CT grip for 642, yes or no?
- Thread starter Woody174
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It's probably the surest way to make a precise hit when you can't use your conventional sights at eye level. Unfortunately you can’t always take the (whatever) approved stance and get a flash sight picture. Also by now the criminal community knows what that little red dot means, and that may be enough to distract their attention from you to it. Yes, they are expensive and battery dependent, but you can change batteries on a regular basis, and the conventional sights are always available. Think of the laser as extra life insurance.
DAdams
Member
Yes
My short answer. I have two snubs. Both J Frames. Both with CT grips.
One in the nightstand (642) allowing my wife who doesn't spend enough time at the range to pick it up, point and shoot.
The other, a M&P 340 I carry. One can get pretty effective with a two inch barrel by pointing and shooting with lots and lots of practice. When the whip comes down, I want all the edge I can get. CTs give me that unfair advantage or perhaps even the score.
The fact of the matter is, I'm going to get a third set to try out on the 340, a set of 305s. Still seeking an optimized solution, from gun, to grip to ammunition.
M&P 340 with 405 CT.
One of our bedside units, loaded with Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158gr, SWC (the "old" FBI Load).
My short answer. I have two snubs. Both J Frames. Both with CT grips.
One in the nightstand (642) allowing my wife who doesn't spend enough time at the range to pick it up, point and shoot.
The other, a M&P 340 I carry. One can get pretty effective with a two inch barrel by pointing and shooting with lots and lots of practice. When the whip comes down, I want all the edge I can get. CTs give me that unfair advantage or perhaps even the score.
The fact of the matter is, I'm going to get a third set to try out on the 340, a set of 305s. Still seeking an optimized solution, from gun, to grip to ammunition.
M&P 340 with 405 CT.
One of our bedside units, loaded with Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158gr, SWC (the "old" FBI Load).
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Seminole
Member
I'm much more accurate with the CT than with the sights on my 642.
weisse52
Member
Yes!
Anything that helps the J frames is a good idea. Thinking of adding one to my CCW.
Anything that helps the J frames is a good idea. Thinking of adding one to my CCW.
eric.cartman
Member
Well, no.
I had them on my 442. I took them off and sold them. I'm good enough with poing shooting at close range, so I don't need them. Plus, in MY opinion, the grip makes it harder to shoot when CT are installed.
I had them on my 442. I took them off and sold them. I'm good enough with poing shooting at close range, so I don't need them. Plus, in MY opinion, the grip makes it harder to shoot when CT are installed.
DawgFvr
Member
Nope...they are toys. Like everything else, I had to try the laser. I have the below one for sale:
I went back to the Tyler grip:
Just my opinion...but now when I see people using lasers...I immediately think "Amateur". For the intended range of the snub .38 special (about the distance one could throw the revolver and hit the intended target) you should be able to accomplish this with the iron sights. This is truly a self-defense weapon and to be honest...one should be looking over the barrel...using point shooting.
I went back to the Tyler grip:
Just my opinion...but now when I see people using lasers...I immediately think "Amateur". For the intended range of the snub .38 special (about the distance one could throw the revolver and hit the intended target) you should be able to accomplish this with the iron sights. This is truly a self-defense weapon and to be honest...one should be looking over the barrel...using point shooting.
Maybe you are self-limited to point blank distances, but I for one am not. You can't predict in advance what range, and under what circumstances, you may have to use your sidearm. In the hands of a competent and practiced user a snubby has an effective range of at least 50 yards, and some can reach out to twice that.
The laser sight can be directed toward the target to a specific place regardless of what position the shooter is in, including flat on one's back, or with the hand(s) held close to the body in less then an optimal place for point shooting.
One of the advantages of the C.T. stocks is that you give up nothing, but gain an additional option that can be used when it's needed, and not when it isn't.
RTFM
member
In other words, it turns your 642 in to a squirt gun.
Remember when you were a kid, and had squirt gun fights, you could "see" where your water was going before it hit?
Same with CT applied grips.
Remember when you were a kid, and had squirt gun fights, you could "see" where your water was going before it hit?
Same with CT applied grips.
armoredman
Member
Try them out. Lasergrips are another tool in the self defense tool box. I like mine for low light/no light shooting. I put no confidence in the criminal seeing the red dot and giving up, what I do know is if I have to shoot from an awkward position, knocked down, etc, I can still have a pretty good idea where the bullet is likely to go, without being able to line up the sights.
