640 Pro(#178044) or Kimber K6s?

ron4735 · Jan 25, 2019

I own a 642 revolver & 9mm Shield. Have only dry fired these revolvers & reviewed their Mfr. specs. Like the trigger on Kimber better but it has no "track record" of use or repairs. Has anyone owned these revolvers? All comments appreciated. Thanks in advance to all who respond!

hotshot357 · Jan 25, 2019

I will give "two thumbs up" on the 640 Pro Series. It is my everyday carry piece. The only problem with the revolver was it "suffered" from a long ratchet which was fixed by my gunsmith along with a deluxe action job. It now has a 10 llb. trigger pull and is smooth as "snot on a brass door knob!!!! I put a set of "Pach's" on it and I can shoot full house mags all day long. If you get one you won't be sorry!!!

ShivasIrons · Jan 25, 2019

Depends on what you are going to do with it in my opinion. They are both good revolvers. For OWB carry may as well go with the Kimber and get an extra round. For IWB the S&W is a touch more Compact.

Well Armed · Jan 25, 2019

I made a few 640 vs K6s thread myself before I ordered by 640 Pro. The general consensus from those who responded was that the K6s was nicer and had the better trigger. I still purchased the S&W because of the 3 night sights, hundreds of dollars cheaper price tag, forged frame instead of the cases frame of the K6s, and because I just always wanted one... I just like the looks of the gun....

I still plan on getting a Kimber. The new K6s DA/SA 3" will be my next purchase... If you plan on eventually getting both, I'd get the Smith first.

Sawfish · Jan 25, 2019

There are a number of J-Frame variations from the Performance Center that are cut for moon clips. My only experience with moon clips is in the old New Service revolvers. Do these skus require the use of moon clips or can they be used without them.

hyena · Jan 25, 2019

I have owned a 642-1 for a long time. I like carrying it, but don't shoot it as well as I'd like. I also have a .45 Shield. Last year I bought a 640 Pro, and I love it. It has become my EDC 90% of the time. I shoot it much better than the 642. Recoil is negligible with .38 Special, and very manageable with full house .357's. I considered the Kimber, but....I really don't like Kimber. My shooting buddy had two Kimber Solo's, neither of which were dependable despite multiple trips back to the factory. Fair or not, I guess his experience has tainted my opinion of Kimber. I did seriously consider the K6S, but the 640 comes with the lifetime warranty. I love the sights on the 640. I have not used the moon clips, nor do I have plans to do so, but you never know. Finally, I got mine for $659 shipped last year, from an internet vendor who is no longer in business. The action on my 640 Pro is improving with use. I have several hundred rounds through it, and lately have been dry firing it with snap caps.

Well Armed · Jan 25, 2019

hyena said:
I have owned a 642-1 for a long time. I like carrying it, but don't shoot it as well as I'd like. I also have a .45 Shield. Last year I bought a 640 Pro, and I love it. It has become my EDC 90% of the time. I shoot it much better than the 642. Recoil is negligible with .38 Special, and very manageable with full house .357's. I considered the Kimber, but....I really don't like Kimber. My shooting buddy had two Kimber Solo's, neither of which were dependable despite multiple trips back to the factory. Fair or not, I guess his experience has tainted my opinion of Kimber. I did seriously consider the K6S, but the 640 comes with the lifetime warranty. I love the sights on the 640. I have not used the moon clips, nor do I have plans to do so, but you never know. Finally, I got mine for $659 shipped last year, from an internet vendor who is no longer in business. The action on my 640 Pro is improving with use. I have several hundred rounds through it, and lately have been dry firing it with snap caps.

I forgot about that... Kimbers only coming with a one year warranty was another big reason why I didn't choose the K6s... For a $800-$900+ new to the market revolver, I'd expect them to be confident enough to be able to offer a better warranty at least for the original owner...

hyena · Jan 25, 2019

Sawfish said:
There are a number of J-Frame variations from the Performance Center that are cut for moon clips. My only experience with moon clips is in the old New Service revolvers. Do these skus require the use of moon clips or can they be used without them.

No moon clips needed. They load and unload the same as a revolver not cut for moon clips.

Sawfish · Jan 25, 2019

hyena said:
No moon clips needed. They load and unload the same as a revolver not cut for moon clips.

Thank you very much!

Telecaster · Jan 25, 2019

I have a 640 and a 3" K6S. The 640 is a little easier to carry, but the K6S is better to me in every way. Better sights, better trigger, better capacity. I can hit about equal accuracy with both, but the K6S is easier to shoot well. The only reason I haven't been carrying the K6S is that until today I didn't care for the smooth wood grip. I just got a Hogue G10 grip that's similar to the S&W rubber grip and I think I'm going to like it a lot.

Adk.IBO · Jan 25, 2019

I wanted a 640 Pro for several years and had one on order locally for 2 years. I never have seen one in the flesh. Discouraged and leary from stories here of a few problems I gave up and bought a used 649-3 (no lock) off gunbroker. All I feared about a 640Pro came to fruition with my used humpback. I sent it to S&W repair/ Pro Shop for repairs, polishing and a trigger job. It came back an absolutely fantastic revolver. I installed an XS small dot front sight and a Crimson Trace green laser and I’ll have this one for the duration... Comfortable, smooth DA, light SA trigger, shoots way better than me, 38s or 357s, conceals well in my Kangaroo Carry holster. No need for either the OP is trying to decide over but I might lean to the Kimber, I have held one. Still have never seen a 640Pro.

