Smith and Wesson 640 vs 642. Home defense fire arm for my daughter and wife. Which one would you recommend?
Thank you for your input, I'm new to this and want to make an educated purchase. Would you recommend a diffent
size or brand?

I have both. Obviously, the 640 is a bit heavier, which results in less recoil. The 642 is lighter, which results in easier carrying. I can shoot either about the same. The bottom line is easier carry versus less recoil. I say get both! That's what I did. The 642 is in my pocket or on my belt, while the 640 is shot at the range, and resides in the nightstand.

Given the parameters of your question, the 640.

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Centennial Every Day

Those two being the choices, the 640. If possible, have them both try it before you buy it though. When deciding on their own personal home defense guns, my mother and my girlfriend both tried a wide assortment of my handguns. Neither of them were comfortable with my J frames. Both of them went with a 4" 686 after trying my 4" 681. They preferred the weight of the gun, feel of the trigger, and size of the (rubber) grip that the larger 681 offered. They also had much better groupings with the 681. Both of them keep their gun loaded with +Ps, and the extra round is a bonus as well. That being said, one of my sisters loves my 642 and plans to get one for herself for a concealed carry gun. She doesn't enjoy shooting it, but can handle it well and doesn't plan on using it for target. She'd just shoot it enough to stay familiar with it.

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- The Federalist #46 -

Given just those two choices, the 640. More weight=less recoil. If they like the J-frames and it's to be strictly for home defense, may I suggest that you also consider a model 60 with a 3" barrel.

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Ban lunatics and criminals

I would also choose the 640.My preference is a model 60.

I have a 442, the wife a 642; love them both for carry. Since you're asking for home defense, I would say the heavier 640 but why a snubby for home defense? A longer barrel, full size revolver would give better accuracy and an extra bullet.

Good point, thank you. I'm going by the recommendation of my local gun shop. I want my two girls to be comfortable with the gun and a smaller, short barrel seams to be less intimidating.

The longer barrel will be easier to shoot with due to the longer sight radius. It may also have slightly less muzzle flip due to the extra weight up front from the longer barrel, and will probably add a little bit of velocity.
Don't listen to the guy at the gun shop, let your daughter and wife see what they like, rent one and let them shoot it if possible, and then let them make the decision since they will be the ones who will be using that gun. A co-worker bought the new Bodyguard .38 on the advice of a guy in the gun shop and quickly regretted it because she finds that it has too much recoil for her to handle.

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Ban lunatics and criminals

Thanks everyone for your advise. After careful consideration, my wife and I purchased the S/W 640. Looking forward to finally owning the fire arms for our home defense strategy.

Practice as much as possible with silhouette targets and index shooting. Get training. Stay proficient. Try many different grips and ammo. The 640 will get the job done if they do their part.

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Centennial Every Day

What's index shooting?

Thanks,
Suzie

Also known as "point shooting". It involves drawing and firing without traditional, one-eye-closed aiming, but instead letting training, instinct and a direct both-eyes-open focus on the target be your "aiming".

One-handed or two, piece at your side or raised, you're shooting by feel -- and like in most fine skill sets, feel emerges after a lot of work, but the idea is that you train for feel rather than traditional, static, target-style shooting.

It's what most naturally occurs in an actual, fast-moving confrontation, and well worth practicing.

Thanks for everyone for your input. Going to take the course with the family on Saturday. After talking with the instructor this afternoon he has advised me that my purchase of the 640 was a bad one for home defense due to the short barrel, I started with the gun dealers recommendation of the 642, then went to the 640 for weight and a little longer barrel. Now I feel I should have gone with the 60. Thoughts?

The firearm you will use and use accurately is the firearm that will work. Try it out at your training, practice at the range. The 640 is perfectly acceptable as a defensive weapon. Look for ammo that you can shoot comfortably that is also good for home defense. It is not a 50 yard target gun, but that isn't what you are using it for.

I have a 642 that is part of my home defense system. I have confidence in it.

You may decide you want to try other firearms, maybe a semi-auto, or a larger wheel gun. That is part of the fun of firearm ownership in this country.

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

From your lips to God's ear...

This is the best of all advice. I would also suggest that for a first gun, you stick with steel frame and avoid the light-weight models. If you are not carrying, go with a 3" or 4" barrel.

Try to go to a range that rents various handguns and actually shoot them. They may feel great in the hand until the first round is fired. With a single box of .38spl, you can fire 4-5 guns from the .357/.38spl family.

