Smith and Wesson 4506 Question

mmeloche

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Hello Everyone!

what a Merry Christmas. My wife had a S&W 4506 waiting for me under the tree! :D

I'm very excited about it, but have a question.

Is this a recoil or a gas operated gun?

We have easy access to lots of cast rounds, would these be OK to shoot through it or would that foul something up?

Thanks for the expertise and have a Merry Christmas.
 
It's a recoil operated pistol that uses a tilting barrel for lockup...

Uses standard lands in the barrel so it should be a great cast bullet shooter...
 
4506 was my most favorite handgun. It will eat any ammo you can find. At least mine did. Extremely accurate too.
 
I've just picked up one in an estate deal from the family of a shooting buddy of mine. I have the dies and components to reload for it but I did pick up 500 rounds of 'factory reloads' from a guy on site, Henry Nierychlo for a good deal. As soon as the paper work goes through and I pick it up, it'll be time to play.

IMG_1169.jpg
 
I bought my 4506 new in 1991 and it has had many thousands of cast bullets through it. It has been a great pistol, I have never had a problem with it.
 
WRT methods of operation

Is this a recoil or a gas operated gun?

Check out this book.
51KZE63PKBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

# Paperback: 400 pages
# Publisher: Krause Publications; illustrated edition edition (March 1, 2006)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 087349914X
# ISBN-13: 978-0873499149
# Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches


While - like most books - it isn't perfect (with some obvious editing errors), the chapter on operating systems is excellent and that chapter alone makes the book a worthwhile reference.
 



In season 3 and 4 he had a 645... In the middle of the 5th season S&W introduced the 4506 and replaced his 645 with it. ;)

In the pilot episode he had a Browning BDA .45 (a.k.a pre-Sig P220). In season 1 and 2 he had a customized Bren Ten .45 (instead of 10mm) with an hard chrome slide(for night shots with camera) and a stainless frame. When Bren Ten went out of buisness in 1986 the contract went to S&W.
 
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By the way, I've had a few 2nd gen 645 and 3rd gen 4506's. Very sturdy pistols, easly handles .45 Super, pretty accurate too. S&W build the 1006 (10mm Auto)(had a few of those too) around the 4506 specs slide and frame so it can handle some very high pressure rounds.
 
By the way, I've had a few 2nd gen 645 and 3rd gen 4506's. Very sturdy pistols, easly handles .45 Super, pretty accurate too. S&W build the 1006 (10mm Auto)(had a few of those too) around the 4506 specs slide and frame so it can handle some very high pressure rounds.

Compared to the one I've pictured in post #4, I prefer the 'feel' of the grip of a 1911.

GeorgeColt45ACP.jpg
 
Thank-you Everyone for your help

Thanks Everyone.

I really appreciate the info.

Thanks also for the lead on the book. I'll see if I can find a copy somewhere.

God bless and Merry Christmas.
 
When I first started in bullseye shooting, I met a retired gentleman who was already in the game. As it turned out, he was a retired tool & die maker from England who had taken up gunsmithing in addition to handgun shooting. He accurized the first centerfire I used, a 1911. The one pictured in my previous post was his own 1911 1A that he had accurized for his own use. He passed away a few years ago and recently I was lucky enough to acquire it from another friend of his.
 
Nice pistol man, always loved S&W autos. You'll get years of enjoyment out of that one.When you don't want it anymore pm me lol.

At the moment, I'm not sure what the final disposition of the 4506 will be. As 'things' turned out, both the 4506 and the 1911 1A belonged to shooting friends that have both since passed away. As I mentioned previously, the 1911 grip 'feels' better to me so I'm pretty sure I'll keep that. The 4506, I'll play with that and burn up some of the ammo I got from Henry N. Then, if I still don't care for the 'feel' of it, it may end up being history.
 
Your a lucky guy to get a 4506, it was the second handgun I ever owned back in early 90's. Still regret selling it in a moment of weakness. I shot my 4506 for years and really enjoyed it. I often think about buying another one again. Enjoy it you will have many shooting sessions of fun with your Smith.
 
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