[Vanzpp]

I took a class recently where the instructor said he never practices with his 642 because it was his main carry gun and he didn't want to "wear it out." Instead, he rents a similar snub to practice with.

Is this being a little too cautious? I own a 642 and I have probably around 600 rounds through it. I know a gun is a mechanical device, and all mechanical devices wear out eventually. I usually practice with Amerc .38 ammo which is really anemic. I carry Buffalo Bore +P LSWCHP and practice with them occasionally. Is this a mistake? Maybe I shouldn't use too much +P ammo to practice with?

Hmmmm....any opinions? :confused:

[bflobill_69]

I would definitely wanna practice on my carry gun...

Bflobill_69

[StrikeFire83]

Sorry, but the instructor is an idiot. I'd seek a new one.

[pinkymingeo]

It has a lifetime warranty, doesn't it?

[Huddog]

He is definately being too cautious if it is his main carry he should practise with it not something like it. I try to put 50 rounds a month through mine plus at least 17 of my carry load (the five in it and two speed strips I normally carry). I have been carrying it for 2 years and put 200 through it before I carried it so maybe 12-1400 rounds. Still tight and the trigger which I had smoothed by a gunsmith about 500 ago just gets better.

[AZAndy]

I have 1200 rounds through mine. I've settled into a 100 rd/week practice routine, so it's gonna get a lot more through it as time goes by. The little dude does take require some practice just for competency.

If it breaks or wears out, I have faith the Messrs. S. and W. will make it work again.

[10-Ring]

For muscle memory, I shoot my model 60 very regularly...but I haven't shot my 442 as much

[Maddock]

Carrying a gun you have not practiced with false economy in my opinion.
I've put over 3500 rds through my 442 during the last 14 years. About 20% of them 158gr +P. The rest were mostly mid-range wad cutters that hit to the same POI/POA. I also dry-fire it at least once a week and must have 15,000 cycles on it from that.
The finish is very experienced, but it still locks up tight with good timing and with little endshake.
As the OP said, "all mechanical devices wear out eventually", that's why I have a 042 for a backup that has been shot just enough to prove it's self.

[Vanzpp]

maybe 12-1400 rounds

That's impressive!

[esq_stu]

My 642 is a sometimes BUG. If I'm going to be carrying it, I put about 50 rounds thru it per range visit, about 1/2 +P loads (I put more thru my fun guns). Maybe 1000 rounds thru it so far, over about 2 years.

My SP101 gets a harder workout - about 100 rounds, 1/2 +P .38s and 1/2 125 gr .357s each visit.

I shoot the 642 less - not because it can't handle it, but because my hand can't handle it and it's a BUG.

[Down South]

I carry a 642. I can only guess how many rounds that I've put through it. I would guestimate a couple thousand plus it has been dry fired several thousand times. I've got just as much confidence in it now as when it was new. Someone who doesn't practice with their carry piece because they think it may wear out has a problem.

[Dgreno]

I know mine has been dry fired a few thousand times. I probably have 800 rounds through it as well. There is no way I would not practice with my carry gun. My 442 is my "car" gun but it does go in the pocket every once in a while.
ETA- About half of the 800 have been +P...

[Stainz]

I keep in practice with my 642 and my 296 - they are both used as CCWs, and familiarity must be kept with the operation of both. They always wear the same boot grips that permits their pocket carry. While the 642 has been known to ping the SPC plates, just to impress me, with mild 125/130gr loads, I always finish my practice with the GA Arms 158gr LHPSWC +P - or my previous month's carry of the 'FBI' load Remington R38S12. I know my 642 has seen 1,800+ rounds since I acquired it like new 2/07. The 296, bought new, see's only 200gr Gold Dots, now just the brass cased GA Arms version. It did see ~1,200 Blazers in it's 5.5+ yr life, however (~2k now, total).

One error, early in my 296's career, which may be important for some 642 owners. I did find it much more comfortable to shoot - and shoot very well even at 100yd steel plates - with some backstrap covering Uncle Mike's Combat grips. Of course, that made it too big for a pocket gun, so it needed an OWB pancake holster, rendering it an infrequent accompaniment device. It did me little good at home or in the car, when I was out and about. A return to it's boot grip and a Mika's pocket holster restored it's pocket carry function. These revolvers were not meant to be fun plinkers, even if they are built for a long life - and have that S&W warranty. Their function is simply to protect your bacon.

