642 Club Part Deux

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#2151.

Jad said:
My 642 is looking much better with
a little honest wear 'n tear on her :cool:.
Click to expand...
So true.

A lack of wear 'n tear indicates that
it hasn't been shot enough,
and it ain't got no soul.

Shoot that thang.
 
Nematocyst said:
I routinely first open the cylinder to ritually make sure that
there are fiVe cartridges loaded with primers having no dimples.

Then, I close the cylinder and give the mule a back to front 'shake'.

There's just something reassuring about that rattle.
Click to expand...

I find the "rattle" reassuring also.
 
Big yellow thumbs up for Mika holster

The Mika round-cut pocket holster for my 642 finally arrived today. It took ten weeks, but I wouldn't hesitate to order again if I had the need.

It's been said before, but I'll reiterate the previous praise for this fine holster: It's well made, holds the gun upright, breaks up the outline nicely, fits perfectly in jeans, offers an effortless draw, and, unlike with my Nemesis, I can even reholster without removing the holster from my pocket. The "Custom made for Andy" and the Mika signature were a nice touch, too.

Best gun-related $22 I've ever spent.

A.
 
Been CCW and shooting the 642 since March, have tryed all sorts of different ammo, shes got some clear coat wear, but what the hell, shes got character and its a 'working' gun. ;)
 
chriske,

I hope so. I have a 642 I love, use it for pocket carry. It is my primary warm weather EDC (in Mika holster.) I carry a S&W 60 in a Bianchi IWB during cold months or when I can wear an outer garment. The problem is, I really prefer the way the 642 fits in my hand and the hammerless feature. I am ordering a 640 from my gun dealer next week. I carry .38 Spl (Normal pressure) in the 642 and +P in the 60. I know the 642 is rated +P but I can't really control it for follow ups in +P. ( I am a retired Marine, a graduate of Gunsite, and have fired literally thousands of rounds in different handguns, but the 642 in +P is not my cup of tea) I need the same configuration but heavier for IWB carry, thus the 640 in +P to punch through those thick winter clothes. I am not retiring the 642, each piece will have its own niche.

I am not saying for anybody not to use +P in the 642. It just isn't my thing.

As San Franciso's finest, Inspector Harry Callahan said: " A man has got to know his limitations!"
 
wjh2657
I'm looking into a 640 also really like the 642 it is the first alloy j frame i ever owned in the past i have had 2 mod 6o's at diffence times a colt DS a charter arm undercover and my first was a rossi. I really don't pocket carry very much only now and then on the ankle or in the boot. I perfer IWB even in the summer with shorts and t-shirt. So i'm thinking the extra weight wont matter much when carrying and will help a lot on the range. unlike a lot of people i just don't enjoy owning more then one of the same type of weapon. I have one semi auto, well two if you count the issued one, may old ruger security six which i carried back when we had to buy our own duty weapons, a S/A ruger 22, an NAA 22lr for those times you really can't carry a real handgun and my 642. So if i switch over the 642 will go (hope all forgive me if i do this). With this said does anyone think I'm giving up more then i will get by changing over? thanks

be safe
 
I've said this for a while - I even make my own, but I want a commercial equivalent. What we need is a 148gr WC - that's a full wadcutter - even flush-loaded. Mine look like little AAA batteries... but won't power a micro-flashlite. Still, for those who cannot take the +P's in their 642s, etc, why not a full wadcutter? Good penetration, chip or break bones instead of rebounding off them. Plus - a recoil in the 642 that is more manageable. It might have put a 642 in my wife's pocket in place of the new .32 Seecamp.

Odd... it doesn't seem like that many years back when I enjoyed boomers... but I traded my .454 Casull SRH for a .38/.357M years ago. Age - CTS - they have conspired to make me appreciate .38s from a steel revolver.

Welcome to the madness, new folk... 640s & 60s are just siblings, and most welcome, too.

Have a safe Fourth!

Stainz

"Schizophrenic Emeriti"
 
The only time I ever had any problems with hot loads was with my 2.25bbl SP101, I shot some .357 out of that and it litterally made my teeth rattle, my hand blistered and it only took me less then one box to decide never to shoot 357 outta anything smaller then a GP100. I've been shooting Speer GDHP +P's and Buffalo Bore 158g standard pressure, no problems with recoil or pain, and Im more impressed with this revolver everytime I shoot it.

