Considering a S&W 640

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Action_Can_Do

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Hello everyone. I will soon be in the market for a pocket revolver again (come spring) and I'm considering the 640. I've previously owned a Ruger Sp101 with the two inch barrel and shroudless hammer. I really liked it except for 1. the trigger was terrible no matter how much I shot it and 2. it was pretty heavy. I've shot a 642 and I didn't care for it. It was too light (I'm probably sounding like Goldilocks here) and I'm looking for something that's somewhere in the middle. Do any of you folks have experience with all three of the mentioned guns? Anything I should know from 640 owners?
 
I owned a 640 pro for awhile. No internal lock. Fluted barrel. It was a sweet piece.

In my opinion, its size is an advantage over the Sp101 for pocket carry.

The particular specimen I had never grew on me for some reason, so I traded it, but academically I admire the 640.

Some have called it the ultimate J-frame.

Go for it.

p2.jpg
 
Re-s&w640

Great Gun. I had a model 60 for many years and did enjoy firing it single action at the range but really unrealistic for practical purposes. When S&W came out with the 640 I was one of the first in area to get it. Mine is 2" .38+P rated and have had it engraved a bit dedicated to my late wife. I( do shoot it a lot with fairly stout loads either that I handloaded or bought for self defense. I did have Wilson Combat do a trigger job on it very quickly after purchase and this gun will go bang everytime and the accuracy is excellent. No need to worry about snagged hammers failures to feed and eject and bullet designs and shapes etc. I simply love it for what it is and although I own many Wilson and other combat and small 45 auto there is something soothing and comforting about the 640..
 
I've got one just like Tony_Tiger posted up. I really like the gun. I rotate between it and a Kahr P9 for carry. It feels right, it shoots accurate, little recoil from .38 +P despite it's diminutive size. It's probably worth noting the Pro Series 640-1 as pictured without the integrated lock and night sights is not easy to find and is not cheap.
 
S&w 640

ACTION_Can_Do: I have had a 640-1 S&W for several years and it is one of my favorite CCW guns. I put a Crimson Trace grip on mine and other than that it is stock right out of the box. I shoot it better than I ever thought I could, but I shoot it a lot. I carry it in a a OSW Fobus Holster. I feel very comfortable and confident carrying my 640-1. IMHO I think they are top of the line in quality. And I have never experience any type of problem, with mine.
ken
 
The M640 is probably one of my favorite J frames.
It's heavier than the Airweight but not as heavy or as large as the SP101.
I won't sell mine...

M640-01.jpg
 
I bought one recently as my second handgun. It is standard J-frame chambered for the 9x19 cartridge. Anything that gets by my doorstep now has to be very good. This piece has shattered my dream of one handgun ownership.
 
PabloJ said:
I bought one recently as my second handgun. It is standard J-frame chambered for the 9x19 cartridge. Anything that gets by my doorstep now has to be very good. This piece has shattered my dream of one handgun ownership.
Click to expand...
Are you sure you're not talking about the M940? I don't think the M640 was ever chambered in 9mm.
 
The frame is stamped 'MOD 940', but other then caliber it's obviously same firearm.
 
I had some Federal Classic 115gr JHPs left from time I owned H&K PSP so why not. It's not perfect because no Nato or +P rated should be used in standard J-frame but it will do.
 
Action_Can_Do said:
ArchAngelCD
I really like those grips. Have you ever fired magnums through it with those on?
Click to expand...
Thank you. The grips were on the revolver when I bought it. That revolver was part of a special run for AccuSport and the grips are "factory".

Yes, I do fire that revolver with 145gr Winchester Silvertip ammo and it's an extremely accurate combination. I was so impressed with how well the grips seem to tame the felt recoil I did a little asking around and it was the consensus the were Badger Custom Grips. Those are the full size grips and I liked the feel so much I bought a set of their Rosewood Boot Grips for my M642 and M442 for carry.

Even though they are harder than rubber the shape seems to help reduce felt recoil. I like them a lot...

twins-1.jpg

M442-2.jpg
 
I've got a 649. Draws easy from a pocket, and I can shoot SA if I want to. Mine has an excellent trigger, but that is probably by chance. I find it comfortable to fire with 38+P, and OK in 357. With Desantis grips:

img0399small649.jpg


img400small649.jpg
 
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Daaang. There's a 640 Pro sitting at a dealer by my house right now. I was considering trading my SP101, but the dealer wants $720, which seems just a little high. (That and I don't want a lock on a carry firearm.) After seeing some of 'em on here, though...

Do you have to use the moonclips? Or are they optional?
 
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Hotshot10 said:
Daaang. There's a 640 Pro sitting at a dealer by my house right now. I was considering trading my SP101, but the dealer wants $720, which seems just a little high. (That and I don't want a lock on a carry firearm.) After seeing some of 'em on here, though...

Do you have to use the moonclips? Or are they optional?
Click to expand...
Do not have to use the moonclips. I'll go so far as to say the moonclips mine came are unusable. They are razor thin, razor sharp and the last round is impossible to insert. I suppose I could order a stud for my mooning tool (presently setup for .45 ACP), it's just not worth it to me right now.
 
Hotshot10 said:
Daaang. There's a 640 Pro sitting at a dealer by my house right now. I was considering trading my SP101, but the dealer wants $720, which seems just a little high. (That and I don't want a lock on a carry firearm.) After seeing some of 'em on here, though...

Do you have to use the moonclips? Or are they optional?
Click to expand...
As you know the price is higher for the Pro model.

As for the lock, I agree. Why not look on the used market for a M640? You not only will have a gun with no lock but save money too.
 
Yeah, I think that the MSRP is about $800 on the Pro. The price they have isn't terrible, but it's not low, either.

Buying used is the best idea, definitely. I'm going to keep my eyes out. At the seven or eight shops around me, though, used Smiths are uncommon and usually marked pretty high.
 
S&w 640-1

ArchAngelCD: As I said I have had a S&W 640-1 for several years now and really like the little gun, an have put a Crimson Trace Lazer Grip on it. Is a S&W 640-1 and a M640 the same gun or are they different in some way. Mine says 640-1 on the frame under cylinder crane. Does S&W still make the 640-1, I bought mine used as I said several years ago, and I try to shoot it and my other CCW a KAHR CW9 every time I go to the range. Just a few rounds and I have been really impresed at the improvement I have made because I never was much of a real pistol shot. And really I am kind of proud of my self. I shoot 357`s and 38 SP +p`s quite often but for the most part practice is with my own target reloads. Will it be safe to shoot +P+ 38spl in my gun. I see very few of the S&W 640-1 for sale, new or used over the years. Did S&W just make a liminted amount of them or are they just popular.
Thanks in advance. ken
 
Had 2

I had 2 of them spaced about 10 years apart.
I was using the first as a BUG when I was LEO and it was ankle worn.
Traded that for a Glock 27 and sold the S&W 640-1.
Had a great deal on a second one a few years back and realized it was now too heavy for me,sold it to a Capt still on the job.
I still own and carry a 442 & a 360 [ scandium ] but I only shoot +P's from them now.
And they generally serve as BUG's.
If you love that 640,get it.
I shot my first one with only magnums and had to send it back for retiming as it shot itself loos [ all factory loads ].
If the weight dont matter to you = you will love it.
 
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