mesinge2
Member
I went with the 649, the 357 steel framed version of the 638:
CCW J-Frame: 642, 638 or 637
- Thread starter TrailWolf
- Start date
- Status
Tony_the_tiger
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2011
- Messages
- 905
NICE!!!!!
I vote 442-No Lock, been carrying one for 8 months now and everything discussed here about the centennial frame is fairly spot on.
I recently put a set of stock magna/banana grips on it and WOW I can squeeze 3 fingers on the grip and I have attained a MUCH higher grip on the gun for better control.
Sometimes I think they had it right back in the day. Rubber is nice, but those wood grips REALLY have me reconsidering.
Not to mention, they're classy.
-Jake
I recently put a set of stock magna/banana grips on it and WOW I can squeeze 3 fingers on the grip and I have attained a MUCH higher grip on the gun for better control.
Sometimes I think they had it right back in the day. Rubber is nice, but those wood grips REALLY have me reconsidering.
Not to mention, they're classy.
-Jake
I carry a 638, which makes range time and plinking a bit more fun because of the single action capability. I voted for the 642. You can get a slightly higher grip, it has one less place to pick up lint and foreign pieces of dirt, and it has an ever so slightly longer sight radius. For all practical reasons, get the 642. For a great carry gun and a really fun plinking toy, get the 638. Don't get the 637. It offers nothing the 638 doesn't.
earplug
Member
642
I own a M-38, 638, M-60 and the 642.
Hands down the 642 is a better mouse trap for defense. Your forced to practice with one trigger pull. In time you can get pretty good with staging the trigger for more accurate use.
Not having the slightly finer accuracy of the others single action pull is moot when defensive use is considered.
If your prone to flinching after shooting a light weight gun, the DA pull somewhat cures that.
Your clothing won't get ate up by any hammer. Lint is not a issue.
I own a M-38, 638, M-60 and the 642.
Hands down the 642 is a better mouse trap for defense. Your forced to practice with one trigger pull. In time you can get pretty good with staging the trigger for more accurate use.
Not having the slightly finer accuracy of the others single action pull is moot when defensive use is considered.
If your prone to flinching after shooting a light weight gun, the DA pull somewhat cures that.
Your clothing won't get ate up by any hammer. Lint is not a issue.
packindapistol
Member
I like to carry the Taurus 651, enclosed hammer but can still choose single or double action.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm a little confused here. How does shooting SA add any additional liability on a good shoot than shooting DA?
Unistat
Member
I had a 442 (blued version of the 642) while my wife carries a 642, both no lock. Love those little guns.
NMPOPS
Member
It is claimed that the Prosecuter may try and say you shot accidently or in the case of a law suit that if you shot single action again it was an accident or hair trigger. I agree if you had the right to defend yourself it shouldn't matter.
Sent from my Ally using Tapatalk 2
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,297
I voted for the Model 638. I have always been a fan of the Model 38/49 series and have both a Model 638 and a Model 649.
I used "liability" in the general, not legal, sense -- in other words, the liability of discharging a round when you do not mean to, because you've reduced a ten pound pull to a three pounder in a high-anxiety situation. Again, see opr1954's post...
Legally speaking, a justified shooting is a justified shooting regardless of double or single action, though that is no guarantee of not having to defend yourself in criminal or civil court. Furthermore, save for videographic proof or an exceptionally astute witness, I don't know how a prosecutor could prove a revolver was shot single-action if the shooter didn't say so his or herself.
627PCFan
Member
I think its a moot issue. If you have a recessed hammer cocked, it better be for a damn good reason, and if you have one fire off accidently your definitely doing something wrong.
Taroman
Member
This one works for me in pocket duty. Had to lose the rubber grip, though:
opr1945
Member
I don't think it's the "good shoot" that is the problem. It's when the reduced trigger pull of single action results in an "unintentional Shoot" with it's accompanying "unintended consequences."
A good shoot is a good shoot. It's the shoot with unintended consequences that results in the charge, trial, and so forth......
ArchAngelCD
Member.
If the simple act of shooting a revolver SA causes you to fire that gun unintentionally you shouldn't be carrying a handgun. (IMHO of course) Ummm, how do you get around the light trigger pull of a SAO semi-auto???
bdb benzino
Member
I acctually prefer the 638 for the additonal SA trigger pull as well, but just like an earlier poster said, I was drawn to a no lock 442 earlier this year and rather enjoyed pocket carry with it today at a family dinner. Both are great but I have to say any S&W fan that does not have one, better jump on the available no locks just in case they decide to stop making them again. I would LOVE a 638 no lock, do you hear me S&W?? LOL.
It's not a "this therefore that" equation; no one is saying that going single-action on a revolver in a defensive situation inevitably means a negligent discharge -- only that it (prohibitively, some feel) increases the chances of it in a high-pressure situation.
To say that the chance of that means someone shouldn't carry a gun at all ignores the realities of human physiological responses under stress, including in highly trained individuals.
There's a reason that, when revolvers were law enforcement primaries, so many departments made duty revolvers double-action only -- and again, we're talking about for highly trained individuals.
As for single action only semi-autos, you'll be hard pressed to find any meant for duty use with the factory three pound trigger pull most S&W revolvers have in single-action mode. More often they're between four and five-and-a-half pounds; Wilson's 1911s come the nearest, as far as I recall, with factory single-action pulls just shy of four pounds -- a bit light, in my opinion.
And many departments don't allow single-action only for a general purpose duty weapon. More often, the semi-autos you'll find have a double-action first shot, then become single action thereafter.
And it's precisely for the purpose of avoiding that adrenaline infused bad first shot when the sh-- hits the fan.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Just because I like them ALL:
griz1
Member
Voted for 642. But I carry the all steel 640 when it came in 38 spc only. I like the extra weight and have had it for over 20 years. Still my favorite carry piece.
Just because you "probably" will not need more than 5 shots, you still carry reloads, while you "probably" will not need to engage a target beyon 21ft. you still practice out to 25 yards, so while you "probably" will not fire it in anything other than double action in a self-defense situtaion, it is till nice to have the single action option, because "probably" might get you home alive, and that is not good enough for me. I like the ability to fire my pistol in single action if necessary. They put those things there for more than just something to run a retention strap around afterall.
I am not trying to argue and you are certainly entitled to carry whatever however you want, but perhaps you could provide an example where single-action might be feasible or preferred. Again, I'm not trying to argue, I am just trying to see things from your point of view.
JohnBT
Member
"Ummm, how do you get around the light trigger pull of a SAO semi-auto???"
Is there a SAO autoloader with a 2.25 pound trigger pull? The 649-3 .357 I have came from the factory with a crisp 2.25# SA pull. It feels like it's about 1.5, but my Lyman digital gauge says I'm wrong.
John
Is there a SAO autoloader with a 2.25 pound trigger pull? The 649-3 .357 I have came from the factory with a crisp 2.25# SA pull. It feels like it's about 1.5, but my Lyman digital gauge says I'm wrong.
John
- Status
