Smith and Wesson 640-Experiences?

[Rogue686]

Hi all,

I currently have a model 60-9 .357 mag that I use for carry right now, however I have discovered (as everyone has) that the hammer is very easy to snag. Hence I have been thinking of getting a hump backed/hammerless .357 magnum. I was thinking of a Ruger LCR, but have always preferred Smiths (duh )

I have stumbled across a 640 with a lock that is ANIB, never fired, however previously owned. I can probably get it for around $525, however I am uncertain if I want to get into a gun with a lock.

Has anyone here had a 640 lock up with some of the real hot magnum loads, like 110 grs (I know I've heard of it in some of the airlites and airweights, but not yet about the steel guns)? And is that a reasonable price for what it is in your area of the woods?

Thanks,

~Rogue

**NOTE, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LOCK. NO FLAME WARS ON THIS SUBJECT AGAIN PLEASE.**

 

[ltxi]

Bob the hammer on your M60 and life will be good again.

Added benefit being no cost

 

[pmosley]

I don't have any Smith revolvers with locks, but when I shoot magnum loads (rarely) from my 640-1, I feel like a tuning fork.

 

[C.S.63]

Rogue686 Just my 2 cents worth "640 great platform"
good Price if out the door.

I have not had an issue with a lock on a S&W I have both a 386pd and a
new to me 396ng,
I do have an early 90s centennial/640 pre lock and I can tell you for that 640 you may really wish to consider some of the good .38spl personnel defense ammunition the 640 platform is truly the cats meow for a personnel defense handgun slides right into a coat pocket etc.
For an example try shooting that 640 with some 357 158gr SJSP but set it up with smooth wood grips(anti-snag-concealability) Ya probably will not finish a box off?
The 640 is a great platform but is a magnum really needed?

If you go with that 640 you will not be sorry, they are a awesome platform!!!

 

[jaymoore]

Had a 640 some time back, but this old 940 replaced it. Even with +P+ ammo it is quite smooth. Accurate as well. Extraction can be painfully tight after a few clips and recoil is brutal with the hot loads, but it chronographs the same weight bullets a little faster than the .357s...!

So I am in the "get it and carry it" camp as well! At least it won't draw blood on the shooter's end like this thing:

ETA: BTW, the airlite PD has had no functional dramas either. User reticence, that's another thing!

 

[Rogue686]

Bob the hammer on your M60 and life will be good again.

Added benefit being no cost

I cannot do that to one of my Smiths...I'd hate myself for it. I like single action sometimes when practicing with it

I don't have any Smith revolvers with locks, but when I shoot magnum loads (rarely) from my 640-1, I feel like a tuning fork.

I feel the same with full powered loads on my Model 60.

The 640 is a great platform but is a magnum really needed?

CS63, Not really, but I like the option. I usually shoot 38s or low to medium powered 357 reloads. I just like having the option *shrugs* But I agree, not really needed. I appreciate your input and experiences I'd love to find a nice one like that with a pre-lock just for the aesthetic appeal to me.

Had a 640 some time back, but this old 940 replaced it. Even with +P+ ammo it is quite smooth. Accurate as well. Extraction can be painfully tight after a few clips and recoil is brutal with the hot loads, but it chronographs the same weight bullets a little faster than the .357s...!

I've never really considered a 940, but might be something for me to look out for next weekend at the gun show. I have never seen one come through the LGS I work at...

 

[M3Stuart]

$525 isn't a bad price. For that much coin, I would look around until I find exactly what I wanted.

Edit: I have the 60-9 and I wouldn't bob my hammer if I wanted a 640. Instead, I would sell my 60-9, maybe trade it if I could, then buy what I wanted (or vice versa - buy the other one first).

 

[Imaposer]

I have a 640-1 pre-lock with CT LG-405 grips. I love this little revolver although my current carry load of choice in the GD 135gr SB round. Not a huge fan of full power magnum rounds, even out of the all steel J-frames.

I saw you mention that you liked to occasionally fire your 60 in SA mode. Have you considered possibly picking up a 649? I will allow the snag free carry of the 640 while still allowing SA firing when you desire. I recently picked up an older pre-lock no dash model 49 and have quickly become quit fond of it.

 

[bronco45]

640s rock! I've had 4 and my last one is the 640Pro. As far as I am concerned this Pro is all I'll ever need in a J Frame. Best gun Smith built in a long long time.

 

[Rogue686]

Have you considered possibly picking up a 649? I will allow the snag free carry of the 640 while still allowing SA firing when you desire. I recently picked up an older pre-lock no dash model 49 and have quickly become quit fond of it.

