[vicdotcom]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to see how the recoil on a 638/642. I know it is subjective and hard to gauge, but I am having trouble finding one to try out before I buy. With regular .38 (not +P). Is it enoyable to shoot or a bear after a few hundred rounds?

I have the opportunity to pick one up but not sure if I will enjoy it as much as my model 10. They want 500$ for it also which I think seems a little high.

It will be my hiking/backpacking gun if I choose to get it, but I like to practice a lot with my handguns and if it isnt fun to shoot, I know I wont put in the time. I would just keep the weight of the m-10.

Thanks in advance for any advice all!
Vic

[btg3]

Opinions vary. Depends on the fit -- some prefer different grips--and how sensitive your hands are.

For me, the 642 is a delight. Even with +P, there is no discomfort and follow-up shots are not a problem.

Read all the opinions, but in the end, you DO need to shoot it for yourself. Where are you located? Someone here may be willing to get together and share.

Also FWIW, I rented a P3AT and was easily convinced that I wanted nothing more to do with the pain that pistol gave me. Others love to shoot it.

[ArchAngelCD]

I have both a M638 and a M642 and while they aren't overly uncomfortable to shoot I wouldn't call shooting 200 rounds enjoyable. When I practice with more than 50 rounds I first change out the boot grips for a set of full size Pachmayr grips to help prevent too much discomfort in my hand. Don't get me wrong, shooting an Airweight isn't painful but 200 rounds of +P is uncomfortable. Standard pressure ammo is less uncomfortable especially with 148gr Wadcutter handloads.

An Airweight was never meant as a range gun, it's a carry gun. It's very good at what it's intended to be.

[earplug]

I treat it as a tool I need to practice with. They enabling me to get a job done.
I have many fun guns. The 642 and 638 are working tools.

[OregonJohnny]

The recoil from a 642 is unique. It's kind of like a slap in the web between thumb and fore finger. A government model 1911 chambered in 45 ACP has a slow push, a Beretta 92FS 9mm has a quick but smooth "schproing", many .40 S&W pistols have a sharp fast snap, a GP100 in .357 has a karate chop to the nose, my 4" Redhawk in .44 Magnum has an all-out "golden gloves" punch to the chest. Are any of them worse than the others? Not really, just different. I wouldn't like to shoot more than 100 rounds at a time through my 642, but 40 or 50 rounds is no problem. The size of your hands, the way you grip the gun, the ammo you use, and most of all, your tolerance for recoil will make the biggest differences. I know that none of this is very helpful, so I'll just leave you with this: if you aren't recoil sensitive, you can get used to the 642 and even, dare I say it, learn to like shooting it. It's not that bad - just different.

[halfded]

I had a taurus ultra-lite (save it guys, I've seen my share of Smiths with problems too :neener:) and when I first got it, it was uncomfortable as all get out to shoot. The short grip seemed to slam my wedding ring (a heavy tungsten carbide job) into the knuckles of my shooting hand and I wouldn't shoot more than 25 rounds through it at a time. Then I changed to a hogue grip and things became manageable enough to shoot it more. In a short time I had gotten used to the recoil and moved up to +p's. Never really got used to them though. Great for carry, but I too like to shoot all my guns, so it was lacking in that category.

Make a long story short, the ultra-lite has gone to live elsewhere and has been replaced by a model 10 and a stainless steel taurus 856. And at the end of the day, when the chips are down and your out of ammo, you still have a good sized chunk of steel to your advantage rather than a fancy soda can.

[skoro]

With the right grips, it really isn't bad at all. But I have the hard polymer Crimson Trace lasergrips on my 642 and it stings a LOT when firing hot +P loads. The laser makes it worthwhile, though.

[Madcap_Magician]

If you get a rubber grip with room for three fingers, it's not too bad. Or if you have grips to cover the backstrap. With just the two-finger grip, it's mildly uncomfortable. I personally see more difference in recoil between bullet weights than +P vs. standard. The 158-gr. LRN Blazer brass I was shooting through it had hellacious recoil, but the 110-gr. Corbon DPX I carried in it were fairly mild. 130-gr. American Eagle wasn't too bad, either.

But I think the 642 isn't a gun to shoot hundreds of rounds at the range with. Maybe 50-100 a month if you shoot a lot.

[JFrame]

btg3 said:

Opinions vary. Depends on the fit -- some prefer different grips--and how sensitive your hands are.

For me, the 642 is a delight. Even with +P, there is no discomfort and follow-up shots are not a problem.


I agree with the above...Hand-to-grip fit is key to the shooting comfort of any handgun, but especially the little J-frames with the stouter loads.

