My First Gun Landed Me Here (long post)
I bought a Smith and Wesson 642 revolver just last week. I've never owned a gun before, and I grew up in a gunless family. No hunting, and, as a matter of fact, I believe my Mother was adamantly against even toy guns, although we got away with that sometimes.
This is the story of how I got to this point.
About five months ago, I started thinking about our new president, and what his election could mean to gun owners. So, if I was ever going to buy a gun, I figured I might as well do it now. So I started my research. Like anything these days, the first thing I do is "ask the internet." So I started googling about guns in the home for protection. That put me on track to realizing the term for a gun purposed for that was "home defense", often abbreviated as HD. So I googled those terms, and found a lot more specific information about it. I came across article after article about what the best type of firearm and caliber is right for HD. I soon gathered that the 12 gauge pump action shotgun is best for HD.
I remember going with a friend (who hunts a lot) to Cabelas to look at shotguns. He has several guns, but he was not in agreement with me about a shotgun being my HD choice. I think he thought it was "too much". So we get to Cabelas, and he tells the guy behind the counter that I was interested in clay shooting. Huh? OK, I'm going along with this… I don't know what I'm doing. Is it bad to say I want it to protect me and my family from bad guys? Maybe it is. But as the conversation went on, I slowly let it creep in that I was after a HD gun. Then he pointed me to the 18" shotguns…. "riot guns". My friend and I were both a little bothered by that term, but that's what they were called. That was just a learning visit for me, so I left without buying anything.
Back home, I continued researching different makes and models, basically looking for the most popular, since I knew no better. The impression I got was, for the money, either the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 500 was the best to be had for home defense shotguns. There were many discussions about this on various forums, coming from both sides, so I went with the cheaper of the two. I ordered a Mossberg combo – the 54169 Mossberg product number. I ordered the combo (18" bbl plus a 28" bbl) not because I was planning on taking up duck hunting. I did it because it felt better to not be buying a gun that was for the sole purpose of defense.
Having ordered the shotgun, I was now in wait mode. While I waited for it to come in at the gun shop, I continued browsing around just to get myself familiar with all things guns… so I'd have a head start when I actually get it. As a result of that browsing, I starting running into blog articles and forum postings about
carrying a gun. I learned, to my surprise, that it is legal to openly carry a handgun in PA, without any kind of permit. I also learned, at this time, that one must read the law for himself. There is no discussion of what you
can do, just what you
can't do. In PA, nothing says you can't openly carry, so it must be legal. And, my county's application to get a license to carry a firearm never mentions that it is specifically for concealed carry, not for open carry. But, that is indeed the case. Very strange.
There were a few weeks in there where I just forgot about the whole gun thing, and was left it up to the gun shop to call me when the shotgun came in. And then later there were a few stories all at once in the news about people using a weapon to protect themselves inside and outside the home. That got me interested in learning more about carrying again. I started looking at the Kel Tec's, because they seemed very concealable. Also, the semi-auto seemed like what everyone was using, so, again, I wanted to stay in the mainstream. I also looked at 9mm Glocks. They seemed to be most popular, plus, I'd heard of them on TV. That was good enough. But then I came across an article where a man listed his favorite guns for CCW. In that list was a Ruger SP-101. He talked about how a revolver is typically more reliable if you are a new shooter, and there is less that can go wrong. So, I went looking at pictures of the SP-101. My first reaction was that is was ugly. Also in that article was the Smith and Wesson 642. I looked at it too. It was even uglier, being a smaller snubbie. After looking at various revolvers, I started to appreciate how they looked. I'm not sure why or how, but I genuinely came to the point where they really looked beautiful to me, and the semi-autos were actually ugly. I also noticed one of the manufacturers listed the number of rounds that their semi-auto was expected to be able to withstand in its lifetime. It was something like 6,000. I never saw anything like that discussed for a revolver. Revolvers just seemed sturdier to me, now.
So, now I was Googling specifically for info about the SP-101, and the S&W 642. In that process, I came upon the "642 Club" thread of
www.thehighroad.org. I read and read and read that thread. One comment stuck out in my mind… a gentleman was talking about how everyone seems to say you should carry no less than a 1911, but then if you go out to dinner with those same guys and ask them what they're carrying, they all say "my 642".
So, it looked like the 642 was going to be it for me. I'd initially thought about the 638, but comments about it being more susceptible to dust and such if carried in a pocket really hit home with me. Right now, I can barely read my cell phone display if it's in direct sunlight, because of the dust it's collected behind the screen from being in my pocket all the time. So, 642 for sure, when the time comes.
But, the problem was, at this time, I was only going to buy one gun. And I already knew the Mossberg that I had on order was the best for me for home defense. And then I realized that, in my situation, if I'm limited to one gun, I should buy the one that fits all of my needs best. If I have a shotgun, I can use it for HD, but not CCW. If I had a small handgun, I could use it for both. So, I cancelled the Mossberg order (it had not even came in yet) and went down to the gun shop and walked out with a 642 that same day.
I had just started researching ammunition, and started getting familiar with the terminology – enough to realize that personal defense rounds should have hollow points, and target rounds should be wadcutters. So, I went on a search for some ammo. I bought Hornady Critical Defense for carrying. Non +P. I knew, to start, at least, I needed to keep the recoil down as much as possible. If I got good at dealing with the recoil, I could go to the +P rounds. And for target shooting, I didn't have much luck. The cheapest I could find was some PMC 132gr FMJ. They would have to do for now.
Now I can't wait to get this baby out and shoot it. I don't have a place readily accessible, so it may take a while till I figure out where I can go.
In the meantime, I'm spending time handling the revolver. I want it to be second nature to me by the time I get it out to shoot it. I bought some snap caps and I just sit and load them in, slap it shut, shoot 5 times, pop it open, unload them, load them again, snap it shut, and do it all again… over and over. I'm already getting some sore spots on my hands, but I'm sure they will callus. I play guitar, so I know how slow and steady working of something like that will toughen up your skin, and strengthen the right muscles, slowly over time. So I continue to just handle the revolver repeatedly, using the snap caps.
I also bought some ear protection, and a small gizmo for cleaning the gun (a snake). I cleaned it already, even, as the manual recommended. The country song "Still Cleanin This Gun" was running through my head the whole time. And, ironically, by beautiful daughter went to the junior prom that night.
I have the application for LTCF filled out, in my drawer, here. I'll probably be turning that in this coming week. It's a great country we live in, and, it appears, a great state I live in also (PA). I guess VT may be better, in regard to this, though.
I'm looking forward to shooting and caring for this gun for decades. I like the fact that it is intended to last that long, with proper care.
I have some links to some photos here. I wasn't going to do that, but then I realized, even though there isn't much difference in the 642s that different people buy, I still love seeing their photos of their own gun. I always go looking at the photos. So, I'm including some of mine, even though you've already seen guns just like this one. I assume you're interested too.
I want to thank thehighroad.org for unknowingly helping me in this decision process. I must also note that I work in Information Technology, so I have engaged in hundreds of different discussion forums over the years. But I have never observed such courtesy, and a general attitude of humility as I've seen in thehighroad.org. You guys really do stay on the high road. And if someone doesn't, it is dealt with well.
Oh… one more thing… can I be in the club?
