642 Club Part Three

[Nematocyst]

Stains, I hear you. I may be crazy ... no, wait, strike that, I am crazy, but even though the 65 is a fine gun (still in storage for 2.5 years on the left coast (yes, it's been a tough 2.5 years --- don't even ask), it's too heavy for my kit. I just know I won't carry it, even if I could find a good holster for it that I'd want.

Hence leaning toward one of the light weights like the 340 It's .357 mag capacity would be little used by me - I'm a .38 spl guy (it's just enough for me) - but having the capacity to do so in a pinch would be nice. But if I did, I'd still stay away from the hot rounds, AND I'd put a set of Hogue Monogrips for a full 3-fingered grip, just like on my 642 and 65.

But your point is taken - the 60 would be a better bet for recoil, but it's back up in the heavy category for me. I know myself well: I will leave a heavy gun at home where it does not good.

Curious about your 351PD. You got any threads going about it and how you use it?

[Stainz]

I'm kind of curious about my 351PD too! I bought it the fifth, shot it on the sixth, called S&W for a return label (via snail mail) the seventh, called FEDEX for a pickup the eleventh, and it was picked up the fourteenth arriving at S&W the next day. I called Tuesday the twenty-second, after receiving a letter from them with the work order number and - it was already back in the mailroom, having gotten another new cylinder & extractor. It skipped two chambers - live or spent - upon extraction! Otherwise, it worked great - tried three ammos, CCI MaxiMag HPs & RNs and Hornady FTX Critical Defense - all 21 landed on a 1' x 2' piece of cardboard @ 25yd from a standing hand hold (The gun... not the target. No one at the range is that foolhearty!). One even hit the Shoot-n-see target I stuck in the center. Of course, my range-friend had to show me up - put four of seven on the target!

I was having a pity party at a LGS when I bought the 351PD, something I wanted the first time I saw it several years ago. My last new gun was bought 8/11 - last used gun 11/11 (... and it was my 4" 651!). There was a feeding frenzy at the LGS - and I heard this voice behind me, "Just buy IT!". I told the voice we didn't have any money left after buying Christmas goodies, but she was relentless. Suggesting I use plastic, like the government does, did the trick. She must be obeyed! They got the still boxed one from the safe - with a string tag @$599 on it - they rang it up as $629 + s/t = $666 OTD. Should have expected problems with that number!

Why did I get it? Gun gluttony. It fits my spare Mika 642 pocket holster, of course - with a bit of care so you don't catch that hammer spur as you pull it out of your pocket. Loaded, it still weighs less than an empty 642 by several ounces. Seven shots of that Hornady 'Critical Defense' ammo should get you out of some trouble - or at least deafen your assailant. The HiViz is easily 'picked up' visually even in low light. It won't replace my 642 for CC EDC duties, that's for sure. Of course, I do like to carry my 296 in the boonies for protection. Being a 'big' guy - any larger and I'll have my own Zip code - the gun's weight isn't as important to me as it's pocketability.

Empty, the 60 Pro weighs 23.6 oz - ~55% more than a 642. It does have a nice wood grip (Fine for .38 +P.), target 3" barrel, tritium Night Sight on front, and comes with a bit of a trigger job. By comparison, the rimfire J-frames are nasty-stiff - the .22WMR 351PD more so. Decent SA, of course. By comparison, the 60 Pro is like a target gun! The Night Sight isn't a plus to me - if the light level is low enough to pick up the front sight glow, you'll have no idea what you are about to shoot. I like HiViz sights! I keep threatening to paint the front sight's edge orange. I've shot the 642 so much, it's instinctive! JMHO.

Stainz

[sixgunner455]

Nematocyst, I'm not gonna advocate that you don't trade your 642 out for a 340, but on the 65 - I'd have to say that you'd be making an error trading it.

It'll do for in the home use, hiking in bear country, and range use. It doesn't have to be the be-all of everything. It's plenty good for most things, and if you don't want to pack it every day, that's what the lightweight is for, whether you stick with the 642 or go for a 340. You already have two for good reasons. Those reasons haven't disappeared.

Having two pistols means that you have a back-up, a spare.

I have a 13-3. I'd give up most of my other guns before I'd give up that one.

[Nematocyst]

Thanks for your advice, guys. I will consider it.

Nothing is going to happen any time soon, anyway.
Both guns are still on the left coast, and won't be here soon.

Then, even once they're here, there's this little issue of money ....

[sixgunner455]

Buddy of mine kept shooting my 642 and talking about how he wished he had a pocket gun like it. I've known him for years, and this has been going on all that time.

He came over last night to show me his brand-new 642 that he'd just picked up. He paid $420. I paid $329 for mine ten years ago.

[lg&m]

Just a bump to get this great thread back to page one. I sadly have not spent much time with my 642 in a while. Sill one of my favorites.

[niner4tango]

Bump with another pic of the 442 cousin, wearing Spegels

[SwissArmyDad]

Shot a 642 for the first time at the range last night, alongside an SP101.

The 642 was quite a bit more "blasty" and quite honestly very painful for my wife to shoot after 5 rounds. I have to say, that 10-15 rounds for me wasn't a pleasant experience either. As opposed to the SP101 - which we feel like we could shoot all day long.

The sp101 had way softer full rubber grips. Do these on the 642 make that backstrap/mainspring housing less "bitey"?

Thanks

BTW, we have a lot of trigger time on a 686, SP101 and GP100. Full house .357 is no issue for me or my wife as far as comfort, controlability, etc. We were both on target with the 642. It was simply/plainly painful to shoot... Again, thanks for any input.

[Certaindeaf]

A Hogue Monogrip is probably the way to go.. they're larger than a/the factory boot grip so it might change/dictate the way you intend to carry but they'll tame that wee beasty quite a bit.

