S&W 642 vs. Colt Night Cobra in 38 Spl?

6 vs 5 shot

If I were looking for a smaller package than a SP101, I'd probably get the 642.

I would go with the 642. I’ve owned mine for several years and I love it. Very easy to carry and conceal. While I usually carry a Glock 26, the 642 sees more carry time during the summer. I can pocket carry or wear it OWB in a Bianchi 57 holster….or even in a fanny pack.

I’m not worried about it only having 5 rounds. I’m not going to be stopping the North Hollywood Bank shoot out…..but I will be able to protect myself or anyone else in my immediate area. I carry reloads on a speed strip carried in a nylon carrier that wraps on my belt. Most often just one which has two strips, so I have 5 in the gun with 10 rounds for reloads. Other times I carry two which gives me 5 + 20.

The 642 has an aluminum alloy frame while the Cobra has a steel frame. The S&W model 60 would be more of a direct competitor vs the Cobra or Night Cobra. The Colt holds an extra round. Colt hasn't come out with anything lightweight that would compete directly against the 642. If you're going to shoot/practice with the gun much the extra weight of the steel frame help with the recoil. The Night Cobra comes with a tritium front sight.

FWIW I sold my model 60 once I bought my Cobra and I rarely sell a gun.

It doesn’t look like either the Night Cobra or 642 has DA capabilities. For the Cobra vs the model 60 I preferred the Colt trigger. I also liked the grips and sight better. I shot the cobra better in both DA and SA.

I have normal sized hands and I feel like the J frame is meant for someone with small hands. If I had smaller hands the S&W might have worked out better.

Smaug said:

Looking at these two, possibly may pick one up as a CCW.

I already have a Ruger SP-101 in .357 and the 3" barrel. With this next gun, I'd be looking to add something a bit smaller, with a no-snag DAO and chambered in 38+P. (don't want the longer cylinder or .357 capability here)

What does the Colt have to justify the extra 50% ($300) in cost? Better DA trigger or just the brand name? It looks like maybe a little bigger gun, as it has room for the pinky on that bottom corner of the grip. If so, what is the equivalent S&W?

What led to this was I watched a Paul Harrel video in which he compared small & medium 38 revolvers with small & medium 9 mm pistols. He made some strong points on how a revolver may be more reliable in a real-world SHTF scenario, especially if the user doesn't have great technique or a lot of practice. (thinking of my wife here)

Other thoughts?

Thanks!

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If this is a purchase for your wife, be advised that the 642, weighing in at what, 14 oz, has downright nasty recoil when loaded with +P's.

Most people use light .38 loads in them, some put hogue or Compaq grips on them, and some even load them with .38 TARGET wadcutters.

One might suggest that you find a way to get one in her hands so she can try it.

Alternatives to consider would include an all-steel j frame like a model 60, or a Ruger LCR.

.38 snubs have saved lots of good people's lives, but they're not easy to shoot.

I have a new model Colt Cobra and both the 642 and 442. (And an SP 101 .38, S&W 49 and 3” 36, etc.)




The Cobra is slightly larger and heavier, 6-shot, has better sights, DA-SA (Mine has the hammer) and has a great trigger pull.

642/442 is snag free (hammerless), 5-shot, lighter weight and smaller, ok trigger pull is a bit heavy.

For strictly ccw the 642/442 carries easier and draws better. But, it kicks a lot more and is small enough to really rap my middle finger under recoil, something the Cobra/SP101 doesn’t do. When it’s practice time, the 642/442 guns are strictly wadcutter loads for me. The heavier revolvers get a variety of loads.

In all honesty, there isn’t a huge amount of difference between your SP and Colt other than the caliber and one more shot. The only real difference between the SP is the hammerless 642/442 design and its lighter weight.

If you can, try to shoot one or both before you buy. You nay not find enough of a difference to spend the 450 bucks or so for the 642 or 750 for the Cobra.

Stay safe.

The S&W 642 is a very good carry revolver. I have two. Never shot the Colt.

Wham Bham said:

I had a Colt Cobra, but +P .38 Spl ammo ruined it--stretched the frame and cracked the topstrap. That was 158 gr LSWC HP's.

Carried a S&W 642 for several years, but the finish wore off. No big deal, but I really didn't care for the heavy trigger either. I spent quite a bit on polishing and 'smithing until I got it where I wanted it.

Tried a new Ruger LCR and never looked back. The trigger was better than on any of my S&W Centennials, and the sights are much better than on the S&W J frames

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Was that a new model or an old model?

The Colt has a far better trigger than a J-frame. It holds six shots and is actually a joy to fire.

Colt >>>LCR >>>>>>>>>>>>> S&W <> Sp101.

