Thinking about a 640

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Mastrogiacomo

Mastrogiacomo

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Hi,

I'm very recoil shy and thinking about getting a 640 to shoot .38's through. I have the DAO SP101 which I love, but I want to get something less bulky, blah, blah, blah.....;) Can anyone tell me how it handles with 38s and about the accuracy and sites? I have a 686 4"; the sites are incredible but it's clearly not a carry choice. What are the sites like on this revolver? BTW I'm 5'1" 120 lbs. I've had the 442 and similar lightweight guns and got rid of them. Thanks.
 
When I first got my carry permit a 640-1 was my first purchase for carry. When I decided I needed an auto for carry, the 640 had to go to help pay for it. I always thought it was too heavy for all day pocket carry (which it is, but its not too bad for "trip to the store"-pocket carry!). I most-often carried it IWB.

I have bought, sold and traded many guns over the years. Of all the ones I traded away or sold, that 640 is the one I would most like to have back. It is truly capable of being a "one" gun. You know how versatile the .38/.357 loadings are. Sites are just like those on your 442. I'm sure accuracy will be as good or better than your DAO Ruger or the 442. It is easily concealable yet the all-steel construction makes it much easier to shoot than its lightweight cousins. I won't lie to you and say it soaks up all the recoil of 'full-house' magnums, but it's very manageable with many/most (all?).38 loadings and with full magnum loads is probably about equal on your hands as +P .38's in an airweight. With standard-pressure .38 loads you will find it much more pleasant than the 442.
 
Thanks Jim; I'm not looking for a pocket gun, which would be a feat to pull off at my size, but I believe weight is your friend in a gun. This would be for .38's only but I want a comfortable shoot in all seasons, not just summer. Thanks again.
 
I also wanted a compact revolver for CC. But, it also had to be the same gun that I would practice with. ...meaning I didn't want to get beat up shooting it. I like the durability of stainless and wanted its mass over the lighter frames to absorb recoil and help get back on target more quickly. The 640 has met all my expectations.

Compact, carries effortlessly on a belt IWB and comfortable shooting 38spl. Its weight is not a problem for short duration in pant or coat pocket. But it is heavy enough to pull at your clothes if carried there. I prefer IWB anyway. So no loss for me. Good luck with your decision.
 
I'll add another vote for the 640, with the same caveats the others have posted.

It is a wonderful revolver for 'everyday' 38 Special shooting. I've shot mine about 20,000 rounds over the past two-plus years, mostly with 38+P/CIP or light-357 lead reloads. It's an ideal practice gun.

Jim H.
 
The all steel 640 handles .38spl very nicely. It's a little heavy for pocket carry, but I'm XXL and don't have a problem with it. A normal sized person should have no problem with belt carry.
holster1.jpg
 
I'm a small lady so belt carry would be my ideal. I dislike putting a gun in my pocket or handbag for that matter. I wish I could find a prelock like the one shown.
 
I'm perplexed. You have a 4" 686 - fantastic .38 Spcl plinker. I think the 442 or 642 you had would have been ideal. You have to remember - while the added weight of the 640 will make it a more comfortable to shoot, it also makes it more tiring/cumbersome to holster carry. You want this to be a 24/7 carry to be effective. A comfortable to shoot revolver locked up at home does you little good in that late night walk through a parking lot to your car. And, to be honest, my 642 and 296, outfitted with good defensive ammo, are not fun to shoot. They don't have to be - I just have to shoot them enough to keep their operation mastered. I have much better plinkers available.

I have had friends' wifes tell me the same thing about the 642/442 - that they are uncomfortable to shoot - usually with 158hr LHPSWC or 135gr Gold Dots - both +Ps. Switching to 148gr lead wadcutters, target ammo, made the difference - including with a 6' 1" 230 lb friend with arthritic hands. No, you still won't want to plink with it - that's not it's mission. Of course, as a retired college instructor, I am accustomed to 'do as I say... not as I do...'. My 5' 10" wife won't touch a 642... she carries a Seecamp .32 in a pocket holster!

Now, if you just want the 640... get it! I like the 3" HiViz 60... even the 5" 60, now that I have a 5" 63. 'Wants' don't have to be totally rationalized.

Stainz

PS The 640 really isn't much different in size - and only an ounce or so less weight - than the 2.1" SP-101.
 
