Crimson Trace Mistake?--Put it on my 642

[Kentucky Rifle]

I think I may have made a mistake by installing my Crimson Trace laser grips on my S&W model 642. Oh, they work just fine...from a hand rest. But, for the life of me, I can't hold that little red dot on the bull's eye "free-handed". I may have to install these grips on one of my .38's with a hammer. Cock the hammer and I get a MUUUuuuuch lighter trigger. I was REALLY humbled when I tried the first time. I got better as I practiced, but still not good. Today, I'm burning batteries with "A-Zoom" snap caps in the 642 trying to dry fire without moving that red spot. I hang my head in shame. THIS is DIFFICULT!
What's the general opinion of the board?
Trigger job on my 642? Switch the laser grips to a J-frame I can cock? Some of my J-frames with hammers have very light triggers and I wouldn't pull the red dot off the target.
In it's defense, my 642's trigger IS beginning to loosen up. Should I stick with it and practice more or switch the laser grips?

KR
P.S. You ever leave a post that makes your face red? Well, this one is mine.

 

[Preacherman]

Simplest solution - get a trigger job done on your 642. If you don't have a good local gunsmith, Tamara's resident wizard does a good one, and she's not far from you. The best I know of is done by Clark Custom Guns - they've done most of my revolvers.

 

[Old Fuff]

Hand and finger strength play a part here, and the more you practice and dry-fire the stronger you’re hand/fingers will get.

Also try this trick. Pull the trigger backwards until your finger-tip touches the front edge of the grip. Then put the dot in the right place and finish pulling the trigger. You’ll have to experiment a bit to find the particular hold on the grip that will position your finger so the tip comes out at the right place at the right time. After that you’ll be surprised at how easy it is.

Lightening the spring tensions to ease the action can be a slippery slope. Be sure who ever dose the work knows what they are doing, otherwise over time you may end up getting misfires.

Yes, you can put the grips on a SA/DA J-frame, but if you have to use the gun in an emergency I doubt that you’ll remember to cock the hammer - at least for the first shot.

 

[TonyB]

I have bad arthritis in my hands ,so almost all my guns get a trigger job.....also dry fire alot..keeps strength up and smooths the trigger....I have a gunsmith in my area who does great work.....

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I've dry-fired my 642 about 50 to 60 times...

..since I left the first post. I think I'm getting better. I have a model of an F4U "Corsair" on top of my television and I've been holding the red dot on the canopy and slowly pulling the trigger. At first, I was pulling the dot pretty far off. However now, I can at least keep the red dot on the canopy when the revolver "clicks". Plus, I'm getting a little faster. I thought this laser grip deal was going to be easier. It's not, but I believe that eventually, it's going to be.

Another thing: What about a trigger job with MIM parts? Any chance on weakening the MIM parts with the small ammount of MIM surface material that has to be removed with a trigger job? If your answer is "yes", I don't see how. Isn't a small ammount of MIM material being removed by the dry firing?

Thanks,
KR

 

[Soap]

I only use laser sights for VERY narrow applications: training. They are a great training aid to ensure everything from trigger pull to breath control. I would just keep at it with the DA pull. Chances are that you won't get to cock your weapon in a fight, so train as you would fight.

 

[P95Carry]

KR ... Fuff pretty much nailed this but .... hey, I have had my CT's now about two - three weeks on my SP-101 .. this snub is needing much more smoothing so, I suspect about as much ''hard work'' as your Smith 642.

Can I mention two points I regard as salient.

1] ..... attempt what I call ''antagonistic'' muscle action. This is a method whereby for all the force you put on something in one direction .. you counter with an equal and opposite force from another. Grasp your left wrist with right hand . and whilst pushing left arm up - push it away with right ... when equal forces . no movement to speak off - just tiring muscles!! I think with a two handed grip I exploit this a lot and with trigger useage D/A actively make the weak hand add/subtract force as necessary whilst pulling. It's hard to describe but .. maybe you get the picture. Helps me tho I am way off any perfection.

