I Just Bought A S & W 646 Performance Center. Help!

[AC Man]

LOL. I don't normally buy something I don't know much about but this one peaked my interest.as stated it is a PC revolver like new in metal case all other box, papers, and tools. it is a 40 caliber which intrigues me, I still haven't figured out the moon clips. Live and learn. I like odd stuff, so I am happy.

If anyone else has one I would love to here it. They claim to have made 121 of this model and 800 overall. Thanks! Oh I also have 600 rounds of ammo I have no use for, now I do.

 

[CH4]

Nice piece!
I don't have a 646, but I have two 610s, a few 625s and a 940; all take moon clips. Loading and unloading moon clips is easy, especially with the cheap tool. BTW, 610s shoot 40 and 10mm.
Moon clips are very straight forward. I am sure YouTube has plenty of videos that show you what to do.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The joy of moon clips! I prefer full moon's over half moon's and never tried 2 round clips.

I have a 625 and 1917 2nd Brazilian Contract. and 300 or so clips. There are lots of brands and they very in quality. I started loading clips back in the 70's by hand. I made an aid to hold the ammo still from a piece of crown molding and used a 6" long 7/16" dowel rod to push the clip down onto the cartridge. De-mooning can be accomplished with a piece of 1/2" copper pipe or steel conduit, that you make a tooth on the end about 1/4 to 1/3 of the circumference. The tooth would be 1/8" tall. I make these tools about 8" Long, to be able to hold 6 rounds, 40 S&W could be shorter and the dowel 3/8". The ammo can, the cleaning kit, and the tool box all have these two tools in them. To make use a hack saw, band saw or Dremel tool, and from the end cut into the pipe 1/8" two cuts spaced 1/3 circumference apart, then remove the lager area. With a hack saw 2- or 3-minutes time tops!

Brownell's makes or sells loading and unloading clip tools.

I have two 45 ACP loads, I use coated bullets on one and cast & lubed on the other to tell them apart when all else fails. I have a 50 Cal. ammo can of loaded clips for each. When I get home is the time to de-moon. I inspect and reload clips in large batches. I check that used before clips aren't twisted from being kicked or stepped on by Dropping a loaded clip in a revolver and closing the cylinder. If twisted they are unloaded and flattened and marked with a dot of fingernail polish or marker that shows up. Any clip with 3 dots that won't fit is unloaded and pitched!

I keep 3 or 4 clips loaded with factory SD ammo should the need arise. No matter what, everything would be over in 24 rounds! No sense tying up lots of clips that won't be used.

Ivan

 

[Pizza Bob]

Here's my 646 regular production (although these still came in a PC aluminum case).

I used mine for IDPA for a number of years before retiring it. I changed the rear sight to an LPA and the front to a FO. The grip is a Hogue Tamer originally used on one of the survival kits (bear?).

The metal moons (Ranch Products) also fit the Ruger GP100 in 10mm, so I got a GP100MC and now use that for IDPA using .40 S&W ammo. If you look at the thread "School Me on Moon Clips" in the "S&W HE:1896 to 1961" sub-forum, Post #7, a lot of what I said there also applies to the .40 S&W cartridge and the picture in my post is actually of .40 S&W clips and tools.

If you don't want to go down the "moonclip rabbit hole" there are RIMZ polymer clips made for the 646 - (but they don't work well with the Ruger).

I don't know if I can be of much help but feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I prefer e-mail to PM and both options are available.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Mark Pilcher]

LOL. I don't normally buy something I don't know much about but this one peaked my interest.

pique
verb
ˈpēk
piqued; piquing
transitive verb

1a: to excite or arouse especially by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff
sly remarks to pique their curiosity
b: PRIDE
he piques himself on his skill as a cook
2: to arouse anger or resentment in : IRRITATE
what piques linguistic conservatives

 

[AC Man]

pique
verb
ˈpēk
piqued; piquing
transitive verb

1a: to excite or arouse especially by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff
sly remarks to pique their curiosity
b: PRIDE
he piques himself on his skill as a cook
2: to arouse anger or resentment in : IRRITATE
what piques linguistic conservatives

Thanks for the English language reply. Tell that to my Samsung voice to text.

 

[AC Man]

Here's my 646 regular production (although these still came in a PC aluminum case).

I used mine for IDPA for a number of years before retiring it. I changed the rear sight to an LPA and the front to a FO. The grip is a Hogue Tamer originally used on one of the survival kits (bear?).

The metal moons (Ranch Products) also fit the Ruger GP100 in 10mm, so I got a GP100MC and now use that for IDPA using .40 S&W ammo. If you look at the thread "School Me on Moon Clips" in the "S&W HE:1896 to 1961" sub-forum, Post #7, a lot of what I said there also applies to the .40 S&W cartridge and the picture in my post is actually of .40 S&W clips and tools.

If you don't want to go down the "moonclip rabbit hole" there are RIMZ polymer clips made for the 646 - (but they don't work well with the Ruger).

I don't know if I can be of much help but feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I prefer e-mail to PM and both options are available.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Mine is not a under lug and is a slab side for what it is worth. I believe it was the first early model.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Mine is not a under lug and is a slab side for what it is worth. I believe it was the first early model.

