642 strength

[george29]

Has anyone already put thousands of rounds through their 642? If so, is your 642 still as tight as it was? I own one and aside from a very painful 50 rounds prefer to carry than shoot this gun. I keep hearing that the 642 is a carry gun, the SP101 is a shooting gun. Is this true?
Given that the SP weighs 10oz more than the 642 and will digest heavier more powerful rounds in both .357 and .38, does despite the extra weight of the SP make it a better CCW for dealing with a threat rather than the lighter 642? I keep see-sawing between pro's and con's.

 

[Drail]

I would always choose the heavier steel model. With a good belt and holster a gun the weight of an SP 101 is very easy to lug around. A 642 will withstand a lot of shooting with standard loads but over time it's going to get looser and go out of time. You can wear out a Ruger too but you really got to wail on it really hard for a long time.

 

[Lucky Derby]

A +P rated 642 will stand up to a good deal of shooting. The thing is most shooter can't shoot it that much due to the recoil. A SP101 is much easier on the shooter, with the same loads.

 

[sixgunner455]

You're more likely to wear out your .22 shooting it, than a 642. The little revolvers are fun to shoot, but not fun to shoot a ton. I have a steel-framed snubby and a 642. The Colt gets shot a lot more.

I've shot my 642 plenty, and will probably shoot it again tomorrow, but I'll probably put more rounds through my 9mm or my .22 in a single day than I'm putting through the 642 in any six month period. Half a box to a box is about all I want of it at any given sitting. 9mm, it's more about how much I can afford, and did I punch holes in all the targets. .22, it's more about how much time do I want to spend at the range. 642 - did I shoot it enough yet? Yeah, okay, now let's shoot the .22, or just go home and get some ice for this wrist.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've owned and carried a M-642 for 10+ years. While I haven't kept track of how many rounds I've put through it, it would have to be something north of 3000. Mine has held up very well, but I would say that having the action tuned very early in it's life add to it maintaining it's tightness.

I recently replaced it with a Kahr CW9, but up until that time, I could still win wagers with it at 50 yards

I owned a SP-101 for a while and I just didn't see what it offered over a 642 as a carry gun. It wasn't a pleasant to shoot as a 2.5" M66 and it's weight (it is almost double that of the M-642) didn't really offer anything over the S&W K-frame either. I always thought the Sp-101 would have made a good platform to be chambered in .40

 

[earplug]

Don't worry

I have carried and shot alloy J frames for over thirty years.
I gave my first M-38 (bought used in 1982) to my Dad in 1991 while I was deployed with the Army. He continued to shoot it until 2008 .
My current 642 I bought used about 2001 and I shoot about thirty rounds a month.
Its still my EDC.
The only issue with steady shooting will be a slight peening of the yoke barrel which develops a bit of end shake.
This is easily fixed with a end shake bushing/shim.
S&W has a excellent service department if your unable to repair your own stuff.

 

[pikid89]

im not sure why everyone has such a problem shooting he 642....i ran a hundred rounds through mine on the range the other day and my hand felt fine

its rather quite pleasant to shoot compared to my Kel Tec PF9

 

[george29]

Thank for the replies. I'm no wimp pikid but that 642 is the most unpleasant gun I ever shot. It is my EDC only because of the ease in slipping it in my pocket. I always considered it a contact gun out to maybe 15 yards. Now my M13 is a shooter.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've shot at least 50 rounds a week for 10 months out of the year for the past 3 years through my M642 and it's as tight today as when I bought it. The trigger is much better though!!

 

[MartinS]

Airweights are guns, explosions happen inside them, one end hurts a lot but the other doesn't. They are a blast to shoot with whatever cheap, weak loads the lady at Walmart sells you. Make your day, wear one out.