Please tell me about the 649

[bushmaster1313]

I have seen some very nice 649's in .38 round butt with wood stocks.

1. When did the 649 come out?

2. When did they turn .357?

3. When did they stop having wood stocks?

4. What else is comparable?

 

[vytoland]

1. When did the 649 come out? ....1985

2. When did they turn .357?......1997

3. When did they stop having wood stocks?.......1997

4. What else is comparable?....S&W model 640

 

[Timbo22]

In my opinion, the 649 and its blued counterpart are unique with no true counterparts. It has a hump like shroud around the hammer, but still allows for single action cocking of the hammer. The 640 has an internal hammer and can only be fired by pulling the trigger double action style. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Engine49guy]

I would only add that the blued version came out much earlier (1959?) and also was available in nickel,
The airweight version with an aluminum frame was called the models 38 available in black or nickel finish .
Later it became the models 438 in black or 638 in silver.

 

[natchez]

How do the lightweight revolvers, like the 438 or 638, stand up to heavy usage for target shooting?

 

[RidgwayCO]

With fixed sights and short barrels, the M438/638 are not exactly target revolvers. I shoot my M638 at the range for proficiency, but hardly ever at distances of more than 7 yards. These are more in the "carry often, shoot little" category, in which they excel. I've seen no appreciable wear on my M638 in a thousand or so rounds of .38 Special handloads. YMMV.

 

[Engine49guy]

Uggghhh
Wrote a whole big thing and the site went down lost it all....!

Anyway ...
Sounds like you need to decide what your primary use for the weapon will be and go from there.

These are not target guns they are concealed carry guns meant to be fired at distances less than 40 feet as a "self defense" gun....IMHO
After all Its kinda hard for someone to threaten your life outside of 40 feet.

As for the differences in the versions I say they are pretty much all the same gun made of different materials that make them suited for different situations.

IMHO
Pocket carry = Airweight.
Salt air or boat use = Stainless steel.
Nightstand gun or low vis = Blued steel.
Flashy gun = Nickel

Any combination of uses you will make some trade offs.

Sometimes its easier if you just get one of each .

 

[natchez]

Thanks for the replies. I was planning for it to be my new carry gun, but I do practice with my carry gun enough that I wanted to make sure it would stand up to regular monthly practice. I usually shoot a box of 50 per month for about 9 months of the year.

 

[Smee78]

I love my 649 and used it as a edc when I'm not carring my 940, I just got a 442 last month so after some practice it to will be rotated in to the line up. Love thoes j frames.

 

[Beancounter81]

Thanks for the replies. I was planning for it to be my new carry gun, but I do practice with my carry gun enough that I wanted to make sure it would stand up to regular monthly practice. I usually shoot a box of 50 per month for about 9 months of the year.

I have a 442 Airweight (internal hammer) that I've put over 1000 rounds of +P .38 special through in the last 6 months. I consider it broken in at this point. It's holding up just fine & I expect to shoot thousands more trouble free rounds. These j-frames are sturdy guns in spite of their size.

 

[Engine49guy]

I would just add that although there is noticeably more fealt recoil with an airweight It is way easier to carry.
You should definately try shooting both before deciding on one.cc