I am hardly the stoutest or "macho-est" type of person, but I can fire hot loads in the light J's (even the uber-light 337PD) with reasonable comfort. Conversely, I would rather let a kendoist whack my hand repeatedly with his shinai than put more than, say, 4-5 rounds of full .44 mag factory loads through my T/C Contender...

.

[Eightball]

To me, with the grips I have installed on my 638 (Barami Hip-Grip and a Tyler T), with some handloaded .38 +P, it feels about as powerful in the hand as my hot-loaded .357 Magnum loads out of my S&W 620 with the factory Hogue grips.

It can be downright unpleasant to shoot after a cylinder or two, or if you're not holding it right. But it's a delight to carry due to its light weight and short barrel, and lack of snag on any clothing-type item. With my grip setup, it functions as its own holster, but can still be used for pocket carry, and I use it for both purposes interchangably as weather and my clothing permit.

Before getting my 638, though, I did a side-by-side shooting comparison between a SS model and a 637 (exposed hammer, similar weight) at a range....and only after 2 or three cylinders' worth of shots was the airweight notably more painful to shoot, but it was still lighter to carry around than the full SS firearm. Given the statistics about how many shots you're going to need, I figure that I probably won't be needing to shoot 3 to 4 cylinders worth out of my 638 should I need to use it--and if I do, I figure that a somewhat sore hand will be the least of my worries. On the flipside, it being lightweight and handy means that it's an "always" gun for me, as it's never left at home/in the car/elsewhere when I'm running to X, Y, or Z location.

To each their own.

Images of my 638 and the 620 to which I alluded:
http://imgcash6.imageshack.us/Himg517/scaled.php?server=517&filename=img2564i.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=480

To address the second part of the OP: My 638 ran me $400 even, $425 after taxes. My 620 is a heck of a lot more fun. So, they're charging a ton for what you're looking at, and it will NOT be as fun as your M10.

[esq_stu]

I have a 642. I find the recoil harsh. With the stiff DAO trigger and light weight, I find the gun difficult to shoot accurately without a lot of practice, and even then, I don't consider it very good beyond about 10-12 feet. For me it is a BUG only and it's good for that. I'll keep it for that.

Regardless, $500 is way to much to spend on a 642.

Unless you really need the lighter weight, stick with the M10.

[weisse52]

I have a 642 and would say with the factory grips it is harsh. I would not want to shoot 100 rounds of +P in one sitting. Now, if you replace the grips with something bigger it is not that bad. BUT, if you put larger grips you make it harder to concel.

As one person clearly stated:
Not fun to shoot
I treat it as a tool I need to practice with. They enabling me to get a job done.
I have many fun guns. The 642 and 638 are working tools.
__________________

Could not agree more. But I do carry my 642 more than any other gun.

[TXHORNS]

I doubt you will enjoy shooting it more than your Model 10.

That being said, it is not that bad and I can shoot plenty of rounds through my lightweight for practice, which I highly recommend doing on these guns. Like most things it is a compromise. You gain ease of carry due to the light weight but the recoil will be intensified. I tend to put 50-75 rounds through it, play with something else and come back to it.

If you find that your M-10 is slowing you down I'd say get it.

BTW I can get the no-lock version at my gunshows for $400 cash + tax.

[watchtower7]

I am a newbie to handguns, under 2 years of shooting. I shot the 642 at various ranges in Louisiana and Kentucky for a year before I bought. I got mine with the CT Laser grips only because that's what they had in stock.
I shoot 5 rounds of my carry ammo (Corbon) each range occurrence, and the +p is certainly not as much fun as the standard rounds, but I can shoot all day with the laser grips and standard ammo.
I got to feeling guilty about the size of the grips so I bought the smaller versions, although my guilt has not driven me to install them yet.
I guess if you are going to shoot +p all the time you would be sorry, but standard loads are no problem. The laser grips dramatically improved my accuracy, although I never shoot beyond 7 yards, I just don't see any reason. Its a personal defense weapon not a gun battle weapon.

[03Shadowbob]

A 642 or 442 with better aftermarket grips is not bad to shoot at all and is much more controllable than with factory grips. $500 is way to much though. Should be able to find them new for $450. Used for $350-$400.
Here's a pic showing my results from shooting at 7 yards unsupported, quick aim. Very manageable.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s113/BJCWALL/guns/SW642026.jpg

[frankiestoys]

I owned the little Smith for awhile it was my carry gun and i shot it every time i went to the range.(25 rounds min)
I really can't say i enjoyed shooting it, good quality gun,very easy to carry, never a problem but not too accurate. ( it wasn't designed for target shooting.)
With that said i traded the little smith for a sp 101 and its a world of difference.

