Why not an all steel 642?

[agtg]

It strikes me as a nice option for women to conceal carry a 19 ounce J frame as the extra weight would mitigate recoil for the lady's hands.

My wife could handle the 642 airweight, but she didn't like it. The Model 36 is really nice, but oh so expensive new.

Why don't they just make an all steel 642 with a bit more heft? I bet they would sell like hotcakes.

 

[F224]

It's called the M640 and it's been in production for years.

 

[murphydog]

They did, it is the model 640 .38 Special. A fair number of these online in the $400-500 range.

The current version is a heavier J frame, full lug barrel in .357.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Got one. Like others have said, it's called the 640. My wife's has a very nice set of pink Hogue's . . .

 

[les.b]

Got one. Like others have said, it's called the 640. My wife's has a very nice set of pink Hogue's . . .

Muss:

I like your new avatar. Not quite so intimidating as the last one!! I kept waiting for you to roar at us. I agree about the 640s, as well. I have one of the 640-1 Pro Series...wasn't looking for it exactly, but it just followed me home one day. I love it. The OP would be happy with one. Tried to get Cheri interested, but she is the opposite of me; a one gun shooter.

She tried most of my guns, and loves my (well, hers now), model 10 2" snubby, with the old fashioned "FBI" round, a 158gr soft lead SWHP. I had a case that I had traded from a federal guy, who did their firearms training. When they went to the .40, he was stuck with a case, and I had a case that I traded even up for the .38 spl +p. Still nursing it years later.

Anyway, she is confident with it, and loves it, and I'll probably need to start looking for another one for myself.


Best Regards, Les

 

[agtg]

How heavy are these? Are they all .357/.38?

 

[agtg]

Ah, but it's just a tad too heavy weighing in at 23 ounces. I bet a 19 ounce .38 special version would be popular.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

Why don't they just make an all steel 642 with a bit more heft? I bet they would sell like hotcakes.

Simple answer is cost. It would be as expensive as the 640. No two ways around that, Stainless steel is expensive to produce Aluminum not so much. As far as weight it would not bother me because I had over 24 oz at one time riding shotgun up front in my pocket.

But again it would price people right out of the market. As it stands today the 642 is S&W's bread and butter and a hot seller.
Sometimes you can get them new in the $370 range. Think about that one. A Ruger .38 LCR is in the low $400 range and a Charter Arms close to the mid $300 range.

 

[agtg]

Or maybe you start with the Model 36 and you hide the hammer?

 

[agtg]

Simple answer is cost. It would be as expensive as the 640. No two ways around that, Stainless steel is expensive to produce Aluminum not so much. As far as weight it would not bother me because I had over 24 oz at one time riding shotgun up front in my pocket.

But again it would price people right out of the market. As it stands today the 642 is S&W's bread and butter and a hot seller.
Sometimes you can get them new in the $370 range. Think about that one. A Ruger .38 LCR is in the low $400 range and a Charter Arms close to the mid $300 range.

The 640 looks like an awesome revolver, and the Model 36 is sweet, too, but new both guns are pretty expensive in my opinion.

I suppose scandium is cheaper to produce and work for production than stainless. Just a thought.

 

[Goldstar225]

Or maybe you start with the Model 36 and you hide the hammer?

That would be the model 38 and model 638.

 

[Rpg]

Ah, but it's just a tad too heavy weighing in at 23 ounces. I bet a 19 ounce .38 special version would be popular.

The old M 40 or Centennial is what you want: 38, weight just right for steel j frame.

 

[snowman.45]

If your wife is dead set on .38 only, there was a 640 in .38, as someone said above, before the magnum frames came along. They are a tad smaller due to a shorter cylinder and cylinder window. They are around, but they ain't cheap.

 

[Mister X]

As others have stated, an older 640 is exactly what you're wanting.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEsjGxSjdh0[/ame]

 

[shouldazagged]

My 640, an early one built in 1990, weighs 21 ounces stock. Mine is a little heavier because it wears Pachmayr Compac grips, but it's still not at all burdensome to carry.

Splendid little SD gun.

 

[ArkieVol]

J frames

Lots of J frames to choose from...

Of the four model 60's and 640's in first pic, the 357 models have shrouded ejector rods, 38 specials do not. Stag grips by Ken Driskill.

 

[629shooter]

Ah, but it's just a tad too heavy weighing in at 23 ounces. I bet a 19 ounce .38 special version would be popular.

Try the M&P340. It's under 14 ounces, and you get a great sight picture. If you want it a little heavier, put a set of Altamont boot grips on it.

ETA: If your wife really needs to mitigate recoil a magnum 640/60/649 is going to be your best bet. It weights more so, you have less felt recoil. You can't cheat physics.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[BUFF]

If the Model 642 is unpleasant for your wife to shoot, any of the aluminum and/or scandium framed J frames will be no better. A steel frame J frame should make a big difference.

 

[rwsmith]

Get a used......

Get a lightly used all steel job like the model 36 I bought for $440 a ways back.

 

[BAM-BAM]

It's called the M640 and it's been in production for years.

It was also the first of the new 40 family line..... IIRC introduced in the very late 80s......followed by the 642 a couple years later.

Both my Dad and I had one....... Dads is now a heirloom safe queen..... mine got replaced by a 337PD.......should have got/kept both the 640 and 337.......