642 Club Part Deux

Steve, welcum aboard! You'll love your new little wheelgun (LOL)

My only word of advice is dont shoot your booger picker off with that 2-inch hot rocket

Have fun, and welcome to THR.




*NEVER LOSE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS* *EVER*:banghead:

Hello friends and neighbors // Found a 642 no lock and had to...

I also bought the larger grips for 442, amazing improvement. It is now like an extension of my hand.
Just ignore the 6" 586

Welcome all newcommers and thanks for the info all old mules.

Welcome steve rollin, want to be careful with the lock thing some here are very strange on the issue. When I went back to snub nose several years ago I too picked the 642 then I found this fourm. If I would of found it before I got the 642 I don't think I would of gotten the 642 because of the lock which would of been a big lost to me since after picking it up I remember why I had owned snubs in the pass. Nothing beat them for a weapon you can have with you always that still have a reasonable amount of power. Make sure the lock works right by turning the key and making sure you here a click when you lock and unlock it. Then unlock it put the key away and never look back no real issue.

be safe

Greetings! rd checking in. Been out for a few months. Going through the big D. My 642 is a little (a lot) more pocket worn, but the Club standards of excellence stand the test. Mika, Buffalo Bore, Gold dots, T-grips.

Live well

jb

Bantam grips good for pocket carry?

Just got a 642 and plan on pocket carry primarily. The stock rubber grips grab at my pocket more than I would like. My first thought is to go with some smooth wood grips or the Hogue Bantams. Any opinions on either the Bantams or a good wood style for pocket carry?

Stevemas - Welcome. I replaced the factory stocks with S&W logoed round butt banana stocks (wood); got them off eBay for around $25 as I recall. Mine are the checkered style and don't drag like the factory rubber stocks. I prefer them as I can get a better grip on the gun and control it better. I have average sized hands and I am not recoil sensitive.

Thanks for the info 308win! I am leaning towards some style of small wooden grips so I will check what is on ebay.

I sometimes carry a 637 (smaller profile)instead of my 642. To alleviate "printing" I put a set of Rosewood Badger boot grips on the 637. While transfering the gun from pocket to a COM trunk safe the gun slipped right out of my hands! The dings it got in the drop bothered me less than the fact that I could have lost the gun during a hasty draw. The rubber boot grips are back on the 637!

Hello friends and neighbors // wjh2657 thanks for that advice

My Dad has recently come to appreciate how light and powerful my 442 is and bought a 637 for the same reasons as you.
My 14 year old sister announced she wanted to try the it. The 637 seemed perfect size and he took her to the range. She did great and after watching my Dad shoot 10 rounds she shot the next 40 target rounds all on paper at 20feet (with a little help of course). Proud of her.

Well now she wants pearl grips for the 637.....your post should help my Dad explain why its good to avoid this and stick to rubber.
Maybe he can use rubber grips when carring and put on the pearls with some light loads when she goes shooting with him/us.

We are just glad she is interested.

Hey, count me in!

A S&W 642 in a Galco IWB holster is my daily carry pistol.

I finally joined the club last week. Just waiting for my RKBA pocket holster to come in.











I'm hoping the Mrs. takes the hints that were dropped for the CT grips for my birthday.

Grease Monkey said:

Hey, count me in!

A S&W 642 in a Galco IWB holster is my daily carry pistol.

Click to expand...

Hey, Grease Monkey, which Galco are you using with your 642? I have been trying to make a holster decision for some time now. So far, I only carry mine in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster but am researching and trying to decide on the best IWB for the 4 to 5 o'clock position.

I would appreciate input from anyone!!!

Welcome

to~~~~~~~~~~~~~

steve rollin, brobar, stevemas, rodpumas, Buck Gislar and Greas Monkey!!

Excellent choice in revolvers gents.

rd and jad good to see you guys around, thanks for checking in. Good to know some of the founders are still in the Club.

.308 thanks for holding down the fort.

If jt1 were here you would get a solid endorsement on the Hogue Bantams.
Hogue Monogrips are great too, just a bit long for all but the deepest pockets.
Great too for early training on the Mule.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Son gave me an early Xmas Present. 4Sevens Quark LED Flashlight.
2X123A Titanium LE. 190 Lumens OTF.

Here it is in good company.

Early Santa for DAdams

Looks like Early Santa was good to you, DAdams.

Thanks to you for recommending ammunitiontogo.com for the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P ammo. I checked in with them periodically and finally caught them a couple of weeks ago with some in stock.

I noticed in the pictures of your Christmas present that you have CT grips on you 642. Do you have an IWB holster for that gun and, if so, enlighten me. I only have a pocket holster for my 642 w/CT grips and would like to find a good, fairly cheap IWB.

Thanks!

I bought my 642 two days ago and I love it! Unfortunately many people I know do not agree with my decision to have a handgun, or any gun for that matter. I love this forum because I have like minded, good people that are gun owners who I can get advice from and great tips.
Thanks for all the info.

