642 Club Part Three

Just got back from shooting the 642 for the first time!!!

I was expecting that I wouldn't be too accurate with this gun and that the recoil would be so much that I would not enjoy shooting it.

I shot at at a distance of 12 feet. I shot remington fmj and winchester JHP +p (both from Walmart). Here are my initial thoughts.

1) Much more accurate at this distance than I thought. Actual I was more accurate with the 642 than my 4" Ruger GP100 shooting both the same load which is very odd.
2) The recoil wasn't bad at all. Probably because I read online about how bad the recoil was.
3) +P had noticeably more recoil but still not that bad.

Overall I am extremely happy with my purchase of the 642.

I do have 2 questions.
1) I now have black rings on the front of the cylinder that didn't come off using CLP and a toothbrush. Is this normal and should I try and get is off?
2) Are the Hogue Bantam grips much larger than stock and will it improve the recoil and grip?
3) What speed stips are better Tuff or Bianchi?

I tried the Hogue Bantam grips on my 642. They are the same size as the stock grips, but have a slightly larger palm swell. Backstrap is still open, so recoil is still the same. Later got a set of Hogue Monogrips, and love them. They are slightly longer, not that great for pocket carry unless you have deep pockets, but I feel slightly less recoil. Then again, my 642 has the 2.5 inch barrel so I am going to use it more as a shooter than a pocket carry piece.

fast200 - Camjr has it. I wedge the 642 in my Mika pocket holster between the seat and console in my Superduty. The Mika stays put when drawing, but the gun stays in place nicely unless I want it to come out. There are two speedloaders in the console, one in the glovebox and a speedstrip in the open tray on top of the console. Behind the rear seat I keep a short barreled, Mossberg 500 12ga. and a Glenfield Mod 60, 16-shot .22. Gotta love Texas!

Oh yeah, I have a Mika on order I can't wait.

joepa150 said:

Actual I was more accurate with the 642
than my 4" Ruger GP100 shooting both the same load which is very odd.

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Wow. I never heard of that kind of thing before.

You sure you're not a representative of Smith Wesson. (joking)

Nematocyst
I know, I just don't get it. My Theory is that the fixed sights on the 642 is perfect for me while the Ruger GP100 has adjustable sights that are not sighted in perfectly for me.

Question. I know that S&W says it is ok to dry fire BUT I just don't want to damage anything. I do not want to spend money on snap caps so should I just dry fire it or would it be better to use spent casings?

No problem dry firing, Joepa.

I've used snap caps for the feeling,
but the consensus is, it doesn't matter.

And it both helps smooth the action
and helps you become more familiar with it.

As always, just triple check that it's not loaded.

Nem is right dry firing is ok. S&W has stated such. About 1000 dry fires from now that trigger will get pretty decent for what it is, a heavy DA.

I hear that it is easy to remove the clear coat on the frame of the 642, does anyone know if rem-oil will destroy the finish?

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About the only thing you don't want to use are products with ammonia.
I have used Rem Oil and I typically use Hoppes Elite.

Racoon eyes or burns on the front of the cylinder take more time to remove than it's worth unless you really just can't stand looking at them. I leave them there myself. If you insist on the removal though you can use Kleen-Bore Cloths. DO NOT use these on 442 finishes. Use only on plain stainless. You can find them at most gun shops or some sporting good stores but here is what they look like.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=30838

I guess I will just leave the racoon eyes. Will they be harder to remove if I leave them on and say want to take them off in 5 years from now?

FWIW, I very much like both Tuff and Bianchi speed strips. Quality wise I can't tell a difference, but Bianchi only comes in six-shot strips, while Tuff makes speed strips that can hold up to eight rounds.

rdrancher said:

fast200 - Camjr has it. I wedge the 642 in my Mika pocket holster between the seat and console in my Superduty. The Mika stays put when drawing, but the gun stays in place nicely unless I want it to come out. There are two speedloaders in the console, one in the glovebox and a speedstrip in the open tray on top of the console. Behind the rear seat I keep a short barreled, Mossberg 500 12ga. and a Glenfield Mod 60, 16-shot .22. Gotta love Texas!

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Thanks for the advice. I'm a lefty so I guess I'll have to find some place to wedge it to the left of me.

