I'm interested in buying a S&W 640 for concealed carry. Is the 640 Pro worth the difference in price over the standard 640? I like the idea of not having a trigger lock, and I like the sights, but I'm not sure of having the cylinder cut for moon clips. I would most likely buy the revolver from Buds or on Gun Broker and I haven't seen one at a local gun show or in a local store, so I'm not really sure what the cut cylinder looks like. Can the revolver be used without moon clips if I decide to buy the pro to avoid the trigger lock and gain the night sights, but ignore the moon clips. Any thoughts?

This is why I buy in a LGS and not online. A gun is a very personal item, like a watch or piece of jewelry. In the shop, you can handle both, if the shop has both. One will speak to you. My thoughts are not really relevant, but I generally prefer as few bells and whistles as possible. Good hunting.

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire

I'd go for the Pro since there is no lock and I prefer the sights, but that's just me.

Yes, you can use it with out moon clips.

I buy guns from local dealers when they have the gun I want, but the 640 does not appear to be very popular with most people because none of the stores I've visited here carry it.

What does the rear of the cylinder look like when it's cut for moon clips?

I found a picture online and plenty of history on moonclips as well. I plan to buy the 640 Pro. Thanks for all the comments. Any other opinions are welcome.

I got this .38 spl version last Thanksgiving. Loaded up with appropriate +P hollowpoints it's a rompin' stompin' controllable SD sidearm. Get what you think you need though. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Maybe I asked this before, but where in the world did you get those great Sile rubber grips? Or have you had them for 30 years like I've had mine. Mine are not for sale, they're keepers.

get the pro it's probably my favorite jframe. I would rather pocket carry a 642

Go for the Pro.
I love mine and think it well worth the extra money.
Good luck finding one.
I like to support my local shops, but just could not find, or even get an order date.
I hate to admit it, but I paid to much, but still smile when holding or carrying it.
I just ignore the moon clips for speed strips.
Let us know when you get it.
I think you will be pleased.
Jim

I'm having S&W replace my broken 642 with a 640 Pro Series. I say "having" because it has been over 3 months since I sent them the 642 and I don't have a 640 yet! Apparently, the Pro Shop doesn't make their version of the 640 often enough or in sufficient quantities to quickly fill my replacement order.

I think you would be well served by either version of the 640. The Pro will give you a moon clip option as well as tritium sights. Neither are deal breakers, but nice to have.

As for the cylinder, it can use the 5-shot moon clips or you can use loose rounds loaded one-by-one without out the clips. Best of both worlds.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

Go pro. I was patient enough to wait for a good deal on GB. $670 delivered to my LGS. I am happy.

Edmo,
I know distributors were getting them as little as two weeks ago. Seems like they would take care of you before selling to the general public.
I would call them and ask why?
Good luck,
Jim

Another vote for the pro, mine is by far my favorite J frame. The sights alone are worth the extra cost, throw in the missing lock and the moon clips and you have an outstanding firearm for CCW. And as others have said the moon clips are indeed optional.

CDNN Sports used to have tons of Sile grips, had them for probably 10 years. I have them on the 640, a 642-1 and an old 60. They were $6 of $7 a pair. They are starting to "chalk" on the inside though. If they start to dust up the innards, I'll go back to Pachmayrs.

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Trust me, I am bugging them...

I was originally told it could take a couple of months to get a replacement so I was somewhat patient. Once it hit the three month point I began making weekly calls.

The last two replies were, "One has been allocated to me and will be shipped out the first week of July." On the next weekly call the word changed to, "One has not been allocated and the guy who could approve release of a gun is on vacation."

At this rate the 640 Pro will be discontinued before I get one! My next weekly call is planned for 7 July. So far "pleasant and nice" hasn't worked, so maybe I should change my telephone demeanor.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

Edmo,

"pleasant and nice" will never do you wrong, unless its directed to the wrong person.

Time to move up in the customer service hierarchy.

When you call back on 7/7, ask for the manager of that section. You might also mention that this is getting attention on the forum.

Getting nasty only leads one way.

Edmo,
The owner of a company I was general manager for in 1986, once told me when I was having problems, "Always ask for the man with the wooden desk".
It has served me well for 28 years. (No offence ladies, his words).
Jim

I just got mine a couple weeks ago. It is the basic 640, I waited 17 months for this pistol.

Right off the bat I noticed one thing that I like is, it only had two very small machine burr's. I took both of these off easily with a couple strokes of 400 paper.

