What’s a Good Deal for a 640 Right Now?

[Nalapombu]

Hey all.

Would you all mind giving some advice? What would you say would be a good price on a new 640 and a decent USED one? How about the same for the 640 Pro?
I haven't thought about the Pro, but if the Pro is not much more than the standard 640, why not go with the Pro?

Thanks all

 

[transit]

I'm a fan of the straight 640.

Today? If I wanted one, I'd go $500.

That's a lot. I've owned a couple. I've never paid that much. But if I wanted one today... heck, I might go $550.

The straight M640 .38 +P

It's a tad smaller, and tidier to me.

You can still shoot ammo like the Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain LSWCHPGC at 1000 feet per second, which is easily in .357 Magnum territory.

Or the other loads that have actually won gun fights on the street (recently) like the 135g Gold Dot Short Barrel, or (historically) like almost any 158 grain LSWCHP.

I don't care for the "magnum" version.

I have an M&P340 that I could carry real Magnum ammo in.

Seems unwise. Even the Speer Short Barrel .357 Magnum. A little more velocity. Dramatically slows follow up shots.

It's completely manageable one at a time, but not for controlled pairs; and not for quick follow ups.

In the real world, one needs to put rounds on target. Accurately. Under time pressure.

I carry the Speer .38 Special Gold Dot Short Barrel. That's me.

 

[RGNewell]

I saw a 640 go for $1300 a week or so ago. Completely outrageous considering you can buy a new Pro under a grand. The Pro not having a lock is what I carry, loaded with .357. Shouldn't need a follow up shot.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have shot 357 in mine.
But usually load it with 38+P.
Tilt! My Bad! I grabbed the wrong gun!
Here's mine in a DeSantis.

 

[holo]

I paid $500.00 ish for a lightly used Pro a few years back. Great gun.

 

[Kansasgunner]

I happily paid $550 for a 640-1 357 Magnum with a factory Big Dot front sight within the last year. Bought my first 642 over 20 years ago for $295, still carrying it today. Be careful Centennials tend to multiply in the safe when unsupervised.

 

[CaliTrav]

I paid 550 for mine about 6 months ago. It was not polished when I got it.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[sipowicz]

Today's market? Maybe.....

 

[Eagle1*]

I just bought a 640-3 last month new at my LGS and it was $650.00 plus tax, which was a great price considering the pricing on GB for the last year.

 

[Nalapombu]

These prices you all are listing is about what I thought it should be going for. Don't know about the Pro version, maybe $650 ??

If you go on GB and look at the 640 and 640 Pro, the prices they are asking are TOTALLY INSANE!! Guys asking $1,500 for a USED regular 640!!
How can someone look themselves in the mirror when trying to gouge people like that?

I don't know about you all, but I'm a bit sick of all these ridiculous prices and availability of guns, ammo and primers. I'm kinda thinking that the ammo pricing and availability are being driven by our own community and not people just getting into guns. Non-gun people will buy ammo when they get their firearm, or get it out of storage, and go to the range to shoot a bit. They might go buy a couple more boxes to have on hand, but they're not the ones driving this craziness. That's my theory anyway and I could be 100% dead wrong!

I hope it turns around soon. I'd like to go to the range and shoot my weapons that I have not been able to do for a long time.

 

[GerSan69]

I've had a 640 in my "rotation" for the last 5 or 6 years that's the one I grab most often from the drawer. I wouldn't sell for less than $650, but I don't think I'd pay over $575. (I also have a second one on "permanent loan" to my sister-in-law... she gave me a convertible, so as much as it pained me to see it go, I'll be OK. Besides, she lives across the road, so it's not like I can't ever visit it.)

 

[GerSan69]

These prices you all are listing is about what I thought it should be going for. Don't know about the Pro version, maybe $650 ??

If you go on GB and look at the 640 and 640 Pro, the prices they are asking are TOTALLY INSANE!! Guys asking $1,500 for a USED regular 640!!
How can someone look themselves in the mirror when trying to gouge people like that?........

Forgot to mention, I'd expect a Pro to go in the $750-800 range, although I'm not a fan of the fluted barrel or rear sight at all, but then I also don't like the slightly longer L-frame-style .357 barrel on the post-.38 Special versions.
As for "gouging"... ordinarily I would agree 100%, but there is something about the original 640 and the older Centennials that just grows on you. IMO something like $1500 is the lowest price that would tempt me to let mine go, and then I'd be running across the street to get the other one back from my sister-in-law!