And since I didn't have any firecrackers for the 4th, I decided to shoot the 642, This little J-Frame will never leave. Happy 4th of July Everybody!
 
Hello all,

I recently purchased a 642 and have been out to the range with it twice. Probably have expended 180 rounds or so.

I have shot plenty of pistols, but not a snub nose revolver, and I have a couple of questions.

1. I read lots of astonishing accuracy claims that I am unable to replicate. What I am getting is about a 3 inch group at 5 yards. Is that reasonable given that I am still getting used to DAO?

2. Best way to press the trigger on DAO? Use pad of finger like a standard revolver? Or at the joint like a semi?

3. What is the best stance for this type of revolver?

I do like this little revolver, though I am learning that having only 2" of barrel definitely makes it more of a challenge to be consistent shot to shot. It has been a lot of fun to shoot, and I think that I will be taking it to the range with its older siblings frequently.

Thanks, for the time.
 
ir3

The idea of finger placement is to exert only backward pressure and not to deflect the pistol/revolver off center axis. Not exactly an easy thing to do and as you indicate, may be variable based on trigger configuration, weight and distance traveled.

Wrist lock and offhand position round out the total grip. Muscle memory will develop over time so once you get as good as you can get, natural repeatability will come with practice.

Here is the "Master's" grip on a snub.

Jerry2-6.gif

Myself I go to the first joint, but not into the crease. As pressure is exerted to the break I am into the crease and the second bone is exerting lateral counter pressure to the left (right handed shooter) based on angular change as the trigger travels back and the angle of incidence is modified.

PA230003.jpg
 
Dry firing is your friend for a number of reasons - dry fire the hell out of it. You want the longitudinal axis of the bore to be as much in line with your arm as possible to manage recoil. The short barrels are more difficult to shoot because the sight radius multiplies alignment errors. Learn to stage the let off to gain better accuracy, control, muscle memory, etc.
 
DAdams,

I will have to try that grip with the left thumb crossed over the right. I usually parallel mine under my right thumb.

308, I have been dry firing the pistol to smooth out the action. Probably dry fired it a 300 times, and it seems to have smoothed considerably.

I will also now examine how my right arm is placed.

Thanks for the thoughts.
 
1. I read lots of astonishing accuracy claims that I am unable to replicate. What I am getting is about a 3 inch group at 5 yards. Is that reasonable given that I am still getting used to DAO?
Click to expand...

I would say 3" groups are good for a snubbie, and will only get better with practice.
 
Hello everyone, hope you had a happy 4th. I need to get to the range.

Oh yea....Post #3,000

It had to be made herer at the 642 club.
 
I have seen that grip before somewhere in here. At the time I thought i would try it but while checking it out it seem to me if you got too used to it you may in a stressful situration grip your auto like that and then you would run the risk of the slide hitting the top thumb wouldn't you? I do most of my shooting with the snub one handed as i belive this is the way it would be used in real life. The only real life time that i been around a gun fight that involved a snub was a dope deal in the mid 80's. The main u.c. was in the front seat with the bg cover u.c. in the back seat bg pulled a pistol for a rip off they fought for control cover u.c. shot bg twice he exit the vehicle and ran where me and my partner took him down. The rounds hit about 4" from each other around com. Bg make full recovery and was able to be a guess of the state for 20 years. Back then we used very low power wad cutters for range and the crazy old narc took a few I guess to save money and loaded then in his duty weapon.( mod 37). The point being he shot with one hand and stated he just pointed.

Be safe
 
Re: JohnnyLaw

I have not tried shooting it one handed. I will give that a try next range trip. Will be sure to start out with some lightly loaded plinker rounds though.

I am sure that corbon is pretty exciting one handed.
 
JonnyLaw

I fire my 642 with my right thumb on cut-out where the hammer would have been. To me, with a cut out like that it just seems like a natural place for the thumb to go. It's like it was ergonomically designed for it. It also seems to move the folcrum (pivot point) forward and reduces the rear-and-up barrel movement (recoil?) of the gun. Additionally, I think it allows for a higher grip for people with big hands. The 642 grip is pretty small and my pinky finger wants to be a part of the action too.