Great good luck.

Walk around your house and measure the longest possible shot you might need to take and practice at that distance or less. If you can make those shots well with the 640, then no worries. If not, consider a different gun.

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Centennial Every Day

Smaaaartt! Thanks! Even tho the primary purpose of my purchase is to carry every day, being able to also use it for home defense is a wise consideration.

Thank you,
Suzie

Expect a few thing at the range as a first time snubbie owner. Accuracy will be a bit poor and random.

Just don't let buyers remorse creep into your decision. You made a wise purchase.

A Model 60 is essentially a 640 with an exposed hammer.

If anything you need to add a 4 inch K frame if concealed carry is not in the cards. (Model 10, 15, 19, 64, 65, 66)

See if the range has a K frame to rent. Maybe borrow one from a friend or family member.

Hope you never need it. If you do, it's a good gun. I don't know what your family's experience level is, but most find the j frame snubs a little tough to master, when you get on the range.

If your girls have difficulty with it, consider a medium frame .38 Special revolver with a four inch barrel. A Smith and Wesson Model 64 is a good example of the breed. Simple. Fixed sights. A good gun to learn on. Much easier to shoot then the 2 inch snub. Better ballistic performance. A home gun doesn't have to be kept concealed, so no down side going to a bigger gun. They're easier to handle, truly. Six shots, too.




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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

Good advice. The guy at the shop may have had, or may not have had, extensive shooting experience. He may just be suggesting what he likes. Or, he may be suggesting what the store is actively pushing because of incentives (called SPIFFs). A day or two at the range renting different revolvers should school your girls in what they both need and like.

I have been the salesman at the LGS a couple of times in my life and I have seen too many husbands/boyfriends/fathers tell their wives/girlfriends/daughters what to buy only to find out the recipient of the gun doesn't like it. Gun prices are solid enough these days that, if you buy something one of them ends up not liking, you can recoup your funds and buy something else. Or just add it to your own collection.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

This thread is over 3 years old and the OP made his choice and hasn't posted again since.

Doh! That's what I get for responding to a thread that has been open on my browser for several days.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

Good choice. Since it's for home defense and not everyday carry, the 640's weight will be a benefit.

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NRA Life Member

between the two choices presented..............model 640 easier to handle and less recoil.

if you are looking for a revolver for the two women to use for home defense, also consider a S&W model 64 "K" frame, 2,3,or 4 inch barrel, which will reduce the felt recoil even more.

a 148gr DEWC (@ about 800 fps) and a S&W model 64 will be a good home defense combination.

There is nothing wrong with a 640. My 640-1 is what I usually leave for my wife when I am away. She likes that it can fit into a pocket when she goes outside and its not a burden to keep with her instead of in a drawer or table. She shoots it pretty well at house distances. A snub can be tougher to take away from a person that a revolver with a longer barrel and is useful for getting somebody off you at grappling distance. You made a better choice than the 642. There is also a Winchester 97 12ga with a 18 inch barrel loaded with #4 buckshot available to her too. As others have said, learning to use the tool well is more important than the exact type of tool.

[QUOTE=Frizzman;136825267]There is nothing wrong with a 640. ... A snub can be tougher to take away from a person that a revolver with a longer barrel and is useful for getting somebody off you at grappling distance. ....QUOTE]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, too, that it would be harder to take away from me because there is less barrel to grab.

Thank you.
Suzie

I have both. The 640 is prettier, and the 642 is lighter and easier to carry. I can't tell all that much difference in recoil. My wife insists on a hammer for whatever reason, and happily carries a model 37. I will tell you that a pair of rubber Hogue grips made a world of difference in her shooting as far as comfort and accuracy.

Just went through this with a small 70 year-old lady. We tried her on several guns, but the only revolver we had available was a Model 60 (2" barrel, exposed hammer, stainless J-frame). Kicked pretty hard for her hands (which damage easily). So, off to the gun shops. I thought a K-frame 4" would be perfect, but they were a little too large. "Perfect" turned out to be a used 3" barreled Ruger SP101 in .357 (but it will only be shot with .38's). For our newer members, this is Ruger's take on a compact 5-shot revolver. Chunky weight (much heavier than the usual J-frame), rubber grips that fit her hands, it's a good home defense weapon for her. Hornady Critical Defense 110gr +P's in the gun. She's very smart, and has thought everything through, so I'm confident she'll be fine.

The Ruger SP101 is an excellent choice as well. Had I not found a pre lock 640-1 I would have gone with the SP101.

