Smith & Wesson Model 646

Smith & Wesson Model 646
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	United States of America
Production history
Designed	2000
Manufacturer	Smith & Wesson
Specifications
Cartridge	.40 S&W
Action	Double-action
Feed system	Six round cylinder loaded with moon clips

The Smith & Wesson Model 646 is a six-shot, double-action revolver chambered for the .40 S&W pistol cartridge, manufactured in 2000 and 2003 by the U.S. company Smith & Wesson.

Design

The 646 was offered in a stainless steel finish with titanium cylinder. Production was limited to 300 guns. It was offered in a Performance Center version in 2000 as a space-age looking stainless steel revolver with a slab-sided heavy barrel and matte gray titanium cylinder. In 2003 a limited run was made in a more traditional L-Frame revolver design.

Operation and availability

The 646 is unusual in that it is a revolver chambered for a rimless cartridge generally used only for semi-automatic pistols. In order to effectively use the rimless .40 S&W cartridge, the revolver utilized moon clips, a metal flange which holds the cartridges in place for loading and ejection.

But unlike other moon clip revolvers such as the 610 and 625, the 646 generally wouldn't fire a cartridge without the clips. Dogged by persistent complaints of sticky extraction, ignition problems caused by varying rim thickness on factory .40 ammo, and a MSRP just shy of $850, it vanished without much comment after its short run.

See also

• Smith & Wesson Model 686
• Smith & Wesson
• Moon clip