642 Club Part Deux

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Friends...

(Dual post .org /.us – In an attempt to maintain some sort of cohesion)

Where to start…OK, I’ve been gone, now I’m back.
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Glad to be back among friends…both new and old, lots of new faces here so I’ll get right to it...
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Welcome to all the new 642’ers on both sites, we are glad to have you here with us at the clubhouse and look forward to hearing more from each of you…

.ORG – tschmittel, millsing 23, brin747, eazyasone23, PcolaDawg, xracer1, yanici, inspector, trekbike, edubya, smilin-budha, vikz, jandreski, texastorso, aHF03, 5-SHOTS, arizonaguide, DssG19, falcon195, leucoplast, ghh3rd, onemangang, Big Bill, grayrider, trayzor - welcome…

.US – PcolaDawg, Chrome, defogleson, NoBite, Jadjn, 5-SHOTS – welcome…

It’s also good to see all the old familiar faces here and to know that no matter what, it appears that the 642 Club just keep on going…:D

There are quite a few interesting topics of late and I hope to get back into the mix as soon as I get settled in and reacclimated to civil society. During my recent travels I have seen some things that caused me to reassess some of my SD/CQC techniques and I look forward to your opinions.

Keep it simple, but...
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...Be ready for anything:
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The Prez :cool:
 
I just picked up a slightly used 642 stainless from a gun show. I sold my Glock 17 because I never used it, and wanted to buy a "grab n go" gun. I am glad too, because there are times where I just do not want to put on my jeans, belt, holster, spare mags, and finally the gun, especially when I go out for a late night drive thru trip. I paid $395 which is the lowest price I have seen so far. Another vendor at the gun show had one, but was asking 425. :)

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Sorry for the crappy picture, I was using a monitor mounted web cam on my laptop.
 
Just purchased a S&W 638, can I join the group? Had a Taurus that the wife has decided now belongs to her, so I looked for a replacement. Have shot about 60 rounds through it so far, and like it alot more than the Taurus. I got the Airweight version so it it a lot lighter to carry.

Being new to S&W revolvers, can some one give me a short answer as to the differences between the 642 and 638. They look the same to me.

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.
 
Hawkn...

...I'm a new member here but I think you are absolutely welcome with your new little baby.

I own a 649 .38SPL that is the all stainless steel version of your lightweight gun.

The 638 has a shrouded hammer and its frame is named "Bodyguard". With a Bodyguard J-frame revolver you still have the option to fire in single action or in double action mode, as you can do with all traditional exposed hammer revolvers.

The 642 has a fully enclosed hammer and its frame is named "Centennial". With a Centennial J-frame revolver you can fire in double action only mode.

There's no other essential differences between the two models except maybe for an internal safety bar that is not necessary on the 642 because you can't manually cock the hammer on it, but I'm not sure of this information.

Is the firing pin of your 638 mounted on the hammer (like my 649) or on the frame (like the 642)?

Best regards, 5-SHOTS
 
Yep

jt1 welcome back. I too will be interested in your revised SD/CQC theories.

a2 fireball, nice 442, it makes a nice juxtposition to that ubiquitious 686.

Welcome hawkn and spyderdude.

ralpho1....great advice on the spring. Parts left over...not good. Parts lost...worse yet. Parts found. Time to celebrate. I'm going through the parts missing trials and tribulation but that's a different story on a different piece of equipment.

don't forget the most important weapon......... CELLPHONE!
Click to expand...
= reliance on others.

civil society
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Guess I am paranoid and or a worst case scenario guy. In a "normal" need for communication, yes a cell phone could mean the difference between first responders and no first responders, or friend no friend. In reality cell phones are easy to monitor, (big bro:uhoh:), and in regional and national emergencies they are (proven) virtually useless. I have gone through numerous hurricanes in the SE, and not close to Katrina or Andrew magnitude and cell phones were worthless for days/weeks. Out of all my EDC items it is probably the least important. If I had to give up one item it would be the first to go.
I would trade my kingdom and my cell phones/PDA in an emergency for pocket light, lighter, knife, paracord lanyard, handgun, spare ammo and then onto...generator, fuel, water purification equipment, tent, sleeping bag, large first aid kit, knowledge to administer, 10 mile range citizens band walkies, you get the drift and no doubt under "normal" conditions a cell phone is a must have. When FUBAR hits, it falls far down the list quickly. Just the extreme view.
I'm old therefore, I rant. :D Don't mind me.
 
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I am going to buy a 642 (NIB) with CT grips soon if I can find one. Would it be the same thing to buy the gun and grips seperately or more expensive?
 
The 642CT from S&W might cost more than buying it seperate, but the S&W642CT has the nice S&W logo on the grips if it matters to ya.
 
I have gotta say- Remington +P 125-grain JHPs from my 642 plumb hurt my trigger finger! That is all.
 
Not my first priority, but eventually I'll be sure to get a steel J-frame!

Good kind of hurt, my !
 
Well, I guess I'll jump back into both .org and .us as well.

I took the 642 out for a range run yesterday on the way home from work, working on point shooting techniques from "low ready". I definitely need more practice, but all shots were COM at both 5 and 7 yards. I'm OK with that, but certainly room for improvement. I was just shooting 130 gr Remington FMJ for the most part, but finished with 10 rds each of Gold Dot 135+p and Rem 158 gr+p LSWCHP. I guess that was the first time I'd shot both the 158's and Gold Dots in the same session, and there's definitely a bigger thump from the 158's.

Cheers!
 
Yeah, but it's a good kind of hurt.
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Good kind of hurt, my !
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Yep, as you probably guessed, I was kidding. Many of the +P rounds are too much for my arthritic thumb joint. Gold Dots aren't too bad, but I like the feel of Buffalo Bore's 158gr Standard Pressure LSWC-HC's better. Right now I'm carrying BB's 150gr Standard Pressure Full Wadcutters in my 642. Very fast follow-up shots. I'll post my informal "Behind the Barn" testing on this round soon.

rd
 
"Maiden Voyage" of my 642 today

Now that I own a 642, I felt that I had to post my first experience with it today.

I took my new 642 to the range today for the first time. I was shooting at 7 yards, and psyched myself up for the first target. Firing very slowly, the first four rounds made a tear 1/2" long, the fifth about 1" from that, resulting in a 1" group, about 2 1/2 " high from bullseye! I read of others getting some good groups with this gun, but I couldn't believe it. Second target 2" group, 3rd target 3" group. The trigger is very stiff , so perhaps I was fatiguing early. Rather than using my finger pad I had to move to the crease in my finger to pull.

I had several with a line of holes from near/on the bullseye to about 3" upward - good horizontally but spread out vertically.

A five in five seconds gave me a 2" group, high above bullseye. Point and snap shoot at 4 yards gave me 4 hits on 8 1/2 x 11 about 4" apart.

I like that I can feel the two clicks, since as soon as I started to shoot I realized that I certainly would hear them with earphones on and shooting going on all around me.

The recoil was nothing as I expected. I was shooting 158gr, shot 50 rounds and wished I had another 50.

Overall, I would say that this gun was shooting about 1 1/2" to perhaps 2" high using this ammo. Does that seem typical?

I purchased a .38 mold and made my first casts yesterday - 50+ shiney 148gr wadcutters. I also purchased all of the reloading components, and once I set up my bench will start experimenting with bullets and loads.

This is one fun gun to shoot, and will often travel with me in my pocket. Thanks for a great forum.

Randy
 
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