Susie Homemaker the Ruger SP101 is a common range rental gun and readily available for sale in most gun shops. It can be had in 2.5 inch and 3 inch barrels too. Were I you I would give it serious consideration.......should you be unable to locate a nice pre lock 640-1.

The SP101 has very nice rubber grips which soak up recoil very well. Stoke it with Speer 135 grain short barrel 38+P and you are "good to go". Good luck with your search! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Thank you, 18DAI, I took a look at one on Ruger's website and am definitely interested and will shoot it if it's available. I couldn't tell from looking at the ad, but since you like it, I surmise that it does not have an internal lock ???? If it does not have an internal lock, I believe I'd rather have a new SP101 than an pre-lock 640-1 that some stranger has mauled.

Also in reviewing the website, I noticed that the KSP-321 (357) and KSP 821X (38 Spl +P) are the same price. I'm just wondering, if there are the same price, why would anyone go with the 38 over the 357? Is there any criterion, other than weight, that would make the 38 a better choice than the 357?

The Ruger SP101 does have its own version of the internal lock, but it's a different mechanism and relatively hidden from view. The gun has a well-earned loyal following and I've never encountered serious complaints about Ruger's approach to the lock or the revolver in general. I would definitely keep it on the list of possible purchases -- it's a good one. The trigger pull tends to be not quite as smooth as a S&W, but time or a good gunsmith can easily remedy that, and overall they're a bit blockier and heavier compared to the J-frames. In return you get a tough, durable and reliable shooter that absorbs a lot of recoil.

Good question on why someone would select .38 over .357 in the same model when, according to Ruger's website, weight, dimension and price are all the same.

It's puzzling and all I can imagine is: a) some might feel that the slightly shorter .38 cylinder yields better overall balance in the SP101; or b) they subscribe to the controversial notion that bullet jump from shooting .38 out of a .357 cylinder may adversely affect accuracy.

The bullet jump controversy. | Revolvers, Ammunition | GrantCunningham.com

The Ruger SP101s do not have an internal lock.

Some folks prefer a 38 Special versus a 357. Don't understand the reasoning as I think the 357 gives more versatility by giving the choice to shoot 38 Special, +P, or 357 Magnum. Either the 2.25" or 3" barrel are great choices. For now, I prefer the 2.25" barrel for CCW.

IMO, the SP101s are great shooters, although not the lightest, but easy to carry in a good inside (the)-waist-band (IWB) holster (I prefer a DeSantis IWB holster), in a fanny pack, backpack, purse, etc. The original grips are easy to have a firm purchase (easy to hold), the grip panels can be changed, and Crimson Trace or Hogue mono grips can be easily installed.

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USAF Retired

Apologies -- you are absolutely correct: the SP101 does not have an internal lock. Several other Ruger handguns do, but not the SP101. Thank you for the correction.

Completely agreed on the .357 capability option; I don't like .357 in a small frame revolver (although the heft of the SP101 certainly helps compared to an Airweight, or worse, and Airlite), but having the .357/.38 capability is a no-brainer for flexibility's sake.

Probably not an issue unless you shoot a lot, but I don't like shooting tons of 38 special ammo in my 357's. the shorter 38's tend to fill the longer 357 chambers with lead/fouling. This makes cleaning a bit more of a chore and could actually make chambering the longer 357 mag. case a problem if you were lazy and didn't scrub the cylinder out. Some say it can even flame etch the cylinder walls, but I don't remember ever seeing a cylinder etched.

Thank you, Darkenfast

My wife bought a 642CT. She had a snubby of some other brand before that she gave to her daughter. The j-frame is the only gun she has experienced with and wanted another snubby (she named it "Smitty"). She has gotten her carry permit and practices fairly regularly. She enjoys it. She won't even try my K-38 which she thinks is too big and loud. Obviously it would be easier to shoot with the same ammo... I give her light recoil reloads but she does very well with full power factory ammo also. The laser is a big plus for her. She has shot some imressive targets - all slow fire which isn't very realistic for a self defense situation but it gives her confidence. The gun was almost new and we got it for a good price. All around a very good choice for her.

Suzie-
If you are in Shreveport, LA, Clark's has a shop in Bosier City and a range in (I forget the name of the little town) near by. You can probably try out anything you want. I bought a Springfield 45 and had Mr. Clark accurize it over 20 years ago. It is still shooting well. Mr. Clark has passed on but his outfit is still there. It is worth checking out.

