Best pocket/carry revolver S&W 640 or Ruger SP101?

Z

ZWolfgang

New member
For those times when you want to take a walk on the beach or a hike and slip a revolver into your coat pocket, jeans pocket, a fanny pack, or even a belt holster... which would you choose and why do you feel it's better, a Smith & Wesson 640 (internal hammer, 2 1/8" barrel, 23oz.) or a Ruger SP101 (spurless external hammer, 2 1/4" barrel, 25 oz.)?

Main difference, as I see it, is that you could fire the S&W while it was in your coat pocket, but the Ruger's external hammer would make trying that very risky.

Then, what brand and type of ammo would you stoke it with?
 
I just purchased a 640 after comparing it to the hammerless version of the SP101. I felt the 640 with boot grips conceals much easier and that the trigger and overall quality appeared to be more "finished". I like the SP101 and have a friend who loves his. I don't think you can go wrong either way, take a look at he SP101 with out the hammer spur. Best, Mike
 
Ive owned , carried (inc. pocket), shot and loved a M60 357, CIA 650 and SP101 all at the same time. Although I still have the SP and carry it everyday in pocket...Ill tell you, the 640 is the better pocket gun...no contest. Hows that for a contradiction? Not really...I liked the way the SP felt and shot for me, personal choice. With the right grips it is a very pocketable gun...MOST WILL BE NAY SAYERS..but to each there own. The J frame simply carried better in pocket...Im a little guy so I cant see how it wouldnt be the same for the larger guys also. If how it carried was my main criteria for choosing which to keep..Id still have it.
For ammo recommendations...Search for a thread about choosing ammo for your 357 snub.....
Shoot well
 
As far as I know, Ruger does not make an "internal" hammer model SP101. The SP101 without hammer spur still has a hammer which, when firing, comes out of the hammer shroud and becomes exposed... thereby allowing it to "catch" on clothing, inside a pocket, whatever... it's not a true internal hammer. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong... I'd love to know if Ruger has a true internal hammer like the S&W 640 has.
 
Had a 640 I carried for a couple of years but very rarely in pocket. It can be done of course but while you forget your even carrying it in a belt holster, it's just a bit heavy for a coat or slacks pocket in my experience. May want to try a 642 before buying...
 
BlueDuck... interesting comparison of the 640 to 642:

642: 15 oz / alum & steel / 1 7/8" barrel / .38spl +P rated

640: 23 oz / all stainless steel / 2 1/8" barrel / .357mag rated

The 642 would certainly "pack" more comfortably, but would most likely be more difficult to shoot well... tough trade off. I'd probably shoot Win SXT 130gr. .38spl +P or Gold Dot 125 gr .38spl +P JHP in either one anyway.

What's your choice now, BlueDuck?
 
ZWolfgang,

I'm currently carying 3" 65 but thats mainly for gamesmanship reasons more than anything else. We qualify three times a year and it's basically a big social event and reunion among a lot of old friends many into firearms. If I carry a 5 shot I have to shoot in a different group than most of them so I always carry a six now.

I've shot one 642 and liked it MUCH better than the Ti models. Go with what you like :)

Best, Blueduck
 
The SP has not been produced with a true internal hammer, the bobbed hammer is the only option along with the hammered gun.
I carry mine with a hammer...its shortened, reshaped and polished..it doesnt effect drawing from a pocket which was my goal. It cannot be fired from within a pocket..like the 640, with any degree of certainty.
Shoot well.
 
If "jeans pocket" is lowest on your list, then 640 would be my vote. If, however, the "jeans pocket" carry was going to be most frequent, then I'd go with Blue Duck... (and I did :) )

My wife just bought a 642 for my birthday Friday, and I carried it in my pocket all weekend! I kept forgetting it was there. Mind you, it's a bulge, but it looked about as indistinct as the keys in my other pocket...

If you do a search, or even look over a few more posts that are current, you'll find lots of folks suggesting that a .38 is better when firing .38 than a .357 firing .38, and only a couple of folks chose the .357 over the .38 for a pocket pistol.

On the other hand, if I were going to carry a revolver in my fanny pack most of the time, I wouldn't think twice about the extra weight of the 640.
 
I'm leaning towards the 640 over the SP101 because of the concealed hammer and Barami hip grip compatibility.

Since the 642 was mentioned- how does felt recoil and "follow up" shot speed of the .38 +P in the 642 compare with .357 in the 640?

Is penetration/expansion in gelatin comparable for the .38 and .357 from a snubbie?
 
between the two,i'd take the 640. biased,because that's the gun i had.
i have the deepest respect for Ruger design,and own two full size. i simply think the 640 is the best pocket gun made.
some will disagree,but i find it to be the one design which eliminates all the little things that get us killed. remind me to put this down as the best gun i had. conditional to having Spegel boot grips,this gun was a natural pointer and out shot most of my full size weapons. i would get two 640's before i got one SP for durability sake.again,i dig Rugers.
totally snag proof
DAO(no guessing at all)
high weapon retention
low bore axis
never jams
fast into action
a stronger S&W frame campared to other J's
i have since put my trust in superior offense,but this is no pocket gun. i would be just as happy going back to the 640.
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the S&W M649-3 Bodyguard.
(If someone did and I missed it, sorry.)

The Bodyguard has a shrouded hammer, so you still have SA capability, and can thumb the hammer back slightly to check for high primers.

Some people say that loose change or keys can get caught in the hammer slot; well, if you carry coins and keys in your gun pocket you are less than smart.

This model may be the best of both worlds for some people.
649.jpg


:) -Kframe
 
Have 640,642, SP101's and S&W Scandiums. A 686+ 3" is on my hip, 642 in my front pocket in a Safariland pocket holster. I won't carry the scandium's for serious work, just play. The 642 is well designed for its mission I feel as a second gun. I carry CorBon 125gr +P's @1125fps in the 642. Recoil is IMHO is no different than in any of the others.
 
Well, don't shoot, there's a few of us who'd disagree.

I had an SP that I tried carrying in the front jeans pocket, but it was just too big in the frame and the grip. I could do it, but it was bulge-y and noticeable and difficult to draw. (Weight, strangely, was so spread out as to be not terribly noticeable.)

The 940 Centennial that I have now as my "five-shot-derringer" works fine for me in the front pocket.

I'm not running down the SP at all - I think they're fine guns. Just didn't work so well in my front jeans pocket.
 
If it works for you that's great....but 25 ounces in a front pocket is probably a bit much for most people on a daily basis...muy airweight is light enough but I don't carry in my pocket mainly because the bulge is so noticeable...again, what you do, who you interact with and what you wear factor in....
 
Hey, don't, is that a J frame in your pocket or are you just happy to see the Tri Delts from UCSB?

Handle both weapons. See what you want. I used to carry a M638 as a bug loaded with +P 158 grs. on port side behind extra mags. Never carried in the pocket, do not like firearms in pockets for multiple reasons. YMMV.
 
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