Thanks for the advice. I'm a lefty so I guess I'll have to find some place to wedge it to the left of me.

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Get a chauffeur, or ask the missus to drive!!!

I'm not a lefty, but the two that I know that carry revolvers or small autos both use an ankle holster on their right ankle for left-handed draw while driving on long trips. Another option I've seen several use is a "Safepacker" holster attached to the shoulder strap of the seatbelt--makes a nice little crossdraw rig for left handed shooters.

Cheers!

Happy new year all, I see we are are on part three cool. I have been fighting the urge to get a bottom feeder. I love my 642 & 644 but the Springfield XD9C is interesting.

Here's a link for the Safepacker. http://www.thewilderness.com/storepinnacle/index.php?p=product&id=1356&parent=171

There was a nice swivel-mount I saw at a gun show back in the early nineties that let you mount a belt holster to it. The guy that was making them had photos of it mounted under the dash, on the console and on the door frame. I haven't been able to locate the mount, but a quick search did show a simple swivel-mount made by Fobus. http://www.fobusholster.com/products/UNIVERSAL_HOME_VEHICLE_MOUNT-2641-61.html Here's an interesting mount from Gum Creek, used by the Border Patrol. http://www.gumcreekcustoms.com/Universal-Vehicle-Holster-Mount-p5.html

lg&m said:

Happy new year all, I see we are are on part three cool. I have been fighting the urge to get a bottom feeder. I love my 642 & 644 but the Springfield XD9C is interesting.

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no reason to fight the urge. nothing wrong with a little versatility. i think it is good to be practiced up on both revolvers and semiautos. 9mm is also your most economical round to shoot besides a .22lr. i love revolvers, but is also nice to get out and shoot my Ruger SR9 from time to time. i spend more range time with my revolvers though because that is what i carry.

Diversity

My HR Department has mandatory Diversity Training quarterly.

Oh, I see what you mean....

I love my 642 & 644 but the Springfield XD9C is interesting.

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I like the looks and specifications of the new XDMs. Don't know anyone with one in reality though. A few months back, Sportsmans Warehouse had the XDC9 on sale for $419 and I was really tempted but at the time I had a different bottom feeder on my radar to fulfill. The first semiauto I ever shot was a XDC .40. It was at a range without much light and between the .40 in a light gun and the flames belching out the barrel I didn't know at the time if handgunning was going to be for me or not My how times have changed.

http://www.the-m-factor.com/html/specs_1.html

I have a bottom feeder on my to do list for 2011 but the next one in rotation is back to a pre lock Smith 19 or 66 K Frame that is unless maybe I stumbled on a pre lock 627PC.


If this is yours, I like the pic.

i know what you mean DA. i am on the look for a K frame 19 or 66 snub in 2011 also when finances allow. i am leaning towards the 19 if i can find a good one but if i find a nice 66 i wouldnt throw it out of bed either.

I have an XD9SC and I like it but I never carry/use it so I think I am going to gift it to my son. I picked up a 4044 about a year ago and it is my favorite carry gun now; but it isn't light.

I have a 6" 19-4 that I bought new in 1979 (I think, I still have the receipt, box, etc.) that is one of my handguns I would not consider getting rid of. It is a target model and a pleasure to shoot regardless of the load.

I just ordered a non-lock 642 from Bud's Gun Shop tonight. Looks like I'll be joining the 642 club in a week or so!

Welcome Alemonkey, you are now a Provisional Member in good standing.

Get you camera warmed up, the Mika, SGDFSB, and Speedstrips on order.

So, I have a question about pocket holsters and it may sound dumb. How do you use them? Do you draw the gun + holster and then pull the holster off the gun with your off hand?

^^^ no, pocket holsters are designed to remain in the pocket when you draw.

alemonkey said:

So, I have a question about pocket holsters and it may sound dumb. How do you use them? Do you draw the gun + holster and then pull the holster off the gun with your off hand?

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there is little to no retension on a pocket holster. the draw should be smooth and free. the holster is really there to keep the gun in place and cover the trigger. if you have one that comes out with the gun, get rid of it and find a different one. that could be very dangerous. if it still happens, your pants are way too big.

if it still happens, your pants are way too big.

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Well, I'm safe then. I'm too old for the gangster look. I'm at the age where my pants don't want to stay up for entirely different reasons.