640 Pro Series

[HiCap]

I tried my Pro with .357s for the first time yesterday with the Pachmayr Compac grips and had no problems at all, carpal tunnel and arthritis and all. I like the revolver so much that I'm trading my 3" model 60 for the model 60 3" Pro.

HiCap

 

[Outrider]

Good material for self defense trials....

I agree Outrider, my 640 w/boot grips was a monster w/.357.
What is it like to shoot the ultra light scandium snubbies in .357? It must be beyond brutal LOL.

You know, I've long been convinced that ultra-light .357s with bare metal backstraps might well be the best defense hand gun out there -- for a very odd reason.

One of the toughest hurdles in a legitimate self defense shooting trial is convincing a prosecutor -- or failing that -- a judge and jury -- you had no other option than to shoot your attacker.

Overcoming that obstacle with hot loaded .357 light J-frames is fairly easy.

Why?

With an ultra-light J-frame with .357 hot loads, the gun kills -- on BOTH ends.

Let the prosecutor, judge or jury shoot bone-rearranging .357s from your gun -- and they'll be convinced your shooting the Bad Guy was your next to last choice...

...And the only thing worse in the entire world than shooting your hot J-frame -- was allowing yourself to be taken out by the attacker.

In that respect, the ultra-light .357 shines -- and will probably get you off -- twice -- acquitted in the field of battle -- and the jury room...

Let the jury shoot your gun just ONCE -- and they'll KNOW you had NO choice but to shoot that evil dude who jumped you in the dark alley...

After they shot the gun, they'd KNOW you certainly wouldn't have EVER fired that blasted thing for any other reason...and certainly not if you had any other way out...

 

[Outrider]

What I wanted to hear...

I tried my Pro with .357s for the first time yesterday with the Pachmayr Compac grips and had no problems at all, carpal tunnel and arthritis and all. I like the revolver so much that I'm trading my 3" model 60 for the model 60 3" Pro.

HiCap

That's what I wanted to hear...

Be advised: don't ever shoot the screaming stuff with the Hogue Bantam boot grips...You'll regret it -- even if you don't have arthritis...

You won't like what a blistering .357 does to a bare metal backstrap.

 

[Packard]

Here's mine and my experience mirrors your report. Best J Frame ever made!

I had to order mine. Unlike yours mine came with the banana grips like th original poster's gun. The catalog shows boot grips. I bought mine because of the sights which are easily the best sights I've ever seen on a concealable revolver. I also have a 340PD and the 640's sights are better.

The gun conceals very well under an untucked shirt. I don't carry any spare ammo. I carry a Glock 27 on my ankle instead.

 

[Walton Feep]

Looking

New here but grew up with guns and competed briefly in college. Sold my only pistol (S&W 9mm) many years ago when we adopted two children. They are adults now. As a matter of fact my daughter has expressed some interest in shooting.

The 640 Pro looks like it would be perfect for home defense and carrying while hiking/horseback riding on our rural retirement property (bear and cat country).

I thought I had one from Bud's but it turned out they had listed it as available when it wasn't in stock. I added it to my wish list though.

Is S&W still making this model? Is it hard to find simply because demand is so high?

 

[Packard]

My local gun store special ordered one and it arrived in four days.

 

[Walton Feep]

My local gun store special ordered one and it arrived in four days.

Thanks - I'll check with mine tomorrow!

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

"Probably the only thing I'd want to do is chamfer it -- and that's probably it."

The chambers are already chamfered. Makes reloading much faster

 

[tomkatz]

My 640 Pro w/new wood. I'll go shoot it today to see if these are going to work for me.

 

[Outrider]

hunting for 2 640 Pros

I'm in the hunt for 2 640 Pros.

Has anybody heard anything on these recently?

 

[Infidel_319]

LGS had 2

I'm in the hunt for 2 640 Pros.

Has anybody heard anything on these recently?

My local gun store had two, mother-in-law bought one and I got the other. She was looking for a concealed carry gun and I suggested a model 60. She went there and bought the 640 pro. After hearing about what she bought, I looked it up and hauled *** to the store and got the other one. My new favorite gun for now..... Sold my m&p340 to buy the 640 pro. Made a little $ after all was said and done and got rid of the evil 340.