Camjr checking back in after a brief absence from the club. The 642 is picking up some VERY attractive wear patterns from the Nemesis and Mika holsters. I've been spreading the Gospel to others in the market for a small pocket gun, and have made converts of 5 additional wayward souls that were looking into the evil bottomfeeding variety of pocketrocket.

Glad to see .38spl range ammo becoming available again since I don't reload. Picked up some Serbian Privi-Partizan made Monarch semijacketed 158gr hollowpoints at Academy the other day for less than normal FMJ range ammo that I could use as defense ammo if I needed to. Don't know if they'll expand well out of the little snubbie, but they'll put 158 grains of thump out there.

Cheers!

Welcome rdogg. Making some assumption based on age, status, local and State Laws, etc you have 2A rights yet you may have to be selective regarding your discussions; or who you reveal your ownership/possession of the revolver aka 642 in this case. It is not for everyone (ownership) and there are a few who are adamant "anti". Depending on how close these people are to you, why are they even on a "need to know basis"?
If it is someone ie significant other, parents, children, Grandchildren, visiting minors etc then you may have your work cut out for you regarding philosophy and in all cases you have a legal responsibility. Personally I made some compromises while I had young children in the house during the growing up years, including locks, safes, and including the types of PD equipment I kept around. Circumstances may dictate your approach.

camjr-

Thanks for stopping buy. Indeed the ammo market is softening. I wonder for "how long"?

Far, far, far behind in reading here.
Good to see the club is in good hands.

Welcome to all the new members.

Nice early Christmas for DA, I see.
No ashes and switches for the MSAA this year.

Busy at work, as usual, compounded by "new" love in my life. First in several years.
"New" because even though we've known each other for nearly two years,
she's been away and we've been working on it from afar. Now she's back.

Has all the earmarks of the best in my life.

She loves my 642 (but even more my 65; is dreaming of a .45 for herself,
but it's not too late for me to lobby for a wheel gun; maybe a .45 Colt).

Guns and love. Life is good, no?

Information please

Excuse my ignorance on the subject. I would like some information if I may get it.

What is the difference, if any, (other than color) between the 642 and 442? Is there any difference in weight or trigger?

Also, I see so many people totally against the lock. Is there a major difference? Why would I want one without the lock? Is there a real danger having one?

Thanks for the input.

michaelp here are the specification for both 642 and 442, note only the model number, sku, and color/finish are different.

SKU: 162810
Model: 442
Caliber: .38 S&W Special +P
Capacity: 5 Rounds
Barrel Length: 1 7/8"
Front Sight: Black Blade Front
Rear Sight: Fixed
Grip: Rubber Grips
Frame: Small - Centennial Style
Finish: Blue / Black
Overall Length: 6 3/8"
Material: Alloy
Weight Empty: 15 oz.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...selected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=

SKU: 163810
Model: 642
Caliber: .38 S&W Special +P
Capacity: 5 Rounds
Barrel Length: 1 7/8"
Front Sight: Integral Front
Rear Sight: Fixed
Grip: Rubber Grips
Frame: Small - Centennial Style
Finish: Matte
Overall Length: 6 3/8"
Material: Alloy/Stainless Steel
Weight Empty: 15 oz.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...selected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=

Both the 442 and 642 are available without the lock. You must contact a dealer for price and availability for a new X42 sans lock. They are available pre ILS (Internal Locking System) as-well.

When you do a Google Search for lock information there 314000 items as searched Smith and Wesson Lock.
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=Smith+and+Wesson+Lock&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g3

My first choice would be to have any revolver without a lock. I have three, two with locks and one without. I find having a lock aesthetically unappealing but don't loose sleep over a potential misoperation. In the thousands of rounds I have put through my personal revolvers, the locks have never misoperated.

Back in the days when I had kids around I would have liked to have had one with a key lock.

All the talk about the LCR has me thinking that possibly I should take a good look at them before I look for a 442/642. I guess if the appearance of the 642 is what I want, there is no issue. However the LCR is (appearance wise) similar to the 442. I am just not sure about the overall quality and trigger.

michaelp

All the talk about the LCR has me thinking that possibly I should take a good look at them before I look for a 442/642.

Click to expand...

You should definitely do that. It has been around about a year or so now so you shouldn't have any trouble getting feedback from some users.

Here is a starting point:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=491607&highlight=LCR

The Search function turned up many threads dealing with the Ruger.

642 Frame finish

I have a 642 and the finish is coming off. Any ideas on what to do?
Thanks,
Fred

I have posted pics here.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6130201&postcount=4

Been away for a while too.

Wishing everyone a happy holidays.

I'll update the member list at post 3,700

How did I miss this thread? I gave my pristeen, early 80's Model 36 to my daughter because it was blue steel, got rid of my sp 101 due to the weight, and finally ended up with my 642 a year ago. I wanted an honest pocket piece. Been my constant companion ever since. I love the CT grips, make a world of difference, especially at longer distances. Happy Holidays to everyone!