[SwissArmyDad]

A Hogue Monogrip is probably the way to go.. they're larger than a/the factory boot grip so it might change/dictate the way you intend to carry but they'll tame that wee beasty quite a bit.

Excellent, thank you for the response in this thread as well as the one in the "general" section.

Very much appreciated!

[DAdams]

The Ruger is 25 ounces so at the range and shooting multiple rounds 9 ounces makes a big difference in felt recoil. Depends on how you plan to carry the Ruger. LCR would be a better comparison.


I would also highly recommend the Crimson Trace 305 Grips. Full size.
Good felt recoil mitigation and it will give that "unfair advantage" when it comes to point shooting. Practice required with and w/o the laser.

https://www.google.com/search?q=crim...&client=safari

The Monogrips will likely provide the relief you are seeking the caveat they are large.

[Nematocyst]

A Hogue Monogrip is probably the way to go..
they're larger than a/the factory boot grip so it might
change/dictate the way you intend to carry but they'll
tame that wee beasty quite a bit.

[radar1972]

My wife had the same issue with her 642. I ordered the Synthetic Full Size Grip for J-frame from S&W. SKU #413040000.
She loves them!!

[sixgunner455]

I load light lead slugs for practicing with the 642. Makes it easier to shoot more than a few rounds at a session.

[sixgunner455]

I went to the club defensive pistol shoot today, and decided to keep things simple and just use my main carry gun, the 642-2 I bought in January of 2004. I took a box of 100 home brewed loads, 125gr RNFP lead over 3.5gr Bullseye. I loaded from speed strips, except when I ran out of them on one stage and had to use my HKS speedloader (I much prefer the speed strips).

I was pretty slow. But I shot two clean stages. All of my reloads weren't completely smooth, and I dropped one round when I got it loose from the speedstrip. All of my home brew cartridges functioned perfectly (as usual, and unlike some other folks at the match today), and I only missed twice - once on a 25yd target we had to put four rounds on, and once on a 20yd stop plate (hit it the second time). There was a popper that released a swinger I was supposed to shoot twice, but I was only fast enough to hit it once - I mean, I only got one round off. Hit it, but it was just gone before I could even try for a second shot.

Learning experience. I usually shoot my CZ 9mm or my S&W 13-3. The big guns certainly make it easier to shoot with speed and accuracy. With the 642, it's a bit more work to get either, and both is a real challenge.

Think I'll do it again sometime.

The last time I saw someone with a snubby at one of these matches, he dropped it. At least I didn't do that!

Other revolvers at this match were one Model 10 4", one Model 10 3", and one Model 625 4" in .45 ACP (lots of misfires on that one).

[hAkron]

I just picked up this T-Grip (not tyler...and not as good of a fit as a tyler). I have not fired it yet with this t-grip, but can tell it's going to be a big improvement over just magna grips.

[MO-642]

New member here in Missouri. Did a lot of reading on here when I was trying to decide on a ccw. Now that I have my 642 just wanted to thank everyone for the info and enthusiasm for our "little friend". BTW - my Mika pocket holster is on order.

[hAkron]

I have a Mika holster. Well worth it. It took a little while to get it, but Mika is great. I emailed him a few times during the process and he would typically get back to me within an hour or less. I higly recommend his stuff. I got a rounded holster. I think I'm going to order a square bottom one next.

[wrigh003]

Took my wife to the range a couple days ago. She tried both of my semi autos and my 642. I think she was a little scared of the .38 for a minute- she needed a little time to understand why simple can be better. After we got done, though, I think she came to like it best of all of them.

[MO-642]

I am scared to let my wife shoot mine for that very reason! She might want to take it for herself!!

[hAkron]

I finally had a chance to shoot my 642 with magna grips and a T-grip style grip adapter (see my picture a few posts above). It is much more comfortable than the magna grips alone. It is comparable to the rubber stock grips that shipped with my 642. The rubber factory grips are nice, but are not as practical for pocket carry as they 'grip' the inside of your pocket and make presentation a bit too difficult. My current grip configuration as pictured above is a good compromise between comfort and functionality.

[Warp]

My wife hates revolvers, especially little snub nose revolvers. The trigger pull is too long and heavy, and the sights are too minimal.

[DBpharm29]

I'm in this club! Just picked one up and got it out to the range yesterday! I was shooting the 10 ring out with this thing on a silhouette target 5-10 yds two handed, one handed strong arm, one handed other arm it didn't matter... I was hitting the 9 and 8 rings at 15-20 yds couldn't be more happy with it! My first snub and I can guarentee won't be the last. I got a new one without a lock and the grips make it a little tough to use speed loader real quickly so I may change them but not sure since they are very comfortable. By the way who says snubs aren't accurate?

[Mizsophie]

I'm new here. I just bought a S & W 442 this week. I opted for the black over the 642, even though that's nice too. I'm just sort of a basic black goes with everything person. Took it to the range yesterday for it's premier. It's awesome!! It does sting a bit, I won't lie. Bought Hogue mongrips but haven't put them on yet. I live very close to the range so I plan on going often and shooting a little each time.
Count me in on the "Love small revolvers fan club".

[SwissArmyDad]

I'm new here. I just bought a S & W 442 this week. I opted for the black over the 642, even though that's nice too. I'm just sort of a basic black goes with everything person. Took it to the range yesterday for it's premier. It's awesome!! It does sting a bit, I won't lie. Bought Hogue mongrips but haven't put them on yet. I live very close to the range so I plan on going often and shooting a little each time.
Count me in on the "Love small revolvers fan club".

Please post, Ms. Sophie (I hope I'm reading the name right), about your experience with the Hogue Monogrips. I'm trying to gather data about how much comfort it adds to the shooters hand, as I LOVED the little rig other than that significant sting.