Or, you can get a 649-3 357 mag, does everything the other guns do and also has the single action option.

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Sure you did

Thank you, MShamburger

I'm age 80 my wife is 70. I'm 5'8",164# and my wife is 5'6", 118#. That's our physical background.
We own the three revolvers listed above. The 642ct & 640 are 5 shot J-frames with <2" barrels and the 686+ is a 7 shot w/4" barrel. We use only .38 caliber ammunition for both practice & carry.
The 642 is "never" pleasant to shoot and two cylinders (10 shots) is enough for either of us. The 640 eats a box of 50 shared by the two of us and is my daily carry gun. With the 686 we can fire 50-100 rounds each with no real problems.
Accuracy improves going "up-the-line" from the 642>640>686. Weight and barrel length very-much improve our accuracy. (Both the 640 & 686 can handle .357 ammunition but we don't enjoy them. I prefer using the .357 in my Marlin 1884C lever action.)

Bottom line: 686-4"= house gun, 640-2"=carry, 642ct-2"=backup carry and nightstand backup.

I would recommend the 640 over the 642 for your stated use and users. I have a 642CT and it is nicely light to carry and recoils nicely (alot), and deadly accurate with laser. So I think you should consider two important things in making your selection (especially for your intended users):

1. Consider having single/double action capability (although rules out these two). Sometimes in a stressful situation, pulling double action will throw your point of aim WAY off. Single action is easier to control.

2. Strongly consider a laser, i.e., Crimson Trace Grips w/light. In the dark and/or stressful situation, you KNOW where your bullet is headed with the little red pointer. The CT grips are rubber, a little bigger and can better absorb recoil - killing two or three birds with one stone.

Bud's gun shop has police trade in S&W model 10's, 4" barrel, 6 shot, for $269 with free shipping. They had them in stock yesterday. They do sell out quickly, but they get more in, in a few weeks at the most.
This is the way to go.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...sp+Square+Butt

Howdy:

IMHO-the "obvious" choice for a home defense revolver is the S&W Pro Series 640 (Model 640 SKU #: 178044) adorned with CT-grips!! This is an ideal weapon for your daughter/wife. Double action ONLY- Barrel 2.125-SIGHTS-"Hammerless" (hammer covered by frame) thus no breathe on trigger discharges when under stress! THE CHOICE!!

Tough Guy Levi
NRA Certified Pistol Inst.
NRA Range Safety Office
Orange, CA

What does "no breathe on trigger discharge" mean?

Thanks,
Suzie

With an enclosed hammer, like on the 640 Pro and 642 you're considering, there's no single-action capability (whereas having an exposed hammer allows you to cock the gun). Single action requires less pressure to fire compared to double action, hence "breath on trigger discharge" in reference to single action firing. (It isn't quite that terrifyingly easy to ignite, unless the gun has been modified or isn't working properly.)

Oh. I see. Thank you.

Stay-at-home house guns:
Benelli Shotguns | Benelli M2 Tactical
or
Tactical Shotguns - Remington Tactical Shotguns

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60-10,640-1,G30,G41MOS,1911

My wife carries the Model 60 - perfect size and weight for her. Easy to conceal and fun to shoot.

I have a 642 and 640 and other j frames. My wife doesn't like any of them. I have tried to get her interested in a revolver to no avail. She loves her 380s and 9mms She can shoot any gun I own well... She just doesnt like them. My answer to you is let her pick the "gun" she is most comfortable with. It may not even be a S&W. Mine carries a sig P238 or a colt 380 pocket lite or a Bersa Thunder 380. Go figure? But let them shoot what they like. I personally don't like the Sig 238. I can't hit anything with it... She loves it. She really likes my junkiest S&W the 910. But not as a carry, as a house gun. It's a real beater and she loves to take it to the range.

** Update: I just added the 649-3 I picked up last week. WE took it to the range last night and I loved it. The trigger in DA was very smooth. maybe because it is a 12 year old gun that has been broken in. MY wife tried it and was pleasantly surprised how smooth and easy it was to shoot even in DA. SO there are alsway exceptions.

Also to answer Suzzie Homemaker's question about grips: All J frame round butt grips will fit any caliber that is also a round but. Same goes for square butts.
The only exception is some very early 1950-1953 Baby Chief Special grips that were a little smaller.

640 PRO with SW RB Combat Stocks



640 Pro with CT grips


642


649-3 357 magnum Double or Single Action

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