940 9mm Centennial

pbramlett · Oct 13, 2021

I love J frames. The hunt is almost as much fun as ownership. So is the learning about the gun in research etc. so while I’m hunting for a 940 to call my own I’d love to hear about your experiences with them. What’s the recoil like? What did you like or dislike about the 940? Share photos if you like. Let’s hear it all!

S-W4EVER · Oct 13, 2021

I bought mine when they were first introduced to use as a backup weapon to my service pistol. Firing 9mm in a J Frame will give you a whole new respect for 9mm as it kicks more than a .38 Special. The cases stick in the chambers when the firearm gets hot. Still have it though and I have no plans to sell.

colt_saa · Oct 13, 2021

I love 940s, I actually love all J-Frame Centennials

I got my first 940 just about a quarter of a century ago. I almost always carried them with standard 9MM ammunition. Pictured above is the Winchester Ranger 127 +P+ load. This ammunition is still being offered today

Then I came upon a shooter that had rechambered his 940 for 38 SUPER. What a great idea. I ordered a finishing reamer and opened the two I now had for the longer cartridge.

Remember that Smith & Wesson revolvers designed to fire auto loading (rimless) cartridges are designed to head space on the moon clip. This means that any of the shorter members of that cartridge family can be chambered and fired. So just like you can fire 380 ACP in a standard 940, my 38 SUPER 940s could still chamber and fire the shorter 9x21, 9MM Parabellum and 380 ACP cartridges

Then I started shooting the 356TSW cartridge.

Smith & Wesson made 300 PC 940 Specials chambered in 356TSW. So I switched to carrying one.

Designed in 1992, the 356TSW has the same Cartridge OverAll Length as a 9MM Parabellum, but operates at 50,000 PSI as opposed to the 9MM's 35,000 PSI. This gives the 356TSW considerably more velocity than a 9MM. The 356TSW case is longer to avoid accidental cambering in a 9MM firearm

We are talking about 357 Magnum 125 JHP performance in a moon clip enabled J-frame. I was hooked. When the PC 940 Specials were built, the J-Magnum did not yet exist. In fact it was little tweaks that the Performance Center made to the Centennial frame design that became the J-Magnum in 1996

When talking recoil in a J-frame, 9MM is hardly any different than 38 Special +P or perhaps the +P+. 356TSW is on par with the 357 Magnum

BTW, many folks do not realize that the 9MM 940 was offered in both the original 2" barrel (actually 1 7/8") as well as a 3" barrel. We seldom see examples of the 3" revolvers. I have a 3" barrel on hand, just never got around to changing out one of my 940s

326MOD10 · Oct 13, 2021

Picked mine up about 7 or so years ago because like you, I just wanted one.

The recoil is zippy for sure. Put the Pachs on to dampen some of that.

Have since picked up a pair of Culina J Frame grips for her but haven't switched them out yet.

Have also looked for the elusive 3 inch model but so far no luck.

The cases can stick but if you use top shelf ammo it lessens the sticking.

S-W4EVER · Oct 13, 2021

The Centennials are the ideal CCW for me but I really have no desire to carry one loaded with more potent ammo than 9mm Parabellum. My 340PD is loaded with .38 Special, same ammo as my 442-2.

jaymoore · Oct 14, 2021

I've run a lot of +P+ 9mm ammo through one of mine over the past 20+ years. Can't tell a whole lot of difference in recoil between those and .357s in a J frame (lightweight), velocities chronograph about the same but muzzle flash is rather less.

Regular 9mm ammo is not so abusive on the hand. .380s are a hoot.

pbramlett · Oct 14, 2021

colt_saa said:
I love 940s, I actually love all J-Frame Centennials

I got my first 940 just about a quarter of a century ago. I almost always carried them with standard 9MM ammunition. Pictured above is the Winchester Ranger 127 +P+ load. This ammunition is still being offered today

Then I came upon a shooter that had rechambered his 940 for 38 SUPER. What a great idea. I ordered a finishing reamer and opened the two I now had for the longer cartridge.

Remember that Smith & Wesson revolvers designed to fire auto loading (rimless) cartridges are designed to head space on the moon clip. This means that any of the shorter members of that cartridge family can be chambered and fired. So just like you can fire 380 ACP in a standard 940, my 38 SUPER 940s could still chamber and fire the shorter 9x21, 9MM Parabellum and 380 ACP cartridges

Then I started shooting the 356TSW cartridge.

Smith & Wesson made 300 PC 940 Specials chambered in 356TSW. So I switched to carrying one.