I don't mind the lock if it gives me trouble I'll take it out and put in a plug. Trigger pull is very high especially if you grip the revolver high. It's pulling at over 12 lbs and then it pegs my Lyman gage often. Even though it's a defense gun I'm going to do something with this pull, if I get it into the high 9's I'll be happy with that. I have dry fired it 1,000 times. I'm going to dry fire it another 1,000 before I take it to the range.

Oh I know it's going to be a hand full but I bought it as a .357 and that's what I'm going to shoot in it. I reload so I will shoot some 158 lswc with just a couple tenths over the recommended low end and see how it shoots.
I don't need the megablaster that shakes the ground a good velocity wad cutter will be fine as a defense round. The pro models have been done up a little nicer. I understand the trigger is much better in the Pro.

The basic grips which I thought looked a little dorky in the photos fit my hand great and when you grip high to me they are the perfect grip. I bought a set of Pachmeyrs and I'll see if I can trim them down to feel anywhere near the stock grips, they just may absorb a little more of the shock. But I don't believe I'll shoot hundreds of rounds at a session so the stock grips may be very liveable.

I haven't shot it yet but intend to get out in the next month or so. I've just go so many do-alls around the house I just can't ignore them.

One thing in my favor is I carry the 642 CC. I can use the same holster to carry the 640.


Dan

Thanks for all the input. My order of preference now is: 640 Pro, 640 38 caliber (used), 640 357 caliber pre-trigger lock (used), 640 new.

I made the choice of getting a 640 Pro this past spring and have been VERY glad I did. However, I regretted buying mine from on-line, sight unseen, when it arrived. Mine was supposed to be a BNIB, never fired outside the factory pistola. It looked like it came off a long month at some indoor range. No carbon or burned powder was evident, but it was very dull and dark, had some rough fittings, and was LOOSE. So loose, that I didn't even bother shooting it. I called up S&W, got an RA, and sent in for warranty service. A month later, I got my same serial number back on what looked like a truely brand new gun! They replaced the bbl, repaired the frame, and the yoke. It's everything I expect from S&W now. Had I seen this gun in it's original shape at a LGS, no way would I have bought it for even half what I paid. On the up side though, S&W apparently still stands behind their stuff, but I'd be sure to only buy from some place with a good no hassel return policy if buying from on-line. At least that's my new plan moving forward.

I'll add one other small detail I did not see mentioned yet here about the PRO version 640. It has a more streamlined bbl/yoke shroud which should make holstering smoother. The added weight of this, the heaviest version J frame I think, makes it maybe a little more noticeable carrying it over the lighter versions, but it handles better too I think. The nite sites are very good (as if you'll actually use them), and they are snag free, which I really like. I agree with a poster above who commented that the sites alone are worth the extra cost, especially since they are machined dove-tailed fitted. That's not cheap to do properly if you have to pay for it as a custom job.

I found a basic 640-3 at my lgs a couple of months ago, and had to take it home. Paid $599 plus tax, so I probably overpaid a little bit, I don't know. But they're kinda hard to find, so I just couldn't leave without it. Have been very pleased with it so far.

I was just wondering if spent rounds are ejected if you don't use moon clips with the 640-Pro? That would be a factor for me if I was going to buy one.

If you don't use the clips, the revolver works exactly like one that is not cut for moon clips.

Best,
Rick

Yup, so get the Pro, there is no downside.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

Thats what they are going for around here so you didn't do bad. I can't find a Pro 357 in any of my LGS though, and they don't know when they will get one so they say. They do come up on GunBroker but I'm the type of guy who likes to look at in person before I pay for anything. This way I avoid problems like B's 640 had.

Pharmer,
I just bought a 38 caliber 640 online and plan to take it to the range in a few weeks when my daughter comes to visit. It looks like your revolver but still has the original small S&W grips. It's not in bad shape considering its age. I'm still looking for the 640 Pro, and I'll buy one of those as well when I find one.

Be careful Dan, this may not be the case. I was carrying my 642 in a Safariland #527. Thought I would try my 640-3 in it. Big mistake. I could hardly get it in or out of the holster. The barrel on the 640 is longer and much heavier than the barrel on the 642 (the old fashioned 38 Special profile we have known and loved for decades).

Turns out the #527 is molded to apply retaining pressure on the barrel. The much heavier barrel on the 640 was too wide for the engineered fit.

I have a Galco Cop Series holster that does not manage retention in the same way and can accept the 640 or 642 equally as well. Just hoping to provide a heads-up.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin