Anyone with Smith & Wesson 640 experience

[Friesland]

Wondering about the Smith & Wesson model 640 .357 mag. 5 shot revolver.

What's the double-action trigger pull like, can and how to improve it?

How are the stock grips, do they reduce felt recoil?

I like the sights on the model 640 Pro, is it possible to install these on the base model?

My use would be a second 38 Special (.357 mag rarely) revolver, back-up for a S&W model 13. I might be a little more likely to pack-it around on trails and camping.

Many Thanks

[Maht_g]

I had a 642, which is the airweight version of the 640... I thought the trigger was decent, definitely good enough to be proficient at with a small amount of practice. I had some aftermarket rebound and hammer springs but never found the need to install them. I don't believe the sights can be retrofitted to the regular frame, which just has the inset groove as a sight. Might be wrong, but would definitely require some milling and would be costly and probably not needed on a defensive gun. The stock grips are meant to conceal, not absorb recoil. I used pachmyr compac grips when I wanted to shoot more than a few cylinders and they worked great!

[Archon_g24]

I have a bone stock 642 that I use as a summer carry option. The trigger pull is heavy but it's a ccw gun, not a target revolver. It points well enough to get a cylinder center of mass as fast as I can pull the trigger at qualifying distances.

Recoil with +p loads is no big deal if you have any shooting experience.

357 would be a waste in this short of a barrel imho.

[Ranger20]

I've had and shot around 50 rounds of 357 through my 640 M&P. I qualified with mine and shot a 297 out of 300. 30 rounds of 357 OUCH my hand stung for a good half day after that..
I don't feel that any small grip rubber or otherwise is going to help the Sting you will feel when you shoot it with 357 magnum. However, if you put on the larger Hogue j frame grips on it that will help some which sort of defeats the purpose of this little blaster as this is a carry gun.
I shot 38+P and standard 38 and it was much more comfortable. There is no getting around the 357 magnum punishment unless you shoot lighter weight loads or reduced 357 which equates mostly to 38+P.
The benefit of this gun is the front Night Site and if you also carry a 357 larger revolver this keeps the same ammo option.

I now use a 442 and find it much easier to shoot even with the same loads in 38... the 442 is a little heavier and more controllable for me.
I do think the 640 is a good option but don't kid yourself into thinking you can make it into a nice soft shooting 357magnum.
Apex makes trigger kits for J frames I've never used them. I see the benefit of them only if you are not strong enough to pull the trigger smoothly. Lets face it the snubby is a close in choice for most. Sure you can shoot 25 yards with one and many do so...

If you want 357 power in a small package I recommend a SP 101 Ruger. The trade off is weight . The Ruger is 10oz heavier or close to...
That is All I got. Just one mans opinion based on Actual use of said firearm.

Would I own another? nearly double the cost of a 442 or 642... Sure... but only for the front site.. I'd prob just shoot +P in it.. Unless it was a backup to a 357 as stated earlier. That also seems to be the way you are headed with your stated carry of 38+P... then I'd say yes it's a good purchase realize the money spent is really for the front site...
Try b4 you buy if you can...
They are fun to shoot...if you like pain... in a way it is like putting a 427 big block in a datsun pickup.. Oh that's NISSAN for you younger guys.. LOL

[Friesland]

Thanks, more of a back-up, trail, and camp handgun with 38 Special loads

I've had and shot around 50 rounds of 357 through my 640 M&P. I qualified with mine and shot a 297 out of 300. 30 rounds of 357 OUCH my hand stung for a good half day after that..
I don't feel that any small grip rubber or otherwise is going to help the Sting you will feel when you shoot it with 357 magnum. However, if you put on the larger Hogue j frame grips on it that will help some which sort of defeats the purpose of this little blaster as this is a carry gun.
I shot 38+P and standard 38 and it was much more comfortable. There is no getting around the 357 magnum punishment unless you shoot lighter weight loads or reduced 357 which equates mostly to 38+P.
The benefit of this gun is the front Night Site and if you also carry a 357 larger revolver this keeps the same ammo option.

I now use a 442 and find it much easier to shoot even with the same loads in 38... the 442 is a little heavier and more controllable for me.
I do think the 640 is a good option but don't kid yourself into thinking you can make it into a nice soft shooting 357magnum.
Apex makes trigger kits for J frames I've never used them. I see the benefit of them only if you are not strong enough to pull the trigger smoothly. Lets face it the snubby is a close in choice for most. Sure you can shoot 25 yards with one and many do so...

