Stop being a S&W snob?

[Nightcrawler]

Okay, one of the guns I'm planning on purchasing this year is a S&W 640. It's a five shot .357 J-Frame with an internal hammer. I'm going to use it for pocket carry, probably shelving my 642.

Anyway, is there any reason I shouldn't buy the Taurus equivalent and save a hundred bucks? I examined a Taurus .38 in FMBG many times, and I'll be damned if it doesn't have a better trigger than my 642.

So is there any practical reason to get the 640 over the Taurus?

 

[coelacanth]

what's snobbery got to do with it?

Lots of reviews around for Taurus revolvers - whatever you buy just make sure you're informed. I've never owned one but they seem to be well made. Several million Brazilians seem to think highly of them (grin). With the number of good used S&W revolvers on the market right now that might be the way to go if you prefer them. Good luck and good hunting, bro.

 

[Don Lu]

As long as it passes the revolver checkout pasted at the top of the forum, you will be good to go. Taurus makes fine guns.

 

[ATW525]

I have a Taurus 650... which is basically the equivalent model to the Smith 640. Mines been an excellent little pocket gun and I have nothing bad to say about it at all. I second Don Lu's suggestion of doing the revolver check out before taking one home, since it's always better to be safe than sorry when dealing with any manufacturer's firearms.

 

[fiVe]

NC,

Putting the .357 vs .38+p debate aside, why do you want to "retire" your 642? For pocket carry, that extra ½ pound might (just might) make a difference. For IWB/OWB, it probably won't matter.

For what it's worth: I would have no problem with the Taurus.

Not trying to be nosy or confrontational, just curious. (Hey, you know we always want to get into your head.)

 

[Nightcrawler]

I don't think the weight will bother me. It's eight ounces, after all. A wad of change in your pocket can weigh more than that. Besides, my .44 is part of my carry routine, and that hog weighs like three pounds.

I'm not going to belt carry a snubby, though. If you're going to use a belt holster, why not carry something larger, with better sights? See what I'm saying? I need something for the summatyme when I'm just wearing a T-Shirt and jeans. (As an aside, a good gunbelt helps with pocket carry, too. Keeps your pants up.)

The 642 will become the 'fridge gun. (Don't ask, inside joke. )

 

[waynedm]

Most of those Tauruses aren't rated for +p if that matters to you. You couldn't give me a Taurus. I prefer but Rugers out of all of them though.

 

[Marshall]

For what it's worth, I have the 640's brother, the Model 60 in .357 Mag. I think it's too heavy for pocket carry. Not that it can't be done, I have and do sometimes. But the 642 is a much better pocket carry gun. Eight ounces doesn't sound like much, but in a pocket, it makes a difference. I carry in a IWB holster instead, I don't even know it's there most of the time. It also leaves my pockets available for other things.

 

[DawgFvr]

I agree with nightcrawler...the snubby is a pocket weapon used for close up and personal defense...otherwise, why not get a bigger barreled revolver for side carry? I took out my 642 yesterday and shot at 25 feet. I used a rifle target...what the hey, its about the size of a human's mid-section. I had a very difficult time hitting, let alone grouping on that target with slow, aimed fire with the S&W 642. My two autos, PT145 in .45 ACP and even my tiny P38T in .380 tore up the target's 10 ring...much more accurate! I for one, need beau coup practice with that snubby...or...expect accurate hits at 12 feet or less. I like the revolver...but definitely need a bigger piece if I plan on carrying on my hip.

 

[xring]

I don't know. The Taurus seem to have a nice fit and finish with out doubt. Per my Gunsmith - that's where they spend the $ - on presentation. Open it up and the cost savings are evident.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I had a very difficult time hitting, let alone grouping on that target with slow, aimed fire with the S&W 642.

Practice more. I'm getting pretty good with mine, but a snub revolver is a uniquely challenging weapon to master. Shoot it twice as much as you do your other guns, especially if you're mainly an auto guy and don't use revolvers much.

Be patient and give it some time. You'll get a feel for it after awhile.

 

[plexreticle]

I prefer any Taurus over current S&W's personally.

I think most people if they took the Pepsi challenge between Taurus vs. S&W they would agree.

 

[ugaarguy]

I don't know. The Taurus seem to have a nice fit and finish with out doubt. Per my Gunsmith - that's where they spend the $ - on presentation. Open it up and the cost savings are evident.

Compared with the old pinned bbl guns new MIM parts S&Ws are full of cost cutting measures and the finish is undoubetly lacking. I'm not convinced the current S&Ws are that much, if it all, better than the current Tauruses (Tauri?). If you can't find a used pre-MIM 640 (if they even exist) I'd save the money and get the Taurus.

Most of those Tauruses aren't rated for +p if that matters to you. You couldn't give me a Taurus.

First, Nightcrawler is talking about replacing his 38+P S&W 642 with a .357 Mag 640 or equivalent - as in also 357 Mag - from Taurus. Second, every 38 special revolver on Taurus website is +P rated.

I prefer but Rugers out of all of them though.

I really like my SP101, but it's not the same size class of pocket gun a J-Frame or Taurus equivalent is.

 

[Texfire]

I had a very difficult time hitting, let alone grouping on that target with slow, aimed fire with the S&W 42.

