642 Club Part Three

[shogun7788]

Hey all. I just joined the club with a brand new 442 no lock.

Now, to dry fire it until I can get to the range. Hopefully the trigger will slick out and lighten up.

[beatledog7]

It should. Just follow the safety steps for dry firing and put on your favorite movie. My 642 was noticeably smoother by the time I finished Ben Hur.

[shogun7788]

Hah ha, I hear you. I've been watching a movie and pulling the trigger.

Ben Hur? Wow, it would be smoother after a 4 hour movie.

But my fingers are starting to get tired.

[beatledog7]

Well, you could use The Ten Commandments. Just feels right to use a Charlton Heston film, the longer the better.

[Tony_the_tiger]

My 442 trigger smoothed out after about 200 rounds through it spaced out over a couple months with some dry firing, cleaning, and oiling in between.

Update

A few weeks ago I reported a fail to fire event in a new S&W 640 pro. On that day I tested out Speer gold dot 135 grain .38 + P, Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP .38 + P, Corbon DPX 110 grain .38 + P, and Corbon DPX 125 grain .357 magnum. All of them fired except for one of the BB rounds. My first FTF ever.

I contacted S&W and they prepared a pre-paid shipping label for me. 14 days later, the firearm was back in my hands. S&W evaluated the function of the firearm and replaced the firing pin at my request. Additionally, they threw in 9 more moonclips for me

I'm pleased with the turn around and their response to my issue which may or may not have been the firearm and may or may not have been the BB ammo.

I'll be sure to test it out with my carry ammo for the 640 pro, which will be the Corbon DPX .357 magnum round. Both the Corbon and the Buffalo Bore round had comparable recoil. The BB round is a 158 grain projectile moving at 1000 ft/s. There have been mixed reports of the BB round in testing. The Corbon .357 round is 125 grains and moves approximately 1300 ft/s out of a 4" barrel. I asked Corbon about that rounds performance out of a snub. Mike at Corbon let me know that:

From our 2" barreled 357 Magnum we got a 1085 fps velocity. Performance in ballistic gelatin showed it to be a very effective loading even at the reduced velocity. Penetration was 14" and recovered diameter was . 70".

I'm happy with those numbers. In my way of thinking, the DPX round is comparable to the BB round in performance and superior to the BB round in some ways being that I prefer carrying copper X bullets rather than soft lead, especially when the Corbon rounds have gone bang every time in the 640, even when it may or may not have had a firing pin issue. That said, the Buffalo Bore round may or may not have had a primer issue.

I have received excellent service from S&W and would not hesitate to recommend them to you. Pending further testing I will be featuring the 640 pro in a double J frame/ Double Mika carry rotation (one in the pocket, one on the hip) in conjunction to my 442 which has been 100% since the beginning with 135 grain + P gold dots and DPX rounds. I've been OWB'ing my Gp100 for a few weeks up NC mountains and i'll welcome the changes in weight and belt comfort.

-T

[sixgunner455]

tony, did that round that failed to fire have a proper-sized, normal firing pin dimple? Or was it small, or missing?

[Tony_the_tiger]

It was missing, or small enough to be indistinguishable from the blemishes and scratches common to in tact factory primers. The round did fire on a second try. Posters have suggested various theories ranging from an incomplete trigger return resulting in a short stroke, a short firing pin, or a primer not seated properly. I do not know why it didn't fire and so my response to accepting the 640 as a carry weapon was to have S&W evaluate and replace the firing pin, abandon the BB rounds, and practice more to test with the chosen carry ammo,

[Tony_the_tiger]

Ok folks, I had a chance to take the 640 pro and 442 out to the range again today.

The 640's new firing pin is setting them all off

This time I checked the primers and I compared them to the primers of my 100% 442. Each firearm has them on dead center with good solid strikes, although each firearm every now and then will produce a slightly offcenter strike. No big deal.

