642 Club Part Three

[Dollar An Hour]

Interesting differences on those two guns Lightsped. I've got a new no-lock 442 on the way. Now you've got me wondering about the barrel script.

I've had a few J-Frames come and go. I thought the stainless 640 no-dash was too heavy for pocket carry. I really never should have sold my original 442-1 from '98. I'm determined to keep this 442.

 

[Lightsped]

Here are pictures of my new 442 and my dad's new 642. It was difficult to get the differences in text on the barrels with my camera, but hopefully it is visible.

The 442 is a Feb 2011 model, and the 642 is a March 2011 model.

Has anyone else noticed these text differences? Also, note how the S&W logo is higher on the 642 vs the 442....

 

[sixgunner455]

Interesting. The barrel markings on your dad's 642 look the same as the ones on my 2003 642-2.

Another interesting thing: you paid 329.00 for each of those. That's exactly what I paid for my 642 in January of 2004. I've seen prices higher than that, including yesterday at an LGS that had them tagged at 459.00 (I never buy anything there - lol).

 

[308win]

They have come down some here. I think I paid either $319 or $309 for mine a few years (6 or so) ago. Vances is selling Bodyguards today with integral laser (not laser grips) for $430 + tax and that seems to be a pretty good price to me.

 

[Warp]

Food for my 642 arrived today. Let's call it Filet Mignon.

 

[Lightsped]

Interesting. The barrel markings on your dad's 642 look the same as the ones on my 2003 642-2.

Another interesting thing: you paid 329.00 for each of those. That's exactly what I paid for my 642 in January of 2004. I've seen prices higher than that, including yesterday at an LGS that had them tagged at 459.00 (I never buy anything there - lol).

I looked through the photos in this thread and noticed that most of the 642s have the same text markings and font style as my dad's 642. I haven't seen many with the text style of my 442. Actually some of the 442s in this thread have the 642 style text/font....

 

[tguil]

My new 442 (June 2011) has the text style of your dad's 642. All text on left side, nothing on right. Those of us who who took the time to check this out really need to get a life.

Tom

 

[Stormin.40]

Warp, your the reason the reason G&R Tactical is out! At least I got my one box order in before you, kind of jealous though.

Thanks Tong the Tiger, I am looking forward to shooting the GDHP SB 135+P through my snubnose soon. I will probably switch out from Buffalo Bore 158 gr. SWCHP +P for these.

I have 9 rounds of BB that jump in the crimp about 0.015 - 0.020 with simply being carried in an unfired gun and being loaded and unloaded, just makes me nervous about locking the cylinder up in a bad situation.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Anybody know a good source for either the Nyclad standard pressure .38's or the Remington 158gr LSWCHP ammo?

 

[Warp]

Warp, your the reason the reason G&R Tactical is out! At least I got my one box order in before you, kind of jealous though.

Thanks Tong the Tiger, I am looking forward to shooting the GDHP SB 135+P through my snubnose soon. I will probably switch out from Buffalo Bore 158 gr. SWCHP +P for these.

I have 9 rounds of BB that jump in the crimp about 0.015 - 0.020 with simply being carried in an unfired gun and being loaded and unloaded, just makes me nervous about locking the cylinder up in a bad situation.

No, I got them from a guy with a little store in Ronkonkoma, NY. $200, shipped, for 500 rounds. Couldn't pass it up. Before that box arrived yesterday I had only ever purchased a grand total of 40 rounds of those things, ever, and I only had 20 left. Now that I have 500...feelsgoodman. I still have Buffalo Bore loaded in my 642 and GP100 but all reloads (strips and loaders) will be the Gold Dot .38. I will probably even load the Gold Dot into the 642 when I carry it on my support side as a BUG.

Anybody know a good source for either the Nyclad standard pressure .38's or the Remington 158gr LSWCHP ammo?

Cheaper Than Dirt has the Remington FBI load (R38S12) 158gr LSWCHP +P for $30.53/50

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/66333-5.html


Midway, as usual for ammunition, is a little bit more expensive at $36.49

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=548921

 

[Stormin.40]

I got them from a guy with a little store in Ronkonkoma, NY. $200, shipped, for 500 rounds.

That is an unbelievable price! At or near a lot of target ammo prices around me.

I still have Buffalo Bore loaded in my 642 and GP100 but all reloads (strips and loaders) will be the Gold Dot .38. I will probably even load the Gold Dot into the 642 when I carry it on my support side as a BUG.