[jaydubya]

I have a 637, the visible hammer version of the Airweight family (which includes the 642 and 638). I do not enjoy shooting it. If I haven't put a large bandaid on the web between my thumb and hand, I will develop, and pop, a blister with twenty rounds of standard pressure 148gr wadcutters. Of course the skin on my hand is 78 years old, and the older one gets the thinner it gets. My home defense load is Remington +p 158gr lead SWCHP -- the best version of the FBI load for snubbies. Five rounds of that at the range is my limit. In a real life situation, I doubt if I would notice the recoil.

Cordially, Jack

[KBintheSLC]

Is it enoyable to shoot or a bear after a few hundred rounds?

A few hundred rounds in one session is a bit of a stretch... remember, an Airweight j-frame is not a plinking gun. It is a lightweight CC piece. I usually run 50-100 rounds tops in a range session. The recoil is certainly tolerable, it can be very light with light loads, and can escalate to a healthy bark with really hot stuff.

[CoRoMo]

It's kind of like a slap in the web between thumb and fore finger.

Good description, but I'd say it is more of a sharp jab to that spot of the palm. I've never thought I was any type of recoil sissy, but ten rounds through a 642 sends me running to my P11 for relief. That booger kicks!!

Good pocket-carry gun, but for hiking/backpacking, I like some magnum heft in my sidearm.

[ArmedBear]

3.2 grains HP-38 or 3 grains of Trail Boss under a 125 grain Oregon Trail RNFP lead bullet, and you'll be having a good time for as long as you want to shoot the thing.

[vicdotcom]

<-- OP

Hey everyone!

I knew you all wouldn't let me down. After all the reading up and research I have been doing, this is the one area that there seems to be a lot of disagreement on. But it is a highly subjective topic.

Everyone here has given me some great info to think about. I will certainly wait now until I can try one out to see how I like the feel of it. I also do understand it is a ccw weapon and not a plinker, but I also feel that I need 100% confidence in a firearm before considering it for CCW even if it is only for backpacking/hiking. And the only way to do that is to put a few thousand rounds through it.

Thank you also for the price information, I also felt that 500$ was a little on the high side. I am certainly going to wait on the purchase until I find the right price and try one out on the range.

For now I will just stick to the M10 until the right purchase time. I just liked the fact that the 638/642 weighed about the same as the lock on my M10 LOL

Thanks everyone!
You guys never let me down!

[Jim K]

I got beat up by my 642 until I swapped the rubber factory grips for the old style wood grips. Now I can get a better grip and control recoil better.

Jim

[indiandave]

There is a 642 club thread on this forum. I would check it out.

[Monster Zero]

The recoil is sharp, but nothing you can't handle. You'll get a callus on the inside of your thumb joint in time. It's really fun to shoot once you understand it. Remember, for your wife, mom, or GF you can always load it with wadcutters and still have a good weapon at hand.

[jad0110]

I see NIB 642s in my area selling for $425-ish.

As for recoil, it's not bad, but it isn't as fun to shoot as my 2" Model 15. I typically shoot 158 RNLs propelled by 3.4 grns of W231. Quite manageable with that load. The stock grips work well enough for me, and they do conceal well, so I left them in place. Actually, for me the pain doesn't show up until the next day, at which point the webbing of my hand is sore for a couple of days.

In the end, the 642 maybe gets pocket carried as a primary once every couple of weeks, and a bit more often as a backup. I no longer carry it IWB, as I've found that my 2" and 4" Model 15s, as well as my 5" 1911, are pretty easy to carry IWB with good gear, and the Model 15s in particular are a heckuva lot easier for me to shoot well than my 642. I can still shoot reasonably well with the 642; better than Glocks or Springfield XDs, actually.

[m2steven]

Your hand will be fine if you confine your shooting to 50 rounds or less at a time. The first time I shot mine, i put 200 rounds through it and had the best time. Then, for the next 24 hours, the pain set in. My hand really hurt. A week later I really could not shoot the gun without pain. Three weeks later, I shot it fine.

I figure it depends upon the shooter and his/her hand. It gives you a pretty good jolt every time it's fired. You may think you've had a great time at the range until a few hours later:). However, a younger hand may have no problems. It's certainly not the worst handgun you'll shoot by a long shot.

[Rundownfid]

I bought my Son-in Law a 638 for Christmas last year and only paid just over $400 new. It came with rather small grips that were a challenge to get a good grip on. I have crimson traces on mine and they are not only easier to grip but have a laser. The recoil is snappish, but not painful. If you buy light loads, such as used for cowboy action shooting, for practice, the gun is almost pleasant, and very challenging. I suspect if you ever have to use it for real, the recoil will be more a comfort than a pain.