That was the PC version. They also made a regular production version (mine). I have seen numerous discussions on how many of each type was made. Not sure what the actual, correct figure is. I do recall reading (maybe in the SCSW) that the PC version was more problematic than the regular version, although they didn't specify what kind of problems.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[AC Man]

The seller said 1 of 121 produced. Slab side round butt wood grips in PC metal presentation case.

Personally I don't care for round butt frames but that is just me. It has brown corrosion on the grip back strap which is really odd on stainless . Since it is otherwise like new I'll take my chance to remove it.

 

[AC Man]

I have researched my model 624 performance center slab side 40 cal on the S&W web sites and the S&W catalog and I see nothing more than one paragraph that says nothing. I guess I am on my own.Thats ok with me.

 

[dsf]

Mine is not a under lug and is a slab side for what it is worth. I believe it was the first early model.

Looks like this, yes?



Mine came with a few different thickness moon clips. Seems to be some question as to which works better. Whoever had the gun before me used it quite a bit. Came with about 10 HKS speedloaders and holders. Rear sight blade is a larger blade type, not sure who makes it.

I haven't found grips that work best for me. I don't like the full target types on a 4". The Ajax RB types are too slippery, the Pachmyer wood types are OK. Not sure which brand I have on them. OK but really thin.

Too bad the Ahrends are sky high.

 

[jcelect]

LOL. I don't normally buy something I don't know much about but this one peaked my interest.as stated it is a PC revolver like new in metal case all other box, papers, and tools. it is a 40 caliber which intrigues me, I still haven't figured out the moon clips. Live and learn. I like odd stuff, so I am happy.

If anyone else has one I would love to here it. They claim to have made 121 of this model and 800 overall. Thanks! Oh I also have 600 rounds of ammo I have no use for, now I do.

I have the 646 PC 40S&W! It has a slab sided barrel with Ti cylinder and shipped in the Al PC case. Roy Jinks stated mine was made for the TALO group with 160guns produced in serial number range RDA0001-RDA0160.

In most of my shooter revolvers I use mostly lead bullets but this thing will not handle lead very well! I loaded some lead with many powders 1gr below min in the books and the fired cases stuck in the chambers no matter what the load was, hi or low. However, I could fire the hottest jacketed load in the books and the fired cases ejected just fine! I had a friend that shot IDPA and his gun would handle lead and jacketed bullets just fine! This is one of the many mysteries of life I have never solved!
jcelect

 

[Pizza Bob]

Came with about 10 HKS speedloaders and holders.

????Speed Loaders?????

Rear sight blade is a larger blade type, not sure who makes it.

Hard to see, but I think that it is a Weigand replacement blade that uses the stock S&W rear sight base.

Not sure which brand I have on them. OK but really thin.

The stocks on the gun pictured are Altamont.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[CHARLIE699]

One of each. As Jcelect said, 160 of the PC revolvers (taper barrel). IIRC, there were 300 of the standard (full lug) barrel.
I have cases & original grips but I use Ahrends.

 

[AC Man]

I have the 646 PC 40S&W! It has a slab sided barrel with Ti cylinder and shipped in the Al PC case. Roy Jinks stated mine was made for the TALO group with 160guns produced in serial number range RDA0001-RDA0160.

In most of my shooter revolvers I use mostly lead bullets but this thing will not handle lead very well! I loaded some lead with many powders 1gr below min in the books and the fired cases stuck in the chambers no matter what the load was, hi or low. However, I could fire the hottest jacketed load in the books and the fired cases ejected just fine! I had a friend that shot IDPA and his gun would handle lead and jacketed bullets just fine! This is one of the many mysteries of life I have never solved!
jcelect

Ok thanks for the info, it is more than I found on the S&W catalog

I have one question, my serial number is RDA0008 so I assume it is number 8. What is the TALO group?

 

[dsf]

????Speed Loaders?????



Hard to see, but I think that it is a Weigand replacement blade that uses the stock S&W rear sight base.



The stocks on the gun pictured are Altamont.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Pretty sure that's correct on the rear sight.

Re "speed loaders" - yes. Although there's just a two shown in the photo. Have them stashed somewhere

 

[jcelect]

Ok thanks for the info, it is more than I found on the S&W catalog

I have one question, my serial number is RDA0008 so I assume it is number 8. What is the TALO group?

That's two questions! I can only answer one(at a time)!

Your gun is in the group of serial numbers for that model and serial numbered #8 but no one knows in what order they were assembled! The Talo group is a "buying group" of distributers to make it possible to buy in quantity for a better discount!
jcelect

 

[AC Man]

Thanks for all the info! Once I get it I am sure I'll have more questions. We shall see.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Re "speed loaders" - yes. Although there's just a two shown in the photo. Have them stashed somewhere

Still a little confused. AFAIK, nobody makes a speed loader for .40 S&W. I see a double speed loader carrier/holder in your photograph, which could be utilized to carry clipped ammo - is that what you are referring to?

As I said, available for any questions you may have, once you have the gun in hand.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[sigp220.45]

I love my 646. I have always heard the production run was 300 of the underlug, 300 of the slab sides.

I shoot mine with the Rimz polymer full moon clips.