S&W 442 Owners

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wcwhitey

wcwhitey

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Looking at possibly picking up a 442. I have carried a 640 Centennial no dash since 1990. Love the gun but now retired I find pocket carry my favorite method. The 640 can get a bit heavy in the pocket. I would still carry the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P Short Barrel as I have a substantial stock. So my question is, does the loss of 8+ ounces make the revolver uncomfortable to shoot. The 640 gets a bit painful at the end of 50 or so. Is it worth the trim down? image.jpg
 
I like the idea of the 638, at times over the years missed the hammer. I have a line on a new 442 no lock, identical to my centennial except for the weight. Having carried the gun as backup, primary at times and off duty, decades of qualification I just figure muscle memory is best. Helps to have all the leather and accessories is a plus. Just asking about recoil. Is it better to deal with a heavy pocket or lose shoot ability.
 
I have had the 442 below since 1997. This gun is always nearby for me and I did carry it a lot before moving back to CA - I refuse to wait 2 years for a CCW. I am leaving in 10 months.

Anyway, for me +P is too much in this gun, even when I didn’t have wrist problems. With standard velocity loads I can control it and put all 5 rounds in a 6” area at 10 yards in less than 3 seconds.

I tried and have an easier time with +P in my model 36 as I have installed a Hogue Monogrip on the gun, but the Monogrip makes pocket carry tough.

My 442 has the original Uncle Mike’s boot grip. I have tried other grips but ended up back with the original.
My 442 is my favorite carry gun.

Here is a photo with both guns showing the size of the Monogrip.
A4A7B078-8DF3-44D6-8C97-2B267AE5CB5F.jpeg

This link is a real eye opener regarding .38 special ballistics and various rounds they tested. I threw this in just for the heck of it.
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/
 
Here are some numbers:

135 gr bullet at 850 fps -

Model 640, 22.2 oz = 3.01 ft lbs recoil
Model 442, 14.7 oz = 4.55 ft lbs recoil

That's a big change. About 50% more recoil in the 442.
 
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I've found a good carry load especially for the airweight or lcr is critical defense 110 grain, non plus p.

This non plus p round according to lucky gunner does better than the plus p version.

The 110 grain hollow point opens up to .44-45 and goes 14-16 inches in ballistic gel.

It has less recoil than a lot of light range fodder rounds, and for me drills out the center quickly and effortlessly at ten yards.

It's what I go with Vs any other non plus p or wadcutter choice. I'd take more / faster well performing rounds on target over slower, heavier recoiling rounds and performance wise from a snub they're tough to beat.

I'd love to try some Federal hst 130 grain but have never seen them in the wild.
 
wcwhitey said:
Looking at possibly picking up a 442.
Click to expand...
I bought one years ago, before having learned a thing about SD. It dropped nicely into a pocket. It kicked, but I could take it. I used standard loads.

When I first got into SD training, I was amazed at how rapidly a defender is expected to shoot to defend against a violent attack. With my tendonitis and arthritis, the long, hard DA pull made those drills very difficult for me, as did the recoil. I found pocket carry far less than optimal for drawing while moving. The capacity limitation became quickly apparent.

The pain of the recoil is much less important than its effect on rapid controlled fire. Remember that your attacker may be coming in at 180 inches per second, and it may take several hits to stop him.

I relegated it to backup carry. I no longer have it.

For a revolver, a six shot steel revolver with decent sights and a good trigger pull is much better, but it is harder to carry due to the weight. I found an obvious solution: belt carry.
 
mcb said:
I have a 442 Moonclip and its been a good little revolver for an aluminum J-frame. I put a set of ergo grips on it, they are ugly as sin but really do tame the recoil well.

View attachment 1022657
Click to expand...
That is interesting. Our hands must be different. I felt like the ergo grips were worse. Makes life interesting. Loved the size and feel.
 
PapaG said:
That is interesting. Our hands must be different. I felt like the ergo grips were worse. Makes life interesting. Loved the size and feel.
Click to expand...
For me the ergo grips felt very awkward when I first grabbed a revolver with them on it, but after I started shooting my 442 with it I really warmed up to the grips. They are still ugly but I shoot better with them than the OEM grips and recoil is easier to manage. But as you state are hand must be different. No matter how good a grip is if it don't fit your hand it will be awful.
 
Yes it has more "felt" recoil than the steel version but you are not gonna shoot 50 rounds for SD!:)
Put rubbers on it.
 
