[dhoomonyou]

I'm considering a S&W 649 .357 J frame with a shrouded hammer for BUG.
any input, info, & Opinions will be appreciated.
thanks
marv

[VHinch]

I have one that I bought as a BUG to my 1911 and as a primary when I couldn't conceal the 1911. The more I carry this gun, the more I like it, and I find myself carrying it as a primary more and more.

HTH
Vance

[Hkmp5sd]

I've had a 649 for over a decade and love it. In hot weather, it occassionally becomes my CCW. The only thing I changed was to put Pachmayr grips on it.

[JPM70535]

I recently traded my model 60, 38 spec. chief for a model 649 357 with 2-1/8" bbl. My only complaint is the relatively hard trigger pull in double action mode. It is difficult to execute a smooth stroke keeping even pressure all the way through. It seems to be getting smoother with use. I still have shot less than 500 rounds through it.

Accuracy is excellent if the gun is used as designed. At 7 yds. one hole groups measuring under 2" is normal. At 50' holding all shots inside 4" is easy using double action mode. Using single action fire, I have shot 50' groups under 3". Probably someone who was younger and did not have to shoot in betrween muscle tremors could have done even better. FYI, all these groups were shot using 158 gr. LSW loaded in 357 cases with standard primers and 5.0 gr. of WW 231. This load is pleasant to shoot and extrremely accurate for me.

Now, using factory 357 125 gr. JHP ( WW silvertips) rounds, the gun takes on a whole different personality. It Recoils to the point where I really dont care to shoot more than 2 or 3 cylinders full. It is not painful but takes the fun out of rapid fire. If it were njot for the rubber grips, the recoil would be . Accuracy does not seem to suffer and the recovery time between shots is acceptable.

All in all I am well pleased with it and it makes a great BUG.

[ACP230]

I have an older .38 Special version and carry it a lot. It is the most accurate of my snubs. I bought it used and it had a little action work done on it before I got it. A very good gun.

[Poohgyrr]

I know of friendly banter between a group that likes this snub (the bodyguard) and another that prefers the version with a fully enclosed hammer (the centennial).

I have a 640-1, the Centennial, and it is much more accurate than I ever thought possible- for me, a middleaged old fart whose eyes don't work as well as they did 25 years ago.

I don't think I have heard a bad thing about the 649. :)

[ruger357]

I have the older .38 +P version and love it.

[JCM298]

I've had a 649 for more than 5 years. It's the most accurate snub that I've ever owned. I have fired about 3,000 rounds through it and never had a problem,
John

[Walosi]

I'm sort of a fence straddler in the "friendly banter" group that poohgyrr mentioned. I am a very strong supporter of the 640-1. While the banter was going on, I was considering a 649, and now I have both and carry both as a set. I consider the 640 to be the "quick" gun, or the first into service since I added a fast acquisition front sight. It is ideal for reactive use, when your condition yellow should have been full red. Still...however..
whatever...anything good I can say bout the 640 also applies to the 649, and it has the plus of SA capability. In my own shooting, this extends the useable range of the little rascal. With practice, your longer range DA skills can make the 640 reach farther than you might suspect, but SA still extends that, and allows more precise shooting closer in as well.

[Kahr carrier]

Cool J frame shrouded hammer ,choice of single action or double action firing.:)

[22luvr]

my mod 638 Bodyguard (the .38 spcl model of the one you want) was easily the best all-around specimen I've had the pleasure to own, shoot, and carry. The shrouded hammer is an excellent and versatile feature.

[BusMaster007]

OK. That does it for me.
The Bodyguard was the first handgun I ever wanted, back in 1993.
Many handguns later, I still don't have one.
(I don't even own a S&W, except my Beretta's in .40 S&W...;) ).
After reading this thread, I'll start saving for the new 649 in .357.
That's the next one.

Now, where's the .45 thread?
I don't have a .45 yet.
I need a Beretta in .45! :D

[fastbolt]

After owning some other 5-shot variations early in my career, I finally took the plunge and bought an ugly hump-back whale of a 649 several years ago ... .38 spl-only ...

It wouldn't reliably shoot right-out-of-the-box ... it had a problem where the trigger wouldn't consistently return forward in DA shooting, but the head armorer is also a revolver guy and corrected the problem. Those were less-than-sterling years for S&W quality control back then, though, and we saw quite a few S&W revolvers needing some sort of attention before they would pass muster, reliability-wise, as an off-duty weapon ...

Great little gun once it was inspected and brought up to spec, though. A little heavy in the pocket compared to the airweights, but it holstered very well. Very comfortable and accurate to shoot, even with the previous skinny fixed sights. I'd think the latest .357 model, with better sights, would be a terrific little gun.

Having shot many of the available J-frame guns over the years, my favorite is a 642-1 airweight rated for +P ammunition, but I also kept my 649 because I simply like it.

The SA ability of the 649 allows for some precise shooting at longer distances. It often surprised a lot of other folks when they saw how accurately a little .38 can be fired. Even though it lacks SA capability, however, the 642-1 can easily produce "deliberate" DA groups of 1 inch at 7 yards, and 2-3 inch groups at 10-15 yards. Of course, it helps that I use bright neon orange sight paint on the front sight ... More than adequate for defensive purposes.

Shooting full power .357 Magnum 125gr ammunition out of one of the 5-shot Ti/Sc guns isn't as comfortable as shooting the same load in an all-steel model, especially if you want to shoot a box or 2 of rounds.

If I had it to do over again I'd still own the 642-1, as I think it's a bargain compared to the Ti & Ti/Sc guns ... and I still like the LHP +P loads, which aren't recommended for the ultra lightweight guns ... but I'd also own one of the newer 649's chambered for .357 because I like the option of the magnum ammunition, if only for availability and versatility.

I think having both would pretty much cover anything you'd ever reasonably need to do with a snubnose. I could see carrying an airweight in a pocket, and the 649 in a belt holster ...

[MR.G]

I bought a 649 a couple of months ago on an internet auction. Was going to replace my 638 with it. Thought an all steel .357 would be better than the Airweight .38. The 649 is just too heavy for pocket carry, in my opinion. The 649 sits in the safe, and the 638 is still carried daily.