[ColeK]

Vicdotcom, get the 638. I like the J-Frames and have or have had a bunch of them. My current fav is a 637. I have small hands but do not find the .38+P loads recoil bad at all.

[docsleepy]

There is nobody in my family who ENJOYS firing those snubbies. I'm willing to fire about 5 shots (and I weigh 240) and then I'm done. My 14 year old refuses to fire it. My 17 year old doesn't enjoy it, and my wife cannot PULL THE TRIGGER without using two fingers!! She is quite willing to fire a 20g shotgun, but NO ONE in my family enjoys firing the lightweight .38. I gave away a box of +p's!! (unwilling to fire them!) 200 shots? not on your life.

Everyone is different, but we are talking a very light gun here that even macho folks agrees packs a punch. I've fired others' big heavy 38's, '45s, etc, and they are far easier to deal with than this little pocket puncher.

When I get some $$ together after I get my 6PPC rifle finished, I'm going to buy a big heavy .38 and have a lot more fun. We bought the little S&W's as newbies right after the last election, and we'll keep them, but if I could do it over again, I would get a heavier gun in a heartbeat. I might keep ONE small one for concealed, but we have two!

To each his own. My wife would NEVER pick that first. She would go for the shotgun.

[Glock Holiday]

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x42/Glockholiday/M38-2.jpg
This S&W Bodyguard is mostly what I carry except when it's real hot in the summer then it's the little .380 LCP.
Hey vicdotcom if you shoot Federal's Personal Defense handgun ammunition in the non +P rating you can shoot more,practice more improving your skill and not beat up your gun too much.I don't know why you would want to own a little snubbie except if it wasn't for personnel defense.
This is only my opinion....your mileage may vary.:cool:

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=828

[JAV8000]

I weigh 155lbs and have no problem shooting my 638. Sure its got some bark, but it's not designed for shooting hundreds of rounds per month. Get yourself a service sized .38-.357 to learn the DA trigger, and than practice with the little beast just enough to know you can hit out to 10 yards. I do have small, strong hands (I'm a mechanic and an amateur boxer) so little revolvers "feel" good. It certainly isn't as fun as my GP100, but always has it's place in my range bag. You'll be hard pressed to find a weapon that's as reliable, powerful, and concealable as an airweight.

[Nematocyst]

It will be my hiking/backpacking gun if I choose to get itWhich means you don't need to worry about concealed carry in a pocket.

Get it, put on a set of Hogue Monogrips (http://www.getgrip.com/main/overview/softrubber.html) that allow a 3-finger grip, offering a solid grasp of said gun.

With that, it ain't no thing, even with +p triple taps.

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=60463&d=1183888688"]http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=60463&d=1183888688

[vicdotcom]

Thanks again for all who gave their input. I like the 638 much better than the 642 for the Single action option. Even if I didn't use it much, I like the option. While backpacking I had to scare off an animal more than once so the single action would help with the accuracy there.

But I am still going to give it a try myself before purchasing now. I like being able to enjoy shooting my guns.

Thanks also for the grip suggestions. Nematocyst I think that is a great option.
Vic

[bhp9mm]

i have a 638 recoil is not to bad

[The_Shootist]

The grips make all the difference. Changed the factory grips to Secret Service Grips and then to Pachmayr Compac's (like on my SP101/M85) which made a world of difference.

Not only did the Pach's make it more accurate (with no concealability loss) but waaaay more comfortable to shoot. 100 rounds is easy, 150 rounds per range session is tolerable and fun. Dunno if I'd like to go more than 150 (and usually restrict myself to 100) - and those are standard pressure .38's. +P rounds I usually limit myself to 50 or so.

The recoil is ok, but then again I shoot 357 mag loads out of my SP 101 and have shot +P .45 rounds out of my Colt Defender so I'm not recoil shy.

[thebaldguy]

I'm not "into" recoil, but I didn't think the recoil was too bad with regular .38 Special ammo. It had some "oomph" but it wasn't punishing. Rubber grips help. Keep the +P ammo to a few rounds here and there and it's ok.

I think my girlfriend's Ruger LCR sucks up the recoil a little better than my 642.

[JeffLrrp]

When I take my dad's 642 to the range, I usually run 45 rounds of practice ammo through it, and 5-10 rounds of defense ammo through it. Im satisfied if I hit COM at 7 yards.

It is not an easy gun to shoot. My hands are usually somewhat sore afterwards. That being said it carries extremely well and I am confident in its (relative for a handgun) stopping power. I wish I had one.