Best S&W Auto?

"Best S&W Auto?"


My pre-sellout Smith 1076 is extremely accurate and reliable. My experience with several of the S&W 10mm series has been the same.

I once shot a friend's 745, a beautiful single-action version of the 2d Gen. 645 (.45acp). Its accuracy was top notch (surprised me, actually). Functioning was flawless.

Recently I came across a mint pre-sellout 4566 (with nite sights and 3 mags) at a VERY reasonable price. Anyone have any experience with these?
 
I own a 5906 in fixed and one with adj. sights, a model 645, 745, 4506 in fixed and one with adj, a 4505 blued model with fixed sights, a 945 and 2 4566's with three dot tritium sights. In the many thousands of rounds fired from any particular gun, I have NEVER had a jam or FTF. Ever. Agtman, the 4566 is a great gun. One of mine has 6,459 rounds and the other is at 7,428. They are in MINT condition even after all those rounds. No failure to fire/feed at any point, the only one problem I had was attributed to my el cheapo Promag magazine. I now have well over 45 S&W 4506/4566/645/745 mags and none have let me down. Both 4566's are now at the factory for their annual check up.

As to accuracy, S&W never claimed you'd get the accuracy I get from my Wilson IPSC 1911A1, but then again, Smiths are mainly self defense guns and as such, their combat accuracy is all you need. All my Smiths average from 2"-2.5" groups at 25ft, and considering most deadly force confrontations take place from 7-13ft that's good enough accuracy.

I myself carry a 1911A1, Wilson CQB as my primary self defense arm as I've been shooting this platform for well over 30 years and know it well. I also carry a G17/19 but prefer to stick to what I know best.

All in all, regardless of public sentiment about S&W, they make a quality product, and if it isn't quality to your standards, the factory will make it right.

The ONLY two handguns from S&W I don't like are the SIGMA and SW99. The Sigma because I've seen too many break down or fail to fire when needed. As to the SW99, I own 2 Walther P99's and would never think of getting a knock-off even if walther makes the frame or the slide, can't remember which.
 
The choice is obvious,

the original Smith & Wesson 39 and/or 39-2.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
My favorites?

The 3913/3913LS. *&* Autos tend to be serviceable workaday guns, but these are just gems in their class. In the realm of slim, single-stack 9mm's, I'd rank them at or near the top; having owned an HK P7 and a SIG P228, as well as having extensive experience with the P239 and P225, I'd just as soon carry a good 3913LS as any other 9mm 8-shooter out there.
 
I have a 4506-1

Like Mike Irwin, I find S&W semis to have the ergonomics of a Trabant- clunky and not exactly user-friendly. The 4506 is a big honking hand-cannon of a gun. It is massive, as if designed for Andre the Giant. On the plus side, it does soak up recoil pretty well, and if you use it with Thunderwear, chicks will dig you.

The DA trigger pull is best described as dragging a duffle bag down a dirt road- its long, gritty and tiresome. Unlike one previous poster, the SA pull on mine is reasonably crisp and sweet.

My gun is accurate and 100% reliable, with probably 25k rounds through it now. Yes, you read that right: no failures. Period.

Its a good gun, but its no Browning Hi-Power.

Mike ;)
 
Since you didn't specify centerfire the best S&W auto is a mod 41. In centerfire the mod 52. Given the choice of a S&W auto in a certain size and caliber I can probably find something that I would prefer over the Smith from SIG, Kahr, Walther, Hammerli, Colt, H&K, Steyr, or Glock.
 
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