I've been carrying 135 grain .38 + P gold dots in the 442. After testing the 442 today with gold dots and 110 grain DPX rounds, I'm putting the DPX back into the carry rotation of the 442. Accuracy is the priority criteria and I had my best group (possibly best group ever) with a J frame today with the 442 and the DPX rounds at 5 yards.

I tested the BB + P loads and DPX .357 in the 640 pro. Based on accuracy, I will be carrying the 125 grain DPX .357 in the 640 with moonclips for reloads. Just as a note I tested the "thunder ranch" DPX and the normal Corbon DPX .357 rounds. The thunder ranch are noticeably more violent with recoil and blast. However, the normal Corbon DPX have nicer looking bullets and are more accurate than their twins. I'll be carrying the shiny ones for accuracy.

FYI I also have the DPX in .44 special in my S&W 296, I guess I am starting a trend, although I still use gold dots in the Gp100.

Thanks for hearing me out. Here's one for happy endings. 642 Club Part 3 4ever.

Sincerely,

Triple T

[sixgunner455]

Good for you, Tony! Sounds like you had a good day shooting, at the very least, and success in your ammo eval.

[ferretray]

Just got in a current 442 no-lock. The grips are attached with some type of allen screw.
Any of you folks know the size? Sure would appreciate some help.
TIA, Ray

[sixgunner455]

Ray - 3/32 is what fits in mine.

[OrangePwrx9]

Went to look at a new 642 no-lock at the LGS. Seemed too stiff; cylinder hard to open. Trigger pull was heavy. Wasn't enthusiastic about it at all. Was nearly ready to spring for a Bodyguard 38.

Then he brought out a very lightly used Model 37 with a pinned barrel and no lock. Think it's from the '80s. Had the box too. Action felt great and I could open the cylinder....for $100 less

Told him SOLD!

[sixgunner455]

Good on you Orange! (We like those, too.)

[Old Bull Lee]

Anyone here have a Bodyguard 38? If so I would love to hear about it your experience with it.

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Just thought I'd drop by. My first post on the 642 club was Part One, Post 126, 7/17/2005. Unfortunately my 642 is now a permanent truck rider. Glock 26 in my pocket.

[fastbolt]

Anyone here have a Bodyguard 38? If so I would love to hear about it your experience with it.

Got that chance to handle and shoot one on the range one afternoon. The owner had bought it for his wife, and let some of the other instructors take it down range to try it out and adjust the laser.

It seemed to run fine with a couple of different loads, shooting POA/POI out to about 11-12 yds. The laser wasn't as easy to see as I might wish, even shooting under shade in the afternoon sun (and using the different modes).

I found the thinness of the backstrap/although covered, to lend itself to more felt recoil than my assortment of J's with exposed backstraps. Odd.

The new lockwork and trigger are what they are, so to speak.

I prefer my J's, all things considered ... but that's just me.

[Tony_the_tiger]

Shot the 442 and 640 pro today. The 442 is still 100% as always. Shot Gold dot 135 grain .38 +P from the 442 as well as .38 + P 110 grain DPX. For now my personal preference is to keep the 442 loaded with the DPX.

The 640 has been an interesting journey for me. I wanted to do a thorough test on it today after a) getting the firing pin replaced by s&w; b)losing the sear spring, dislodging the hand torsion spring, replacing and refitting them and tightening it back up.

To test the 640 for defense purposes, I wanted to make sure it would perform today with no FTF's regardless of brand.

The following rounds were fired in various quantities:

Speer Gold Dot 158 grain .357 magnum,
Speer Gold Dot 135 grain .38 + P
Corbon DPX 110 grain. 38 + P
Corbon DPX 125 grain .357 magnum
Corbon Hunter 200 grain hardcast .357 magnum
Remington Golden Sabre 125 grain .357 magnum (super flash on this one)
Remington UMC 125 grain flat nose enclosed base leadless .38 special
Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP .38 + P

So far so good and accuracy is comparable with most of the rounds. The 125 grain .357 DPX round was tearing the paper a bit in ways I'm not accustomed to. I wonder if it was keyholing a little or if the roundish nose profile of the bullet just wanted to tear paper. When examining the paper, the shreds could be pushed back and a circular bullet hole was evident. Still, I'd like to test this round more before carrying.