I carried a 640 for years in my rear pocket as a duty backup. Great gun, a tad heavy for in the pocket carry though. I traded it and some $$ for two Model 19’s (Back when they were everywhere as they were being turned in by departments going to autos.)

I have a 642 now. Much lighter, but recoil is brisk and snappy, to be kind. I find it much less pleasant to shoot than my Ruger SP 101 and new Colt Cobra… which are also a tad heavy to pocket carry..:confused:

Sooo, if you’re following “the carry a lot, shoot a little” maxim they’re great. You’ll need to shoot it enough to be proficient, but since you’re familiar with the 640 manual of arms already that shouldn’t take too long.

Stay safe.
 
defjon said:
I've found a good carry load especially for the airweight or lcr is critical defense 110 grain, non plus p.

This non plus p round according to lucky gunner does better than the plus p version.

The 110 grain hollow point opens up to .44-45 and goes 14-16 inches in ballistic gel.

It has less recoil than a lot of light range fodder rounds, and for me drills out the center quickly and effortlessly at ten yards.

It's what I go with Vs any other non plus p or wadcutter choice. I'd take more / faster well performing rounds on target over slower, heavier recoiling rounds and performance wise from a snub they're tough to beat.

I'd love to try some Federal hst 130 grain but have never seen them in the wild.
Click to expand...

I have two small boxes of the Critical Defense 110’s for my 1957 Colt Agent. Good round! Having carried the Speer 135’s for decades they have accumulated if you get my drift. Ten boxes of 50 or so deep!
 
I would go for it and never look back. I carried a 642 for a few years, and the weight difference makes it so much easier to carry. Yes there is a little difference in recoil, but it isn’t bad with that load. I have carried and shot the .357 version of that load in my 340 for the past 5 or 6 years. The +P 38 version is pretty pleasant compared to the .357 version in my 340, and the 442 is a little heavier than the 340. You shouldn’t have to worry about jumping the crimp with that load either.
 
I have a 442 no lock and load Winchester 110gr bullets for it. Going to a lighter weight bullet really helps. Plus the old standby of 148gr target wadcutter loads. They will give you all the penetration you need. There is a video somewhere with a slo-mo WC bullet going through a block of ballistic gel. They work better than you would think.

I have also loaded 124gr lead bullets to the 750fps speed range and those are a cinch to shoot. About like shooting a 22 mag from a snub.
 
I carry a 442 in my pocket every day sometimes the second one is in my waistband. I used to have no problem shooting them with the stock grips. Now that my hands are a lot older I prefer the Pachmayr compacts or the Hogue tamers for pleasurable shooting at the range. I also carry the spear +P F51CED70-0C61-43C1-AAD7-EC7AF927D334.jpeg load for my Carry rounds. I practice with 130 grain metal case standard 38 special. I have no problem caring these guns in my front pants pocket.
 
I have a 442, a 642, and a 437, all Airweights, all machined to accept moon clips. I prefer to shoot only standard 38 Special loads in them. They are definitely more comfortable to carry than the all steel versions.

My 642 is the oldest, purchased new in 1999 and has had the most rounds put through it. The only problem I've had was the main spring went soft and needed to be replaced.
 
I have one. I can shoot regular 38 special ammo out of it until I get bored. It doesn't bother my hands at all. I've never shot +P out of it.

A light revolver like a 442 or LCR is much easier to carry than a steel-framed one. I have various snubs, and the steel-framed ones don't get carried as much. The light ones do have a bit more recoil, but my effective accuracy with them is about the same.
 
I have a 638, 442 and a 3 inch model 60. With the light weight guns with 38 special plus p, recoil is a bit lighter than the m60 with magnums in my opinion
 
Jonesy814 said:
I have a 638, 442 and a 3 inch model 60. With the light weight guns with 38 special plus p, recoil is a bit lighter than the m60 with magnums in my opinion
Click to expand...


I would agree with this. If I took it to the range and pounded out 100 +P, I’d be a little tingly in the hand. However, I find my 642 to be the perfect drop-in-the-shorts-pocket gun for summer use. I use a Nemesis holster for it.
 
Tallball said:
I have one. I can shoot regular 38 special ammo out of it until I get bored. It doesn't bother my hands at all.
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That means it is okay for "going shooting", but for SD, the issue is how rapidly one can shoot it in controlled fire.
guyfromohio said:
However, I find my 642 to be the perfect drop-in-the-shorts-pocket gun for summer use.
Click to expand...
So was mine, but I did not find it very useable in defensive training drills.
 
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