642 Club Part Three

[seethesvt]

Nice Indian Larry quote... bout sums it up...

 

[Brass Rain]

Do you guys know if it would be a simple matter to have a 442's finish stripped and re-done with nice bluing? By a gunsmith of course, not me.

 

[308win]

You can't blue aluminum. You will have to go with a coated finish which you already have.

 

[Shopping A Round]

Well I finally joined your ranks.

I just got my NY pistol permit and went to the gunstore looking for a S&W 642-1. Of course I new I would have a difficult time because they are pretty rare.

The night before, I showed my roommate a picture of the 642 and he said it looked like the type of gun a woman would carry around in her purse, or strapped to their garter.

Flash forward to today, the guy behind the counter scratched his head and headed back into the stockroom and came out with a 642-1 with pink grips!

He swapped them out for a hogue grip and threw in a box of reloads as well.

It was $480, $521 including tax. Pretty hefty for a J frame, but exactly what I was looking for, and brand new! The place had $65 transfers anyways.

I'll pick it up in a few weeks.

Woohoo!

 

[DAdams]

A Big 642

Welcome to Shopping Around. I hope you kept the Pink Grips on the outside chance that you need to get get in touch with a different side of yourself someday.

That really isn't that bad a price. Especially since it without ILS. It has only been recently that S&W has dropped their prices and I'll bet your dealer had to get that price out of it based on what he payed in late 2010.

X42... ten thousand bad azzes can't be wrong.

 

[Stormin.40]

642 or 442

Okay, I am new to this thread and do not yet own a 642. I will be purchasing a 2" 38 special very soon and was hoping to get some advice.

I have been leaning toward the 642, I found a guy locally who would sell me a NIB 642-2 for $360+taxes and fees. I would imagine a 442 would be similar in price. For my purpose conceal carry, mainly pocket and ankle, would the 442 be a better option. Is the 442 finish more durable?

A side thought, is the S&W bodygaurd revolver or Ruger's LCR comparible, I realize this is probably the wrong group to ask? I had my heart set on the LCR due to the trigger but the more I research to more I am drawn to the #42.

 

[AStone]

Stormin.40, welcome to the club and to THR.

I'll let others advise you about the finish.

Two minor points that I may be wrong about. One, last time I checked, the 442 was a few bucks more than the 642. Could have been just a temporary glitch, or maybe the latter was more rare. Don't know why the price would be different though. I'll be interested to see what others have to say (in part because I've long wanted to "trade" my 642 for a 442).

As for comparability between the LCR and X42, IMO they are relatively so. I haven't read anything yet about the LCR that makes me believe it is substantially better or worse than the X42. <Dons flame suit>

I think it probably comes down to - as usual - which one feels better to you in your hand, drying firing, at the range, etc.

Curious to hear other opinions about that, though.

Personally, I've handled an LCR, and dry fired it (in a shop), but haven't shot one.

Based on that, I still prefer the X42, but I'd be hard pressed to explain why rationally.
It was more of an intuitive feeling, and probably familiarity with my 642.

 

[alemonkey]

Stormin, when I was comparing the two I actually liked the trigger better on the 642 even though it was heavier. It seemed much smoother than the LCR. To me the LCR trigger seemed "jerky". Size and weight is comparable, but I thought the LCR had slightly less perceived recoil. I thought both were equally accurate, so I went with the 642 because of aesthetics and what I felt was a better trigger. If you can, I would try to shoot both and see which you like best.

 

[clutch]

Today my 442-1 (no lock) showed up. Drove home in time to shoot a cylinder full to see if this was going to pleasure or pain. Ah, pleasure though it sure jumps up in recoil with standard .38 Spl. I'll have to buy some +p to try in it next or find loading data to roll my own.

My grips don't clear the Safari land speed loader but speed strips work fine. Is there a speed loader that works, a grip mod, or grips that work with speed loaders?

Anyway, I like it and it is a keeper.

Clutch

 

[Kal52]

well I finally found a dandy today thought Id share my excitement!

I just got back from buying a Like new, as in not a mark on it, probably never fired 432PD
Man is this thing a sweetheart!

Im not sure if the price was good but since they dont make them I paid 405.00 for it, good deal or not, Ive been looking for a 32 H&R for the wife to carry and for me to enjoy as well, and stumbled on to this one.

