Nema, jad, others... wow, long time! I'm still retired, but range trips seem fewer & farther between. I met my son at a new indoor range, where he is a member, across town Friday. I shot my Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LSWCHPs - but not from my 642. I had left the loose ammo home - only had my 2 5/8" PC627 UDR and moonclips loaded with the Remi's. The same accuracy was quickly recalled, shooting at 10yd. Recoil was all but gone - amazing what ~2.5X the mass can accomplish there! The noise was memorable - even with the drone of the ventillation/exhaust fan and my usual ear protection, some aged headphone type. I wanted to get my son to 'experience' the 642 - but that'll wait for a return trip - I only had the carry load of five rounds - and, despite the Season, didn't want to travel across town, ~ 30 miles, without my loaded 'pocket protector'!
Ahhh, the good old days - when I shot hundreds of 125gr JHP homebrews through my 642 per outdoor range trip. The SPC targets dropped/pinged without a miss. My 642-2 will be five years young in February. Early this year, after ~2k+ of those plinkers, my 24/7 EDC was retired from plinker duties - and became my dedicated CC piece. It's larger sibling, my nine year old AirLite Ti 296, a 5-shot .44 Special, languishes in it's near bedside site of repose.
I'll still shoot the odd loads of +P's through the 642 - to insure it's normal function - and to keep me familiarized with it. I have SS plinkers for 'fun'. One of the most fun, despite my 627's, 686P, & 66, is a 4" 64-8 - bought as a house gun - for less than the used price of my 642! Great choice as a home defender - and part-time fun/plinker. It is 'on the money', coincident POI/POA at 7-12 yd with those Remi's - and 'close enough' with those 125gr JHP plinkers.
Re the indoor range vs my usual outdoor range... it was damp and cold Friday - I appreciated being indoors. Thursday was just coldish - and I was at the outdoor range - the comradery of the other range denizens/elderly flatulances had been missed. Too much procedure - and too great a cost - for my annual indoor membership. The odd trip - as my son's guest - will be appreciated.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
John (Stainz)
PS I forgot to add - I shot my 632 Pro - .327 Federal Magnum - with 115gr God Dots. It really is a
Magnum!
My son thought it was a .327 Federal
Miserable! Awfully loud - and what a flash!