642 Club Part Three

[dovedescending]

I want to join this club so badly... does anybody have a picture of a 642/442 up alongside a CZ82 or Makarov? I'm considering trading/selling my 82 in order to acquire a 642 and I'd love a size comparison.

 

[sixgunner455]

In my house, we have a Makarov and a 642. I don't have any comparison pictures at present, but my impression is that the 642 is slightly smaller, it is definitely lighter, and easier to pocket carry. Belt holsters, there's no real difference that you'd notice. Smartcarry/Thunderware, the 642 is more comfortable for me. 9 rounds vs 5 rounds may make a difference, as well. My wife finds the Makarov more comfortable to shoot, and is much more accurate with it. The little Makarov rides in her purse, while the 642 goes in my pocket most of the time.

That CZ82 is a sweet gun. I'd be disinclined to sell or trade it. I've been tempted to add one myself. I have a CZ75 that I'm quite fond of, so adding another is very tempting. A 642 can be had for not too terribly much money. I recommend saving up for one, and adding it to your collection.

 

[Rob1109]

642 and BB Ammo

YouTube TNOUTDOORS9 and see his test of BB 158gr. LSWCHP +P from a his snub into gel. Disappointing. Went back to my Gold Dot +P.

 

[Warp]

YouTube TNOUTDOORS9 and see his test of BB 158gr. LSWCHP +P from a his snub into gel. Disappointing. Went back to my Gold Dot +P.

Are you sure it was the +P? I am looking and I only see the non +P standard pressure.

Not only that but it is NOT into actual ballistics gel.

And it penetrated like 19" in the 'gel block' he used while expanding to .431...through 4 layers of denim...with a retained weight of 159.2 grains...through a 442

What on earth are you unhappy with exactly?

 

[Rob1109]

Could have done that with a WC. The GD +p is (what I consider) expansion, through the same media. Since he tests through the same "Gel" the results speak for themselves. I've spent some $ on the BB w/o seeing any test, 'til now.

 

[Warp]

Could have done that with a WC. The GD +p is (what I consider) expansion, through the same media. Since he tests through the same "Gel" the results speak for themselves. I've spent some $ on the BB w/o seeing any test, 'til now.

Can you tell me how his "gel" compared to calibrated ballistics gel? Can you tell me how it compares to actual flesh?

Shot placement is king, penetration is queen and everything else is gravy.

IF, and stress the IF, his "gel" is equivalent to good ballistics gel then you know what? I would rather have 18" of penetration and .43" expansion than 12" of penetration and .55" expansion. 12" may not be enough.

And you are still comparing to the standard, non +P buffalo bore load. The extra 150 fps from the +P load will surely get more expansion.

 

[davidbee]

Tnoutdoors helped me decide in favor of those Speer Golddots 135gr short barrel too, seemed to have less flash than the Golden Sabers too.

 

[Rob1109]

TNOUTDOORS9 maintains his SIM is comparabhle to balistic gel. HE maintains it is comparable to flesh and muscle. I'm not, as obviously you are, in a position to dispute him. He makes serious efforts to test these rounds, as is indicated in his other tests, with the same media. Perhaps you could conduct the same test with "proper" ballistic gel to give us "proper" results on this round. Until then I will thank and continue to observe TNOUTDOORS9 and his serious unselfish efforts.

 

[Warp]

TNOUTDOORS9 maintains his SIM is comparabhle to balistic gel. HE maintains it is comparable to flesh and muscle. I'm not, as obviously you are, in a position to dispute him. He makes serious efforts to test these rounds, as is indicated in his other tests, with the same media. Perhaps you could conduct the same test with "proper" ballistic gel to give us "proper" results on this round. Until then I will thank and continue to observe TNOUTDOORS9 and his serious unselfish efforts.

So long as you realize that:

There is nothing at all disappointing, IMO, about the buffalo bore tested

and

The buffalo bore tested was not +P

and

The +P version would, I am certain, expand further which seems to be your hangup

 

[fastbolt]

Well, unless I've posted somewhere in this thread topic in the previous 30+ pages and have forgotten about it, I think I may have missed this latest installment of the ongoing saga of the growing number of 642 owners.

While I own a pair of 642-1's (which have up until recently been my favorite iteration of the venerable S&W J-frame) I recently received, and have been shooting, my second M&P 340. This one is the latest variation offered without the ILS (lock). I've come to like my first M&P 340 well enough that I wanted to get the newest variation being offered to complement it.

As much as I like the 642 (a lot) ... I REALLY like the XS front night sight and generous U-shaped rear notch of the M&P 340.

I can get a faster sight alignment, more easily when using the M&P's equipped with the XS front sight (when I feel it's necessary & appropriate to take the moment to catch a sight picture). It comes to my eyes faster than my red/orange & white painted front ramps on my 642's. Nice.

Okay, the stronger Scandium frame isn't exactly an undesirable option, either.

The .357 Magnum chambering isn't something which really interests me, though, since I'll carry the same variety of +P ammunition in the 340's as in my 642's.

