642 Club Part Deux

[BADUNAME37]

Mine came with the Uncle Mikes rubber grips....

I bought the wooden panels from the S&W site to replace the rubber.

After comparing the rubber against the wood, I find not really much difference at all, so I prefer to keep the wood on as they are not quite as bulky and are smoother. The rubber tends to catch on my pocket a little easier than the wood, which doesn't catch at all.

I shot non +P loads, then tried +P 135 grain Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection for Short Barrels and I thought those would hurt my hands, but five shots was nothing.

Granted, I am used to shooting a 500 Magnum a lot, so to me, the recoil of the 642 is completely manageable.

I also prefer the looks of the wood over the rubber. The third post down from this one (#2798) shows a 642 with the wood grips. That is just how mine looks now. The rubber looks like the ninth post down (#2792) by trekbike where there are two 642's pictured. The lower 642 in that photo is the Uncle Mikes grip that came with my gun.

 

[Edubya]

I carry my 642-2 IWB with the CTC405. I could not keep the laser dot on the target at 10 yards and squeeze the trigger at first. I had a gunsmith smooth the action and now enjoy standing next to the young, healthy special forces men and shooting as well or better than them.
I'm sure that it has to do with the amount of practice that it has seen since the smoother trigger makes it such a pleasure to shoot.
I shoot hand loaded 158gr WCs over 3.3gr Titegroup for practice.

 

[rdrancher]

I shot non +P loads, then tried +P 135 grain Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection for Short Barrels and I thought those would hurt my hands, but five shots was nothing.

Inspector - I carry either Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158gr LSWC's or Speer 135gr Short Barrel GD's. The Gold Dots are a bit "snappier", but I am actually more accurate on follow-up shots with them.

The wood grips (post #2798) really do aid in getting a full grip when drawing from the pocket. And the 642 is a lighter package at 13.8 oz. with these grips too. They don't offer much cushion though - that's for sure!

rd

 

[AStone]

Hypothetical question

Suppose that, in some future world,
you were restricted to two guns:
one handgun, one long gun.
(OK, maybe two handguns,
but only one long gun.)

We know that one handgun would be a 642.
(My second one would be a SW mod 65 (see image).

What long gun(s) would accompany
a 642 for both SD & game acquisition?
(And small game for day-to-day existence
may be more important than deer-sized game)

(Note: small calibers are, on average, quieter than large calibers. )

 

[BADUNAME37]

rdrancher,

Thanks for the reply! It sounds like you and I have the exact same setup with the S&W factory diamond wood grips and Speer 135g short barrel ammo!

I just got my Mika holsters (one square cut, one round cut bottom). The gun slides right out from the Mika pocket holster much better than from the Uncle Mikes #3 pocket holster I was using! With the Uncle Mikes, I many times had to hold my pocket in place with my left hand while drawing with my right! The Mika stays in your pocket at the gun slides right out!

rdrancher, I see you have the Mika holsters! Good Job!

I also agree that the wood grips give a much better grip on the gun as the grip just fits in my hand and doesn't snag on clothes like the Uncle Mikes rubber grip that came on the gun.

 

[Stainz]

Nema,

If I can have access to my home ammo stash/factory, it would be the pair below, in .45 Colt. I have loads from 200gr LRNFP/660 fps to 250gr GDJHPs/255gr LSWC at 900 fps from the 4" 625 Mountain Gun, and up to 200gr GDJHP/1424 fps chrono-ed from the 24" Puma M1892. That tang sight makes it a 100yd shooter, too.



Now, take away my ammo factory - put me where I'll need commercial ammo, which I could find, say, at a Wally World, and I'd restrict my choices to .38/.357M and .45 ACP - and likely my 625JM & 627 Pro would get the nod - and no rifle, as it is only the M1892 in .45 Colt or some CZ .22s here. Actually, I'd probably like my latest, my 4" 617, over a .22 rifle, too.





I'd guess the 642 would be the best choice for protection, with so many .38s available, but my similar but larger 296 in .44 Special, which I'd have had for six years shortly, would be my 'rather have'. I still have ~300 personal protection rounds ( Georgia Arms .44 Special 200gr GDJHPs - 805 fps) for it - and it does fit in ~75% of my pants' front pockets in it's Mika holster.




I hate the angst the 'one and only' handgun questions produce... but add a possible second... then I want to 'deal' for a third - no rifle - then, how about a pocket piece? Hrrmmph!

Stainz

 

[AStone]

Did you ever notice that
6 + 4 + 2 = 12?

Of course,
that's irrelevant,
but who's counting?

To answer my own question
about what long gun to carry
with the X42 (& 65): Marlin 39A
(18" barrel) with 5 - 7 pounds of
.22 LR, .38 spl +p & .357 mag ...

 

[wjh2657]

642 and Ruger MKII. Long gun would be Mossberg 500 24" with accuchoke.

Shotgun would take care of bigger and flying game and .22 would harvest small game.

I would stick with 642 as BUG. Shotgun would be primary SD weapon.

 

[vikz]

Just joined the 642 club today!!man i think this will be my favorite ccw alternate now..Where can i get ct grips for this 642??






empty..


loaded..

 

[BADUNAME37]

vikz

Welcome to the 642 club.

The S&W web site has the Crimson laser grip.

Also check out Mika's Pocket Holster. I had an Uncle Mikes #3 Pocket holster which was OK, however most times I pulled the gun from my pocket, the holster came out with it!