 

[Infidel_319]

Forgot to mention that was all this week. Got it on Monday actually.

 

[KF-NYC]

Tracer Bullet,

Excuse me for reviving a two year old thread, but that was a really good review. For the past several months, I have been waiting for months to have Smith & Wesson restock the Model 60 Pro Series. I want a new conceal carry revolver. Dealers are waiting for delivery. Now after reading your review and the responding comments, you may just have placed me upon the horns of a dilemma: The Model 60 Pro Series or the Model 640 Pro Series. I like the increase weight of both revolvers because I believe the stainless steel frame will absorb some of the recoil that hits me when I shoot my light weight snubby. I rarely shoot more than 50 rounds at the range with my snub nose revolver because it starts to hurt. I carry on my waist because I already have too much in my front pocket. So pocket carry is not an issue for me. The Dovetail Night Sights and the Moon Clips are tempting. I am wondering what 7/8 inch barrel difference will make in shooting these revolvers? Maybe it is a good thing for me that the dealers don't have the Model 60 Pro Series right now. Life is full of decisions that set you on a different path.

 

[jeeps]

Could not find one ,but found 640-1 like new without lock for $5 bills.It will do and shoots fine. Very well made with all forged inner's too. Smooth action.

 

[Jim1392]

Tracer Bullet,

Excuse me for reviving a two year old thread, but that was a really good review. For the past several months, I have been waiting for months to have Smith & Wesson restock the Model 60 Pro Series. I want a new conceal carry revolver. Dealers are waiting for delivery. Now after reading your review and the responding comments, you may just have placed me upon the horns of a dilemma: The Model 60 Pro Series or the Model 640 Pro Series. I like the increase weight of both revolvers because I believe the stainless steel frame will absorb some of the recoil that hits me when I shoot my light weight snubby. I rarely shoot more than 50 rounds at the range with my snub nose revolver because it starts to hurt. I carry on my waist because I already have too much in my front pocket. So pocket carry is not an issue for me. The Dovetail Night Sights and the Moon Clips are tempting. I am wondering what 7/8 inch barrel difference will make in shooting these revolvers? Maybe it is a good thing for me that the dealers don't have the Model 60 Pro Series right now. Life is full of decisions that set you on a different path.

I have a 640 Pro and I can tell you it is the smoothest shooting J-frame I own. You can take this gun to the range and shoot it all day unlike shooting a 642. But it is far from a pocket carry gun. I had a little adjustment with the difference in the weight from my 642 to the 640 Pro. The difference is weight it quite noticeable but I'm a little older so maybe it's just me. But as far as shoot ability. I love the 640 Pro. The sights are perfect, super smooth trigger right out of the box. I feel totally comfortable carrying it with one or two speed strips in my pocket. And until I get a lot older and can't handle the weight it's my everyday carry.

 

[KF-NYC]

Jim,

Thanks for the info. I put my name on the 640 Pro Series watch/notification list. The weight of the 640 in a pocket will make my pants sag [besides it would probably scratch up my pocket watch ] So pocket carrying is irrelevant. Even though I'm no longer young, it will be no problem for me to take the weight. So I'll just take it on the waist and with my gut I won't even notice the increase. As the late JJ Cale said: "I'm well over sixty. Older than most. Won't be long now 'for I'm talking to a ghost."

 

[MikeyB]

I'm really starting to like the 640 Pro. Might even contemplate ditching the M&P 360 for one.

 

[vigil617]

You can take this gun to the range and shoot it all day unlike shooting a 642.

Interesting, Jim. I'm sure the all-stainless construction helps a lot with recoil. What are you shooting in yours that makes it comfortable all day?

 

[Edmo]

I like mine and find it quite spirited with full power 357 rounds. However, with 38's it is nice.

I really like the moon clip option also.

Edmo

 

[KF-NYC]

Elmo,

I have three questions for you. What is the name of the grips you have installed on your 640 Pro Series? I know nothing about moonclips. Do moonclips interfere with the use of a speedloader. And do those grips interfere with a Safariland Speedloader?