It would naturally add to the cost of the 442/642 models (which are bargains as they stand) to incorporate the XS front night sight (changing the rear notch shape is a just programming issue with the CNC machine when the frame is made). I think it would be considered worth the modest price increase to offer a 642 (or 442) with that sight option, though.

FWIW, while I don't shill ammunition, I've been carrying the RA38B 130gr +P bonded load in my own J's for a while ... when not carrying the Speer 135gr +P, Rem Golden Sabre 125gr +P or some Rem 158gr LHP +P.

I was favorably impressed by its test shots in a hosted gel event a while back (even in the auto windshield glass shot). It's the same load being offered in the pretty PDX 20-rd box packaging in the stores, but sold by Winchester LE distributors in the 50-rd Ranger packaging.

Nice to see the 642 Club still going ...

 

[weekender823]

Hey all,

I just joined the 642 club. What a great snub! I had my first trip to the range. After reading stories of people saying that after 3 cylinders the recoil had raised a blister and then rubbed it off, I was a bit apprehensive. I just took some of my target loads (148 gr. DEWC over 2.8 gr Bullseye), and fired 30 rounds thru the 642 and 20 thru an old steel frame Rossi M68. It really wasn't bad at all, in fact I was quite pleased. I did grip it and no limp wristing, as is my usual practice. Next time I'll try some full PD loads and see how that does.

Thanks for a great thread on a great site!

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

In response to the posters a couple pages back, G&R has 50 count boxes of the 135 gr +p gold dot at 30 bucks a box. They told me they have at least 30 boxes. I don't believe there's a bit of difference between 'personal protection' and 'law enforcement' marked boxes except the latter has more and is less expensive.

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=53921

 

[Stormin.40]

I am a fan of "law enforcement" loads, does anyone know if these are the short barrel version? If they are, this seems like a good deal.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

They are the short barrel version.

Speer only produces one 135 grain .38 + p gold dot.

G & R even advertises them as such

Packing a short barrel once meant less velocity and less reliable expansion. Speer has created an entire category of specialized ammunition designed specifically for back-up guns. Gold Dot Short Barrel was introduced in 2004 and designed from the ground up to work in 2-inch barrels. We redesigned select Gold Dot bullets to make the cavity larger for reliable expansion at the reduced velocities common to short barrel handguns. You also get less "kick" to keep you on target better.

Not a bad deal at all.

 

[Old Bull Lee]

I've been confused about that before too (see rdrancher's post #810 on the previous page of this thread).

They list both here, a 125gr and a 135gr SB:

http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx

GandR's listed part number is closer to the SB and it's 135gr.

 

[rdrancher]

I've been confused about that before too (see rdrancher's post #810 on the previous page of this thread).

They list both here, a 125gr and a 135gr SB:

http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx

GandR's listed part number is closer to the SB and it's 135gr.

The Tiger is right. If it's 135gr it's short barrel.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

442 club?

Dear gentlemen and gentle ladies of the 642 club (part III),

I humbly submit this application of membership. Please consider this NIB 442 along with my application.

A Tennessee Tomato.





What matters is in the inside (no lock).





Centennials: big brother S&W 296 and little sister S&W 442.





Sincerely,

-Tony

 

[rdrancher]

Congrats! Nice pics too!

 

[DAdams]

Tony, you are in. Very nice and I am still harvesting a few TN tomatoes myself.

At Ease Smokem If You Gottem.


SGDFSB....that would be PN 23921 in Plus P and those .357 capable..PN 23917 both are 135 gr.

 

[alemonkey]

the heck with the gun, send me some tomatoes! I went on a business trip and my wife didn't water mine. They're all dead

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

range report

Broke her in a little at the range today with a 50 count box of .38 special + p 135 grain gold dots.

Recoil was much less than I expected. Quite a snappy little firearm, but I like it. Today I had the luxury of being the only person at the range. Nice to have a little quiet in there ;P



I did some minor adjustments to the CT 405 laser grips. You can see she was shooting a quarter inch high. Those shots above the X were before adjustment. The shots in the X were one handed after adjustment of the laser grips. Quite an easy fix and it seems dialed in now perfectly with the front site @ 5 to 10 yards. I'll confirm this with my next practice session.



All in all I give the s&w 442 and gold dot short barrel combo two thumbs up!

As well as this pizza!

 

[DAdams]

Nice shooting. Great combo those J Frame Centennials and CT Grips!!

This thread is working towards a new title... Shooting and Chefing.



Garden and Gun is already in play.

 

[mark1616]

Taking some edc pics today and thought I'd share my beloved 642 in the club.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

I thought the 642-1 was the stainless J-Frame .38 Spl released in '96, then discontinued later with the advent of the IL.

Now I'm seeing new production 642-1's in production since 2008.

Are the new ones of the same quality as the original -1's? Or are there differences, such as more MIM parts?

 

[Beat Trash]

Tony

Nice pictures, but I'd have shot the tomato with the new gun, just because...