Consider the King Cobra 2 or 3 inch. Plenty of extra strength if you want to shoot lots of +p .38.

I've owned all of these guns except for a .38 Cobra. Have only handled one of those.

Smaug said:

Wow, there’s no excuse for that in a revolver the size of the Colt Cobra!


Interesting! It is not very often that a Ruger revolver is recommended over a Smith & Wesson for trigger pull.


I might have to try and rent one somewhere… does it handle +P ammo OK?

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The LCR has the best snub trigger I've ever shot...until I got a Colt.

Yes the LCR's are pretty tough. The .38 one I'd pretty darn light and while it handles recoil better than an air weight S&W it will wear you down.

The LCR .357 is 4 oz heavier and that helps cut recoil noticeably.

If lower recoil practice is what you want get an LCR .327. You can shoot 5 calibers from that and it holds 6.

Between 642 and night cobra specifically.. no question the NC. Light years above better trigger, more purchase on the stocks, better sights. “Similar” size package. I like both. Would perfer to have both! But if it’s one or the other... Colt. My late model king cobra 3 inch is amazing

Smaug said:

Wow, there’s no excuse for that in a revolver the size of the Colt Cobra!

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The original Cobra was an aluminum frame. The current Cobra could handle a lifetime of shooting +p ammo.

Smaug said:

I was intrigued by the 9 mm. that means cheap ammo and quick easy reloads with moon clips. Seems recoil will be worse than a 38, though, and weight goes up 4 oz. to handle the higher pressure with a stainless frame. Does it have a shorter cylinder than the 38, or does the bullet have a longer jump to the forcing cone?

Oh? It can use older .32 cal. rounds? Are any of them actually available though?
How much is .327 ammo? I bet it's expensive... (though 38 is no bargain, these days...)

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Jumping some gap before contacting rifling doesn't seem to matter much. Some velocity is lot but accuracy doesn't seem greatly affected. Competition shooters load .38 Colt short and fire it from .357's.

But at some point, like firing .45 Colt from a rifled .410 bore, accuracy (precision actually) is reduced.

Yes, .327 Fed guns chamber .32 h&r mag, .32 s&w long, .32 s&w (aka short) and .32 acp. .32 acp isnt accurate except at very close range and there can be other issues but it is safe to fire. I've fired all of these from mine. Nope, none of these are cheap rounds. But nothing is now. They can all be reloaded. I've reloaded .32 mag and .32 long.

I see you ordered an LCR .38. You'll like it.

Wham Bham said:

What grip do you have you have one the second revolver on the first photo?

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That is the standard SP 101 rubber grip that had the black plastic grip inserts originally. I replaced those plastic inserts with rosewood-colored inserts from a GP100 compact grip set.

I bought the GP100 compact grip set to replace the factory set on my GP100 .44 Spl. (I likened those grips to giant rat turds.) Chigs Grips inserts now grace the .44 and the GP inserts are in the SP grips.



Stay safe.

reddog81 said:

The 642 has an aluminum alloy frame while the Cobra has a steel frame. The S&W model 60 would be more of a direct competitor vs the Cobra or Night Cobra. The Colt holds an extra round. Colt hasn't come out with anything lightweight that would compete directly against the 642. If you're going to shoot/practice with the gun much the extra weight of the steel frame help with the recoil. The Night Cobra comes with a tritium front sight.

FWIW I sold my model 60 once I bought my Cobra and I rarely sell a gun.

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Or get an older Colt Cobra with the aluminum frame, with a 125 gr round (not +P) recoil for the wife shouldn't be too bad.

Riomouse911 said:

I replaced those plastic inserts with rosewood-colored inserts from a GP100 compact grip set.

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I found a pair of pre-owned OEM Ruger wood grip panels that were marked "GP100" at a local gun shop for a reasonable price and they fit my SP101 purchased not long after they were introduced. The original plastic grips are nightmarishly ugly. Sorry, not relevant to the 642 vs. Cobra snub discussion.

I suspect I'll get a 642 or 442 soon. No brand loyalty here as I have more than a couple Rugers I love and I'm sure the LCR is a quality arm, but the Smiths are marginally smaller if also marginally heavier, which tips the scales just enough for me -- for pocket carry.

If I didn't already have my 3" SP101 (which I love) I'd cross-shop it with the Kimber revolver if I could before I bought, and would also include the Colt in that comparison if full-power or full-length .357 was not important in my snub-nosed revolver.

edited to add: for pants-pocket carry, I think 5-shot is probably a better choice, for my body size and type.

reddog81 said:

It doesn’t look like either the Night Cobra or 642 has DA capabilities.

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I'm not sure what you mean by that. They are both, in common usage of the term DA ("trigger cocking") double action only.

Oops. Meant SA.