Anyone have any experience with the S&W model 640?

[JulesMaximus]

I'm kind of thinking of picking one up locally for $499 brand new on sale. My only concern is how much of a whallop it packs. .357 Magnum out of a 2.5" barrel small frame revolver should be fairly brutal but not as bad as the airweight models. This one is all stainless steel at least.

Anyway, I'm looking for someone who has fired one of these and/or owns one. I know the Smith & Wesson revolvers are top notch so reliability doesn't concern me. I won't be carrying it, it is just another fun gun to own and take to the range and/or for the zombie apocalypse.

 

[mgttr]

I have a S&W 640 in .38 Special. It's painful enough shooting it with +P .38 loads - can't imagine how nasty it would be in .357 Magnum. If you're looking for a gun to shoot a lot at the range, this is not it. Don't expect great accuracy either.

With the short barrel and concealed hammer, it's designed for carry use and short range action. If you want it just because it's cool (and it is), that's fine - just don't expect it to be a really enjoyable gun to shoot.

 

[schneiderguy]

My Grandpa has one of those and I've shot it a couple of times. It's OK with .38special loads, but after a few rounds of .357 I was done shooting it for the day. My Grandpa can shoot it with .357 all day though so maybe I'm just a pussy.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have a S&W 640 in .38 Special. It's painful enough shooting it with +P .38 loads - can't imagine how nasty it would be in .357 Magnum. If you're looking for a gun to shoot a lot at the range, this is not it. Don't expect great accuracy either.

With the short barrel and concealed hammer, it's designed for carry use and short range action. If you want it just because it's cool (and it is), that's fine - just don't expect it to be a really enjoyable gun to shoot.

Is your 640 an airweight? I used to have one of those, and yes, it was punishing with +P loads. This gun however is stainless steel so it should take some of the punishment out of it. I had a Taurus .38 snub nose revolver (5 shot, just like the airweight S&W) and that wasn't nearly as punishing to shoot as the airweight was. I have other guns for range enjoyment but I like guns like this too.

I might take a look at it tonight and decide if it feels substantial enough. A good set of grips might go a long way toward taming it too.

 

[mgttr]

Is your 640 an airweight? I used to have one of those, and yes, it was punishing with +P loads. This gun however is stainless steel so it should take some of the punishment out of it. I had a Taurus .38 snub nose revolver (5 shot, just like the airweight S&W) and that wasn't nearly as punishing to shoot as the airweight was. I have other guns for range enjoyment but I like guns like this too.

I might take a look at it tonight and decide if it feels substantial enough. A good set of grips might go a long way toward taming it too.

Mine is stainless. I was shooting old Corbon +P loads with heavier bullets (I want to say 158gr?) It might have less kick with lighter bullets, which is probably what you should be shooting with it anyway. I have Craig Spegel Cocobolo wood boot grips (http://www.craigspegel.com/) on my 640, so there's no rubber grips to soak up any recoil shock either.

 

[alkemyst]

a .357 magnum with a 2.5" barrel is saved for special occasions.

 

[pontifex]

Is your 640 an airweight? I used to have one of those, and yes, it was punishing with +P loads. This gun however is stainless steel so it should take some of the punishment out of it. I had a Taurus .38 snub nose revolver (5 shot, just like the airweight S&W) and that wasn't nearly as punishing to shoot as the airweight was. I have other guns for range enjoyment but I like guns like this too.

I might take a look at it tonight and decide if it feels substantial enough. A good set of grips might go a long way toward taming it too.

I dunno, I have a Colt Trooper 4" in .357 mag and .357 is a beast out of that even.

 

[JulesMaximus]

a .357 magnum with a 2.5" barrel is saved for special occasions.

You have to shoot them all occasionally. Otherwise, why have them?

Hell, I have a little Beretta .32 ACP I almost never shoot. Now that little fucker is punishing to shoot-primarily because it is so small it is hard to get it to fit comfortably in my hand. It has a really heavy trigger pull too. Maybe I'll get rid of that and get the .357 Magnum.

 

[BladeVenom]

Have you considered a 10mm? A lot of the 10mm ammo are light loads, loaded down to about .40S&W levels, but the full power loads are more powerful than a .357.

A Glock 29 is going to be about the same size as a snub nosed 640, and you get twice the ammo capacity and all other advantages of a semi-automatic pistol.

I've been thinking about a Glock 20. No need for a .357 if you have a 10mm.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I dunno, I have a Colt Trooper 4" in .357 mag and .357 is a beast out of that even.

I used to have a model 686 .357 Magnum with a 4" barrel and Hogue grips. Wasn't at all punishing IMO. That is a medium frame revolver though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Have you considered a 10mm? A lot of the 10mm ammo are light loads, loaded down to about .40S&W levels, but the full power loads are more powerful than a .357.

A Glock 29 is going to be about the same size as a snub nosed 640, and you get twice the ammo capacity and all other advantages of a semi-automatic pistol.

I've been thinking about a Glock 20. No need for a .357 if you have a 10mm.

There are times I've thought about getting one but they are hard to find and ammo is even harder to find.

Honestly, I don't really have a need for .357 either. I have a .44 Magnum revolver already along with a couple .45 ACP handguns and a 9mm handgun.

 

[BladeVenom]

If you want a 10mm, I'm sure your local gun store can get you one. You can always order the ammo online. You can get a .40 barrel for your 10mm so you can also shoot that out of it.

 

[alkemyst]

You have to shoot them all occasionally. Otherwise, why have them?

Hell, I have a little Beretta .32 ACP I almost never shoot. Now that little fucker is punishing to shoot-primarily because it is so small it is hard to get it to fit comfortably in my hand. It has a really heavy trigger pull too. Maybe I'll get rid of that and get the .357 Magnum.

Correct, but a snub-nose makes for a terrible home defense gun which I thought was what the OP was looking for.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Correct, but a snub-nose makes for a terrible home defense gun which I thought was what the OP was looking for.

I am the OP. And I already have some excellent home defense guns. I own 5 different handguns and a bunch of rifles and shotguns including a 12 gauge pump.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I've got a 4" 357 revolver with wooden grips and it kicks like a damn mule especially with + loads. It's a real smooth shooter with 38spl and much easier to hit a target with the 38's. I shot 25 rounds of hot handload 357's thru it a few months back and my hand was still tingling half an hour after I was done.

I can only imagine a 2.5" is gonna kick even worse, as other have said probably not a range sweetheart

 

[voodoochylde]

I had a Smith Model 60 in stainless. 5-rounds (based on the J-Frame), exposed hammer, 3" barrel, rubber grips. I LOVED that dang gun. Amazingly accurate for a pocket rocket and even 158gr 357 mag loads weren't bad.

38SPL, puh-leez.

Keep in mind, I'm not recoil sensitive.