The Smith 640 Pro

Now let me start off that in true Smith fashion I had to send it back due to some horrible tooling marks in the throats of the cylinders.

But I just got it back this week. To give them a little credit this thing is a winner!

Took it to the range with some 158gr loads that were pumped up to +P and some really heavy 38/44 copy Ive been loading.

The 158 +P stuff in my 642 is pretty brutal on the shooters hand. But with the little extra weight and real sights this thing shot amazing.

Even the heavy 38/44 loads werent as bad as I thought they would be. Had some pretty good muzzle flip but wasnt too harsh on the hand.

Accuracy was astounding at 7 yards. Honestly much more accurate than I figured it would be. Very easy to shoot a cylinder and have all the rounds touching each other.

Ive been debating on what Im going to carry in it. But I think with how well I shot the +P loads that I will just use those.

This gun absolutely disappears when wearing it in a enigma holster. Really handy for work when I have meetings with customers and such and need no telltale signs that Im carrying with a tucked in shirt.

Pretty lame I had to send it immediately back for poor quality control. But boy this little J frame is a sweetheart and worth the wait!

I'm rarely without my trusty vintage Model 49. Love the humpback "J" frames!

Good looking revolver. I like the sights.

For what I use a snubby for, the 442 fills the role.

When I carry a J-Frame, it's usually a 3" Model 60, so I vote for that!

Congrats on your wheelgun.

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Because of the metric system?

I like all J-frames but my all time favorite model is the 649, 638 humpback.

I've been looking at those for years and have asked several folks on here about them over time. I then found out about the 642, 442UC and the 632, 432UC and studied up on them. I ultimately purchased the 432UC. I think it's the best thought out and executed snub offering to date.

I like my 3-inch 'Jovino' Model 60. Had it for years, and it just fits and feels fine.

I third the 3" model 60-4. great little gun.

Al

The J frames are as mechanically capable of good accuracy as any other platform. The reason most of us mere mortals don't shoot them as well as a K38 for example is ergonomics. I have one J frame that I rarely use, but I am big enough and dress casually enough that I can carry something bigger and easier to shoot well, so I do.

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NHI, 10-8.

I think the best carry J-frame is an Airweight that exactly matches the steel one you can stand to practice with.

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

I am in the humpback camp. My "in town" gun is a 649 "no dash". I have a 640 Pro and it had to go back. It's nice to shoot but IMHO is a little heavy for pocket carry.

640-1 police trade in for .357 Magnum loads works in tight places for me.
Cheap and very broken in double action trigger.
I carry others for different occasions, but you said J frame.

I carry a 642 .38 daily for the last 20+ years, sometimes a 638

Like these?





Yes, yes, those are hot pink Hogues on that M638. And they did not help with recoil. And it is not in the stable anymore, anyway.....

I've been pocket carrying that M649 for many years and I sometimes carry it IWB or OWB and IT IS THE BEST J-frame hands down. All steel, weight being irrelevant - seriously, 23 ounces versus 14 ounces, what grown man will notice that and those extra ounces make the little gun so much more shootable. Shrouded hammer that doesn't snag - it is the absolute epitome of "everything you need, nothing you don't:!!!!

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Come and take it!!

I don't have the 640-1 Pro Series as it is a current production model and as you experienced, it had to return to the mothership. I do have several late 90s 640-1 357magnum Centennials. One of those is in my EDC rotation along with a 340PD, 649-3 "Humpback", Model 38 Humpback Airweight, and 360PD.

The Centennial is my most often carried J frame, followed by the humpbacks. Awesome firearms.

The only "pro series" i have is the 327 federal mag 632 Centennial. That one is about as perfect as i've ever seen and I got it as a new old stock firearm.

I'm glad that you have your 640-1 Pro sorted after a visit home. Enjoy it in good health.

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Thanks,

Patrick

Mine wears some CTC grips that not only provide the laser but are very forgiving to shoot.

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Pass it on.
Mark

The sights make the difference! Having said that, I've always favored the 3" j frames. They are so much easier to shoot accurately than the 2" versions.

Whatever J-Frame you happen to own!