Interestingly, one pocket gun I recently got for my wife's carry states that it is not meant to be shot a lot at all - just to insure it's function with your ammo. They also state to keep the last seven (6 + 1) rounds from the box(es) for carry - shooting 43-193 rounds only for 'insurance'. This little bottom-feeder is like a Rolex in it's build quality - but L.W. Seecamp states clearly not to plink with his little .32 ACP popper. Perhaps this is where your instructor got his errant info on the 642?

Stainz

[Vanzpp]

but L.W. Seecamp states clearly not to plink with his little .32 ACP popper.

With the price you pay for one of those, you SHOULD be allowed to plink with it!!

[glockman19]

I have a 442 and 642. Both have at least 800-1,000 rounds through them. I practice with my carry guns on a weekly basis.

Find another instructor.

[HB]

I would not want to carry a gun that would wear out from a little practice.........

HB

[Claude Clay]

1st mistake is using A-merc. if you use it they will make more of it and we DO NOT want that.
everyone entitled to an opinion, but your instructor is lights out with that one.

+1 on what everyone said about it is made to be used. 400 to 600 rounds was brake in and the action became smooth with quite a good feel. 2000+ rounds later not only is the gun 'one with me', it is a reliable point shooter. strong or weak hand, primary or backup.....it works.
wife & daughter each have a 332. i reload and all get shot a lot.
if restricted to 2 handguns.....642 would be one of them.

[OregonJohnny]

I carry a 642 and have about 300 or so rounds through it so far (I've only owned it for about 6 months). I plan on putting a lot more through it over the next few years. If I had any concerns that a revolver was going to "wear-out", I wouldn't buy it. That's why I buy S&W and Ruger revolvers. It sounds like this instructor doesn't have a lot of experience with well-made revolvers.

[jaydubya]

Sorry, but the instructor is an idiot. I'd seek a new one.

I agree. That instructor simply does not want to shoot his Airweight, and is lying to himself as well as you. I don't enjoy shooting my 637 (the hammered version of your 642) either, but I do twice a month. First I tape the web between my thumb and forefinger to prevent creating and popping a blister while shooting fifty rounds. Someone on another forum suggested taping the trigger finger also, to prevent trigger slap from making it hurt like someone stepped on it. I intend to try that too. And I shoot standard pressure DEWCs at the range!

Mine is a home defense weapon. It is loaded with Remington +p 158gr SWCHP. Every now and then, I fire five entire rounds of that load at the range after a box of my range load. It hurts, but in real time I won't notice.

By the way, I have around four thousand rounds through my Airweight. I expect one of my grandsons will inherit it, adequately broken in.

Cordially, Jack

[un_lucky]

Does your instructor keep his bullets in his pocket? I think that if you can shoot enough to were out a good gun then you probably can afford a new one. 2600 or so through my 642

[Shadan7]

Yeah, I'm with everyone else on this: no reason not to shoot your 642, and every reason to do so.

Only had mine about 8 months, probably have 500 - 600 rounds through it. Lot of those are standard pressure, but I do run my +P GDHP carry ammo through it every trip to the range, to finish off. At least one cylinder, commonly two. I want to make sure that I finish off with the carry ammo, so that is top of the memory queue.

Don't be afraid to use it.

7

[ARTiger]

Mine's averaged 25-50 rounds a week since 4/06. I practice with it every time at the range and I go every week. Conservatively, I'd say that's about 3000 rounds about 20% of which were +P the rest were mainly my handloads which are warm 158 gr. LSWC's. The gun still locks up good (not great, but very good) and has no perceptable endshake. The trigger has gotten so much better that new 042's feel terrible to me.

[HighVelocity]

About 300 rds of +P 38's through mine and no problems.

[1BLINDREF]

I've got somewhere between 1800-2000 through mine in just under two years. Most are standard presure 38 spl with aprox 300 rounds being +P GDHP's. I feel like my 642 is just broke in.

If your instructor added up all the $$ he has spent on renting a range gun for practice, he probably spent enough to buy a second X42 :confused:

[Vanzpp]

And S&W has a decent lifetime warranty on their guns for the original owner, so it just makes sense not to worry...

[DAdams]

300+ but I have lost count maybe 400. I have another J frame that shares the stage and it has 250+ through it. I have others too that require excersing, 686, 9mm auto, .380 autos, rifles and hence there is a rotation schedule.

[Woody174]

I've put 240 rounds through my 642 during the past 3.5 months.

[markh]

I've got about 200-300 rounds through 442. It's bug on duty and off. I trust it completely. If you wear it out S&W will take good care of you.