Jeff97223 · Jan 25, 2019

Sawfish said:
There are a number of J-Frame variations from the Performance Center that are cut for moon clips. My only experience with moon clips is in the old New Service revolvers. Do these skus require the use of moon clips or can they be used without them.

I called the factory and they said moon clips are not required. You can shoot without them.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

CH4 · Jan 25, 2019

Spg007 said:
Telecaster i just got the houge G10 grip for my k6s, the extra soace for the pinky finger made the world of difference in handling it.

While at SHOT I discovered Hogue and VZ make grips that are much wider across the top (ears), giving more surface area to the web of the shooter’s hand for increased comfort. Kimber failed miserably in that respect to their grips. FWIW, of the two mentioned I carry a 640-1 Pro.

michpatriot · Jan 25, 2019

SloppyK6

I recently had the chance to hold and inspect a new un fired Kimber K6, they look nice but I was astounded at the lack of quality control. The cylinder when grasped while closed literally rocked side to side like a joystick, and I'm not referring to the slop in the cylinder locking this was side to side and vertical slop. The cylinder had excessive end play that was enough to visibly see in the gap almost enough with foreword pressure to have the forcing cone contact the cylinder. I would venture a guess this revolver I handled would spit jacket violently and far. The counter gun guy that handed the revolver to me watched with interest at my inspection of the K6 and before I even said what I found he commented on how little faith he had in Kimber revolvers. You couldn't have paid me to shoot full power magnums out of that revolver with a leather glove.

two-bit cowboy · Jan 25, 2019

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

I have no experience with the Kimber. I sure like my 640 Pro, though.

The keys were the right grips for my XXL paw and the right ammo. I went with Karl Nill grips for the Centennial, and I tried seven types of ammo from plain vanilla .38s to .38 +P to .357, then I picked the one I shot the best as my carry ammo, a lead-free Barnes 140gr HP .357.

It's my woods gun, and the tritium sights make it super easy to find on the nightstand.

This is not a consideration for a personal protection revolver, but it's certainly the best looking one on the market.

Best of luck with your decision.

H Richard · Jan 26, 2019

I have handled the Kimber and own the S&W, 640, 940, 40. These are all steel guns, not the alloy. Even so they are lighter than the Kimber. The Kimber has a good trigger, but my S&W's (with a little tune up) are better. I prefer the lighter, smoother S&W's especially for the difference in price. My opinion of all Kimbers are nice guns but about 25% overpriced.

L-2 · Jan 26, 2019

I bought the 640 Pro, prior to the K6S being available. Even though I do think about a K6S, my concerns/considerations are:

-The price of my 640 Pro ($700-$800) is less than the K6S model I'd want, which are either the TLE or DC models ($1100-$1200).

-I'd only gain one more round when fully loaded.

-I shoot a lot and many of my guns have broken from use. I've heard of a couple of K6S guns with broken firing pins (of course this is internet rumor/posts I've read).

For now, I'll stay with what I've got. If I was seriously in need of a new carry revolver right now, I might try a K6S. I'd keep enough money in the bank just in case it broke and I needed to buy something else right away, however. This is pretty much any gun I'd buy now, as I've got plenty of guns now, on which to rely, should any one-gun break down.

M29since14 · Jan 26, 2019

I realize looks aren’t everything but the Kimber is certainly no beauty queen, and the 3-inch version is even...

These things look like something I’d expect to see in a kid’s video game. CNC machining gone wild! I’ll just say I was not impressed enough by the two I’ve handled to have any interest in them.

The 640 is a known quantity and a handsome little gun, in comparison. I have the older .38 Special version, which does everything I want this sort of revolver to do, but I have to admit I would like to have a 640 Pro, too. No idea why.

J-frame .357s don’t make a lot of sense.

Well Armed · Jan 27, 2019

The K6S looks good IMHO... The 3" model is ***** (I swear this has to be the most overly censored forum on the internet) because of the slant cut barrel, but the da/sa 3" looks better... If I had them both dide by side, I'd probably opt for the K6s. Like I meantioned earily, price and warranty is what turns me off... The gun is already overpriced. Then on top of that, if a firing pin or something else brakes prematurely after one year and a day, will I also have to pay for shipping to and from Kimber as well as gunsmithing cost?

Plus, the Kimber doesn't seem like much of a tank or as robust as the M640 Pro, and the M640 Pro can be had online for around $660 online. The M640 Pro is one of the very few all steel framed Smiths w/o a lock. If Smith stops making them tomorrow, prices on them will skyrocket IMHO...

Dougdug · Jan 28, 2019

I went through this same debate last year. I ended up shooting both at a local range. My conclusion was I liked the feel and was a bit more accurate with the Smith. Overall, I am very happy with the 640 Pro and saved several hundred over the Kimber.

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