I know folks are going to tell me that I'll lose a thumb with an auto or hammered revolver if I get used to this grip. I don't think so though. I practice with my Sig and King Cobra also. Neither of them has a place up high where the thumb would find a natural place to be like on the 642.

Gripping the 642 this way will get in the way of the sights. They are pretty useless anyway for CQB. I have CT grips on my 642 but I know that a lot of others here don't rely on their sights even without the CT's.

Just my way though. Whatever works for you is what works best-for you;)


I'm Old Gregg!
 
JonnyLaw

I fire my 642 with my right thumb on cut-out where the hammer would have been. To me, with a cut out like that, it just seems like a natural place for the thumb to go. It's like it was ergonomically designed for it. It also seems to move the folcrum (pivot point) forward and reduces the rear-and-up barrel movement (recoil?) of the gun. Additionally, I think it allows for a higher grip for people with big hands. The 642 grip is pretty small and my pinky finger wants to be a part of the action too.

I know folks are going to tell me that I'll lose a thumb with an auto or hammered revolver if I get used to this grip. I don't think so though. I practice with my Sig and King Cobra also. Neither of them has a place up high where the thumb would find a natural place to be like on the 642.

Gripping the 642 this way will get in the way of the sights. They are pretty useless anyway for CQB. I have CT grips on my 642 but I know that a lot of others here don't rely on their sights even without the CT's.

Just my way though. Whatever works for you is what works best-for you;)


I'm Old Gregg!
 
Range Reports

The lovely half of the household and I made it to the range a couple of weeks ago with a couple of .22 semi's (S&W 41, HiStandard 103) and the trusty 642. As usual, she beat me with the .22s. My .38 groups (8 yards) were a but bigger than I liked (4"), but that still felt like a decent defense group. She says I make it harder on myself by changing back and forth between calibers as we shoot.

Then, in the past few days, the inventory improved. First, I got the .357 S&W 66 (no dash) back from the factory. Due to a broken screw on the cylinder release latch I had not fired it in over a year. Finally got off my tail and sent it in. Nice to have it again. In addition, just yesterday I popped for a new Heritage Rough Rider .22 single action revolver, just for fun. (See the new Club Heritage thread, http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=375477 )

So, this morning we were back at the range with new toys. The wife stuck with her .22 Smith semi. And did well as usual, although her hands tired early from lot of sewing this weekend.

I was shooting only .38SP in the 66, and spent a few cycles getting it sighted in. To keep my hand in, I ran about 20 rounds through the 642. 3 to 4 inch groups of 5 again. I ran a sequence at 8 yards with the 642 and then the 66.
Sure enough, the 66 gave me groups half the size of the 642's. Heft and barrel length do make a difference.

The .22 revolver was just plain fun. I'm glad I added it to the arsenal. Next time, I'll convince the missus to try it out, too, supplementing her Smith.

Oh, for a while now I've left the 642 loaded with SJHP +P in the Mika and in a bedside drawer. As of today, that changes. The 642 remains my carry gun, both open and concealed. I really like it for that. However, the 66 is about to become the bedside protector for in home use. For now, I'll load it with the same +P I carry. Maybe later, I'll move up to .357 in it. However, I am sure both wife and I will prefer the bigger gun, with a single or double action option, for lurking through the home if need be.

Happy 4th, everyone!


craig
 
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#2175. Turn the page ...
_____________

Holiday? What holiday? :confused:
(Some of us had to work the weekend.
Weekend? What weekend?)

I know the 642 is rated +P but I can't really control it for follow ups in +P. ( I am a retired Marine, a graduate of Gunsite,
and have fired literally thousands of rounds in different handguns, but the 642 in +P is not my cup of tea)
Click to expand...
Put some full-sized grips on that little monster. They'll tame it.

Personally, I think this whole thing about
a .38 spl pocket gun that shoots +p promises too much.

As I've said about a billion times, I'm not interested in pocket carry.
I'm interested in a light weight .38 spl that'll eat +p and doesn't weigh me down.

x4x does that.

But 'cha gotta put the right full-sized grips
on that puppy if you want control.

PS: I'd also recommend coffee instead of tea. ;)

smiley-ren.gif
 
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