640 or SP101 2" w/bobbed hammer?

[DHart]

I already have a 642 and an SP101 3", but I would like a 2" .357 which is pretty much snag-free when pulling from clothing...

I like the internal hammer of the 640 because if absolutely necessary, it could be fired from within a coat pocket (yes, I know that's not the greatest idea, but could be important). I also like the S&W action and trigger reset better than the Ruger.

On the other hand, the SP101 might hold up a little longer to practicing with .357 ammo before it shoots loose.

I'm leaning toward the 640, but just curious what you guys think when comparing these two great pistols... which would you pick and why?

 

[JPM70535]

IMHO there is no comparison between the Sp 101 and the S&W 642, or for that matter any 2" J frame. If you want strength and longevity using hot 357 loads, then go Ruger. If you want quality, reliability and the utmost in concealibility go Smith.

Why practice with full house 357s all the time? After sighting in with your carry load, find, or reload some LSWCs to shoot to the same POI and take the strain off both you and the revolver. At the end of each practice session, run a couple cylinders full of your carry ammo to verify the same POA/POI and you are good to go.

BTW, have you considered the 649, has a shrouded hammer allowing for single action shooting if you like. Same ability to shoot from the pocket if needed

 

[pezo]

I own the sp101 . 2" with bobbed hammer. this gun is of the highest quality. it has some weight to it but that adds to the shootability with heavy magnum loads. when its in my pocket I know its there but its not pulling my pants down. this is a good reliable firearm . I love carrying it.

 

[jdmb03]

I have the SP101 2" dao model and think it's the perfect carry revolver.

 

[SnWnMe]

Get a 640 since you already have a 642. Same manual of arms (opening that cylinder in a hurry without having to remember what gun you're using might be important one day) same size, will go into the same holster, lighter and a lifetime warranty.

 

[fallingblock]

I've owned both of them.....

And the 640 is the better carry gun, IMHO.

The SP-101 is a great revolver, but it is bulkier than the 640, and the SP's external hammer is rather a useless appendage on a 'belly-gun'.

 

[DHart]

I agree... while the SP101 may stand up to a little more abuse over a little longer period of time than the 640 might, the 640's internal hammer and wonderful action are winning factors. I do like my 3" SP101, but would have to bob the hammer to make it a good, snag-free concealed carry gun and even then, it could not be fired from within a coat pocket which might make the difference between surviving an encounter and not... it's barrel is a little too long for a pocket and the external hammer, even bobbed, could catch on the inside of the pocket while recoiling to strike.

One of the most important features in a "pocket" gun is the ability to hold the gun in one's hand while still in the coat pocket without revealing that one is armed and ready to fire... and could fire without even pulling it out if need be. The 642 will do that, the 640 will do that, the SP101 can't do that reliably, even with a bobbed hammer.

In some encounters where people are suddenly accosted by passersby, there is no time to pull a gun out from a concealed holster when trouble starts. For walks on the beach, walks in the forest, walks in town at night etc. It can be comforting to be able to have your hand in your coat pocket, pocket gun in hand ready to fire while you walk along, with no one around you being any the wiser... should you have a very close up encounter with trouble, you can begin firing immediately. For me, the internal hammer on the 642 and 640 is the key feature for a pocket-carried gun... and a bobbed-hammer is the key feature of a concealed holster-carried gun. 640 it shall be. And I'm thinking about bobbing the hammer on my 3" SP101 as well.

 

[roo_ster]

A buddy owns a 640 & he has never put a .38spl though it. .357mag ONLY.

He has shot hot 158gr as well as 180gr "hunting" loads out of it for years with no problems...to the gun. I think he's a bit daffy, but that is not the 640's fault.

He thinks of the 640 w/ 125gr .357mag as "moderate" recoil, as it was his first handgun.

 

[DHart]

Sounds like your friend made a good choice with the 640 despite being a bit daffy!

 

[Airboss]

640 Ported

This one will Walk and Talk when you need it to:
It's a ported 640-1 .357.While I have other carry guns and carry other guns from time to time.This one goes with me better than 90% of the time.The porting doesn't blind you at night and helps with recoil recovery and muzzel flip.Front right pocket of my Jeans and its always there.Carry Load is 1250 fps 125gr JHP.It's the last gun I would get rid of.

 

[DHart]

Airboss... nice wheeler! The 640 is about as good as it gets as a balance of size, weight, power, quality, and ease of carry!

 

[Airboss]

Thanks

undefinedundefinedMr DHart you are a man of taste and refinement

 

[pezo]

I prefer the cylinder release on the sp101 over that of the smiths for some reason seems quicker, more like a button. I dont know maybe Im just crazy. also Im gonna dryfire my sp101 in a coat pocket a few times to see if the "hammer actually hangs up. (of course Ill make sure the firearm is unloaded ).

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Jfruser, your friend might only shoot .357 rounds because of the carbon buildup from shooting .38 rounds. I've shot a lot of .38 rounds through both my .357s and have had some serious issues with carbon buildup. I've been told the only way I'm going to solve the problem is with a Dremel tool.

 

[DHart]

Lobotomy... sorry to hear about that... I suppose if every time you shoot .38's you scrubbed the heck out of each chamber to prevent any build up from even starting, shooting .38's would be fine. But I suppose that build up accumulated over time is very tough to get out. Another option if one wants mild practice loads but doesn't want to worry about build up from .38's is to just make some up (if you reload) in the .357 cases.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Stock 640 is smaller and has a better trigger. Same other qualities, IMO.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

I cleaned the cylinders with solvant every time I shot the guns, but solvant doesn't seem to take off the carbon that builds up in the space between the end of the .38 casing and the end of the chamber, especially after shooting 300-500 rounds at the range.

 

[steelhead]

mmmmmmmm, 640-1 (said in Homer Simpson's voice).

 

[DHart]

Lobotomy... well I guess there's good reason to stick with .357 cases in a .357!

 

[roo_ster]

LB:

A few possible fixes:
1. Place .40 cal bronze brush in one section of cleaning rod. Place cleaning rod in electric drill chuck. Place solvent on brush. CAREFULLY use this on a cylander, making sure not to let spinning rod touch inside of cylander.
2. Lewis lead remover/Hunk of bronze chore boy on .357 brush
3. Lead Eraser cloth on .357 brush (with or without electric drill assistance)
4. Outers Foul Out or homemade contraption that does same thing. [This worked for me when I picked up a Rossi 92 levergun in .44mag...that had been shot exclusively with something shorter (.44 Russian?) in cowboy action shooting. Talk about lead/carbon in the chamber!]

Also, my buddy shoots exclusively .357mag because...he wants to shoot .357mag. He has never and will never shoot .38spl out of his 640.

Good luck.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Thanks Jfruser. Good info.