642 Club Part Three

[Jac]

Hey folks. I've recently joined the 637 club (no pictures... I'm ashamed of the little hole in the sideplate), and am wondering about ammo choice. I've got Remington 125gr SJHP +P in there right now, but they aren't my wife's favorite. Not mine, either, for that matter.

So, if recommending an SD load for someone who can control the 125 SJHP +P, but finds them a bit too harsh, which way would you lean? 135 GDSB? BB Standard Pressure FBI?

Of course it's best to try them all out, but I'm hoping your collective experience might save me some time and money.

The main problem with the 125s, by the way, is the actual snappiness, not really the recoil in and of itself. Would a heavier bullet be more of a 'push'?

 

[41]

DAdams

Thanks for the info and the welcome. My 642 is a -2 also, and I use the HKS speed loader. So there shouldn't be an issue, hopefully when the tax returns come in I'll be able to buy a set of 405 grips.

 

[motorcycle-charlie]

Jac,...heavier the bullet, the more felt recoil. try Hornady Critical Defense 110gr. i carried these for a while bc it is what my dealer had at the time and they shoot well with little recoil. i do now carry the 135gr Speer Gold Dot SB which i like much better.

 

[DAdams]

Welcome

Jac

135 GDSB? BB Standard Pressure FBI?

Those are my current loads, the BB in the bedside 642 and SGD in my M&P 340.

I'm ashamed of the little hole in the sideplate

Me too. I wouldn't buy another S&W with the hole in the side aka ILS, at least on a revolver. I'm only interested in 66, and 19 pre-locks these days. It's not a lock issue with me, it's about aesthetics and appreciation.
I have two J Frames with holes and a 686 and M60 without.

 

[SOUTHPAW]

Welcome to the New Participants
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41
Warrconn
fivewheeler (nice username)
Beat Trash
sixgunner
mance
john86

Did I miss anyone?

<cough cough>

 

[sixgunner455]

Dadams - been here 4 a while, but thanks for the re-welcome.

 

[DAdams]

Welcome

to you Southpaw and to you sixgunner glad you are still around. Heck when you get to be my age....I can barely keep track of.....my bore patches. let alone all we "fiVewheelers", see, I told you that it was a great username!

 

[Brass Rain]

Okay, I had been going back and forth between the LCR and 442 but despite a few alleged advantages that the LCR has, I just plain like the 442 more. They're just so neat. I can just dry fire the hell out of it so it smooths up and paint the front sight.

Say, someone do me a favor. I have experience actuating the cylinder release of the Ruger DA revolvers' "push-in" release with my left hand, pointing my index finger up and using it to push in the button, but not the Smith "push-forward" release. Could someone pick up their 642 with their left hand and see how easy it is to use your index finger from a loose grip to actuate the release?

 

[SOUTHPAW]

Say, someone do me a favor. I have experience actuating the cylinder release of the Ruger DA revolvers' "push-in" release with my left hand, pointing my index finger up and using it to push in the button, but not the Smith "push-forward" release. Could someone pick up their 642 with their left hand and see how easy it is to use your index finger from a loose grip to actuate the release?

I just tried. It's much easier to use your left thumb instead...

 

[clutch]

I posted a thread recently asking about snubbies. Based on info I found there I have made a decision to join the 642 community. I didn't know there is a club.

Now if I could just find a 642 NIB to purchase. Seems popular.

Clutch

 

[DAdams]

Brass Rain

Southpaw sayeth:

I just tried. It's much easier to use your left thumb instead...

Agreed I tried it and it is virtually impossible to operate with the left index finger. It would be easier with the left thumb, or even a reach over the top with the right.

There are aftermarket releases you might look into also to address the issue.

 

[DAdams]

Hey Clutch

We are more a lose knit organization favoring S&W J Frame Revolvers than a Club. Our barrier to entry is nothing and our dues are commradrie, civility, an exchange of information, and thirst for knowledge regarding most things snub like or related there-of.

Welcome

Now if I could just find a 642 NIB to purchase. Seems popular.

Bud's has both the 642 and 442. Includes Shipping ($6 extra for insurance). That is a "cash" price.
I have always sent a personal check via mail and that slows things up using USPS and clearing time.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21_39_72/sort/6a/page/1

$361 and $375 respectively.

I have purchased two firearms from Bud's as recently as a couple of weeks ago and the transactions have been seamless. Free shipping to your FFL. Yours may already be on their list, but if not let your transferring dealer know you would like to have one shipped into them and they send a copy of their FFL to Buds to keep on file. Typically there is a 20-50 transfer fee charged by the Dealer, that may or may not include the background check. Your dealers practices and fees may vary and State Laws differ.

 

[glockman19]

Southpaw,

Nice Grips. I wonder how they would look on my 442? More importantly...how do they shoot? The grips on my 642 are CTC 405's because they felt better to shoot than the 105's.

 

[DAdams]

Ballistics by the Inch

Interesting website with some .38 spl chrono runs and ammunition commonly discussed here on the Big Thread..The boxes of ammunition show Plus P although it is not stated in the chart.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/38special.html

For your reading pleasure.

 

[SOUTHPAW]

Southpaw,

Nice Grips. I wonder how they would look on my 442? More importantly...how do they shoot? The grips on my 642 are CTC 405's because they felt better to shoot than the 105's.

