Picked up a new S&W 646

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Marko Kloos

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I stopped by at Tamara's shop today, and they had received a shipment of two (2) "stocking dealer special" Models 646. One was already in layaway, and the other one was sitting in the display case for the very agreeable price of $499. I checked it out, and was very positively surprised. The gun locks up tighter than a bank vault, and times perfectly. The DA trigger pull is downright decent, the gun has no internal lock, and the package included a half-dozen moon clips and an old-style Performance Center lockable aluminum hard case with S&W medallion.

This model is most likely intended as a "game gun" for IDPA, but that particular configuration may potentially be one of the best carry guns to ever come out of Springfield. The barrel is 3 7/8" in length, and the L-frame points and balances very nicely. The cylinder is titanium.

For the price, I just couldn't refuse. :cool:

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I've got one and my take is the same as yours. Very nice gun all and all. I don't like messing with moon clips, but that is the nature of the beast. I think when I get my MO permit this will ride around with me at first.
 
One was already in layaway
Click to expand...

Three guesses who that was, y'all. ;)

I gotta admit that this is definitely one of S&W's better efforts in the QC department lately. The trigger is quite tolerable for a production gun (it'll be getting smoothed & lightened anyway), and lockup is, no joke, as tight as I've felt on a new gun in a long, long time.

Gripes:
While the barrel uses the Return-To-Old-School rollmarking, the frame is laser-etched, so a matte bead-blast re-finish is out.

It has the fargin' flat hammer & MIM bits like all new Smiths these days. I know, I know, but I complain about the weather, too...

Finally, it... well... really those are my only two gripes. :uhoh:
 
Couple questions, Marko or Tamara...

1. Does that mean S&W ****-canned the key lock thingie above the cylinder release on their revolvers for good?

2. Like Perfessr mentioned, is there enough length in the cylinder to punch it out to 10mm (assuming a Titanium cylinder can handle the extra pressure) ?

:D
 
1. Does that mean S&W ****-canned the key lock thingie above the cylinder release on their revolvers for good?
Click to expand...

No, this was a way of using up 900 older pre-lock frames. (Interestingly, the hammer appears to be notched for the lock... :uhoh: )
 
There's a fellow on Glocktalk who had his 646 knocked out to 10mm, his seems to be holding up to what he calls "light" 10mm loads. his handel is G33 I think. I asked my local smith about getting this done and he indicated he couldn't ream Ti
 
Personally, I ain't gonna have my cylinder reamed. We did G33's at our shop, but I'll just stick with .40 in this gun. If I want to shoot 10mm out of a roundgun, I'll do it out of my Vaquero or 610. I wouldn't want to ream a cylinder that you're not even supposed to clean with abrasive compounds . :uhoh:
 
I have been using one of these for IDPA and have found some things that I do not like. First: The moon clip with the spent shells hangs up on the grip that come on the gun. I had to change the grip and modify it to enable speed reloads. Second: The moon clips from S&W do not hold the shells securely. If you drop the full clip, the shells pop out and/or pop out when hanging on the moon clip carriers. I have several dozen .035 and .042 clips and have to rebend the clips every time that I reload them to get enough tension on the shells. I have called Moonclips.com and they have the same design as S&W. I would like to find some reliable moon clips. S&W says too bad.

I also installed a Hi-Viz front sight, which I like for IDPA.

The gun is fun to shoot.
 
I have several dozen .035 and .042 clips
Click to expand...

Incidentally, how can I tell which is which? Also, is there a short list anywhere to tell me which thickness works best with which ammo brands?
 
Happy dance! Mine arrived today... but since I was delayed, as usual, on the NICS check, I have to wait a day or two before I can bring it home.

One thing struck me immediately on examining it. Dimensionally, it's virtually identical to the 686 (holsters for the latter fit the 646 like a glove), but thanks to the titanium cylinder and lighter Bantam-style grips, I suspect the 646 is a quarter to half a pound lighter in weight than the 686. Another useful feature for a carry revolver! :D

Folks, if you want to get a GREAT revolver, get one of these. Limited production (900 only), so scarcity will keep prices up; nice presentation aluminum pistol case; interesting caliber, well up to .357 Magnum in "street" performance; light-ish weight for ease of carry; and best of all, priced (at retail) below $500! What's not to like?
 
Hi folks:

Regarding the S&W 646, Beckham Design is in the final stages of clip development for the 646. We have received numerous calls for the clip. The cartridge retention and material will be the same as the current RIMZ 610. We expect the 646 clip to be available by May 2004.

Scott Beckham
 
I have one of these on layaway at Darr's in Chattanooga. It is lightly used, probably fewer than 200 rounds. Does $445 after taxes/TICS sound like a good deal?

I intend to have it reamed to 10mm like G33 had hers...the thought of an L-frame 10mm was just too good to pass up!

Cheers,
Ed S.
 
I saw one at my last gun show. I was too stupid to buy it.

It has always amazed me that the best cartridges for wheelguns are auto cartridges.:D

I have a 3" 610. Quite a bit more weight to pack, though. It sees quite a few .40s.

I also have a 696. I don't see why they couldn't make that in 10mm, or .41`Magnum. Looks like a 5 shot full moon clip would work just as well as a 6 shot.

For those who are tempted to ream the chambers to 10mm length, what are you gaining, other than the ability to use factory 10mm ammunition? A prudent handloader could load the bullet out in a .40 S&W case, (preventing its use in an auto pistol, and providing more room for powder), and obtain pretty near 10mm ballistics. Though if I had one, it would be fed pretty standard stuff, I think.
 
If you do manage to ream it to 10mm would it be able to handle many full power loads? The gun will most likely out live you and would the future owner know of it's short commings if it has one. You can't just ream a .38sp or .44sp to the magnum versions without the needed heat treatment for safety. What about the conversion of the M646, will the same rules apply there also?
 
While I can not recall the numbers off the top of my head, there is not as much difference in pressure between the .40 S&W and the 10mm Auto as there is between .38 Spl and .357 Mag, or .44 Spl and .44 Mag.

Still, I would find what it liked best before I started reaming. I bet there is a factory .40 load that would satisfy me. I know that there is a handload that would. People have been shooting long loaded .40s out of Gov't model pistols for a long time. Some of us are experimenting with the 357 SIG seated long in the 10mm frame guns.

I am kicking myself now for not buying the one that I saw. I probably won't make that mistake twice. I probably won't get to make that mistake twice.
 
Just saw one of these the other night. I wasn't aware of the fact that it's a limited run. Hmmmm. Outside of the 610, this is the only S&W that has actually caught my wallet's attention! :)

Would be nice....
 
Just got my 646 out of lay-away today. Can't wait to shoot it! :cool:

I have one question you folks might be able to answer: will the M610 moon clips work, or do I have to get the M646-specific jobbers?

Cheers,
Ed S.
 
The M646 and the M610 are built on 2 different frames with different cylinder sizes, so like Tamara said.....nope and yep.
 
Ok, thanks Tamara, thanks Majic. I knew the diff between the L- and N- frames, but din't know if the cylinders were diferent sizes or not.

Do either of you know of a source for these clips that is cheaper than moonclips.com's price of $34.95/10?
 
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