New to me- Smith 442 Airweight

They are typically carried in the pocket. DeSantis, among others makes a good pocket holster. Belt holster - most folks would prefer a more modern semi, not that 3rd Gen Smiths are bad guns.

That being said, you need to consider:

1. Ammo
2. Practice.

The gun is not the easiest to shoot. The most 'powerful' (more recoiling) ammo is hard to control for many, esp. on second shots. Reloads aren't the fastest. Thus, snubbies take some investment to be really up to speed with them.

Claude Werner has a wealth of resources on snubbies. Here's one but explore the rest of his info on them. He also teaches a great course.

https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/carrying-snub-revolvers/

I have a new 442 I haven't fired yet. I like the black over the silver finish of the 642. I just made a belt holster for mine. Or I just pocket carry without a holster. But I almost never have a gun on me unless I am checking out a strange noise around the house at night.

I carry mine in a Mika pocket holster most times and I have a no name belt carry cross draw leather holster I sometimes use.

Dry firing with snap caps will help you develop good trigger control with that DA trigger. The added benefit is a much smoother trigger after several hundred pulls lol.

I found my M442 to be very accurate with Speer 135gr .38 +P short barrel ammo.

mdrisc85

Great choice in a .38 Special snubby! I prefer it's close cousin the Model 638. For concealed carry I like the DeSantis SOF-TUCK IWB holster.

mdrisc85 said:

Any holster recommendations from the experts here? Any thing I should be looking out for?

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When I carry this, I use a Kramer horsehide pocket holter; I don't like a collapsible or nylon fabric holster for pocket carry and the Kramer has a flat side so it looks like you're just carrying your wallet in that pocket. Slight hook, so it stays in the pocket for the draw.

https://www.kramerleather.com/collections/pocket-gun-holster/products/pocket-gun-holster

I also use the inexpensive Fobus paddle for a J-frame when I just need to quickly clip a holster on when working in the garage, mowing the lawn or for a quick run down the road to get gas ... I do have an old Bianchi with the retention strap made for the 642/442, but it doesn't carry close to the body so concealment is compromised.

As noted, with hotter loads (+p), recoil can be a tad on the ... brutal ... side.

I keep my 442 in a Safariland holster. I like how the holster keeps it's shape better than the Desantis Nemisis holsters I've had that always mold to the exact shape of the gun. It makes it a little less obvious that I've got a revolver in my pocket.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00152ZNOA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Personally, I also don't care for rubber grips for a pocket gun so I swapped mine out for some Altamont wooden boot grips.

If you have a suitable pocket, a half a sock might be all the holster you need.

A proper holster, of course, will keep the gun at a predicable orientation within the pocket, will keep it free of lint and gunk, will protect the pocket itself from wear, and will cover the trigger guard. If you are comfortable with leaving that DA trigger uncovered in a pocket, and if the pocket is the right size and shape to hold the gun snugly, the sock will do a good job of holding the gunk at bay and protecting the pocket itself.

This is ideal for when you want to drop in into your jacket pocket as you're headed for a quick run out the door for takeout food. Many holsters almost seem as bulky and heavy as the gun itself, and sometimes, less is more.

It also allows you to have your hand on the gun, with a full firing grip, without drawing attention to yourself if the situation warrants. It is not, however, ideal for getting a good grip on the gun once you find yourself on your back.

The Desantis Nemesis is my pocket holster of choice for J-frame revolvers.

I have a few for my 642, but I probably use the Mika pocket holster the most.Not fancy, works well, not expensive, made by someone who knows about them.

I have a 638 which I carry in a front pocket in a Blackhawk pocket holster

https://mikaspocketholsters.com/

works better than any I have tried. Yoused a Kramer Horsehide before discovering these 15 years ago. I had him make one for a Shield, about as big as you can go. I have one for a 3" Bulldog .44 that works well too in most utility type pants or jeans

Mika's pocket holsters - The brown one is also by Robert Mika but in IWB style



Very happy with lobo gun leather as well.

Congrats!

Good choice. I have a 442 that my wife bought me for my birthday in ‘97. I couldn’t hit a darn thing with that gun when I first fired it but with practice I became very proficient with it.

I have a number of carry options but that 442 is my favorite gun to carry. I never changed the grips or have done anything to the gun other than clean, lube it and shoot it, a lot.

I carry mine in my pocket with a “Sticky” holster. When traveling I will keep it in the console in a gun rug. Often I will just stick it in my jacket pocket.

I have only fired +P ammo out of it a couple of times. It’s hard to follow up after a +P round is fired and the subsequent recoil and fireball makes shooting them annoying and counterproductive. I stick with .38 Spl defense loads and skip the +P ammo.

Enjoy your new best friend.

Oh, I forgot to mention...before buying any holster make sure the holster isn’t made for a 36 or any hammered variant j-frame. It’s so annoying that companies will advertise or promote a holster for your gun leaving only to find that it won’t retain the 442 due to the lack of a hammer.

I carry mine in a Simply Rugged pocket holster.

No need to sell me on the merits of owning a 442!

I PC my 442-2 .

I had a 640 Centennial (all-steel) for several years until I traded it for a 2.5" M-19 that a friend just never shot..and he liked the pocketability of the 640 more than the M-19 (I tossed in 100 bucks to make it more equitable).

I now have a 642, and yes, with +P ammo it is a handful. Standard pressure .38 Spl. Critical Defense loads are about my max with it.

IMHO, there's nothing better for concealed-carry pocket-draw than the hammerless S&W revolver riding in an inside-the-pocket holster like the Nemesis. They just slide right out, no fuss, no snag, no worries.

Welcome to the snubby-club, and stay safe!

I have a number of airweight snubbies. Most are model 37s built prior to the gun being rated for plus P and I mostly use standard pressure ammunition. I have a couple newer Centennials that are plus P rated and I have found that as much as I like the old 158 gr LSWCHP +P, the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot is not bad to shoot and more controllable than the 158+P for me. Honestly, in the older guns, I usually use some of my stashed 125 grain Nyclads in summer and in the winter plain old 158 grain LSWCs.