It will make a nice companion to my sp101 32, ah now to start reloading for them.
If I find I cant live without it, I just may have to get one for me to carry too (itll happen )

gotta love the .32's

Dave

 

[Brass Rain]

Today my 442-1 (no lock) showed up. Drove home in time to shoot a cylinder full to see if this was going to pleasure or pain. Ah, pleasure though it sure jumps up in recoil with standard .38 Spl. I'll have to buy some +p to try in it next or find loading data to roll my own.

My grips don't clear the Safari land speed loader but speed strips work fine. Is there a speed loader that works, a grip mod, or grips that work with speed loaders?

Anyway, I like it and it is a keeper.

Clutch

I've heard before that the grips put on the x42 series nowdays don't clear speed loaders. So you'll have to shave them down a little or put something else on.

 

[readingbill]

642-1 came back from S&W

Back in December I posted about sending my brand new, unfired-by-me 642-1 back to S&W because of what seemed to be a binding problem that resulted in a progressively heavier trigger pull when dry firing in rapid succession.

I had called S&W about it and found that they offered a j-frame action job that wasn't listed on their website for $80. I enclosed a letter with the gun asking whether I might get a discount on the action job since they had to open the gun anyway and probably smooth out the same parts to make the warranty repair. I asked them to call or e-mail to let me know about the repair and whether it would need the action job if the repair was done.

I got the gun back last week without hearing a word from them with a bill for $80 for the action job. Oh well. The $50 rebate came this week, so that helped pay for it. There were also small dings on the trigger guard and backstrap and a scuff on the barrel that I know I didn't put there. And they fired test rounds through each chamber - but didn't clean the gun. I guess that was to show they tested it.

But, all said, the action job has done wonders for the smoothness of the trigger pull, and it's now all the gun I hoped it would be. It's just that I think it should have been that way right out of the box.

All-in-all, though, I'm pretty happy I was able to get a no-lock and that it's now a great shooter. I really do recommend spending the money on an action job to get the best out of this gun.

 

[scottishclaymore]

Just because this thread needs a bump, here's a little something I blogged about The Old Fuff's Quad-5 drill. The Old Fuff is duly credited in the blog post, and I hope he doesn't take exception to my putting that up there. At the end of the post, of course, is a picture of the results of my last bout of the Quad 5 drill using the 642.

Suggestions/corrections always welcome.

 

[motorcycle-charlie]

End Shake

i have around 1,000 rounds through my 442 and developed some end shake in the cylinder. still shoots fine, but the shake annoys me. anyone else develop this with their x42s? how do you fix it. the cylinder release is also a little loose, but the screw is tight. this is my carry gun so it needs to be 100 percent. any suggestions before i contact S&W ?

 

[clutch]

Has anyone checked the barrel cylinder gap on theirs when new? I put 5 rounds down range yesterday and planned on bringing home my feeler gage set from work today but forgot. I'd like that bit of info in-case I wonder if I've shot it loose or stressed it down the road.

As far as the trigger, deliberate fire, not so great but if you are shooting to live, it isn't so bad. There is a long dead spot after the cylinder rotates in mine. In a hurry you blow past it which is what the firearm is built for at its price point.

Clutch

 

[fivewheeler]

Info from Mas Ayoob on when to shoot
This is the first video of eight. If you want to see the next one it will be in on the right hand side as 2/8, 3/8, etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18rqeJ2ClyU

 

[AStone]

Fivewheeler, these are very good films.
I've never seen them before.
Thanks for the heads up.

I've never studied with Mas,
but have read some of his articles.

He's actually the writer that "sold me"
on my .30-30 as a deer round.
I trust him a lot.

This is the first time I've ever seen him speak.
I'm very impressed. His knowledge seems very solid and vast,
including about topics around physiology. (I've taught human anatomy and physiology.)

So, what rnds does he recommend for .38 spl?

In film 4, he says, not entirely surprisingly...

Drum roll please ... LSWHP

 

[AStone]

Very good films.

Film 5:

* emphasis on front sights.
* stress point index: a cross between point shooting and a conventional sight picture.

Pay close attention from minute 6 to the end.

His knowledge of anatomy, physiology and cognitive science is very impressive.