2} .... Remember with the laser ..... IMO you have a phenomenon akin to a high power scope ..... every small, even minute movement of the piece ... is as if ''amplified'' ... because of this small dot and the distance over which it is thrown. Mine quivers and shakes but .. as long as I can control it within what I choose to call my ''circle of confusion'' .. I will find the shots all go in where they matter.

Single action a week ago when setting the sights up for critical best . I was able at 15 yds to keep almost inside a quarter size area.

Your dry-fire approach is probably as good as any for now ... plus the gun will tend to smooth out too!

 

[10-Ring]

A trigger job may help, but there really is no shortcut for practice & trigger time Just commit yourself to learning how to properly deploy the laser & you'll be okay!

 

[yzguy]

also remember it is not the laser that is causing the dot to jump around it is your hands... the exact same movement would be there if you were using your sites...

at slightly longer distances I just try to keep it "hovering" around the center of the target, but where I really like it is at about 7 yards for quick shooting (maybe not the MOST accurate, but within a 4-5" circle). In that set up I am MUCH faster with the laser.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

Practice, practice, practice. Dry firing with the laser allows you to see where the bullets would hit. If you can't keep the dot on the target, you need to practice more. Otherwise, you really don't want to carry that gun for serious purposes. Cause it's a lot harder to hit with real ammo.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

I've dry-fired my 642 about 50 to 60 times...

call back once you've fired it 5-6 hundred times.....

do some wrist curls and grip exercise, makes a world of difference.....

last resort, we'll get together after christmas and you can let me try it....

 

[Kor]

Well, my own S&W 642 has both the Crimson Trace grips AND a trigger-job - and the dot stays rock-steady in dry-fire.

Also, honesty compels me to admit that I've got pretty strong hands as well.[edit] comment in poor taste removed [/edit]

 

[444]

"also remember it is not the laser that is causing the dot to jump around it is your hands... the exact same movement would be there if you were using your sites..."

Exactly the same point I was going to bring up. Keep in mind that it isn't the laser that is causing the problem. This happened before you put the laser on - you just didn't realize it until you could see the dot move. Those same misses would occur whether you had the laser or were using iron sights.

 

[BigG]

Trigger jobs are a Slippery Slope

Anything worth doing is worth doing well. More practice, KY!

 

[BigG]

Actually, I think the laser sight would be an excellent training tool as it makes evident the movements that you are making with your technique regardless of what type of sights you would actually be using. In short, if you become very proficient in quickly squeezing off accurate fire with the laser sight I would predict that your iron sight shooting will improve as well.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I'm getting better...

300 to 400 dryfires now. MUUuuuuuch smoother trigger. I can hold the red dot pretty steady now. I was shooting Coke cans off a fence pretty easily yesterday. Thanks guys.

KR

 

[BigG]

Yer getting the hang of it, pal!

I remember somewhere reading about learning theory and believe I maight get a laser grip myself as it gives immediate feedback if your are off target when the hammer falls. Think it will aid in self correction of problems. Like having a coach there with you.

 

[P95Carry]

Coke cans eh KR!! That's gotta be good!!

Glad it's comin on well now .. I still have much dry fire to work on for smoothy purposes but .. am still more than delighted with the CT's ...... they are less and less a novelty and much more a great shooting adjunct.

Enjoy .... (I will!).

 

[Ledbetter]

The same thing happened when I put a pair on my 649. Needed to change to a nice, smooth squeeze. Also, allow for the "staging" of the trigger (First click pulls hammer back, second click locks hammer, third click makes hammer fall.)

Regards.

 

[Grump]

as long as I can control it within what I choose to call my ''circle of confusion'' .. I will find the shots all go in where they matter.

Yup, my training calls that the "wobble area". It gets smaller with practice. You're already experiencing that.

A bit of mental attentiveness may reveal that you were not pulling the trigger straight back. As your wobble decreases, you should increase your speed. Also do it at differeing distances, so you can be aware of how sloppy you can be inside of 10 yards, and how carefully you must squeeze at 25-100 yards.