Practice more. I'm getting pretty good with mine, but a snub revolver is a uniquely challenging weapon to master. Shoot it twice as much as you do your other guns, especially if you're mainly an auto guy and don't use revolvers much.

Be patient and give it some time. You'll get a feel for it after awhile.

I agree that practice and trigger control are the secrets to shooting a snubby accurately. But for assistance with the very short sight distance, I suggest getting a set of Crimson Trace lasergrips. I have a pair of the overmolded ones on my 642 and it made a huge difference, shrinking my groups by over half right away. I still practice with the sights, anything electronic can fail after all, but they allow me to focus more on a smooth trigger pull than aiming with the awful sights that come on a 642. Also for situations where I wouldn't be able to raise the gun to look through the sights, the laser gives sighting information. Why S&W didn't go with a contrasting color sight or colored blade insert is beyond me. That matte gray sight just melts into the gun in low light environments. I've considered getting red nail polish and painting that front sight.

As to the original question I haven't ever shot a Taurus snubby in .38 or .357, so I can't really give it a thumbs up or down. I did briefly own a Taurus snubby in 9mm, but ended up trading it in on another gun. The moonclips Taurus used with it were a little flimsy and led to malfunctions. I do have two Taurus Gauchos, and even though they both had final assembly QC problems that required the shop to send them back to the factory, they have been reliable and accurate since coming back.

Tex

 

[Nightcrawler]

The only downside to the lasergrips is how big they are. They might interefere with pocket carry, depending on the holster and your pants.

 

[1BLINDREF]

Nightcrawler-

I did opposite of what you are doing. I had the M640 first and shelved it for a M642. 8 oz makes a huge difference when it comes to pocket carry. .357 loads are pretty punishing to shoot through the 640 - even at 23 oz. I shoot my 642 much more accurately then the 640 with .357. The muzzle flash out of the 640 w/.357s is like the 4th of July . It usually gets the attention of the others a the range - "*** IS THAT"
I would buy the 640 - try to find one w/o the lock and keep them both. The 640 rides under my thigh when I'm driving through prime car jacking areas, .357 will punch through the car door with no problems.

 

[Nightcrawler]

try to find one w/o the lock and keep them both.

I appreciate your input, but I'm totally not caring about the lock. I have a tube of some wonderful stuff called Blue Loc-Tite that I can (and do) use if I worry about the lock.

In any case, there is no decent selection of used S&W around here.

 

[Old Fuff]

So is there any practical reason to get the 640 over the Taurus?

No, not from my point of view. I have used both, and both are satisfactory, but the Taurus will do everything that the S&W will, and they generally cost less.

On the other hand I see no good reason for a pocket gun of any make in .357 Magnum. Since I have no intention of using the Magnum cartridge in this application I don't spend the extra money for a Magnum.

All current Taurus revolvers in .38 Special are certified for use with Plus-P ammunition - if that's your cup of tea.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Recoil sensitive? Why the dislike of .357s, or even +P .38s?


EDIT: It's interesting to see how far Taurus has come. A couple years ago, very few people on this very board would recommend a Taurus over a S&W. Taurus' reputation has improved a lot, I think, since they've been putting more effort into QC.

EDIT EDIT: My asking about recoil sensitivity is NOT a dig. A lot of people simply don't like it, for reasons ranging from preference to medical (arthritis, joint problems, etc.).

I've not had a problem with it so far. My .44 is fun, 'cept when it made my hand bleed. My 642 with +P is snappy, but not bad. Rapid fire is still possible, but it's a strictly short-ranged proposition at this point. My Colt Gov't Model recoils so gently by comparison that it's almost like cheating...

 

[fiVe]

The only downside to the lasergrips is how big they are.

They are getting smaller. Look at this. We are having an excellent laser grip discussion over in The 642 Club.

R/fiVe

 

[Nightcrawler]

HOLY CRAP! They've really miniaturized those things, haven't they?

 

[iostorm]

I'm a huge Taurus fan, I have 5 and heve never had any trouble with any of them, actually I prefer them to my other brands.

 

[chipp]

Every time I think of buying a taurus. I remind myself thet 6 monthes later
the xtra 100 or 2 won't seam like so much. Personally I will be sorry.
I'm sure tauras makes fine revolvers but not for me.
Maybe someday.

 

[waynedm]

I think we could all agree that the cost of the gun itself isn't the expensive part of shooting, it's the ammo and range and targets. An extra hundred or so isn't a big deal in the grand scheme. S&W customer service (if you even need it on one of their revolvers) is going to be folds better than Taurus's.

 

[JERRY]

since S&W has gone to the MIM parts AND the built in disabling devise some folks call "the lock", i see the guns(revolvers) as no better than a taurus now....either S&W has slipped or Taurus has climbed up...

where s&w still shines is their customer service if and when there is a problem with the gun.


i personally wont buy a new s&w with "the lock", i could live with many things, but an unneeded things that can jam up a gun when i need it to fire is not one of them....same for the taurus wheelys, wont buy ne of them either....

you can still find well cared for S&W wheelys that do not have the built in non optional internal disbaling devise, for a reasonable price....hows this grab ya?
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=67990078