The 642/442s are no fun; been there, done that and have no interest in revisiting the lightweights. The thing I like about the 640 is that it's less bulky, albeit, slightly lighter than my SP DAO. The other advantage of the weight is that I can use it in all weather, just not summer, so it sounds like the perfect fit.
 
As big a fan as I am of the SP101, including the DAO version, for your purposes I think the 640 is a superb choice.
 
I own both an SP101 and a S&W 640-1. They are both great guns. The difference in weight is less than 2oz. I think the SP101 is the more "shootable" of the two with full loads when fitted with Hogue grips and a trigger job. The S&W is marginally more concealable fitted with boot grips.

Neither one is a "pocket" gun in the usual sense IMHO. However I can comfortably carry either one in the back pocket of my jeans in a Mika holster. But, if I am going to carry a gun of their weight I usually carry my Glock 27. Where either of these guns are really good is for IWB carry under minimal concealment garments. Their shape is easier to conceal than most semiautos. The 640-1 with boots grips gets the nod here.

Good loads with minimal recoil would be Speer Short barrel 357, Corbon DPX or Remington Golden Saber.
 
If I didn't live in Massachusetts, I'd absolutely get a Glock 26 - a couple of them actually....:D At the moment, I'm with a federal agency here but I'm working on getting something out of state with another agency if necessary.
 
I'll be the loyal opposition. I have a 640, bought the last .38 in town before they magnumized the steel J frames, and had it handsomely engraved. It is a decent coat pocket gun, but too heavy for (gent's) pants pocket and I can carry a better shooter in a holster. It's most recent use was to let a friend whose husband thoughtfully provided her with a 442 shoot something of the same size that would not kick her so badly.

But the recoil is still snappy and the sights are dreadful.

A K frame, model 15, 19, 65, 66 would be a little smaller than your 686.

They also make the Model 60 with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights that would be a handly little shooter if you stuck to target wadcutters.
 
The model 60's and 65's are nice; I've also looked at the 64 too, but I think the 640 is a little more to my liking, especially with the DAO feature.
 
As many people have mentioned, the 640 is a great gun. I searched high and low for a 640-1, which is the pre-lock mag version and finally found it. I put a XS big dot on it and haven't looked back. I pocket carry this guy in a uncle mikes pocket holster. It is a little heavy but nothing a good belt cant take care of.

You alluded to the fact that you were looking for a nice shooter, and this gun fits the bill. I shoot it single hand (dom and off handed) w/ 357 mags (albeit I only do it to make sure I can hit com at 7ft if I have to) which I could not do with the 340. I don't even notice the kick of 38's which is a helpful when I take friends who do not shoot much out, so they do not become recoil sensitive.
 
340pd for carry but the go to practice gun is always the 640. Lite 357 loads to ease the cylinder cleaning and I am set. This is one fine all purpose firearm. It will shoot differently than the 686 but that makes shooting such a great sport.
 
How about a Model 60, pre J-magnum, with a bobbed hammer? It would give you a little bit more weight than 642/442 and not as much as a current J-mag 60. The pre-J-magnum M60s easily digest +P ammo for service and standard or even target loads for practice.

Just a thought..........
 
How about a Model 60, pre J-magnum, with a bobbed hammer? It would give you a little bit more weight than 642/442 and not as much as a current J-mag 60. The pre-J-magnum M60s easily digest +P ammo
Click to expand...

Yes, much like this bigger fella here. The 38 only J frames are definitely my choice. +P rated or not you will be safe with a model 60.

SDC11616.jpg
 
I've got a 640 no dash. I've had numerous J frames over the years and this one is my favorite. I just put a pair of Eagle Secret Service grips on it and they are the best grips. I prefer 38 only guns. The sights are the normal notch and front ramp. I load my own ammo so I can load it to were I feel the most comfortable with.
 
I liked the idea of a snubby for my girlfriend as well but one round of full power .357 magnum out of a ruger security six with 4" barrel made her cry and she managed to hurt her finger, don't ask me how, she wasn't burnt.

This led me to hunt down a nice heavy snubby. Smith is offering a 2 1/8" pro series 640, yes it costs more, but no internal lock and cut for moon clips. As a variation they offer in the same barrel length but fluted and has dovetailed tritium night sights front and rear. I just ordered the latter, but even without the night sights you could have a no lock 640. $$ is no object when it comes to protection so ill be spending almost 750 for a night sight equipped snubby for her. They should be available after april. Hope you go this route.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...=10001&productId=760583&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y
 
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