Designed in 1992, the 356TSW has the same Cartridge OverAll Length as a 9MM Parabellum, but operates at 50,000 PSI as opposed to the 9MM's 35,000 PSI. This gives the 356TSW considerably more velocity than a 9MM. The 356TSW case is longer to avoid accidental cambering in a 9MM firearm

We are talking about 357 Magnum 125 JHP performance in a moon clip enabled J-frame. I was hooked. When the PC 940 Specials were built, the J-Magnum did not yet exist. In fact it was little tweaks that the Performance Center made to the Centennial frame design that became the J-Magnum in 1996

When talking recoil in a J-frame, 9MM is hardly any different than 38 Special +P or perhaps the +P+. 356TSW is on par with the 357 Magnum

BTW, many folks do not realize that the 9MM 940 was offered in both the original 2" barrel (actually 1 7/8") as well as a 3" barrel. We seldom see examples of the 3" revolvers. I have a 3" barrel on hand, just never got around to changing out one of my 940s

Excellent info! Thank you so much for taking the time. This just seals my desire to get one, which normally turns into 2,3, or more.

Borderboss · Oct 14, 2021

I bought my 940-1 earlier this year. I didn't need it, but I wanted it.

The recoil isn't really that bad, probably about the same as .38 +P in the same gun. I put Hogue Bantum grips on it because it's a pocket gun for me, and it works great in that role.

I don't get cases sticking until the gun really heats up on the range, after about 50-60 rounds. Then it just takes a rap on the ejection rod and they pop right out. It's no biggie.

Mine definitely needed some trigger work, as it was a typical factory trigger, i.e. heavy. I put in a Wolff 8lb hammer spring and a Wolff 14lb trigger return spring. While I was in there, I polished up the trigger return "shoe" (not the right name, but I can't think of it right now), and gave it a good oiling inside. That took care of the issue.

Full moon clips are easy to come by. I recommend getting a loader, like the one from TK Custom (shown here). But be aware that the mandrel in the TK loader works fine for TK and Ranch Products full moon clips, but not for the original S&W moon clips. The S&W clips have a slightly smaller hole in the middle. I had to send them a clip and they made a new mandrel for about $25 IIRC. The new mandrel works for all the clips.

H Richard · Oct 14, 2021

You will notice anyone shooting a 940 normally has Pachmayer or other rubber grips, to dampen the "Sharp" recoil sensation. As a couple mentioned it doesn't seem much different than the .357 in a J Frame. Mine always bit me at the base of the thumb and I found I didn't enjoy shooting it nearly as much as several others.
Centennials are very handy as carry guns.

jcelect · Oct 14, 2021

Centennials!

Did someone say Centennials? Can I play? I like'em too!

jcelect

Borderboss · Oct 14, 2021

H Richard said:
Mine always bit me at the base of the thumb and I found I didn't enjoy shooting it nearly as much as several others.

I'm glad you mentioned this because it reminded me of something I should have mentioned. I normally shoot my revolvers with a sort-of high thumb of the strong hand, kind of on the order of how I shoot my semi-autos. With the 940, it didn't take long for the cylinder release to cut the knuckle of the thumb. I had to shoot it with a low strong-hand thumb to get the thumb away from the cylinder release.

pbramlett · Oct 14, 2021

jcelect said:
Did someone say Centennials? Can I play? I like'em too!

jcelect

Nice collection!!! I've only seen 2 nickel 642's now and you have one of them. That is neat as well.

Thanks for sharing!

pbramlett · Oct 14, 2021

Borderboss said:
I bought my 940-1 earlier this year. I didn't need it, but I wanted it.

The recoil isn't really that bad, probably about the same as .38 +P in the same gun. I put Hogue Bantum grips on it because it's a pocket gun for me, and it works great in that role.

I don't get cases sticking until the gun really heats up on the range, after about 50-60 rounds. Then it just takes a rap on the ejection rod and they pop right out. It's no biggie.

Mine definitely needed some trigger work, as it was a typical factory trigger, i.e. heavy. I put in a Wolff 8lb hammer spring and a Wolff 14lb trigger return spring. While I was in there, I polished up the trigger return "shoe" (not the right name, but I can't think of it right now), and gave it a good oiling inside. That took care of the issue.

Full moon clips are easy to come by. I recommend getting a loader, like the one from TK Custom (shown here). But be aware that the mandrel in the TK loader works fine for TK and Ranch Products full moon clips, but not for the original S&W moon clips. The S&W clips have a slightly smaller hole in the middle. I had to send them a clip and they made a new mandrel for about $25 IIRC. The new mandrel works for all the clips.

