[Kentucky Rifle]

I got up yesterday morning with nothing much to do. Figured I'd slide over to my favorite gun shop...just to say "Hello".
But, I took my checkbook. :) (You never know.) And, there they were. 642's on sale for $359.95. I mean...I had to buy one...Right??? My first Centennial model too. Oddly, it feel's smaller without a hammer. I have it on right now.
Ah Marko, you finally convinced me. :)

KR

[MikeJ]

Congratulations on your new 642, the ultimate lightweight snubby in my opinion. I have never seen them under $399, you got a very good deal. Mike

[Kentucky Rifle]

The mod. 637's were on sale for 10 bucks LESS than the mod. 642's! Also, my regular gun shop owner had gotten free shipping~~AND passed that savings along to ME! (Can you believe THAT!) I've got several .38's with hammers. This is my first "Centennial Model". I'm thinking about going down to my bench and installing some Hogue "Pau Ferro" wood grips. Besdes looking better, the Hogues have a slight palm swell that spreads the recoil around and will make shooting +P's a breeze. (At least, that's how it's been on all the other .38's.) What do you think? (The Hogues will make the 642 slightly heavier.)
I haven't bought an auto chucker since C.R. Sam sent me a e-mail stating: "Boyo, why are you buying all those autos? Wheels rule". I really pay attenton to what "more experienced shooters AND more experienced pilots" tell me. That's saved my life more than once.
Oh, I still think that my 642 is smaller and even lighter than my 638. (Or any other .38 I own.) I've got a shark skin holster and matching gunbelt from Rafter that I've used solely for my mod 331. The new 642 slides right in. My other .38's don't do that. They're all a tighter fit except for "Ol Blue". (That's what I call my oldest .38 Special snub. According to Tamara's book, it was manufactured in 1977. By the way, anybody got any thoughts on why this '77 model snub would be slimmer?)

KR

[BigG]

Gee. I don't know. I'd rather get one with a hammer for those long range gunfights. /sarcasm

[Kentucky Rifle]

Even though I've got all those hammers, I realized that I use DAO 98% of the time, sooOOoo~why not buy a slick little Centennial Model? I was back in the owner's office filling out "The Paper":rolleyes: when my eyes went to a Ruger he keeps hidden back there, (Emergencies, ya' know. Made me wonder how many other revolvers he had hidden around.)
Anyway, this Ruger was really nice. I think it said GP100 on the side, but it didn't have my full attention at the time. However, I did pick it up. Stainless steel. ~3 inches of barrel. .357 mag. It had a hammer that showed, but there was no way to cock it. Clearly, it was meant to be a DAO. .357 mag Rugers are quite nice. Hummmmm.

KR

[MikeJ]

Hi Kentucky Rifle,

I had seen the 637 on sale at very good prices but never the 642. I love the Centennial model and have the 640 in .357 that has become my "walking" gun when I go out for a stroll in the evening. I also have a 37 Airweight from the 80's that is nickel plated and just beautiful. It of course has the hammer. I prefer the Unlce Mike's boot grips on my J frames but I am sure the Hogues would do a great job. By the way, I love those 3" GP100's, that is going to be my next gun. Best, Mike

[BigG]

Hey, Kaintuck, glad you saw the light! Welcome to the right side! :evil:

[El Tejon]

Excellent choice.

I prefer the 638, never liked to roll check on the trigger. Yikes!:eek:

However, it is widely known that I am a sissy and highly allergic to lead.:D

[BluesBear]

Which shop is that KyRifle?

[Kentucky Rifle]

Tilford's

KR
(Anybody else get the impression that the 642 is smaller or more sleek. All I know is that it goes in a smaller holster than my 638.)

[BigG]

Definitely more sleek than that pregnant guppy Bodyguard. I think you'll grow to like your new piece, KYRIFLE. :cool:

[SnWnMe]

Good deal. I noticed that for some reason, 642s are better priced than their blued sisters the 442s.

You'll love your Centennial. If your state blessed you with CCW you'll quickly see that it just goes anywhere! Small and light enough not to get in the way when engaged in day to day matters.

Hang on tight when shooting those +Ps!

[Kentucky Rifle]

I thought it a little strange that my favorite shop didn't have any 442's in the case. They usually do. Then, I thought it was downright odd that there wasn't an AirLite Ti or Sc in the shop either. I asked about this because I've seen people snapping them up. The counter lady told me that the owner just about won't put the AirLite Ti/Sc's in the showcase unless someone "special orders" one. I think he feels bad about it. I've seen it several times~~guy comes in and thinks, "Wow! A .357 Mag that I can carry in my POCKET"! Then he goes out and shoots it and brings it right back to the shop due to the heavy recoil. Those light .357 snubs just aren't fun to shoot. I once watched a new shooter who was going for his CCW THAT weekend come in and buy a brand new model 360 and a box of full-house .357's. The counter lady tried to talk him into another revolver. He wouldn't budge. Then she tried to talk him into at least buying a box of .38 +P's for his test. He still wouldn't budge. As he was filling out the form, the last thing I heard him say is, "I'm SURE I'll be able to handle the recoil. I've often wondered if he passed the shooting portion of the test. Here in Kentucky, you get 20 shots. Eleven of which MUST go into the black at 21 feet. It must have been torture. I know that I certainly wouldn't want to shoot a 12 ounce revolver 20 times with full-house .357's in it. But then, I've got a little arthritis in my fingers. I don't know WHY a new shooter would pick such a pistol. He must have thought that it was going to be his carry weapon.<shrug> With a sigh, she finally gave in and sold him what he wanted.

I don't think I'll have to "hold on" too tight when I shoot +P's. :) Couldn't be much worse than my Glock 27. (Could it?)
And I love my G27! :)

KR

[Chairman Meow]

I have been stashing twenties in the safe for a while to get an Eotech for the AR but my local store has 642's on sale for $340 and 442's for $400. Guess the Bushy will have to wait for Christmas! :D

Now I have to decide which color to get. Anybody know if there is any functional difference between the black and the grey finishes, like scratching or fading or anything? Seems like the black would have to be a finish but the grey is just the bare metal right? I will also need a carry rig for it. I carry my 1911 IWB because its the only way I can conceal it. Whats the preferred method of carry for a little snubby? I would like to keep it in the waist area but I am open to the idea of an ankle rig.

[BluesBear]

Ahh Tilford's. I used to live about a mile down the street from him when he first got started. He was always a great guy to deal with.

[Chairman Meow]

Bought it today. :D

[ajacobs]

No functional difference between the 442 and the 642. They are both andonized on the Al.

I saw them recently on sale at my local shop for the same price, 359.99. So I bought a second on thursday of last week. After several thousand dry fires, the trigger has cleaned up to a more managable lever. My other one does not have the lock though. I also did a large number of dry fires before ever cleaning and lubing and the trigger was sticking to the rear a few times but after a clean and a lube and 1000 more dry fires no repeats. I have also noticed sparks fly from the firing pin on many of the dry fires, is this an idication of a problem?

[popeye]

Since this was brought up lemmee ax da question. I have two Centennial style J's, a 640 .38 special, and a .042. I remember reading (somewhere) dry firing Centennials was bad? I use snap caps in everything. They're cheap.