I use to carry a 342, but arthritis in hands got to me. Now I carry a 60 most of the time. I also have a 30-1, that the chambers have been reamed to .32 H&R Magnum.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

A thought just occurred to me. Could one "frankengun" a model 49 with a model 30 barrel and Cylinder (reamed to .32 magnum) for a .32 6 shot humpback?

OZ

BE Mike, how does that 3" fit into your pocket in a pocket holster? I always wondered about that.

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Come and take it!!

Why, just get a Model 30-1 and dehorn it after reaming the chambers.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

It’s really hard to decide between the 640 pro and newer ultimate carry.

I've been carrying a 640 for over 8 years now. It fits me well. My carry load is the Speer Short Barrel 135 grain .357 Gold Dots. The weight of the 640 keeps the shots manageable. Mine has a wonderful trigger. I agree with the OP.

This 640-1 Pro has been my EDC for the last couple of years. Normally carried IWB in a Milt Sparks VMII.

Replaced my 66-4 snub and Kimber Ultra Carry. (Both of which I still have and regularly shoot)

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I have 2 alloy framed 32 mags and a couple model 30s reamed to 32 mag. I prefer them over any of my 38 J frames alloy or steel
The pinto hammer less was a 642 38 +P before I fit it with a J frame 32 mag cylinder in and a 32 barrel.

To pick a nit, you didn't have to send it back for poor quality control.

Had you been to Problem Solving School, you would have recalled the very first thing that was beaten into your head---that is, to make sure you know what the REAL problem is---lest you spend valuable resources trying to solve symptoms or apparent problems.

In this case, and having been to Problem Solving School more than once, let me suggest poor quality control is merely a symptom of the REAL problem---------that of a changing philosophy---from We will be successful if we build the best possible product for the price, to We will be successful if we build the product for the lowest possible cost.

Now this change didn't happen overnight, and when it started is rightfully a matter of opinion. My opinion is it started 60+ years ago, when the "4 screw" hand ejectors came along. We'll likely be hard pressed to find anybody who had a conniption fit over that, but then again we won't be hard pressed see the cost reduction accompanying it.

That goes like this: We got rid of the need for one little screw(and its hole) and all it cost was a redesigned sideplate which eliminated the need for the screw and its hole. So how much did we reduce our cost---times the number of affected hand ejector revolvers produced thereafter----an insignificant amount---or A BUNCH---and nobody fussed about it. That's pretty cool------what's next---and what comes after that----and-------

Methinks a casual observer of our ongoing fussing and fuming about this and that will see the handwriting on the wall!!

Ralph Tremaine---a Problem Solving Student---and subsequently a practitioner

The heavy weight J's have always been the best for me to shoot well. I shoot my mdl 36 and mdl 60 a bit better than my mdl 38, and a lot better than my 637. Heaviest J's to lightest J's.

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Heavily armed old man.

I have said more than once that the Model 640 is the best-all-around personal defense weapon ever made.

I prefer the original iteration, though.

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Mark Lathem

My first choice.


enjoy,
bdGreen

Tap on image to enlarge.

I like the lightweight J-Frames for carry. I like my 3 inch heavier 36 for shooting. I only have a few, but I’m always on the lookout for more.

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Two Handguns every day

My 642IMG_0099.jpg

I have only one J-frame, an early production 640-1. There are times that a lighter J-frame would be a little more comfortable, but I don't have to worry about the stainless steel J-frame cracking and ruining my day. Full power 357 Magnum loads are a real handful when shooting, but 38 Special +P is actually pretty pleasant. Accuracy? Mine is quite accurate, even with me aiming and pulling the trigger. I can usually keep all shots on a 9 inch paper plate at 25 yards from a two-hand hold, standing position. That's more than accurate enough considering the short sight radius, small stocks, and the somewhat heavy double action only trigger.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I've always carried 3" J frames in shoulder or OWB holsters.

Oscar Zulu: "A thought just occurred to me. Could one "frankengun" a model 49 with a model 30 barrel and Cylinder (reamed to .32 magnum) for a .32 6 shot humpback?"
Do you mean like these?
The 649 is a .32 magnum and the 49 is a 3" 32 SWL.

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The best J frame to carry is the one closest to you when you really need it. Lately for me it’s been a 1989 37-1 Airweight with a bobbed hammer.

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Some Might Say.

