Through 2025, Smith & Wesson has revived some of their classic revolvers like the firm’s famous Model 10 and Model 36 revolvers, as well as the Model 19, chambered in .38 Special and .357 Magnum respectively. Thanks to input from Davidson’s, Smith & Wesson has brought back the Model 940 revolver chambered in 9mm Luger. But this time, this 940 is a modest improvement over the original.
Smith and Wesson Hammerless Revolvers
The New Smith & Wesson 940: What’s Different?
The original 940 was introduced in 1991 and discontinued in 1998. It was an all-stainless steel revolver built on the Centennial hammerless .38 caliber frame like the Model 40. But it was chambered in the 9mm Luger semi-auto pistol cartridge and the revolver was fed with moon clips.
Smith and Wesson Moon Clips
Since then, the old .38 caliber J-frame has been lengthened slightly to accommodate .357 Magnum cartridges. Snubbie sights and grips have also had a major rethink. More form-filling and compact grips are desired and sights that are easier to see, particularly in low light, are desirable.
The new 940 from Davidson’s is built on the .357 Magnum J-frame and features needed sight and grip upgrades for the modern carry experience. The new 940 features a slightly longer 2.1 inch barrel that is fluted and shrouded to fully enclose the ejector rod to protect it from damage. The front sight is a dovetailed XS tritium night sight, while the rear sight is a blacked-out rear U-notch that is likewise dovetailed for left-to-right adjustment. The revolver has a round-butt grip frame and is fitted with a pair of VZ Black Cherry checkered grips. The grips are the boot-style configuration that runs flush with the backstrap and butt, but uses finger grooves to take up the space otherwise left empty between the grip frame and the trigger guard.
Smith and Wesson Ejection
Like the original, it is a five-shot 9mm with a snag-proof enclosed hammer. The push-forward cylinder release and ejector rod assembly comparable with all Smith & Wesson snubnosed revolver remain.
The new 940 is chambered in 9mm Luger and ships with a hard case and three TK Custom moon clips. Initial MSRP of the total package is $999.
Smith & Wesson 940 Quick Specs
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Capacity: 5
- Barrel Length: 2.1 inches
- Overall Length: 6.6 inches
- Cylinder Width: 1.25 inches
- Height: 4.4 inches
- Weight: 25.6 oz. (loaded)
Shooting and Carrying Impressions
9mm revolvers have their idiosyncrasies but also their benefits. Moon clips are needed to reliably eject the empty cases, since the 9mm Luger cartridge does not have an exposed rim like typical revolver ammunition. On the other hand, the short 9mm cases eject easily and the moon clip acts as a decent speed loading device. Best of all, if you have a 9mm semi-auto pistol, a good hammerless small-framed revolver would be just the ticket for deep carry or as a backup gun, as it will shoot the same ammunition. With all of that said, not all 9mm revolvers are created equal and given that the 9mm round generates the same pressures as .357 Magnum, you will need a solidly built handgun to shoot it. With three hundred rounds down the pipe, I can attest that the 940 is just such an option.
Range Time with the Smith and Wesson Proves to be Fun and an easy Shooting Revolver
Although somewhat heavy for ankle or pocket carry, the 940 carries well along the belt line in either an IWB or OBW rig. I came to rely on the Bianchi Professional for the former and the Galco Combat Master for the latter. In spite of its density, the 940 and its VZ grips make for a low-printing product with a snag free presentation.
The Smith and Wesson 940 is a great choice for ankle carry
On the firing line, the extra weight of the 940 turns from potential hinderance to an advantage as recoil and muzzle rise is little more pronounced in its 9mm chambering than a conventional .38. But you are getting a better ballistics deal. Even with its 2.1 inch barrel, the 940 shoots 147 grain subsonics like Winchester’s Black Box defensive load, at about 980 feet per second. This hum-ho load trumps most .38 Special +P loads on the market and it gives up little in terms of controllability and accuracy. The 940 was particularly accurate with subsonic rounds, as I could readily put five rounds of the Winchester load into a 3 inch group at 10 yards. Recoil is more pronounced with +P rounds like the Hornady Critical Duty 135 grain +P, but it came nowhere near breaking my grip like conventional .357 Magnum ammunition would.
In terms of operation and ergonomics, the 940 is a mix of old and new. The push-forward cylinder release use is intuitive to use, and the ejector rod readily ejects the empty moon clips and the clips clear the grips with room to spare. The grips are short, but gives plenty of real estate for a high grip and maximum leverage on the trigger. That leverage is needed, since the 940 is a double-action-only revolver and can only be fired with a long pull of the trigger. On my Lyman scale, it measures a typical 8 ½ pounds, neither bad nor good as far as revolver triggers go. But like any J-frame, the trigger got smoother with dryfire and live-fire repetitions. But by far, the standout feature of the 940 are the sights, which appear big and jump out in low light. When going for groups, the globe front sight works against you but with quick point shooting at targets of the intended size, the sights appear with haste and allow for solid, consistent hits out to twenty-five yards. At least, for me, it does.
Reliability does not get a solid five out of five as I notched some types of ammunition, particularly foreign-made FMJ target rounds from Igman and Magtech, would not always fire when I shot the revolver without the moon clips. I also noticed the same tendency to a lesser degree with domestic Hornady and Winchester loads. Some revolvers will readily fire ammunition without the need for the clip. This 940 appears to be one of those handguns that will need the clip for best reliability.
An all-stainless small-frame revolver in 9mm like the Smith & Wesson 940 is not going to be to everyone’s taste. Even all-steel .38 Special revolvers with the wrong loads can be challenging to shoot and difficult to carry without the proper setup. But if you are looking for a shootable backup to your duty 9mm or hunting for your first carry revolver in an approachable caliber, the 940 should get a first look before making an informed decision.
To purchase a Smith and Wesson 940 visit www.galleryofguns.com
For Dealer Purchases and Pricing visit www.davidsonsinc.com
