s & w 640 pro series 2" .357

3751 Views 23 Replies 5 Participants Last post by hawkguy, Jan 24, 2013

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · Dec 2, 2012 (Edited)

hey all.

i have done some research, talked to a few guys at gun shops, held a snubby 640 (not pro series), all in all, i think this is the direction i want to go.

i'm attracted to the nice steel and improved sights. i know it is probably overpriced, but for once i wanted to invest in a slightly higher quality gun.

i wanted a compact pistol with some power because i don't have one. i have considered a concealed carry on and off. if i decide to get a concealed license, then this would be the gun i would use.

any opinions on this gun? any owners with praise or complaints? other models to consider?

all input appreciated.

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magnumman

· #2 · Dec 2, 2012

Smith and Wesson makes the best wheel guns on the market IMO. If you are comfortable with that round in that small of a gun, then I don't think you can go wrong.

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 2, 2012

magnumman said:
Smith and Wesson makes the best wheel guns on the market IMO. If you are comfortable with that round in that small of a gun, then I don't think you can go wrong.

thanks for the input. i'd probably shoot 38's out of it 80% of the time. but its nice to have the option for the higher power round as well.

i would go with the cheaper aluminum frames, but i had a friend who told me they are very "snappy" even with 38's.....and i want my recoil sensitive wife to feel comfy shooting this gun.

magnumman

· #4 · Dec 2, 2012

hawkguy said:
thanks for the input. i'd probably shoot 38's out of it 80% of the time. but its nice to have the option for the higher power round as well.

i would go with the cheaper aluminum frames, but i had a friend who told me they are very "snappy" even with 38's.....and i want my recoil sensitive wife to feel comfy shooting this gun.

I have an aluminum 442. It is a little snappy but it isn't horrible. My wife shoots it sometimes with no problems.

Clem

· #5 · Dec 4, 2012

I have a 640 and a 340. The 340 is for carry much, shoot little. The 640 is the range gun. Both were off quite a bit in windage. I had dovetailed front sights fitted on both so I could sight them in to my satisfaction. If the 640 Pro had been available, I would have jumped on it.

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willfully armed

· #6 · Dec 4, 2012

I've sold my 442 and M60. Should've never sold the 60, but I turned a $250 profit. My next will be a 340pd.

J frames aren't range guns, they serve purpose as a concealable handgun. And have done a fantastic job for decades.

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 5, 2012

Clem said:
I have a 640 and a 340. The 340 is for carry much, shoot little. The 640 is the range gun. Both were off quite a bit in windage. I had dovetailed front sights fitted on both so I could sight them in to my satisfaction. If the 640 Pro had been available, I would have jumped on it.

how do you like your 640? any complaints? can you get decent accuracy at say 10 yards?

was fitting the new sights expensive?

thanks

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 5, 2012

willfully armed said:
I've sold my 442 and M60. Should've never sold the 60, but I turned a $250 profit. My next will be a 340pd.

J frames aren't range guns, they serve purpose as a concealable handgun. And have done a fantastic job for decades.

i see your point, but i'm hoping with the better sights, it could be used to punch paper at the range now and then? you have to train with your carry gun, right?

Clem

· #9 · Dec 6, 2012

hawkguy said:
how do you like your 640? any complaints? can you get decent accuracy at say 10 yards?

was fitting the new sights expensive?

thanks

I have no issues with the 640. I smoothed up the internals and the trigger is now very good. The accuracy is actually very good, it just required windage adjustment so I spent some bucks on the front sight. I don't remember what it cost, but it wasn't cheap.

I basically consider the little guns in .357 to be .38s with extra margins of strength.

I also like the 340. It will make a better carry gun, if I can ever get a CCW, but I am not convinced of the durability of aluminum frame guns. I have several, but I don't shoot any of them too much. I have nearly identical stainless guns that I shoot regularly. While the accuracy with less than full power loads is very good, with loads approaching full power the recoil is severe enough that the gun is moving before the bullet leaves the barrel and accuracy suffers, at least for me. The Pachmayr Decelerator grips help me. They are much bigger than the factory grips.

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 6, 2012

Clem said:
I have no issues with the 640. I smoothed up the internals and the trigger is now very good. The accuracy is actually very good, it just required windage adjustment so I spent some bucks on the front sight. I don't remember what it cost, but it wasn't cheap.

I basically consider the little guns in .357 to be .38s with extra margins of strength.

I also like the 340. It will make a better carry gun, if I can ever get a CCW, but I am not convinced of the durability of aluminum frame guns. I have several, but I don't shoot any of them too much. I have nearly identical stainless guns that I shoot regularly. While the accuracy with less than full power loads is very good, with loads approaching full power the recoil is severe enough that the gun is moving before the bullet leaves the barrel and accuracy suffers, at least for me. The Pachmayr Decelerator grips help me. They are much bigger than the factory grips.

thanks for your feedback. do hammers give you any trouble with carry?

willfully armed

· #11 · Dec 7, 2012

hawkguy said:
thanks for your feedback. do hammers give you any trouble with carry?

They're useless for pocket carry.

I love a chiefs special, and prefer it to a hammerless or DAO.

Clem

· #12 · Dec 7, 2012

hawkguy said:
thanks for your feedback. do hammers give you any trouble with carry?

The hammers are internal. They are not capable of grabbing clothing in a draw.

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 7, 2012

Clem said:
The hammers are internal. They are not capable of grabbing clothing in a draw.

duh. sorry. i looked backed, for some reason i was thinking you had a 60. my fault.

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 7, 2012

willfully armed said:
They're useless for pocket carry.

I love a chiefs special, and prefer it to a hammerless or DAO.

thanks, i figured as much. explain chiefs special?

Clem

· #15 · Dec 7, 2012

I like shooting double action, so the double action only models 340 and 640 work well for me. In addition, the geometry of the hammer and trigger of the hammerless guns is supposed to be just a bit different, which is supposed to improve the trigger action. I don't know, but I do know that I like mine.

BlackWidow

· #16 · Dec 10, 2012

Chiefs Special is what they called the Model 36 before S&W used model numbers. When they made it in stainless in 1965, they called it the Model 60 and there was a waiting list to buy them for the first few years. The M60 was the first production stainless revolver.

Back to the 640 Pro Series...I think it's one of the best J-frames ever built. Very sturdy, great sights, easy to carry, and handles a wide range of ammo. What's not to like?

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 11, 2012

BlackWidow said:
Chiefs Special is what they called the Model 36 before S&W used model numbers. When they made it in stainless in 1965, they called it the Model 60 and there was a waiting list to buy them for the first few years. The M60 was the first production stainless revolver.

Back to the 640 Pro Series...I think it's one of the best J-frames ever built. Very sturdy, great sights, easy to carry, and handles a wide range of ammo. What's not to like?

thanks for the info and your input!

willfully armed

· #18 · Dec 11, 2012

A chiefs special has a hammer. Useless for pocket carry. I carried mine in a JIT slide OWB.

Mine was a m60 with the 2 1/8". Greatest j frame ever.

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 12, 2012

willfully armed said:
A chiefs special has a hammer. Useless for pocket carry. I carried mine in a JIT slide OWB.

Mine was a m60 with the 2 1/8". Greatest j frame ever.

thanks for letting me know.

hawkguy

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 22, 2013

well

here she is......

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