I am messing around with a couple J frame model 36 no dashes. It isn't hard to fit them with a regular J frame 32 S&W long cylinder which are easy to ream to 32 H&R mag

But, what I want to do is install a steel 32 H&R cylinder from a magnum J frame, reamed to 327 mag and have a steel 327 mag J frame. The cylinder being a bit to long isn't a problem as I could machine it off enough to fit and get a decent gap while still having enough length for a 327 mag, But the yokes both in length and diameter are a bit different between the mag frame and the regular frame. It will take some fiddling, but it is going to work.

I tried a 32 mag J frame cylinder reamed to 327 mag in a alloy 642 frame and the recoil was such that the ability to recover for the second shot suffered to much to suit me. Snappy squared

I am not recoil sensitive, I regular shoot my 2 snub 325s with 45 acp+P ammo and even have one set up to fire 45 colts. But between the fact that as an alloy J frame 327 it doesn't weigh anything coupled with the small grips, it has what I would call SUDDEN recoil. while not painful it does make it tough to control and get back on target. As smaller lighter bullets get more velocity so do smaller lighter frames. Different than say my bigger guns shooting heavy bullets

I may be old school, but I like model 37.

It comes both in a 2" and 3" version.

And both have square butts that fit my hand better than round butt j frames.

I always carried a K frame revolver under sportscoat. When I started as a cop (before cell phones) we were expected to take action if a crime was in progress.

Of course if you had a good Chief he may approve a .45 ACP for off duty carry. I did for many years and once again I wore a sportscoat.

With OWB you never considered going with a K frame?

When I was on Light Duty due to back surgery I carried a S&W 1917 (Brazilian Contract) in a shoulder holster.

My dilemma this week was to chose between a 442UC and the 640 Pro. Both are fine revolvers (the UC revolvers are a nice refinement of the older models). I picked the 640 Pro so that I would/could shoot it more often. The sights on these guns can improve accuracy, which is important with only five rounds!

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S&W Rover

Your 640 PRO would be nice with a companion that has three inch’s of barrel and full length extractor rod.

I don't believe there is any such thing as the best J frame for carrying. There is only everyone's opinion regarding best carry J frame for themselves. The best for me (thus far) is my 360PD. I love the light 11.3 oz
(empty) for easy carry, less love for range day practice to maintain reasonable accuracy. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it works for me, and that is what counts.

One of these two. Depends on my mood. Model 49 and Model 36.

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Rule of law, not a man.

Super jealous of these 632 pros. Grail gun for me, but price has gone into the stratosphere.

No. I really like my S&W 60-10. When I carried a J frame in a shoulder holster, it was a 3" nickel plated model 36. I didn't own a K frame at the time, so there was no choice. I eventually traded it off for a Colt Satin Commander in a Roy Baker pancake. In hindsight, I would probably have been better off sticking with the 3" J.

It was one I had been after for several years as well. One of my LGS buddies called and said they had just found it and asked if i wanted it. I agreed sight unseen and went to pick it up. It was as new in the box. On the way there I figured it would be high, but to my surprise it was more than reasonable and I left very happy. Since I only have the one at this time, I’m not carrying it or shooting it often. Hopefully, I’ll come up with another one at some point. I have plenty of ther J Frames to keep me busy.

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Thanks,

Patrick

My EDC is either a pre-lock 442 Pro or no-lock 340PD in a pocket holster.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

My daily carry J. I also have a 3" 60-4 that's my woods-walking gun. I would add an alloy frame shrouded J if I come across a good deal on one.

*
Attire makes a huge difference. Almost all of my work duties involve sitting in my office and being a nerd. I rarely go to court, maybe three times a year, and for that I keep a coat and all my ties in my office. This is a relatively rural county and so attire is generally based on work function, and I have known the judges for years and they don't object to cargo pants and running shoes with my coat and tie.

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NHI, 10-8.

The "Nearly Perfect" J is the one I pictured below I modified for the wife...

I have a pair of Vintage J's, M36's with the same Tyler-T's and Magna's but they have exposed hammers which I don't mind... I carry them simultaneously with 2 speed strips and UnderWood's 150gr Hard Casts pills...

Wife's Carry


My Carries

I own one. Good J Frame!

I also got a 340 M&P to compliment it, and it does wonders for pocket carry.

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Go ahead... make my day.