S&W 642

The 642 is my first pick when I need a light-weight pocket carry handgun...

Edmo

642's are sweet....... I purchased a 642 back in 2009 and promised I would sell it to one of my sisters when she got her pistol permit. Had it for about a year; worked up a nice 38 Spl. handload with Hornady 125 gr. XTP bullets and HS-6 powder and really got attached to it. They are nice, light, easy to conceal, and I could see myself owning another one someday. Of course, if my sister ever decides to sell hers she has to call me first. My only complaint about a snubby like that is they are difficult to shoot if the target is more than 10 yds. away; but that's mostly because I never got around to practicing beyond 10 yds. and I've seen guys who can do it but they're a lot better than me and they practice extensively with their snubbies . I'm not exactly an excellent pistolero but I do like 642's.

Catpop

Great gun at a mighty decent price! I think the Model 642 is one of the best J frame snubbies S&W has ever made! Have always been partial to the Model 638 myself but that's only because I had an old Model 38 years ago and liked having the single action feature with the hammer shroud. Hope your wife enjoys shooting it as well.

A S&W M442 (black version of the M642) is my normal carry. I think it's a great revolver and it's easy to carry.

ArchAngelCD said:

A S&W M442 (black version of the M642) is my normal carry. I think it's a great revolver and it's easy to carry.

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Me too - my 442 is super easy to conceal and even with only 5 rounds, I don't feel under gunned

That's some slick shooting.

Mine is a 637. I'm still learning double action revolvers, and wanted the hammer for any single action needs.

Last week I bought a Kimber K6S, with double action only.
The trigger is like glass on warm butter, I don't miss the hammer.
Maybe a trigger job is in my 637's future.

I just picked up a 442 to replace my 337 for pocket carry. The double action trigger isn't a smooth, but other than that I love it so far. J-frames feel pretty good in a pocket!

bassjam said:

I just picked up a 442 to replace my 337 for pocket carry. The double action trigger isn't a smooth, but other than that I love it so far. J-frames feel pretty good in a pocket!

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Put a set of snap caps in the 442 and squeeze the trigger a few hundred times. The trigger will smooth right out.

I pocket carried a 642 for many years. Sold it to a friend when I started pocket carrying a Kahr PM9.

However, I really missed that little J-frame, so I recently purchased a 442. Might say that I have "gone over to the dark side."

Take off the grips and get a drop of hopes elite gun oil or your oil of choice up in the works. They tend to be pretty dry in there. That should smooth out your trigger a little.

ArchAngelCD said:

Put a set of snap caps in the 442 and squeeze the trigger a few hundred times. The trigger will smooth right out.

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I probably have a couple hundred dry-fires through it already. It's better, but still not like my 337 so I'm thinking a polish job may be in order.

bassjam said:

I probably have a couple hundred dry-fires through it already. It's better, but still not like my 337 so I'm thinking a polish job may be in order.

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Just be careful when polishing the current parts in most revolvers. They tend to be surface hardened only so if you go too far the parts will fail within a very short time. The parts are very soft under the thin hardened surface.

442 is my favorite J-Frame. If I'm not carrying Two I carry one and a 36. My 37 gets loaned out when my brother comes in town.

Polish the bottom of the rebound slide and the shelf it rides on. Change the return spring in the rebound slide. And for those who think it may slow you down in a gunfight, balderdash. Unless your name is Miculek or Mrborland, it ain't gonna happen. And this shows a leaf spring, the J frame is a coil spring. If you reload with Federal primers, get a reduced spring. 7 smooth #s or less.

http://www.genitron.com/Basics/Interactive-Revolver

Those little pocket revolvers (and I guess autos ) are easy to shoot if you have laser sights. I was astonished at how easy it was to hit an 8 inch circle at 15 ft. or less with D/A rapid fire.

The alloy j frames are some of my favorite revolvers. I'm always amazed at how accurate they are and how effortlessly they carry.

I'm always amazed at how my hand is still sore 3 days after... but they sure are useful little guns.

When I first started shooting alloy j frames they beat me up pretty bad but now I can shoot 200+ rounds right handed in a session with no ill effects. I still get beat up left handed but I don't practice lefty as often either.

Tony_the_tiger said:

I'm always amazed at how my hand is still sore 3 days after... but they sure are useful little guns.

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My daughters edc is a 442. I have done quite a bit of testing of handloads looking for something a bit more forgiving and have several that are much more pleasant than factory ammo. The best thing in my opinion though is to replace the factory grips with something with a bit more beef. There are lots to choose from but I went with Pachmayr Compac Grips.

Also, I changed the main spring to 8 pounds and the rebound spring to 13 pounds, used Wilson Combat but same as with grips there are many to chose from. Just don't go too light in the springs unless you handload and use Federal primers.

thomas15 said:

My daughters edc is a 442. I have done quite a bit of testing of handloads looking for something a bit more forgiving and have several that are much more pleasant than factory ammo. The best thing in my opinion though is to replace the factory grips with something with a bit more beef. There are lots to choose from but I went with Pachmayr Compac Grips.

Also, I changed the main spring to 8 pounds and the rebound spring to 13 pounds, used Wilson Combat but same as with grips there are many to chose from. Just don't go too light in the springs unless you handload and use Federal primers.

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Nice, what load did you end up on?

I am currently using the Buffalo Bore 150 hardcast wadcutters which are coming out about 870 ft/s. They are equal in recoil to the Speer 135 grain +p round, which go about 50-60 ft/s slower in my j frames.

thomas15 said:

My daughters edc is a 442. I have done quite a bit of testing of handloads looking for something a bit more forgiving and have several that are much more pleasant than factory ammo. The best thing in my opinion though is to replace the factory grips with something with a bit more beef. There are lots to choose from but I went with Pachmayr Compac Grips.

Also, I changed the main spring to 8 pounds and the rebound spring to 13 pounds, used Wilson Combat but same as with grips there are many to chose from. Just don't go too light in the springs unless you handload and use Federal primers.

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Grip size definitely makes a big difference. I have fairly small hands so the factory stocks work perfectly for me. It's way too small for most folks with large hands.

Cool, I am using grips by Kim Ahrends exclusively on the J frames. I have probably tried them all by now... hogue... pachmyr... crimson trace... eagle... badger... s&w stock... esmeralda... I have never tried t grips though. I like these as the maple is soft and I was able to custom sand them down for speedloader clearance. The shop re-stained them for me when I was done. They conceal well and are good looking to boot!

On a M&P 340



On a 442