 

[fivewheeler]

I think that was filmed in 1990 so it might be a good idea to take that into account on some of the info.

Here's a newer one. Folks with crimson trace will like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SmqWP79nrU

another with Mas about loading with speed strips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAXlT3ZLzs

and just for fun watch the scene at 34 seconds here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X7lQ5IK-do
I have no idea why that tickles me so

 

[johnnylaw53]

Hello everyone not trying to get kick out of the club but was wondering with there being several small slim 9mm coming out such as the Ruger lc9 anyone thinking of moving that way and replaceing the beloved j-frame? To remind people I posted awhle back that I had gone back and forth with the j-frame and small auto's durning my 30 plus years as an LEO and told my self when I went to the 642 in 2006 that I would never look for something eles for back up or off duty but the bug is kinda biting again. Just wonder if anyone eles is being nibble on.

be safe

 

[308win]

but the bug is kinda biting again.

IMHO you can never have enough guns; now on the other hand, not enough money is definitely a deal killer.

 

[AStone]

Johnny, you do not speak heresy. We love this little snub, but we're realistic, also.

I suspect that there will always be an x42 in my tool kit.

But I confess that listening to Mas talk about the efficiency of the 9's it touched something in me
that made me wonder if I might add another one to the kit someday as a companion to the x42.

 

[DAdams]

told my self when I went to the 642 in 2006 that I would never look for something eles for back up or off duty but the bug is kinda biting again. Just wonder if anyone eles is being nibble on.

Interesting proposition. If I could have only one handgun, period (heaven forbid) it would probably be a K frame in 3 inch and I would find some way to stash the iron on my person. So that's an easy say good bye to the X42. If I could have only one J Frame, I would stick with the M&P 340 with night sights and Crimson Trace grips at 14 ounces and throw some SGDFSB .357 Magnums in it, that ends that 9mm conversation with the exception of capacity.


The "if I could only have one revolver, revolver".

There are S&W snubs that provide 9mm horse power so I guess you could stay the course and that would address the 9mm desire.

Well then there you go bringin up semi-autos. I would suspect that most amongst us have one of those con sarnd bottom feedin auto chuckers.

Let me go back and read your post again....small semi-autos.
Sure, why not?

Kahr PM9, Rohrbaugh R9, PF9 KT, PPS, Kimber, there are a number of the quasi pocket 9s on the market.


The usual suspects

Let's look a the Ruger:

barrel 3.12" Length: 6.00"
Width: 0.90" Height: 4.50"
Weight: 17.10 oz. I'm assuming this is w/o the 7 rounds so call it almost 18.

Here is the Kahr PM9
Barrel: 3.0",
Length O/A: 5.3"
Height: 4.0"
Slide Width: .90"
Weight: Pistol 14 ounces, Magazine 1.9 ounces

Pretty close except weight. Weight is a deal breaker for me with anything over 16 ounces loaded for pocket carry. Your results may vary.

How many handguns will fit in a Mika Holster and drop in the front pocket and not look like a handgun?

If I wanted a pocket 9 the only thing that would fit my criteria would be the Rohrbaugh at a cool 1K. I already have a PM9 and I seldom carry it too heavy.



642 in a Mika Roundcut and a Kahr PM9 in a DeSantis Nemesis.

That would bring me back to .380s. Doesn't that open up a whole different can o worms?

In that genre I would be looking at an LCP or S&W Body Guard with laser.

I went down that road before the plethora of pocket .380s really got rolling and scratched for a Seecamp .380. It is my most carried pocket semi-auto (and most carried handgun) at 12 ounces and 7rounds of 90 grain Hdyra Shok.




J Frame vs. Seecamp

After this is all said and done it is time for a IWB or OWB with a 4 in it.


Good topic.

 

[AStone]

With much respect for my friend DA, MSAA of the club,
if I was to pair a 9 with my x42, it'd be a Kahr K9.
It's what I owned in a 9 before coming here.

I just like the steel, yo' know?

But like I said,
the x42 stays in the kit.

At ease. Smoke'm if you've got'em.

 

[DAdams]

I just like the steel, yo' know?

Yep, on the belt it goes.

Here is the real solution.....jt1 belt and suspenders.



X42 Getterdun.