If you want 357 power in a small package I recommend a SP 101 Ruger. The trade off is weight . The Ruger is 10oz heavier or close to...
That is All I got. Just one mans opinion based on Actual use of said firearm.

Would I own another? nearly double the cost of a 442 or 642... Sure... but only for the front site.. I'd prob just shoot +P in it.. Unless it was a backup to a 357 as stated earlier.
Try b4 you buy if you can...
They are fun to shoot...if you like pain... in a way it is like putting a 427 big block in a datsun pickup.. Oh that's NISSAN for you younger guys.. LOL

[Ranger20]

You will like it.. On the trail, as its' weight is negligible. I had the scandium and titanium cylinder model that shot up to 38 +P it was even lighter. 11 oz If I remember right.
Best to you in your quest!

Here is my 442... there are shops that will put on a night site but it's prob the cost differential to just buying a 640..

[snafu510]

The double action pull on the J frames is different than the K and bigger Smiths. The coil spring feels different and the trigger breaks earlier. I find it more difficult to shoot well. Dry fire practice helps a lot.

Trigger pull can be improved the same as any other Smith, with internal smoothing or by replacing springs. Apex makes a good kit. I put my stock springs back in though because I got a light strike. Probably a high primer as it was one of my reloads and that happens, but I put the stock springs back anyway.

I imagine the recoil of a .357 in one would be tough. 38 +p is as much as I want to deal with. Anticipation of all that recoil would be tough for me.

[Barbarosa]

If you like the sights on the Pro and want a better trigger I suggest getting the Pro. It is also cut for moon clips for quick reloads. Trigger is better than most snubbies and the sights are really sweet.

[L-2]

For info to readers like me arriving late to this thread, we're mainly talking about the S&W 640,

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-640

&/or 640Pro,

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/performance-center-model-640

(Not the 340M&P, https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-340 ) although I believe Post#4 is talking about the 340M&P.

I do like my 640Pro and previously had a regular 640, among other S&W revolvers. I can recommend the 640Pro for the OP's purpose. Grips are always a personal/individual choice and everybody will have his favorites. As someone mentioned, I also use the Pachmayr "Compac" grips, but there are probably others I'd like but just not bought & tried.

[HOGDOG1955]

my wifes 640 fits both of our hands better since i got her a set of crimson trace grips for it. she can handle the mag loads but 38 is much better and for home defense i keep it load with 38 plus p for her. the draw back to the bigger grips is it doesnt fit easily in my front pants pocket as it does with the stock grips. if i am ever to carry legally i would probably buy another 640 for myself.

[gunner336]

640

I love my 640. I Use it for in the jacket pocket carry in cold weather . As it is to hard to reach my belt gun under a coat. I have a trigger job on mine and also the rubber pachmayr.

[pd5190]

I have an older 640 in 38 special, with a 3" barrel, The trigger pull is good for a revolver. I have large hands so I needed to up the grip size for better comfort while shooting it.

[Ann Nonimus]

This is CalGuns, not Texguns. . . why not call up your local 2A attorney and discuss all those trigger jobs so many of you voluntarily did chose to deface your sidearm? Really, surprised you folks just don't perceive an issue with that. . . all these big, strong men and you can't pull a 4.3 lb. trigger but you feel you NEED a firearm?

[Ann Nonimus]

I could hear the State attorney now:

So. . . you voluntarily changed the springs that your firearm came with. . . AND you paid someone other than the factory to whittle down the trigger EASIER? To shoot someone? I read here, the factory pull is generally 4.3 lbs. . . are you telling us, that you haven't 4.3 lbs of pull in that big 260 lb. frame of yours? I own a revolver, I'm a buck ten and I wouldn't apply for the privilege to carry, if I felt I needed to make the gun easier to kill someone. . .

Let me advise you, as a 2A Friend here: Stop that nonsense with the trigger/coil spring adjustments. . . it might be the difference between a civil liability or a State finding or both. . . I may be a new kid here, but people, why?

[Maht_g]

Not sure what DAO revolver youre using but I've never had one with a 4.3# trigger pull... single action revolvers maybe but a 640 is dao