aterry33
Member
Was it a problem with sticking cylinders, people disliking the moon clips, or something else?
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Why did S&W discontinue the 940?
- Thread starter aterry33
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jframe
Member
Probably a little of all the above. Biggest thing to me is, is that it's an answer to a question that nobody asked to begin with. 9mm won't do anything that .357 Magnum in the exact same gun won't do better. And, contrary to opinion, .357 in a 640-sized jframe really ain't that bad. I wouldn't want to shoot a couple hundred rounds at a time, but in small doses, it's not bad.
1066
US Veteran
Pretty simple I think - it just didn't sell. There really isn't any other reason to stop making them.
As to why they didn't sell, there are many opinions, including the ones you listed above. My personal opinion is that the typical J frame buyer wasn't interested in the 9MM revolver because it is more complicated to use then a 38 special, and potentially prone to more problems. A lot of these buyers only buy one gun, and rarely shoot them.
I think it is easy for those of us that shoot a lot and are into guns to forget that. This is something I am reminded of every time I teach an NRA class and deal with a new shooter. A revolver can be complicated enough without introducing moon clips.
My personal experience with the 940 has been good and bad. I have two; one has always shot very well and extracted properly. The other one jammed the cylinder and had rough extraction. I sent it back to Smith & Wesson, they fixed it for free, and I have never had a problem with it since.
As to why they didn't sell, there are many opinions, including the ones you listed above. My personal opinion is that the typical J frame buyer wasn't interested in the 9MM revolver because it is more complicated to use then a 38 special, and potentially prone to more problems. A lot of these buyers only buy one gun, and rarely shoot them.
I think it is easy for those of us that shoot a lot and are into guns to forget that. This is something I am reminded of every time I teach an NRA class and deal with a new shooter. A revolver can be complicated enough without introducing moon clips.
My personal experience with the 940 has been good and bad. I have two; one has always shot very well and extracted properly. The other one jammed the cylinder and had rough extraction. I sent it back to Smith & Wesson, they fixed it for free, and I have never had a problem with it since.
scooter123
Member
I think the problem was that the 940 was ahead of the curve. Today, S&W could probably find a good market for a moon clip 9mm. As for why, it's simple. Cost of ammo. The 38 spl. runs me 19.99 per box of 50 at the only shop where I can find it, 9mm from Walmart is only a bit more than half that price. I would dearly love to be able to slide a 9mm moon clip cylinder into my 620 and I suspect there are a lot of 686 owners who feel the same.
As for moon clips, I love them. I can spend a half hour loading 16 clips for my 610 and when I hit the range I can do nothing but shoot. In addition, at 13.97 per box for 40 caliber Federal Champion, I save just about 6 dollars a box versus shooting 38 spl. with my 620. Compared to shooting 357 Magnums, it's a 10 dollar per box savings.
BTW, don't tell me about reloading, the 4 dealers near my home who sell reloading supplies haven't been able to get any primers for nearly 8 months. I'll think about reloading when components finally become available.
As for moon clips, I love them. I can spend a half hour loading 16 clips for my 610 and when I hit the range I can do nothing but shoot. In addition, at 13.97 per box for 40 caliber Federal Champion, I save just about 6 dollars a box versus shooting 38 spl. with my 620. Compared to shooting 357 Magnums, it's a 10 dollar per box savings.
BTW, don't tell me about reloading, the 4 dealers near my home who sell reloading supplies haven't been able to get any primers for nearly 8 months. I'll think about reloading when components finally become available.
i think they would sell them good now ever 9mm revolver i see 940 547 and the rugers that come up sell good like on gunbroker but i think they was not selling good back when they was makeing them ruger stop makeing the sp101 in 9mm in 98 and smith stop the 940 that year to i like moon clip revolvers i have 5 9mm ones 940-1 and 2 speed sixes and 2 sp101 and 2 625s and a 610
HEADKNOCKER
Member
I agree that S&W stopped the production of the 940 due to poor sales & possibly having to do several repairs that were mostly cylinder replacement to to rough improperly reamed cylinders..
If they started selling them at this time there would be alot of folks wanting the 940-3, as long as they could loose the lock..
Gary/Hk
If they started selling them at this time there would be alot of folks wanting the 940-3, as long as they could loose the lock..
