Pre-Thanksgiving 640-1 range report

[Barth]

So I run to the range with 6 brands of 357 and 4 of 38.
The new serrated stainless steel trigger took some skin off my finger.
the traditional blood letting of a new gun - LOL!
Anyway, even with the rubber grips that baby barks and bites.

The Good:
I did find my sweet spot of power control-ability and accuracy though.
Remington Golden Saber 357 JHP clear winner for me.

The Bad:.
Of all the rounds I tried,
I had three light primer strikes with guess which round?

And the Ugly:
The gun is back at a gunsmith.

Final Notes:
Fortunately I found a locale southern good old boy gunsmith that will fix
and verify with Golden Sabers. And some other rounds of his choosing - LOL!
And even with Thanksgiving, I'll have it back in a week (or sooner) - Woo Hoo!
Plus I got 10 boxes of Golden Saber 357 online for $13.75 each.

As strange as it might sound, I'm happy now.
Oh, I also ordered two new 15 round factory Glock G22 mags for my G27.
($21.99 each on sale at Midway)
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/large/609/609030.jpg

[jeepster09]

If you want it to be a great shooter have it Magnaported...:59:



http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/IMG_0975.jpg

[jocko]

Oh that is so so sweet. I had a model 342 like that and a set of CT grips on it, what a shooter it was.. I traded it for a kel tec---I mean the kel tec factory!!!

[Bill K]

I believe that X-Grip (http://x-grips.com/products/sw.html) has now released their Glock 22 to 23 mag adapters. I'm ordering two for my 19 to 26.

[ltxi]

So I run to the range with 6 brands of 357 and 4 of 38.
The new serrated stainless steel trigger took some skin off my finger.
the traditional blood letting of a new gun - LOL!
Anyway, even with the rubber grips that baby barks and bites.

The Good:
I did find my sweet spot of power control-ability and accuracy though.
Remington Golden Saber 357 JHP clear winner for me.

The Bad:.
Of all the rounds I tried,
I had three light primer strikes with guess which round?

And the Ugly:
The gun is back at a gunsmith.

Final Notes:
Fortunately I found a locale southern good old boy gunsmith that will fix
and verify with Golden Sabers. And some other rounds of his choosing - LOL!
And even with Thanksgiving, I'll have it back in a week (or sooner) - Woo Hoo!
Plus I got 10 boxes of Golden Saber 357 online for $13.75 each.

As strange as it might sound, I'm happy now.
Oh, I also ordered two new 15 round factory Glock G22 mags for my G27.
($21.99 each on sale at Midway)
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/large/609/609030.jpg

Now I'm really in question of your original gunsmith. Lazy/flaky AND incompetent?

Might coulda just put in a half # heavier mainspring and fixed the problem yourself.

[jeepster09]

I believe that X-Grip (http://x-grips.com/products/sw.html) has now released their Glock 22 to 23 mag adapters. I'm ordering two for my 19 to 26.

:confused:

[Barth]

Now I'm really in question of your original gunsmith. Lazy/flaky AND incompetent?

Might coulda just put in a half # heavier mainspring and fixed the problem yourself.

LOL, I told the new guy the last gunsmith did a trigger job and I suspect
he used a lighter than factory spring kit that's causing the light strikes.
I actually asked if he could just put a factory spring kin in it?
Asked If I should go heaver than stock? (saw Wolff has light/reg/heavy options) as it's an SD gun.

I could do it myself, but I tend to just break everything I touch.
I've been lifting weights all my life and don't know my own strength.
I destroy everything - LOL!

I really like the new guy.
Seems like he's very reliable and motivated to get it right.
Nice change

[jeepster09]

I like the Blazer Aluminum 357 hollow points, they shoot well and actually do help on reducing "carry" weight.


http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/IMG_0974.jpg

[jeepster09]

The gunsmith's I use will not use non-oe weight springs, they just polish all the internals to make smooth as glass.

www.ahlmans.com (http://www.ahlmans.com)

[Barth]

[QUOTE=jeepster09;109969]I like the Blazer Aluminum 357 hollow points, they shoot well and actually do help on reducing "carry" weight.

I'm belt carrying so weights not an issue.
Actually put on heavier Pacmyr Compaq grips.
She's 25.0 oz empty and 27.5 loaded with Sabers.
That's like perfect for me.

Plus the Golden Sabers are SWEET.
I can empty the gun rapid fire with ease.
Daddy Like


Tried 125 gr 357 in -
Speer GDHP (Regular and Short Barrel)
Winchester PDX1 Bonded Defender
Double Tap Bonded Defense
Hornady Critical Defense

Along with the winner Golden Saber

[jeepster09]

http://www.blazer-ammo.com/blazer_chart.aspx

[Barth]

The gunsmith's I use will not use non-oe weight springs, they just polish all the internals to make smooth as glass.

www.ahlmans.com (http://www.ahlmans.com)

My old smith retired.
He did my S&W 629 and told me the same thing.
I miss that guy...

This new guy was instructed to polish and clean the action.
I never asked, nor was told, the springs would be lightened.
He did that on his own. And I will not be back!

[nksmfamjp]

Great gun. Too bad about the light primer strikes. Magnaporting makes it more fun to shoot. . .and yea, I thought they all had polished triggers. Mine does. That makes all the difference.

