S&W 645 Input please

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aHFo3

aHFo3

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I came across an early 645 that is LNIB. I've been looking for a 45 ACP, and thought I'd get a 1911 someday. What are your opinions on this model? Is $500 OTD a fair price? It is a fixed sight model with 2 mags (orange follower) and the cleaning kit.

Thanks for the input!
 
$500 is a bit on the high side/average. I think 1986 was about the earlier year for the 645 so look into that, as far as serial #s go. $300-400 OTD would be better.

Check with Wolff, etc, for recoil spring availability. Midway USA for mag. avail..

Then, look at the .45 ammo. situation; do you wanna shoot the be-jeebus out of it? You'll want to get into re-loading for the savings.

Lastly, I'm pretty biased on the S&W steel guns-can't get enough of them. They are rock solid shooters in my experience and S&W Customer Service has been second to none for me. Take a look into some of the 1911 Forums and see what those folks are saying about it for build ups, etc..
 
They have a very good reliability reputation. I have the next generation version, the 4506. It has been a very good performer.

However, it is a big pistol. Every time I get the feeling my 5", all steel, 1911 is big and heavy, I break out the 4506. It makes the 1911 feel downright slim and trim.
 
We carried the 645 when we switched from revolvers. It was a nice gun, then we switched to a 4506. I was issued a 4506 about 6 months before I retired. It had been to the range once. They gave it to me when I retired. I already had one in the safe, so now I have 2, I like it better than the 645. I also think $ 500 is too high for a 645.
 
I just picked up a 4506 off gunbroker for $370.00. You can find a better deal. P.S. I love this thing, it will feed an empty case in the chamber. Let alone any hollow point I've put in it.
 
Thanks for the input.

I'm to too concerned about the size. I have banana hands and I'm looking for a range/bump in the night gun.

It sounds like a great gun,but overpriced.

I'll keep looking.

Thanks
 
The 645 is, in my opinion, one of the finest .45s ever made. Years ago, S&W reps would load a magazine with empty cases and then proceed to feed them into the 645's chamber. That was an impressive display of reliability. The action on mine is superb, and the gun is stainless on stainless, which means you can have it buried with you.

It shows what modern designs can do, and no 1911 out of the box will ever be anywhere near as reliable as a 645. My advice is to buy it and never sell it. It's not that much heavier than a 1911 Kimber and the sights are some of the best you could ask for.

SW645_2b.gif
 
...carried one for a coupla years...my best friend now owns it...I'd pay $500 in a heartbeat if I didn't already have 5 Ruger .45s...
 
The 645 is more svelte than the 4506-1.

When I first looked at it, I expected not to like it. Well, I DID like it and ended up making one my duty gun. I sent it off to Novaks for some work and it's been great.

I did a high cut front strap on it myself, which helps get a higher grip on it.

I routinely carried mine off-duty and never thought much about it, but I used a good holster with a good belt.

They don't like Remington +P ammo, altho I'm told that was an ammo issue, not a gun issue and Remington resolved it. I don't know about that, so I'll never use Remington ammo on that gun.
 
I wanted to add that the magazines with the orange followers are not the latest magazine. They had several variations, but the last one that I was aware of had a YELLOW follower. This mag also has some indents on the mag body to keep the rounds from coming out of the mag. This was an irritating condition, as the top round would constantly slide forward to extend past the mag body while sitting in the mag pouch. This could cause a serious problem during a reload.

I finally addressed the issue by filing tiny notches at the rear of the feed lips to slightly engage the rim of the cartridge. This worked pretty well, but don't make the notches too deep.
 
I own both a 645 and a 4506 and love them both. The 645 is a great shooter for me and it is better looking too. It was NIB maybe 500 but 400-425 is the going rate and that is for a very good conditioned one.
 
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