3Rd Gen S&W

Yes, I am a big fan of the 457 and consider it an overlooked and underated compact 45. The current example I have, Ive been using to instruct new shooters. I've also been carrying it on my own time.

It is a reliable and accurate compact handgun that carries easily. They can still be found for not too much money as well. They are a lot of gun for the money and better than anything currently being produced by the company calling itself S&W.

Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI
 
Magazines and parts for S&W 3rd Gen in .45 series are discontinued , hard to find and expensive.
 
I think if you do a search on these forums or Google you'll find that the 3rd gen S&Ws are well regarded. I've owned a half dozen and they all functioned well. I seem to shoot SIGs, CZs, or Berettas better but that's just me.


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Yeah, they discontinued support of the 3rd gen guns to peddal more of the plastic junk with lousy triggers they currently make.

But not to worry. In 28 years of shooting 39 different examples of 3rd gen guns, I only ever broke one part. A MIM mag catch on a 4516 LE special order gun. I replaced it with a forged part and never had another problem. Midway and Numrichs as well as Jack First have 3rd gen parts. I just got an order of recoil springs and mags from them last week.

And Apex Tactical, the company that gives the m&p everything that the factory cant be bothered to, like a decent trigger and accurate barrels, is going to start producing 3rd gen parts to take up the slack. Should parts even be needed.

So buy a 457 with confidence. I fire upwards of 800 rounds a month through mine. No problems or broken parts. Regards 18DAI
 
Any fans out there of the S&W 457 model 45 acp..?
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Not me.

Before they got smart and started making 1911s, the best S&W .45 out there was the 745/945: beautiful guns; very accurate.

(Well, I guess one could argue that their best .45 was the Model 3 Schofield. :))

I don't think the 457s were bad (other than having the unusable Waltherish frame-mounted manual safety, like all the Gen. 1-3 Smith semis); I'm just not a fan, especially when there are all those 1911s (and even Glock .45) out there.
 
And Apex Tactical, the company that gives the m&p everything that the factory cant be bothered to, like a decent trigger and accurate barrels, is going to start producing 3rd gen parts to take up the slack. Should parts even be needed.
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Well, that's good to know. :cool:

No doubt there are many, many 3rd Gen owners who aren't shooting these pistols much, if at all, due to all the "no-longer-servicing-them" reports that've surfaced on-line, as well as the perceived non-availability of critical parts.
 
The folks who know 3rd gen guns and are actually shooting them are not worried about a lack of support or the percieved "shortage of spare parts". The only things that regularly need replacing are recoil springs - every 2500 to 3000 rounds, depending on the model - and mag springs - every other year for carry mags. Springco and Wolfe have those covered.

It appears to be a concern to collectors and hobbyists though. ;) Regards 18DAI
 
I shoot my 4006 alot.
Always on the lookout for G3 s at the shows.
I do see spare mags (used) for the 3g models around as well
I picked up 2 spares for my 4006 for 20 at the show.
I dont carry it or leave mags loaded it is one for the range mostly.

I dont worry about it breaking.



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A decent 3913TSW or a 5903/5906 with extra mags at a fair price would be nice to have. But my basic CZ 75B shoots better for me and feels better in my hand than most of the 3rd Gen guns I have experience with, the 952 and 945 S&W are the two exceptions.
 
The folks who know 3rd gen guns and are actually shooting them are not worried about a lack of support or the percieved "shortage of spare parts".
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Exactly. They are well built tanks. They are meant to be shot and stand up well from being shot and are not a concern from those that own and shoot them.
 
hey are meant to be shot and stand up well from being shot and are not a concern from those that own and shoot them.
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Call me crazy, but I think pointing out that parts are no longer in production and the manufacturer no longer supports the product is a pretty reasonable point to make.
 
I had one and I really liked it. Shot great. Reliable accurate. Actually liked it better than it's more expensive brother the 4516. Nice gun. Just sold it somewhere along the way. But I would not hesitate to trust my life to one.
 
I have a chance to buy my old 457 back from the guy I sold it to 11 years ago, think I should go for it then.....
 
I transitioned our dept from revolvers to 659, later 5906 and even later 4006 pistols. We were firing 100,000 rds a year by the time we transitioned to Glock 22 & 23. The Smiths held up just fine with an occasional leg on the spring riveted to the drawbar would break, recoil and other springs were never replaced because they never gave any trouble. I kept both arched and straight back strap grips on hand for the officer to determine which fit the best.
Those pistols would shoot and shoot without break downs of any sort but a few officers complained of the weight.
I finally got on the Glock bandwagon and the weight complaint was removed but the pistol lacked the feel and beauty of the S&W...
 
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