Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum – Superb Hammerless Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum is The Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum is the all-steel member of the Centennial family, and the extra weight is the point. Where the Airweight models trade recoil comfort for carry weight, the 640 is built entirely from stainless steel and comes in around twenty-three ounces, which is what makes a 357 Magnum snub-nose shootable rather than merely possible.

The hammer is fully enclosed inside the frame, so there is nothing to catch on a pocket lining and nothing to cock. It is double action only by design, one long consistent trigger pull every time, which is exactly what you want from a handgun that lives in a pocket.

Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum Steel Frame And Enclosed Hammer

Chambering a snub-nosed J-frame in 357 Magnum only makes sense if the gun is heavy enough to absorb it, and that is why the Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum is all stainless steel. Those extra eight ounces over an Airweight are not a penalty here, they are the feature. They are the difference between a magnum you can practice with and one you fire five rounds through and put away with sore hands.

The enclosed hammer means the draw is completely clean. Nothing protrudes, nothing snags, and the revolver can even be fired from inside a coat pocket if it comes to that, which no semi-automatic and no exposed hammer revolver can do reliably. The cost is that you cannot cock it, so every shot is a long double action pull.

Double action only is not a limitation so much as a design decision. One consistent trigger pull, no manual safety, no decocker, nothing to forget. Draw and press. For a handgun meant to be carried constantly and used rarely, that simplicity is worth more than a light single action break.

Sights are fixed, a groove in the topstrap and a ramp up front, which is honest about the intended distance.

Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum Ammunition Choices And Honest Limits

Full-power 357 Magnum out of a two inch barrel is loud, bright and hard on the hands. The muzzle blast is genuinely startling indoors, and the short barrel does not give the powder enough distance to burn, so a good deal of the energy goes into flash and noise rather than velocity. Many experienced owners buy the Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum for the option and then carry 38 Special plus P in it, which is a reasonable choice rather than a cop-out.

The revolver fires 38 Special without any modification, which makes practice affordable and comfortable. If you do carry magnum loads, look for ammunition designed for short barrels, since standard magnum loads are built around longer tubes.

Five rounds is the capacity, and reloading a revolver under stress is slower than swapping a magazine. Speed strips and speedloaders help with practice. If capacity matters most to you, a compact semi-automatic is the better tool.

The double action pull is long and heavy, as it must be for a hammer that has to set off primers without a cocking option. It smooths out with use and improves substantially with dry fire practice. Twenty-three ounces is also heavier in a pocket than fifteen, so a good holster and a decent belt matter more here than with an Airweight.

Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 163690
• UPC: 022188636901
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Barrel: 2.125 inches
• Frame: stainless steel, J-frame, round butt
• Action: double action only, enclosed hammer
• Sights: fixed, integral rear notch and ramp front
• Grips: synthetic
• Weight: approximately 23 ounces unloaded

Buyers comparing the Smith Wesson 640 Revolver against the alloy Centennials are trading ounces for comfort. As a 357 Magnum J Frame Revolver it is the small-frame option with the most power on tap, and as an Enclosed Hammer Revolver it draws cleanly from anywhere. If you intend to actually shoot magnum loads rather than just carry them, the steel frame is the version to buy.

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum

Buy the Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum if you want a pocket revolver with a completely snag-free draw and enough weight to make magnum ammunition manageable. The all-steel build also means it will outlast almost anything you can do to it, and stainless shrugs off the sweat and lint that pocket carry produces. Having the 357 chambering gives you options even if you carry 38 Special most days.

Skip it if carry weight is your top priority, because an Airweight is about eight ounces lighter and you will feel that on a belt all day. Skip it if you want to cock the hammer for a deliberate shot, since this model cannot. And skip it if you have not fired a magnum snub-nose before, because the blast surprises most people the first time.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum

The Smith Wesson 640 Centennial 357 Magnum suits This revolver suits everyday pocket carriers, backup gun carriers, and shooters who value simplicity and reliability over capacity. It fits people who want one handgun that can be loaded up or down depending on the day. It is a poor choice for a first handgun, for anyone bothered by heavy recoil or muzzle blast, and for shooters who want target sights or a light trigger. All firearm sales ship to a licensed FFL dealer for transfer, and handgun and carry rules vary by state, so confirm your local law before ordering.

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