DawgFvr
Member
Old Fluff: Point taken. I would like, however, to meet that individual that can hit targets "accurately" out to 100 yards with the 642. I consider myself a pretty good shot but have found the 642 to be a very poor choice for long distance...or even close distance for that matter. I'm not saying it couldn't be done...hell, a kid in PA shot and killed a Black Bear with a .22. I just think that it is "highly" uncommon. I've used the laser and, for me, I've found it to be detrimental to my training/ability to react reflexively with eye/mind/sight coordination. Now...maybe if one had lasers on every weapon one owns and included it in their training scenario....maybe it might be worth more consideration.
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1BLINDREF
Member
I say absolutely YES.
There are many advantages to CTs. I have a set on my 642.
One of the biggest is being able to practice dry firing. You'll be amazed how well you can learn to smoothly pull the trigger when you see how much that red dot bounces around when you first start practicing. Dry firing a 642/442 is a must when you first get it. The trigger will smooth out very nicely after about 300-400 pulls.
The other is being able to draw your gun and shot from unconventional angles and stances. You can shoot from the hip and make perfect hits where you want them.
IMHO - CTs are well worth the money.
There are many advantages to CTs. I have a set on my 642.
One of the biggest is being able to practice dry firing. You'll be amazed how well you can learn to smoothly pull the trigger when you see how much that red dot bounces around when you first start practicing. Dry firing a 642/442 is a must when you first get it. The trigger will smooth out very nicely after about 300-400 pulls.
The other is being able to draw your gun and shot from unconventional angles and stances. You can shoot from the hip and make perfect hits where you want them.
IMHO - CTs are well worth the money.
Down South
Member
I’d say yes, I have a set on my 642. I find that my accuracy is much better using the laser. I don’t always just shoot people. Anyway the laser is an enhancement to the little revolver for self-defense or shooting snakes or whatever. And yes I do practice with my regular sights. I wish that I had got the CT 405 grips instead of the CT 305 grips because they are easier to conceal. But I was trying to save a few bucks and bought the revolver and grips as a package and 305 grips are what S&W installs on the 642 from the factory. The CT grips from S&W do have the S&W logo on them though.
“Accurately” in this case (using a snubby at 100 yards, not necessarily a S&W 642, although it can do the job) means a hit anywhere on a B-27 silhouette target, or even a near miss that drives the other party to seek cover) is quite possible. Hold the front sight up in the notch a bit and use the head as an aiming point. The bullet’s trajectory will drop the shots into the upper torso. Focus your eye on the front sight and concentrate on sight alignment – which is critical. Get your final sight alignment just before the trigger releases the hammer.
You can do it, but the greatest roadblock is an attitude that you can’t.
Of course there are better choices in handguns for this sort of thing, but in the case of a shooting you will have to use whatever you have. Therefore you should practice to make whatever that might be as effective as possible under any circunstance.
At point-blank distance I agree with you concerning point shooting. But again a precise hit can be difficult. All the laser dot can do is confirm (up to a point) where the bullet is likely to go. An "anywhere" hit isn't good enough when you must instantly disable an opponent to survive.
Understand that at this point in his long life the Old Fuff is no longer as good a shot as he once was. However back when revolvers were much more common then they are now, many officers qualified with snubbies that were either primary or back-up guns, over the PPC course out to 50 yards, and sometimes like I said - at twice that distance.
These cops were too dumb to know they couldn't do it.
You can do it, but the greatest roadblock is an attitude that you can’t.
Of course there are better choices in handguns for this sort of thing, but in the case of a shooting you will have to use whatever you have. Therefore you should practice to make whatever that might be as effective as possible under any circunstance.
At point-blank distance I agree with you concerning point shooting. But again a precise hit can be difficult. All the laser dot can do is confirm (up to a point) where the bullet is likely to go. An "anywhere" hit isn't good enough when you must instantly disable an opponent to survive.
Understand that at this point in his long life the Old Fuff is no longer as good a shot as he once was. However back when revolvers were much more common then they are now, many officers qualified with snubbies that were either primary or back-up guns, over the PPC course out to 50 yards, and sometimes like I said - at twice that distance.
These cops were too dumb to know they couldn't do it.
glockman19
Member
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I have the CTC 405's on my 642
Whut Ol Fuff sed.
However back when revolvers were much more common then they are now, many officers qualified with snubbies that were either primary or back-up guns, over the PPC course out to 50 yards, and sometimes like I said - at twice that distance.
These cops were too dumb to know they couldn't do it.
Yup, when we got done qualifying on the 50 PPC course. We would shoot at 100 yards to see who bought the beer...
However back when revolvers were much more common then they are now, many officers qualified with snubbies that were either primary or back-up guns, over the PPC course out to 50 yards, and sometimes like I said - at twice that distance.
These cops were too dumb to know they couldn't do it.
Yup, when we got done qualifying on the 50 PPC course. We would shoot at 100 yards to see who bought the beer...
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