Gary/Hk
Ancient1
Member
I shot a moon clip .40 S&W in IPSC. It is truly fun. I am qual'ed in all the classes & the revolver class was the most fun. I don't think there is anything I would rather competition shoot than a big ol' 45 ACP moon clip gun. Except maybe my Brazos Custom Pro SX with 28 rounds of .38 Super
I bought a 940 when they were first introduced because my issued service pistol was a 9mm. Since then, the shift was made to .40 S&W and I wound up back where I started.
Now I carry a .45 ACP and my backup weapon is a 642 (.38 Special).
Now I carry a .45 ACP and my backup weapon is a 642 (.38 Special).
500 Magnum Nut
Member
I think the 9mm is a bit delicate with full moon clips stored in the pocket.
I liked mine when I had it. It's a turbo charged little gun when it goes off.
I liked mine when I had it. It's a turbo charged little gun when it goes off.
stiab
US Veteran
The paragraph at upper right shows what S&W at one time said about the problems. Sorry it is a little blurred...
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
How bout Smith makes a no lock 642/442 in 9mm to see if it would sell. I'd but one.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Better yet, how bout Smith makes a 642/442 in 9 mm with a cylinder utilizing the 547 extraction- I bet THAT would sell like hot cakes.
Then we can have "Can you shoot .380 in 9mm cylinder" threads
Then we can have "Can you shoot .380 in 9mm cylinder" threads
HEADKNOCKER
Member
"No Lock" "9mm Para" "442/642" " Centennial"
Sounds like the factory Model 942 of which there was only one factory made.. Of course there's a few others that were made one of which I have in my stash of 9mms..
Here's my 642 No Dash that has had a 940-1s cylinder fit to it's yolk & now is a convertable 38/9mm..
Here's a pic right after fitting the cylinder..
Range Report Still Due as I haven't had much time to get to the range lately.. Thanks Obama..
Gary/Hk
Model 942 Convertable
Sounds like the factory Model 942 of which there was only one factory made.. Of course there's a few others that were made one of which I have in my stash of 9mms..
Here's my 642 No Dash that has had a 940-1s cylinder fit to it's yolk & now is a convertable 38/9mm..
Here's a pic right after fitting the cylinder..
Range Report Still Due as I haven't had much time to get to the range lately.. Thanks Obama..
Gary/Hk
Model 942 Convertable
safearm
US Veteran
I'm one of the guys that decided that the 9mm in a small frame revolver was right for me. I finally found a 940 on this Forum that matched the price I wanted to pay and I'm glad it got it. It's become my daily gun gun, in addition to my 3913. Since it took awhile to locate a 940, I had a 637 converted to 9mm by TK Custom. The heft of the 940 makes 9mm+P rounds easier to manage, but the light weight of the 637 is much easier on the pocket or ankle all day. If S&W were to come out with a 942, even with the lock, I'd snap one up as soon as my dealer could get one.
I don't know why they stopped making them but I think they should start again only using a scandium frame like my converted 360. IMO, a 13oz 9mm revolver is the perfect BUG/CCW, 1000% reliable, plenty more power than a .38spl, and nowhere near the recoil of a .357mag.
I like Caj's and Gary's idea, a 642/442 with a 9mm cylinder. Make one WITHOUT the lock and I'm in.
JNewell
Member
I wasn't going to bring that up, but since you did, I'll second that. I carried a 940 for a while as a BUG with clips in my customary location, which is my right rear trousers pocket. Works fine with speedloaders and speedstrips. What I got with the 940 was a fair number of bent clips, which sometimes wouldn't reload the gun reliably and rapidly. I went back to J-frames that I can feed with Comp-1 speedloaders.
HEADKNOCKER
Member
Try carrying two moon clips stuck together one round in the middle of the other & this makes them smaller & carry very well..
I haven't bent a moon clip yet but mine are .040" thick TKs
I need to get a pic of these clips stuck together..
Gary/Hk
I haven't bent a moon clip yet but mine are .040" thick TKs
I need to get a pic of these clips stuck together..
Gary/Hk
I have had my 940 for several years now and it is a good revolver. The recoil is stout though. I am thinking of buying a 642 and fitting a 940 cylinder. The combination of the 9mm round in a lightweight J frame should kick pretty hard. For me that would rule out a Scandium frame, particularly due to cost. What I would really like to have is a 940 with a 3" barrel.