Thanks Boss. Most everything is a want and not a need for me at this point. I'm attracted to the engineering and quality of the older stuff. The newer guns and plastic guns have a place but they don't do anything for me. Thanks for the info on the moonclip tool. I have a TK custom one for my 357s and 45acp moon clips. Seems to work well.

All the best,

Rock185 · Oct 14, 2021

I acquired a 940 just a few years ago. I've tested quite a few different types of ammo in it, to include NATO, +P, +P+, etc. Mine gives sticky, sometimes very sticky, extraction with anything other than standard pressure 9mm. Recoil is greater than with any .38 Spcl. +P I've used in my 640.

I have a 3" Ruger SP101 that functions normally with even the warmest 9mm I've tested, with impressive velocities to boot. I like the 940, but if I could keep only one, it would be the 9mm SP101...

pbramlett · Oct 14, 2021

Rock185 said:
I acquired a 940 just a few years ago. I've tested quite a few different types of ammo in it, to include NATO, +P, +P+, etc. Mine gives sticky, sometimes very sticky, extraction with anything other than standard pressure 9mm. Recoil is greater than with any .38 Spcl. +P I've used in my 640.

I have a 3" Ruger SP101 that functions normally with even the warmest 9mm I've tested, with impressive velocities to boot. I like the 940, but if I could keep only one, it would be the 9mm SP101...

I've never had an SP101. Just haven't gotten around to it yet i guess. They get rave reviews from people here and there. Thanks for the info

jjmIII_Ruger · Oct 14, 2021

Borderboss said:
Mine definitely needed some trigger work, as it was a typical factory trigger, i.e. heavy. I put in a Wolff 8lb hammer spring and a Wolff 14lb trigger return spring. While I was in there, I polished up the trigger return "shoe" (not the right name, but I can't think of it right now), and gave it a good oiling inside. That took care of the issue.

Apex sells a nice spring kit with new firing pin.
Most polish the "rebound slide".

pbramlett said:
I've never had an SP101. Just haven't gotten around to it yet i guess. They get rave reviews from people here and there. Thanks for the info

That is the SP drawback. HEAVY trigger that is not easily solved. I sent one to Gemini Customs and trigger is better, but no S&W by any stretch.

Borderboss · Oct 14, 2021

jjmIII_Ruger said:
Most polish the "rebound slide".

That's it!! I had a brain cramp. Thanks!

WCCPHD · Oct 14, 2021

I love my Model 940. I qualified with it and carried it for several years. I never found it to be "snappy" or too much recoil. That said, I qualified with and carried a 342ti with .38+P for years. The 940 does not compare with the recoil of that one.

The reason I stopped carrying it is I bought a Sig P365. Same caliber, same size and more than double the capacity. That said, the 940 will be the last S&W I get rid of.

This is why I made the decision:

Borderboss · Oct 14, 2021

WCCPHD said:
I love my Model 940. I qualified with it and carried it for several years. I never found it to be "snappy" or too much recoil. That said, I qualified with and carried a 342ti with .38+P for years. The 940 does not compare with the recoil of that one.

The reason I stopped carrying it is I bought a Sig P365. Same caliber, same size and more than double the capacity. That said, the 940 will be the last S&W I get rid of.

This is why I made the decision:

I stopped carrying my Kahr PM9 for the 940. The Kahr is lighter and holds two rounds more. But that's not why I did it. I just like the 940. Yeah, it may be less practical, but I like it.

Smolt Smython · Oct 14, 2021

I rarely post but I had to respond to this...Lol
I bought my uncommon 3" Model 940 back in the 1990's. It has Jim Badger "Boot Grips" and is carried in a Milt Sparks "Summer Special" IWB holster. This particular gun is a real odd ball because I can rest it over a sandbag on the bench and with careful, deliberate shooting, put 5 shots into one big ragged hole at 15 yards, and do it WITH ANY AND ALL types of ammo that I have tried. Also I can load the cylinder with five different brands/types/bullet weights and again, one big ragged hole with careful shooting. I wish all my revolvers exhibited this trait....
I have no doubt that I could buy 20 more 940s and none of them would do this...
Over the chronograph it shoots equal bullet weights at the same velocity as the same weight bullet in .357 from a 2" barrel Smith J Frame.
I assume that the 9MM is more efficient in the 3" barrel and the .357 is spewing out excessive propellant as muzzle blast.
I notice no sharp or excessive recoil from the 940 and I have never had empties stick in the cylinder.

940 9mm Centennial

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