JavaScript is disabled
Our website requires JavaScript to function properly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings before proceeding.
Messages
2,895
Reactions
5,454
it's a cold, rainy day up here on the North Fork, looking for an indoor project
on the shelf above my gun safe is an old Smith 4506 I bought new in '89
a massive double action/single action 3rd Gen stainless steel .45
for those of you old enough to remember, Don Johnson carried one in "MIAMI VICE"
it's also one of the factory .45s strong enough to be upgraded to .45 Super
Wolff Springs has a tuning pack of recoil springs to tune the 4506 to .45 Super and Buffalo Bore has the ammo
also Wolf has a tuning pack to lighten the long double action pull by replacing the hammers spring
and ordered a set of KSD wooden grips to replace the factory plastic ones

parts and ammo on order - will keep you updated

and why do I want to upgrade my 4506 to .45 Super?
because tuners want to tune
 
One of the first handguns I sold and still miss was a 3rd gen 5906 Tactical. Cool gun, but not as accurate as my buddy's XDm. I was young so had to sell one to buy the other. Should have kept the Smith and saved up for the XDm.

I love me some stainless 3rd gen Smiths and I'm super excited to see how you get on. However, as we all know, this thread needs more pictures!!
 
One of the first handguns I sold and still miss was a 3rd gen 5906 Tactical. Cool gun, but not as accurate as my buddy's XDm. I was young so had to sell one to buy the other. Should have kept the Smith and saved up for the XDm.

I love me some stainless 3rd gen Smiths and I'm super excited to see how you get on. However, as we all know, this thread needs more pictures!!
and I need a chrony to document the improvement
researching one now
suggestions?
 
One of the first handguns I sold and still miss was a 3rd gen 5906 Tactical. Cool gun, but not as accurate as my buddy's XDm. I was young so had to sell one to buy the other. Should have kept the Smith and saved up for the XDm.

I love me some stainless 3rd gen Smiths and I'm super excited to see how you get on. However, as we all know, this thread needs more pictures!!
I'll send photos as soon as the new grips are installed

but for those shooters of Tactical Tupperware who tell me their Gee Wizz pistols are to heavy, a 4506 weighs in at 2.9 lbs loaded

that may be too much pistol for many of the new generation of shooters, if put in their belt, it would cause their pants to fall down
 
My 5906 is HEAVY. If I run out of ammo, I could lob it at the perpetrator; using both hands, underhanded. Kidding aside, it was a police trade in. Bought it from CDNN on sale for $300 about 10 years ago.
 
OK, here's your gun porn, a very early S&W 4506, era 1989, one of the first .45 ACP rated for .45 Super
bought it new from a Pawn Shop in Ft Lauderdale, Fl, no background check, just cash across the counter
I got the new KDS grips installed and recognized a problem with these early 4506
I read about this on the Smith gundboards, so I was looking for it
the original 4506 had an arched backstrap on the grip and the hammer strut anchored in the grip
this was changed in the next revision 4506-1
the new grips come with an adapter to anchor the strut to the frame, but in doing this, the hammer spring is slightly compressed
this make double action pull very difficult, since the original spring is 20#
to correct this, I have reduced pressure Wolf springs on order, a tuning pack with a 16,17 and 18# spring
will keep you updated next week when ammo and springs arrive
I've chosen to go with Underwood 185 gn .45 Super for my loads

I don't have a Chrony yet, so the first test will only be functional

20221210_093505.jpg 20221210_093531.jpg
 
this thread is about the internal modification to a 4506 to convert it to .45 Super
photos aren't going to detail those internal changes
all your going to get is sexy Smith 4506 profile photos
It would be fun to see pics of the internals and assembly process though.

Many years ago I owned a 1006.... I bought it used at a gun show, it jammed every time out so I sold it at the gun show. If I had known what I actually had in my hand at the time I woulda taken it to a smith to fix it and kept it.
 
It would be fun to see pics of the internals and assembly process though.

Many years ago I owned a 1006.... I bought it used at a gun show, it jammed every time out so I sold it at the gun show. If I had known what I actually had in my hand at the time I woulda taken it to a smith to fix it and kept it.
sure, I'll take internal photos
first stage is lighter hammers springs to get the trigger pull lighter
second is heavier recoil springs for 45 Super

I also contacted KDS grips and will keep them informed of my issue
 
So whats the current status on 45 Super vs 450SMC?
If I recall, the SMC replaced the Super as a slight improvement in case design but are otherwise the same thing?
 
So whats the current status on 45 Super vs 450SMC?
If I recall, the SMC replaced the Super as a slight improvement in case design but are otherwise the same thing?
from 2019:

45 Super ammo is readily available and I can easily switch my 4506 back with only a spring change
I don't know if this is so with 450SMC
 
from 2019:

45 Super ammo is readily available and I can easily switch my 4506 back with only a spring change
I don't know if this is so with 450SMC
After reading that it sounds like the same thing.
 

Upcoming Events

Tillamook Gun & Knife Show
Tillamook, OR
"The Original" Kalispell Gun Show
Kalispell, MT
Kids Firearm Safety 2 Class
Springfield, OR
Teen Rifle 1 Class
Springfield, OR

New Resource Reviews

New Classified Ads

Back Top