Smith & Wesson Model 648

About the Smith & Wesson Model 648

The Smith & Wesson Model 648 is an eight-shot, double-action/single-action revolver chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR), built on Smith & Wesson's medium K-frame in stainless steel. Originally introduced in 1989 and discontinued in the early 2000s, the Model 648 was reintroduced in 2022 as the 648-2 with modern updates. The revolver features a 6-inch full-underlug barrel with serrated top rib for glare reduction, a Patridge-style front sight, and a fully adjustable square-notch rear sight. The satin stainless finish is complemented by color case-hardened trigger and hammer that provide both aesthetic distinction and a harder bearing surface. The K-frame size gives the 648 the same handling characteristics as the classic Model 10 and Model 19 revolvers, making it an excellent training analog for centerfire K-frame revolvers. At 46 ounces (1310g), the substantial weight virtually eliminates felt recoil from the mild .22 WMR cartridge, enabling precision target shooting. The double-action trigger pull averages approximately 12 pounds (53 N), while the single-action pull breaks cleanly at approximately 5 pounds (22 N). The fluted eight-shot cylinder features recessed chambers, and the long ejector rod ensures reliable case extraction. The .22 WMR cartridge delivers approximately 1950 fps (594 m/s) from the 6-inch barrel with 40-grain loads, producing approximately 457 joules of muzzle energy.

The .22 WMR revolver has a special place in the Smith & Wesson lineup. When Winchester introduced the .22 Magnum cartridge in 1959, Smith & Wesson was among the first manufacturers to chamber a revolver for it with the Model 48. The cartridge occupied a unique niche -- too powerful and expensive for casual plinking but offering genuine small game and varmint capability that .22 LR could not match. The reintroduction of the Model 648 in 2022 was driven by popular demand from revolver enthusiasts who appreciated the K-frame's balance and handling in a rimfire package, and by the growing recognition that .22 WMR provides meaningful defensive capability in a full-size revolver platform.

Smith & Wesson Model 648 specifications

The Model 648 was originally introduced in 1989 as a stainless version of the blued Model 48, which itself debuted in 1959 alongside the .22 WMR cartridge. The original 648 was built on the K-frame with a 6-inch barrel and six-shot cylinder. It was discontinued in the early 2000s as Smith & Wesson focused on centerfire products. The 2022 reintroduction as the 648-2 brought significant upgrades: the cylinder capacity increased from 6 to 8 rounds, the barrel received a full underlug for improved balance, and the trigger and hammer received color case-hardening. The K-frame in .22 WMR serves dual purposes: it is an excellent target and small game revolver in its own right, and it provides an affordable training platform that handles identically to centerfire K-frames like the Model 10 (.38 Special) and Model 19 (.357 Magnum). The .22 WMR cartridge offers significantly more power than .22 LR -- roughly triple the muzzle energy -- making the 648 effective for varmints and small game at moderate distances. The rifling twist rate is approximately 1:16 inches (406mm) with 6 grooves, right-hand twist, optimized for the .22 WMR's longer, heavier bullets compared to .22 LR. The loaded weight estimate includes eight .22 WMR cartridges at approximately 2.6g each. MSRP is approximately $739.