Hangingrock
Member
Traditional standing at 25yds timed fire (average accuracy for the pistol and user)
The S&W 4506 it’s not for every one and we must add no longer in production for general public sales.
The main objections are usually centered on size/weight and the DA/SA trigger system. Some times the size/weight issue is over stated in my opinion but we all have our comfort zones. So I won’t argue the point other than it wasn’t and to this day isn’t for me. The DA/SA trigger system takes dedicated usage to acquire a smooth firing transition.
The safety/decocker ambidextrous lever set located on the slide I found to be awkward for me in manipulation thus I used it only as a decocker then return it to the firing position. Racking the slide depending on how the individual grasped the slide could move the safety/decocker lever in to decock/safe position. Myself I use the slide stop/release the majority of the time.
The Magazine disconnect feature is a nettlesome feature for those that dislike/oppose it. As for me it’s not an issue and when I got my MP9 it had the magazine disconnect also.
There have been magazine related issues in regards to the 8th round popping out in the magazine when withdrawing from the magazine. Note there are three different colored magazine followers that I know of orange, yellow, and black. The current magazines have the black followers. The magazines with the yellow followers have the following wording on the magazine body “This Magazine Must Have A Yellow Follower………….-D-1”
S&W had a recall notice to replace the one piece side panel/backstrap grip assembly. One was given the option of a straight back or arched back grip assembly for replacement.
As for accuracy the usual adequate terminology was applied for a service grade pistol. When I tested my example of the S&W 4506 compared with the SIG P220 and Colt 1911-70 Series accuracy was on par with either the SIG or Colt. The ability to feed different bullet profiles with the S&W4506 was unquestionably superior. (If memory serves me correctly two recoil springs came with the pistol. One spring was for duty ammunition and the spring other was for target ammunition. The was twenty six years ago so my memory is a little fuzzy or wrong)
Durability my example has more than twenty six thousand plus rounds fired thru it since acquiring in 1987. At some point probably ten years ago I quit counting the number of rounds being fired thru the pistol. My yearly apparent average was 1625 per year when I was keeping a count total.
Modifications made my S&W4506 was an early example with the step side frame, concave trigger guard, and the sights were not the Novak style. Seventeen years ago I milled the slide to accept the Novak rear sight and recontoured the trigger guard eliminating the concave configuration.
. I was really looking hard for another 3913 but I'm not going to pay that. I got lucky a couple weeks ago and latched on to a 9mm Shield for MSRP at my favorite toy store and was willing to pay that but not the preminum some people are paying. I'll continue to watch for 3rd gens and hopefully the prices will calm down. Now that I have the Shield I'm leaning towards a .45 and the 4506 has moved up on the list.