Thanks! They shoot same as stock as they're right around the same size. I just have an affinity for that dark wood as you can see... . On a 442, me personally, I'd go with ivory. It's just my preference, but I really dig white grips on blue/black guns...

 

[Brass Rain]

Southpaw sayeth:



Agreed I tried it and it is virtually impossible to operate with the left index finger. It would be easier with the left thumb, or even a reach over the top with the right.

There are aftermarket releases you might look into also to address the issue.

That's a shame. I can open the GP-100 really easily and comfortably that way, hoped it would work on Smiths, too. That was a point I thought of when considering the LCR. I'll look into those after-market options.

It truly is a right-handed world.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=756091 is all I can find. Looks more like it would get in the way than actually make opening easier with the left hand.

 

[RetDep310]

Brass Rain:

I'm left handed, and gotta agree with DAdams as far as using the left thumb, or even the right thumb. Got back into snubbies a couple of years ago, and bought an LCR. Was much easier to work the push button left handed with my index finger. Traded for a 642, and tried a range session using my left index finger to push the latch. Just wound up with a sore finger from the skin being pulled away from the fingernail. Went back to the thumb method!

 

[Sir Paul]

I recently purchased a S&W 442 and I am considering replacing the stock synthetic grips with Crimson Trace LG-405 Lasergrips. Is there any type of documentation available regarding the installation of the aforementioned grips? Also, is anyone sporting the LG-405 Lasergrips on their S&W 442? If so, how do they look? Thanks.

 

[BRE346]

Hello to all

Good afternoon gentlemen,

I'm new to firearms. I've been through the concealed Handgun course and passed the shooting test on the second try, with a .45. I bought a Sigma 9mm. It had problems. The factory fixed them. By then I had a Taurus pt111. After a few months the factory has that, too. I have a Taurus 24/7 which is fine, except a little heavy and bulky for carry. While the pt111's gone I've bought a new S&W 642-2. I don't know beans about revolvers.

Method of carry? Holster? How to shoot? Reloading? Maintenance? Weaknesses in the 642?

I'm counting on the wise ones here to learn all this.

 

[motorcycle-charlie]

welcome Sir Paul and BRE346...
the 405 lasergrips.. quite a few members have them and i am sure they will be along with pics shortly.(DAdams)
BRE346...
method of carry? pocket, iwb,owb,ankle,belly band ect.. that is one of the strong points of this snub. Holster? depends on your method of carry. Mika pocket holsters are very favorable with x42 owners. How to shoot? load it, close it, point and pull. Reloading? i like speed strips bc they lay nice and flat and it is easy to carry more than one. Maintainence? clean it after you shoot, and if it is carried, blow the lint out every now and then. i use CLP Breakfree to clean. Weakness? if there was one i would have to say the 5 round capacity, just practice often and make your shots count.. good luck.

 

[fivewheeler]

thanks

41
Warrconn
fivewheeler (nice username)
Beat Trash
sixgunner
mance
john86

I'm a little late but thanks for the welcome and name compliment.

 

[motorcycle-charlie]

sorry fivewheeler, welcome to you also. good to have you aboard.

 

[DAdams]

Close

I have CT 405 on a 642-2 and a M&P340.

Welcome to BRE346 and Sir Paul.

Method of carry? Holster? How to shoot? Reloading? Maintenance? Weaknesses in the 642?

I'm counting on the wise ones here to learn all this.
Today 03:43 PM

Wise ones say, Better get reading.

Short course to jump start. Ammunition (Speer Gold Dot for Short barrel) aka SGDFSB 135 gr Plus P Speer PN 23921. Mika Roundcut Pocket Holster or De Santis Nemesis (not SuperFly) until the Mika arrives.
Bianchi Speedstrips or HKS 36 Speedloaders, typically available from you local gun shop or Midway.

There you have it. I just saved you a week of reading. But you missed all the pictures and friendly banter and don't know the cast. Kind of like coming in on the last episode of the Walking Dead.

 

[Brass Rain]

Brass Rain:

I'm left handed, and gotta agree with DAdams as far as using the left thumb, or even the right thumb. Got back into snubbies a couple of years ago, and bought an LCR. Was much easier to work the push button left handed with my index finger. Traded for a 642, and tried a range session using my left index finger to push the latch. Just wound up with a sore finger from the skin being pulled away from the fingernail. Went back to the thumb method!

What made you decide to trade in your LCR for the 642? I'm considering the LCR, but heavily leaning to the 442 just because I like it more. Not being able to open the cylinder release with my index finger is a negative, though.

On an unrelated note, I've seen pictures people have taken of the x42s, often posed with speed strips. And I've noticed many times the strips will be loaded two rounds on one end, two rounds on the other, and the two spots in the middle empty. 642s hold five rounds, so why only load four? Is it just to look even in the picture?

 

[DAdams]

On an unrelated note, I've seen pictures people have taken of the x42s, often posed with speed strips. And I've noticed many times the strips will be loaded two rounds on one end, two rounds on the other, and the two spots in the middle empty. 642s hold five rounds, so why only load four? Is it just to look even in the picture?

That's known as the jt1 2-2 split. Typically you see them with the tab removed too I leave mine tab on. The concept is getting four rounds in quick and back in the fray. Four fast in is better than 5 not so fast. You can pump two in at a time and leave space for your fingers. Try it sometime, it works.





I carry the Speedstrip in one of these case and 6 rounds if with my 686 or the 2/2 split with the 5 wheeler(s).