I liked the coated gun shown. Cool.

[Barth]

Great gun. Too bad about the light primer strikes. Magnaporting makes it more fun to shoot. . .and yea, I thought they all had polished triggers. Mine does. That makes all the difference.


The light primer strike issue will be corrected in a weeks time and forgotten.
As for the trigger, it did come polished.

My 629-2 is all stainless, including the trigger and hammer.
I found two places that carry factory J-frame stainless steel trigger assemblies and bought two.
They are narrow and serrated though.
On my 342 ti that's fine.
But the Magnum eats my trigger finger owwwww.

I think with the Sabers it will be fine though.
Plus it's shinny

[WMD]

Hey Barth,

I am with you on the Golden Sabers. That is my favorite Self Defense ammo. I have been using it for years. I carry it in my 1911 45, my Ruger SP101, and my PM9. I have always found that ammo to be a great balance of high energy hard hitting, maximum expansion, reasonable recoil ammo.

(OK Remington, you can send the check to "WMD, 210 Oak St......") :D

[Barth]

https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo40/e2/ca/5e650f664cd5__1321796309000.jpg

[JFootin]

What distance?

[jocko]

Hey Barth,

I am with you on the Golden Sabers. That is my favorite Self Defense ammo. I have been using it for years. I carry it in my 1911 45, my Ruger SP101, and my PM9. I have always found that ammo to be a great balance of high energy hard hitting, maximum expansion, reasonable recoil ammo.

(OK Remington, you can send the check to "WMD, 210 Oak St......") :D

am also going to send u another cylinder for your trumpet bike. no bike should be a 3 cylinder. Leave it to the brits to screw things up:D I bet my extra cylinder will arrive before u ever see a freebie from Remingon:behindsofa:

[ltxi]

My old smith retired.
He did my S&W 629 and told me the same thing.
I miss that guy...

This new guy was instructed to polish and clean the action.
I never asked, nor was told, the springs would be lightened.
He did that on his own. And I will not be back!

Done right, I like lighter mainsprings. I stone/polish all the DA internals on my Smith revolvers. Then go a half pound (or maybe lighter on a bobbed hammer job) light on the J-frame mainsprings and drop the rebound spring to 12 oz or less....usually need to cut a coil or two off if I've done the trigger group work right....to get the right balance. Check the gun's reliability using hardest primer ammunition I have and adjust as/if necessary. My two long time carry J-frames...a 442 and a 60...both have +/- a bit eight pound triggers and have been dead stone reliable with anything I've fed them over the last 20(?) years.

My first new J-frame since forever, M&P 340, is about to get the same treatment. That 12 or 13 pound trigger is already driving me nuts.

[Barth]

Done right, I like lighter mainsprings. I stone/polish all the DA internals on my Smith revolvers. Then go a half pound (or maybe lighter on a bobbed hammer job) light on the J-frame mainsprings and drop the rebound spring to 12 oz or less....usually need to cut a coil or two off if I've done the trigger group work right....to get the right balance. Check the gun's reliability using hardest primer ammunition I have and adjust as/if necessary. My two long time carry J-frames...a 442 and a 60...both have +/- a bit eight pound triggers and have been dead stone reliable with anything I've fed them over the last 20(?) years.

My first new J-frame since forever, M&P 340, is about to get the same treatment. That 12 or 13 pound trigger is already driving me nuts.

I looked at the parts and lighter springs were used.
Don't know if that's the problem or not. I will in a weeks time.
S&W 640-1 should be able to fire a box of Remington Golden Saber 357s
strait up without issues.
The new gunsmith totally agrees and is ordering a second box of Sabers to test with. It will work )(*)+&+)(&***!
(I just ordered 10 boxes of Sabers, so it better - LOL!)

Same guy did the same trigger job on my S&W 342 ti and I've had no issues.
But I haven't tried Sabers in it. The 11.6 oz gun lives on Speer GDHP 135 gr
+P Short Barrels.
The 640-1 fired five other brands fine.
Just the Remington had issues. I'm thinking hard primers. But still......
Was thinking of going heavier than factory just to be safe.
But the smith said factory should be fine and he will make it work.
He seems very confident and guaranteed it would be reliable when I got it back.
Will prove it works with a box of Sabers.
But also is going to test several other brands.

I'm feeling better about it now.

(He likes to rapid fire Magnums too, just like me - LOL!)

[jocko]

I had a 342 ti, ain't that a dandy sob. what an ass I was to sell it..

[Barth]

I had a 342 ti, ain't that a dandy sob. what an ass I was to sell it..

Yup, Yup,
I bought mine new when S&W first released them for a premium price of $571.
I've seem them as much as $800 NIB on the web - LOL!

That fish got away from you and isn't coming home - LOL.


At 11.6 empty and 14.0 loaded with 135 gr Speer GDHP +P Short Barrel
it's freaking amazing (better than any Micro .380 IMHO).
http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/bullet_tests.htm

Plus with Eagle Secret Service grips, a Big Dot sight on the nose
and an a trigger job the little air weight sings. And it disappears in dress slacks like a Las Vegas ....

Had a stainless steel trigger assembly installed too - Just for fun!
So the action is really glassy. Just like the full size classic SS S&W revolver.


They really don't make em like that anymore