It is hard to deny the ballistics of Buffalo Bore +P ammo, 1000 fps is nothing to shake a stick at, mine is still loaded with the good rounds I have left. I have only fired 5 out of my 642 and had no signs of bullet jump but 9 of my remaining 15 are suspect and I don't trust them. The Gold Dots should be easier to speed reload to due to the shape of the bullet too. I plan to make the switch.

 

[motorcycle-charlie]

Renegade 500 ankle rig

for anyone looking for a great ankle rig, i have been using this Renegade 500 lately and it is great. low profile, strong elastic, holds my 442 very secure against the leg, and very comfortable for all day wear. made in the U.S.A. and around $50.00. win' win. not the fastest draw, but when other carry options are no good in certain situations, you still have your gun.

 

[Warp]

Speaking of ankle holsters I really like my Galco Ankle Glove. I've had it for years. I don't use it that much but when I do it works perfectly.

 

[ThomasT]

Warp thats a heck of a deal on the Gold Dot ammo. Can you post a link or phone # to the store? I might order a box of that myself.

 

[Stormin.40]

I love my Renegade Cozy Partner 500, the elastic over the trigger gaurd works great for retention.

 

[DAdams]

Deleted due to content correction.

 

[Warp]

Warp thats a heck of a deal on the Gold Dot ammo. Can you post a link or phone # to the store? I might order a box of that myself.

Chester's Hunting & Fishing

(631) 738-6991

232 Ronkonkoma Ave, Ste 3, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779


Call him.

 

[ThomasT]

Thanks for the info Warp.

 

[motorcycle-charlie]

Belly Band ?

any one here have any carry time with their x42 in a belly band? what kind? how is the comfort? ease of draw from under a t-shirt?

 

[mark1616]

I love my 642. That's all I wanted to say.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

My 442-1, production date Feb 2011, has the script like the 642 pictured above (nothing on the right side of the barrel, and on the left "SMITH & WESSON .38 S&W SPL +P"

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

FYI the barrel script on my 442 is identical to dollar_an_hour.

Regarding the Buffalo Bore loads vs the Speer Gold dots - there is no denying the BB load is hotter. However, as Stormin.40 noted sometimes they tend to jump crimp in a firearm as light at the 642/442. Another issue is JHP vs Lead... I'd take a JHP or copper bullet anyday for ccw to reduce lead exposure risks to children on my clothing or around the house. Furthermore, brassfetcher just posted up a review of different .38 rounds (http://www.brassfetcher.com/PDF/38 Special JHP performance through Bone Simulant plates.pdf) which included the gold dots and a standard BB load (not the bb +p load as far as I can tell) as well as hornady/corbon/federal/winchester offerings. They all performed poorly - so I'm wondering if a different BB load 200 ft/s faster would have better expansion or would simply penetrate more... not always a good thing in ccw. I'm still using the gold dots for carry because they are accurate, controllable, jacketed, and do have a good reputation in law enforcement despite the brassfetcher testing. Oh, and because I still have 150 of em

Now, the real reason for this post is to share with you some pics of the 442 and Mika holsters, a Mika pocket and a Mika IWB. The IWB is identical to the pocket except not as wide, smoother, and with a clip. Retention is excellent - better retained than the pocket holster - and feels sturdy on the belt. The goal of purchasing a .38 snub for me was to always be able to conceal regardless of dress, and I've found the Mika IWB to be extremely concealable even under a plain undershirt or t shirt with jeans. The clip has a smaller profile than traditional leather belt loops on an IWB and is built strong.









Range time



Ice cream

 

[DAdams]

Tony great looking ice-cream. I like the looks of the Mika IWB too.

 

[wlewisiii]

My 642, some Pachmayr grips (that I trimmed after these pics for Speedloader fitting) and a new custom IWB holster from Wooden Leather:







The close match of the tablecloth pattern and the tooling on the holster was actually coincidental. One of those "couldn't plan it that way if you had to" moments. Very nice holster though. Simple, inexpensive, quality work from a guy just really getting into it.

 

[Warp]

@ wlewisiii

Can you get a good picture of those grips trimmed for a speedloader?

I have those grips (pachmayr compact) on my 642 and though I don't have any speedloaders I am interested in seeing what it takes to make them work with my grips