With Robert Mika's pocket holsters, the holster WILL STAY put while you draw the gun. His prices are very reasonable however, expect to wait about 6-8 weeks, so get online, search his name and order immediately!

 

[vikz]

i found this website but i'm not sure which one will work...

http://www.lasersights.com/html/smith_and_wesson_lasergrips_by.htm

 

[jfh]

The three different CT grips for the j-frames are the bottom three--e.g., the LG-105, -305, and -405.

Here is a link to another thread that compares the three grips.

Since I did that comparison, I have sold the 105--unless you have very small hands, it probably is not the one to get. Similarly, the 305 is a bit too long for pocket carry in anything short of cargo pockets. So, that leaves the 405 as the desired grip.

Jim H.

 

[vikz]

jfh thanks for the comparison, how did the LG105 performed when you test fired it??did it worked ok? Its just a lot less expensive than the other 2, I'm just concern about the functionality of it..

 

[BADUNAME37]

My opinion....

Take it for what it's worth!

I am good enough with the open sights and I really don't have the $$$ to put down on a Crimson Laser grip only to have one more thing that I don't need and either try to sell it at a great loss, or toss it in with all the other miscellaneous gun stuff that didn't work out for me over the years.

I did switch the OEM black rubber Uncle Mikes grips and got the S&W diamond wood grips which feel a lot better in my hand. My concern with the rubber grips, including the Crimson Trace, is that they will snag clothing more than the wood does (which doesn't snag at all).

My S&W wood panel grips I got right from the S&W web site. Now my gun looks just like the one above (or below -- in post #2798).

 

[DAdams]

If

You plan to pocket carry then the CT 405s are the best choice unless you always have deep pockets which may allow the 305s.

The 405s won't snag when coming out since your hand is fully covering the grip and unless you have a sticky rubber hand you will come out as fast as you can clear your pocket.

S&W site is probably the most expensive place to get CT grips unless you want the S&W logo for the factor.

Otherwise try Optics Planet or do a Google search for "Crimson Trace Grips" and you will find the best buy at any given time. You should be able to find someone offering free shipping too.

Good luck and good shooting.

At Ease, Smokem If you Gottem.



The Quintet. S&W 642, Crimson Trace 405, Mika Roundcut Holster, and Bianchi Speedstrip jt1 varient with SGDFSB 135gr plus P.

 

[krs]

A CT source that delivers free and keeps the price as low as he can....http://www.shooters-resource.com/

 

[jfh]

vikz: The LG-105 laser unit performed just fine--it is the same unit as in the others. The problem was that, given my hand size (not unusually large, with neither unduly long or short fingers, neither meaty or thin, just proportional to my 6'1" height), I could not reliably turn on the laser with a standard grip: the small diameter of the 105 required a conscious effort to adjust / squeeze to turn on the sight. On either the LG-305 or -405, a tight grip turns on the sight and a relaxed middle finger turns it off.

Then, there is the issue of additional recoil control--not possible with the 105, which is simply hard polymer that does not cover the backstrap.

The -105 should work fine with small hands, but I would definitely test-hold one before I comitted to buying that version.

Inspector: I have no doubt you are good enough with open sights to defend yourself. What I found is that laser grips are not only an excellent sight aid for aging eyes, they help one to learn to point-shoot and to train out bobbles from different / "wrong" holds.

As a training aid, I used them to learn to point-shoot--and now I can put all five shots in a five-inch group at five (to seven) yards in about five seconds--from any positon, not just sighted.

It's this second benefit of laser sights--learning to point-shoot, and point-shoot well--that, IMO, makes them worth their price.

Jim H.

 

[PcolaDawg]

Here is the first target I ever shot at with my 642. I cheated and used the laser grip exclusively the first few targets I shot at and I found it to be very accurate. Some of those shots were from the hip and, because of the laser, I was able to shoot accurately from any position.

I have since practiced without the laser, and it is still amazingly accurate for a lightweight snubnose, but the laser really helps, imo.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Good target,

May I ask about how far away that target was?

Very good shooting from your 642!

I would purchase the Crimson (405), but I just can't seem to justify spending that much money when I can pull tight groups using the sights.

I suppose one good thing is you don't need to be aiming, but rather just looking at your target -- point and aim, so to speak. I've done some research on this when I bought the 642.

If I got any, it would definately be the 405.

 

[PcolaDawg]

May I ask about how far away that target was?

It was 7 yards away.

And, yeah, CT grips are not cheap.

 

[BADUNAME37]

That is a good target for 21 feet...

and, you will get better with both time and experimenting with different ammo.

 

[texastorso]

first post on this site. Just got my first 642 today. Cant wait to go to the range next week. Probably gonna get a pocket holster and then a ankle holster when I get the money (I want to get a nice ankle holster). Now gonna spend a few hours to read this thread.

 

[jandreski]

just had to stop by and brag i just bought a 642-2 brand new for 250.00 with a bianchi holster and two speed loaders. Pretty good price im going to get a nemesis holster though thanks to the thread

 

[angel1216]

Now gonna spend a few hours to read this thread.

Texastorso,
welcome my fellow texan! great choice on your ccw. it will serve you well. did you get it at the fort worth gun show today? i was there lookin' at some assault rifles. but was disappointed on the prices.

 

[texastorso]

na got it at local gun shop. Now I gotta go qual so i can carry it as a secondary weapon. Also gonna look for a 3 finger grip to try out.

Where that gun show at? Any good, need some ammo, snap caps, holsters and speed loaders