All Steel Snubby Advice

[JCook5003]

Well guys I currently carry a SIG 239 and would like to change over to snubby carry.....

A guy my wife works with offered me an all Steel model 640 38+p only pre-lock with a set of Craig Spegel wood grips, Uncle Mikes Boot Grips, the stock grips and the "hip grip" grips or whatever they are called, several boxes of premium self defense ammo (Golden-Saber, Hydra-Shok, Glaser and Cor-Bon DPX) and 3 speed strips plus $100 bucks for my SIG 239..........

#1 What do you guys think of this deal?

#2 How do you all take the all steel snubby? How do you carry yours I would think a high ride pancake would work great but it may weigh to much for pocket carry.......

#3 Any other info I should know etc?

Thanks in advance.
Josh

 

[Dismantler]

First thing first, go to the Sticky that tells how to evaluate a good used handgun. Also, will he let you shoot it? I may be wrong, but I believe that the +p rating means that you can safely shoot +p's out of it. I can't imagine how it would make it +p only. You should be able to shoot regular .38's, too.

I am not sure of the going prices of these things. Do some research on the company sites comparing MSRP's and maybe hit gunbroker.com. As far as the grips go...you only need one pair, so the extras should not be a big part of the deal. What is the ammo...$30 a box?

I have a S&W Model 36, all steel, and a Model 442 Airweight. I really like the Airweight a lot better for everyday carry. That 5 ounces of difference seems like a lot to me after a few hours of carry.I like snubbies, and can hit torso size targets at reasonable gunfight distances D/A pretty easily.

 

[jfh]

I can't comment on the relative value of the trade offer; don't know the going value of your pistol.

You got good advice from Dismantler about the j-frame. That's a verydesirable version of the 640; if it's in excellent condition, it's worth about $400.00 or so, IMO. The issue is the weight--many if not most people find the 640 too heavy for daily pocket carry.

There's some really good comments about buying a 2" gun in this thread. Most of the issues are brought up--the bottom line is the style of carry and weight, IMO.

Meanwhile, if you decide you don't want that 640 because of the weight, but it checks out OK per the sticky exam, I may ask you to be my agent to pick it up....

Jim H.

 

[JCook5003]

By 38+p only I meant the new 640's are 357's and the older ones at some point were 38 only with a maximum rating of +p ammo......

I figured as much about weight, I would opt for holster carry over pocket carry anyway.....

 

[Old Dog]

JCook5003, the deal sounds okay to me; I see used 239s going for around 450 to 550 up here, so with several boxes of premium ammo and the superlative Spegel grips, I'd go for the 640 myself.

The 640 in .38 is a terrific carry piece (I think in an all-steel J-frame, you don't gain much by magnums over +P .38); you are correct that holster carry may be a better alternative for some than pocket carry. I have a horsehide Kramer Belt Scabbard (his top o' the line pancake style holster) that's relatively high-rise with open top/no retention strap and thumbbreak, and keeps my J-frames in close and tight, provides excellent concealment. I also have an older Bianchi revolver pancake with a strap/thumbbreak behind the trigger guard for hammerless models that works well.

Bottom line for me is, older S&Ws of the pre-lock/pre-MIM era should be snapped up as you see 'em, because they're not only a terrific value (compared to the new Smiths, which can go for twice as much) but there are fewer and fewer available these days as collectors buy 'em by the dozens ... anyway, used SIGs are pretty common these days.

Here's examples of the S&W situation: I recently picked up a 3" Model 60-4 (.38 SPL), pre-lock, pre-MIM, no box/papers for 375 (a great deal, IMO); the new S&W 3" Model 60-15 (.357) is going locally in stores for 600. My minty Model 36 no-dash was bought for 335; the new "classic" 36 is going for 599 at one of my local shops.

 

[ldp4570]

I have had a 640 .38spl for years now. Its been carried on my vest, ankle, and in the front pocket. I'm only 5'9" and I've never had a problem with the weight. I still carry in the pocket or IWB. Its a fantastic revolver, if I was you (IMHO) I would do the deal!!

 

[M1911]

The only use I have for a snubbie is as a pocket gun. If I'm carrying in a hip holster, then I can carry a small semi-auto that is easier for me to shoot quickly and accurately, and thinner as well.

For pocket carry, I use a S&W 642. I find all steel snubbies just too heavy for pocket carry. IMHO, the lighter S&W .357s just convert dollars into recoil.

 

[hanno]

Bottom line for me is, older S&Ws of the pre-lock/pre-MIM era should be snapped up as you see 'em, because they're not only a terrific value (compared to the new Smiths, which can go for twice as much) but there are fewer and fewer available these days as collectors buy 'em by the dozens ... anyway, used SIGs are pretty common these days.

+1

 

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

I'd jump all over that deal, especially if that 640 is the 640 "no dash" model. No dash simply means that when you open the crane and see the model number, it will simply read "Model 640" and no dash with a number after the dash.

The "no dash" models are the 1st run type and, if memory serves me correctly on the 640 wheelguns, the "no dash" models were made on the original type J-frames that only accepted .38 Special ammo. Smith later stretched the cylinders and frame a little in order to squeeze the .357 mag. round into those little 5-shooters. Thus all the newer J-frames are slightly longer than the classic originals.

I'd MUCH rather have the slightly shorter, more desirable 640 no dash personally.

Hopefully, it is a "no dash."


For pocket carry I tote a steel J-frame myself. In my case, the full hammer version called the Model 36. It's a "no dash" too, from around 1964. I carry it in a humble Uncle Mikes #3 pocket holster that set me back about ten bucks.

The hammerless 640 (originally the Model 40), the humpbacked, shrouded hammer bodyguard, and the exposed hammer Chief (Model 36) are all equivalent and I like 'em all!

Ummm . . . it is accurate too. Here's the first five rounds I shot in the gun when I got it last fall. Distance: 10 yards, standing and unsupported. Target: One inch black squares. All five rounds were dead on in the middle square!

If yours shoots this good, and I imagine it can, you'll carry it with extreme confidence.

Good luck!

T.

 

[Phydeaux642]

By all means check it out like the sticky says, but take into account that S&W revolvers don't generally lock up tight like the Colt's do. I learned this new piece of information here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=353612

 

[Huddog]

I'd do the deal but then I am primarily a revolver man and my least favorite type of handgun is the DA/SA auto.

 

[JCook5003]

Well guys I picked it up, it checked out ok, and is in fact a 640 no dash.....so I suppose that is more desirable, I think I have picked up an excellent carry piece.

 

[sixgunner455]

Congrats! That is a sweet revolver. I have a 642-2 that I carry just about everywhere, usually in a pocket or SmartCarry, but if I run across a 640 of that vintage, I would very likely move something out of my safe to get it in there.