Imaposer, that's something I hadn't thought of. Only downside is there isn't a used one sitting in the case at work But definitely something to look out for. Something else to look out for at the gun show next weekend

 

[Maximumbob54]

I have a newer 640 with "the plug" installed. That little beastie is INSANE with real honest magnums. I tried some of the Remington Golden Saber 158's in there and that was at least not as bone shaking. I added a Pachmayr Compac and that made a world of difference and made recoil much more manageable but it did add to the gun's bulk.

This was a HUGE mistake:

They gave it a classy look and with the later addition of a BK grip adapter it helped, but pull the trigger on one magnum and you may as well hit your hand with a hammer.

Cut Uncle Mikes:

These had rubber over the back strap and were a step in the right direction but not quite enough.

I can't seem to find the pic with the Compac.

 

[snubbyfan]

I've been thinking of getting a 640. Figure I'd do a trigger job and put Pachmayr compact grips on it. Thanks for the info Bob.

 

[C.S.63]

jaymore,
That 940 sure has some carry character! (CCW- characterability -SWEET)

 

[Packard]

I have the 640 Pro. The catalog shows the boot grips but mine shipped with the banana grips which allows the pinky to grip also. For belt carry they conceal just as well as the boot grips but make the gun easier to shoot.

 

[Sebago Son]

The 640-1 Centennial Magnum is my "Always" gun. I like them so much that I've got three all set up the same way...

Here's a pair in a unique holster rig...

I don't find the Remington 110 Grain Fed-Spec, Low-Flash, Magnum Load that hard to shoot out of these guns, but I wouldn't want to have to do it all day....

Drew

 

[jaymoore]

... Here's a pair in a unique holster rig...

Drew

It isn't uncomfortable to have to reach past one revolver to get the other? Grabbing the closest one would mean it's much more likely to be pointed at you during the initial portion of the draw as it moves from behind your back... Having the butts point at each other would be less visually appealing, but who's gonna see it whilst you're carrying?

 

[Sebago Son]

Jay, I didn't design the holster, but I think it's intended of right and left hand draw. That's how I use it anyway. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot and it's a non-issue.

 

[shadow1]

I carry a MP 360 with GD SB .357's. Not something I would shoot a lot of but that isn't the intended purpose.
The Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo isn't up to magnum velocity but I do have the advantage of the magnum case in the chamber.
They are managable compared to a full house magnum. Those are brutal.
Dave N

 

[walkin' trails]

I carry an older 640 designed for .38 Special. Its a bit lighter than the magnum versions. Its a good carry gun. I used to have a 60 in .357, but sold it when I got the G27 bug years ago. As I recall it was at its best accuracy with 147-158 grn .38 Sp, and shot low with magnums. I understand why you would still want the versitility of being able to shoot magnum loads, and besides, I think the magnum versions of those revolvers have it a little better in the looks department. I can't say whether the price is all that good or bad, but it seems to be ball park. In terms of the lock, I don't have one, and have not personally known anyone who experienced a lock-up due to the lock malfunction. A lot of that got stirred up on the Internet, and I thought had been mostly debunked. Regardless, any firearm can malfunction. I had a 940 that I really loved to shoot, and loved the concept, but it locked up on me (and it didn't have an internal lock). After a factory warranty repair with less-than-satisfactory explaination, I got rid of it - realizing now it was a mistake. BTW, that was back when S&W was under different management and the gloomiest years for the company right around the corner...

 

[Pef]

Hi all,

I currently have a model 60-9 .357 mag that I use for carry right now, however I have discovered (as everyone has) that the hammer is very easy to snag. Hence I have been thinking of getting a hump backed/hammerless .357 magnum. I was thinking of a Ruger LCR, but have always preferred Smiths (duh )

I have stumbled across a 640 with a lock that is ANIB, never fired, however previously owned. I can probably get it for around $525, however I am uncertain if I want to get into a gun with a lock.

Has anyone here had a 640 lock up with some of the real hot magnum loads, like 110 grs (I know I've heard of it in some of the airlites and airweights, but not yet about the steel guns)? And is that a reasonable price for what it is in your area of the woods?

Thanks,

~Rogue

**NOTE, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LOCK. NO FLAME WARS ON THIS SUBJECT AGAIN PLEASE.**

I have several .357 640's - one with a lock, two without. Each has hundreds of rounds through them, and many have been .357 full house loads. Never a lock up problem. When you add my 686's that have the lock, I've shot at least 2000 rounds, many in .357, and never a lock problem.

For carry, I carry 38 Golden Sabers, however.

$525 for a used one that is pretty much new is a fair price. In my neck of the woods, well worn 640's go in the 400 - 475 range for personal, non-LGS transactions. I recently paid 475 for a 640 that had hardly been shot, but I would have paid 525 if the seller would not have budged.

The 640 is a great carry gun. Don't worry about the lock.