Although I've shot alot of the 158 grain gold dot .357 in a Gp100, I have never had it as part of a ccw setup. Based on todays performance with the 640, I think I will give it a try. The recoil was pronounced but not terrible - about the same as the other .357 rounds.

Speer provides the following data from a 4" barrel for the 158 gr. GDHP .357:

velocity ft/s: 1235 energy ft/lbs: 535

An older thread from The High Road gives some data for a 2.5" barrel

Shot 1 - Impacted at unknown velocity (chronograph malfunction). Expanded to 0.510" average diameter. Penetrated to 13.2"+. The 'plus' is because the bullet exited the back of the block and penetrated ~ 4" into the polyester bullet arresting box.

Shot 2 - Impacted at 1041 ft/sec. Expanded to 0.506" average diameter. Penetrated to 13.2"+. The 'plus' is because the bullet exited the back of the block and penetrated ~ 4" into the polyester bullet arresting box.

Shot 3 - Impacted at 1052 ft/sec. Expanded to 0.497" average diameter. Penetrated to 13.2"+. The 'plus' is because the bullet exited the back of the block and penetrated ~ 4" into the polyester bullet arresting box.

Seems to be an excellent round for penetration. I wonder if further reducing the velocity as to be expected from a 2" barrel like the 640 would increase or decrease the penetration. Buffalo Bore has a 158 grain .38+P LSWCHP reported at 1000 - 1050 ft/s velocity. However, I prefer JHP to lead and from a 2" barrel I bet the 158 .357 GDHP hits close to 1000 ft/s. Having tested the gold dot for accuracy and controllability, I am interested in your opinions of a 158 gr. GDHP at 1000 ft/s for a self defense application.

Cheers.

-Triple T

[Tony_the_tiger]

I might try some ammo from a new company called underwood I've been hearing about. They push the gold dot hollow point 158 grains .357 that speer loads to 1235 ft/s out of a 4" barrel to a reported 1475 ft/s out of a 4" barrel. That just might make the 158 gr gold dot viable from a 2" all steel revolver... anyone heard good or bad about underwood?

[NeilK]

After reading all the posts I ordered a Mika holster last night. One minute after ordering got a call from Robert Mika, thanking me for the order, giving me an approximate ship date and that I would be receiving a e-mail allowing me to follow the shipment when shipped. He spoke about his holster with obvious pride. The sale had been made and he did not need to do all of this follow up. He asked that I get in contact once I received the holster and give him my reaction. He is obviously some one who takes pride in what he does and cares about making a quality product.

[308win]

You should expect to find your dealings with Robert a real pleasure.

[Tony_the_tiger]

I am pleased with the (3) Mika pocket holsters and (2) Mika IWB holsters I've had the chance to use.

[zbird]

I am now a club member in good standings. After many years of stove pipes and all the other malfunctions associated with automatics, I yanked over to the other side for personal protection. Bought a 442 last week, very nice, I liked it so much I laid away a M&P 340 yesterday.

[Nematocyst]

Zbird, welcome to the light side.
You're in good company here.

And welcome to THR. Looks like you're relative new.

DAdams will be delighted to hear of your interest in the MP 340.
Be sure to check out the M&P 340 thread, also.

Nem

[Old Bull Lee]

Welcome zbird.

Now that you've said hello to us, say goodbye to your malfunction drills!

[DAdams]

"Please allow me to introduce myself".......642 and 340.
J's, K's and L's I've come to appreciate them all.
Welcome to the club.

Haven't taken the 340 for a spin lately. I need to do that.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...%26amp%3Bp+340