New Model 640

[686fan]

I'm new at this, so please be patient with me. Has anyone tried the new Model 640 357 Magnum with no lock, night sights, & cylinder cut for moon clips?
Would the average (?) shooter find the recoil excessive if using Federal 125 grain JHP (357B)? I'm sure the extra weight of the 640 would help.
Thanks.

 

[ADP3]

I think that it is safe to say that the "average" shooter would find the Federal load uncomfortable in the 640. The Remington Golden Sabre and Speer SB (Short Barrel) loads are about the only .357 loads that the average shooter will want to shoot more than a cylinder or two through a 640. The 640 beats the 340PD hands down though. I would rather shoot a box of .44 Mags througha 329PD than a cylinder full of full bore .357's in the 340.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[Iggy]

What ADP3 said.

640 is more pleasant than the lite guns, but it still isn't much fun with mag loads.

 

[TNDave]

I have fired J frame 357's with full house loads and found it similar to grabbing an electric fence. I watched a lot of experienced shooters hand it back to the Smith man before shooting the whole five rounds.

 

[watchmanjimg]

I have fired J frame 357's with full house loads and found it similar to grabbing an electric fence. I watched a lot of experienced shooters hand it back to the Smith man before shooting the whole five rounds.

This brings back memories. 7-8 years ago I went shooting with two friends, one of whom owned a 9mm auto. I brought along a 649 with a box each of Corbon 110g and 125g .357 ammo. One of the guys picked up the 649 and fired a single round of 125g, set the gun down without a word and wouldn't pick it up again. Can't say I blame him but it was still funny.

When I got my 640-1 a couple months back I took it for a spin at a local range. I brought along some Golden Saber 125s as well as Federal 357Bs. I fired 20-25 of the full-house loads. It wasn't impossible, but before long I had a tough time deciding whether to feel worse for myself or the little Smith. The Golden Sabers were much more manageable for follow-up shots, and they didn't give the impression that they'd blow up the gun. Mine is fitted with smooth panels and a T-Grip, so perhaps with more substantial grips the full-house loads would be a bit more controllable but I wouldn't bother to find out.

I'm with ADP3 as well. My 640-1 is stoked with Golden Sabers.

 

[AKsRule]

I'm new at this, so please be patient with me. Has anyone tried the new Model 640 357 Magnum with no lock, night sights, & cylinder cut for moon clips?
Would the average (?) shooter find the recoil excessive if using Federal 125 grain JHP (357B)? I'm sure the extra weight of the 640 would help.
Thanks.

I own a prelock 640.
I bought it because I wanted a compact all steel gun that would handle ANY factory ammo in .38 or .357

I shoot a lot of .38 specials - but just enough .357s to keep in practice.
.

 

[Goffman]

I think that it is safe to say that the "average" shooter would find the Federal load uncomfortable in the 640. The Remington Golden Sabre and Speer SB (Short Barrel) loads are about the only .357 loads that the average shooter will want to shoot more than a cylinder or two through a 640. The 640 beats the 340PD hands down though. I would rather shoot a box of .44 Mags througha 329PD than a cylinder full of full bore .357's in the 340.

ADP3 is right on the money. My first firearm was a 340PD at 11.4 ounces. I found the full-power .357 mags to be do-able (in an emergency) but not in any way recommended. Compared to the 340PD, full-power .357 mags in my 23-ounce 640 are much more manageable, but I still would not recommend them. Instead, I use mid-power .357 mag ammunition in both my 340PD and 640, as do seemingly a lot of the folks on this forum who carry j-frame revolvers chambered for the .357 cartridge.

Forum member Flop-Shank and others have done quite a lot of testing of different ammunition, including a number of .357 rounds, much of which is detailed in the thread that follows. There is some great information there if you are exploring options with regard to ammunition.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/78358-perma-gel-test-results.html

 

[686fan]

Thanks for the input. I figured that the 357B might be a little too much in a J-frame (even an all-steel one). ADP3, I've heard a lot of good things about the Speer SB Gold Dot JHP's. If I do get a 640, they would probably be my best bet. Although I really like the 357B's, they're probably better suited for something like a 686.

 

[FirebirdV8]

Like everyone else who has commented, I have shot the "hot" 357 magnums rounds from my 640-1. While it was doable and wasn't painful, it didn't give my that warm fuzzy feeling of lets go "lets go shoot some more!" either. Basically, I carry my 640 as a back up most of the time and sometimes as a primary. If the time ever came to use it, I wouldn't mind the extra kick. At the range, I only shoot the hot stuff enough to know I can hit my target, then shoot .38's out of it for fun.

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

I have only one J frame .357, an M60. It is my thought that just as indicated above it is doable, the recoil is such that it is at the point where one cannot say that "when the chips are down you won't notice it". You WILL notice it because your will be returning your gun from anti- aircraft mode for yout second shot.
I have put about 200 rounds of various full house mags through it, I will be using hot .38s from now on, the hot Buffalo Bore .38 +P ammo is just about right for the gun (and me).

 

[Goffman]

returning your gun from anti- aircraft mode for yout second shot.

That's funny...an apt description, but funny.