642 Club member thinking of upgrading to a .357

[Nightcrawler]

My S&W 642 is my every day carry gun. I've only carried my Colt Gov't Model once that I can recall, and I've concealed my 5" 629 never.

My 642 fits into my pants pocket with a cheap Uncle Mike's pocket holster, and goes with me everywhere. It leaves no more tell-tale than a lump in my pocket, and is light enough that I forget it's there.

But since it's my always gun and not a backup, I'm wondering if going to a smiliarly configured J-Frame .357 might not be in order.

The model I'm thinking of is the S&W 640. It's stainless steel, a 1-1/8th" barrel, .357 Magnum, and the internal hammer than I prefer. It'll work in the same pocket holster that I use for the 642.

There are two downsides, weight and recoil. The 642, with .38 +Ps, can be a handful. It does, however, have an alloy frame, and probably weighs about fifteen ounces empty. The 640 has a steel frame, and is heavier, but even mid-level .357 (I'm considering either that new short-barrel load or the 140 grain Silvertip) will kick harder than a .38.

So what do you think? Is the extra power worth the extra recoil and extra eight ounces of weight?

If I do get this gun, what to do with the 642? I'll probably hang onto it, as it was my first snub and I'm rather fond of it.

 

[jad0110]

I would certainly hang onto the 642. I've been thinking about getting a .357 snubby at some point to carry IWB in the winter. I'd carry it IWB because I'd want an all steel .357, as I think the airweight would be too much for me to handle. If you can handle a .357 airweight, then my hat is off to you, because you are certainly more man than I .

Something to consider at least. One of the nicest all steel snubbies, IMHO, is the Ruger SP101 in 2 1/4" or 3 1/16" barrel lengths. Too heavy for pocket carry, but a very nice belt gun. Either that or a 2 1/2" Model 19 or 66.

 

[jonsidneyb]

NightCrawler.

I went the other direction. I have a 640 and I really do like it. I moved to the other Centenials from this one. The 640 on a hip grip or on the belt the weight is fine. In some pants it is a great pocket gun but in some pants even with a good holter it sags for me. In a jacket pocket it is a no go.

While I love the 640 for me at least I find there are some modes of carry that it does not work. It is not that it is too heavy for me but to heavy for the clothes.

I think you will like the 640 but I would not get rid of the airweight. I think you will find the airweight is better for a jacket pocket and in the pocket of thinner pants like dress slacks.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Honestly? I'm not interested in the Ruger. They're too big and heavy. If I'm going to bother with a belt holster I might as well get my .45, you know?

I'd have to try pocket carrying one to see if it was too heavy. The weight difference between the 640 and the 642 is only eight onces, though. In most of my pants that shouldn't be a problem. (Jeans, mostly.)

 

[jonsidneyb]

The reason I went to the airweights in the beginning was for jacket pocket carry.

I was involved in a shooting going 8 years ago now. I would have felt so much better if I had a gun I could have shot though my pocket or came out with a firing grip. I did have an automatic behind my hip but it did not come out for some time.

4 people went to prision because of this and I got a pat on the back from a couple of guys from the sheffies department but it changed the way I think about things.

A gun that you can have in your jacket pocket with your hand on it is much easier to get to than the one behind your hip.

 

[Iggy]

I carry a 640-1 stainless steel with either Spegel boot grips, or CT hard plastic grips, in my Levi's front pocket in a Mika pocket holster all of the time.

I use 158 grn SWC's for power and penetration. These are .357 loads but are not barn burners. I wouldn't want to shoot a full box of them in one session, but for defensive purposes, I get along fine.

My wife carries a Mdl 36 with +P's and the recoil of both is quite comparable.

 

[coach22]

Not to upset or insult any 6 people, but for pocket carry in 357, nothing beats a 340 PD. They are not for all day at the range, but loaded with Corbon DPX 357, it will do what you want it to do with not too much recoil. For me, the DPX in both 38+P and 357 has much less recoil than the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel in both calibers. They are lighter and faster and the all copper bullet is supposed to penetrate better.
coach22

 

[jonsidneyb]

I am not afraid of .357 in steel but in a something lighter than an airweight, that does scare me. Your are saying the new corbon load has that little felt recoil? Iam not ready for a 340 i don't think.

the 442 642 and 640 are going to have to do for now.

 

[Serpico]

Hang on to the 642...I have a 442 and an SP101....I carry the SP now and then but always go back to the lighter 442....38+p is fine for me as it is also what I carry in the SP...

 

[deputy tom]

I once owned a 640 in .357 mag.It kicked too hard for my liking,was too heavy and wouldn't fit my other J-frame holsters.I sold it and bought a 642 in .38 spl.I shoot lighter loads for practice and carry +P's in it.This is my favorite CCW firearm.YMMV.tom.

 

[TOADMAN]

IMO, the S&W 642/442 is best overall - to include pistols - for all day pocket carry..Especially now that Speer makes the 135grn+P GDHP short barrel ammo. At 15ozs, the 642 handles the +P recoil well enough for acceptable follow-up shots..I find this more difficult with the lighter J-frames. The 640 is too heavy for the pocket - carries best on a belt.. I carried the 640 concealed in the pocket on several accaisions - too heavy for me . I also find it difficult to trust the reliability of 15oz or lighter pocket pistols..Belt conceal carry - the sub-compacts (Glock 26/27) in a Don Hume First Agent 710 works best for my needs..

 

[Haywood]

I have my SP101 in my back pocket now its been there all day. The Taurus 605 is IWB. You get used to carying that way the same as you get used to shooting them with 125g. Corbon 357 mag ammo. "No Problems"

 

[fiVe]

NC,

If you decide to go heavier, be sure to let us know how it goes. I know I'm biased, but the lighter weight is such a strong feature of the 642. I just don't think I could get comfortable carrying anything heavier--at least in a concealed fashion.

R/fiVe

 

[kmrcstintn]

The 640 would be a good choice...IWB or OWB holster carry would be advised since a 27 ounce revolver + weight of bullets might start pulling pants down as a pocket carry gun (outer coat pocket should work since the weight is transferred to your shoulders)

I have owned one for a short while...I always shot low due to pulling down the gun while anticipating recoil; get heavy duty snap caps and work on dryfire practice the first few weeks/months you have the gun

At the time I had mine, the Speer Gold Dot 'short barrel' 135 grain .357 magnum load (manufacturer stated stats: 2" barrel; 1000 fps & 300 ft-lbs at muzzle) wasn't selling yet, so I used Remington Golden Sabre 125 grain .357 magnum (it is a moderate load at @ 1220 fps at muzzle) when loading for car use and Hornady XTP 125 grain .38 special house use

I grew to learn that .357 magnum ballistics are 'improved' from a 3" barrel and optimized for 4" & longer barrels, so I kept my 642 and sold the 640 since I didn't like the huge muzzle blast and fireball (which told me that I wasn't getting full powder burn in the barrel and was losing velocity and performance when using .357 magnum in a snubby);

the advent of the Speer 'short barrel' load will give you a minimum magnum load that still offers more than the Gold Dot 'short barrel' .38 special +p load from a snubby magnum gun