on the later units is a bit "beefier", which lends credence to the earliest units having slide inertia issues (?)

Having owned both, I can confirm this (at least in my own, personal experience).

I will clean up the postings to reflect the more accureate information.

Thanks, and sorry for any unintended anger I may have stirred up.

God Bless!

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Reverend- I take it that's your auction. No worries; there was no anger/angst/or other ill will. I was just curious as to what the supposed failings of the early 4516 were as I've never heard of any problems.

And after checking my safe again, I find that I have a 4516 ‘no dash’. Like I said, mine has never been anything but reliable though I’d never judge an entire make or model based upon one example. Maybe I got the Good One™

Good luck on the auction.