S&W 640 Bodyguard

[Dave270]

I just got a S&W Model 640 bodyguard in .357 mag. for Christmas.. How does everyone like the concealed hammer and what do you shoot in your 640, .38 spec. or .357 magnum.. Will it stand up to .357 magnum loads..

Thanks

Dave

 

[Road Rat]

Dave, I bought a 640 back in 1995. I wanted the enclosed hammer as I would just drop it in my back pocket. Didn't want anything to snag on the way out.

I shoot only .357 in mine. It is a steel handgun and will handle the magnum loads just fine. It leaves a beautiful orange basketball at the muzzle. Don't let anyone stand beside you!!

I recently added Crimson Trace laser grips. It shoots where the red dot hits.....at the ranges I would use for self-defense.

Now days I carry it in an old Kramer holster that grips it tight. I can use it on the right side about 3:30 or on the left side at 10:30 for cross-draw while driving.

 

[Frailer]

I am very fond of my 640-1:

I originally thought the previous owner had installed an aftermarket XS front sight, but I later learned that S&W produced some factory models with AO (which later became XS) sights. It's no long a "night sight," as the glow is gone, but that big white dot makes acquisition easy without--surprisingly--sacrificing accuracy.

To answer your questions, I'm a big fan of the concealed hammer, and I generally shoot only .38 +Ps, even though I have no doubt it would handle a steady diet of .357s.

 

[photoman]

FYI. The Model 640 is a Centennial. I'm a big fan of all the Centennial models.

 

[gasaman]

My wife's EDC is her 640 loaded w/ .357 Winchester Silvertips.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I have 4 640s. 1 is a magnum and I carry Corbon 357 DPX in it. It's a mid-powered load and easy to handle. Two of them are older models and I use standard pressure Nyclads in them, the other I carry Corbon .38 Special DPX in.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

I like the concealed hammer a lot. I always carried .38+P in my 640 before I sold it (didn't like the lock) and replaced it with a model 40 (also a fully enclosed hammer/Centennial). I tried 125gr .357s once and that little gun was a handful with them.

 

[C.S.63]

The 640 centennial real easy to carry, had a 640 38spl
carried Fed 125gr JHP Nyclads. would like to find another
carl

 

[Frizzman]

I had a 940 I bought back in the early 1990's. I didn't like the clips and traded it for a 640-1. I have had it since. Its my favorite J Frame. I really like the enclosed hammer. It doesn't snag and the action is more resistant to getting dust and lint in it. I never shoot any defensive revolver in other than double action mode so single action is not needed. I usually carry it with 125 gr JHP magnum ammo. The recoil is stiff but can be handled with practice. It was designed to fire magnum ammo. It treat it like my M19. It gets mostly .38's for practice with a limited amount of magnums. I have had a M66 snub and a 686 snub that I rarely carried but the 640-1 is a regular carry gun.

 

[Goldstar225]

I owned and carried a 640 as a back-up/off-duty weapon in the mid 90's. Darn good and accurate gun. Like a damn fool I traded it off for "something else". Now I have a 642 that I'll never turn loose of. I keep it loaded with Speer Gold dot 135 SB JHP's. If those weren't available I'd be inclined to use a 158 grain SWC HP, both in .38 Special.

 

[JamesArthur60]

This is my 640-1. I like the concealed hammer as well. I haven't tried 357's but carry 38 Hornady rounds. I added a large dot XS front sight. I use a J.W.O'Rourke custom made leather holster. The grips in the photo are factory combat which I've removed to post for selling. I went back to the factory rubber Hogues, because I get a better feel/grip with rubber. Plus, it's spending more time as a night stand handgun.