I just bought a S&W 642-2 Revolver and have a question. It says .38+P on the barrel: am I limited to shooting .38+P or will it also shoot .38 special safely? I think I already know the answer, but just want to be safe and check with people I know and trust.
Here's a dumb question on my new S&W 642-2 Revolver...
- Thread starter Big Bill
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C-grunt
Member
You'll be ok. But not a dumb question. Better to ask and maybe seem a little foolish than to damage your new gun.
Frizzman
Member
Yes, you do know the answer. Standard velocity .38 spl ammo will work fine in your new revolver. The only dumb question is one not asked. Good luck with your new revolver...Frizz
Thanks you guys. I know the pressures are less for the .38 Special than the .38+P. So, it just mad sense that it was Ok, but I wanted to be sure.
They have had the gun around for some time and it looked like someone had shot it (but it was the demo model), so they sold it to me NEW for $340. I brought it home and it cleaned up nicely. I am going to use it for my main carry gun. It's only 15 oz unloaded and the hammerless option is slick when drawing it from it's holster.
They have had the gun around for some time and it looked like someone had shot it (but it was the demo model), so they sold it to me NEW for $340. I brought it home and it cleaned up nicely. I am going to use it for my main carry gun. It's only 15 oz unloaded and the hammerless option is slick when drawing it from it's holster.
Piraticalbob
Member
.38 Special +P is the maximum cartridge your revolver is rated for. You can, of course, use .38 Special standard pressure cartridges if you prefer; for example, most target wadcutter rounds in .38 Special will be standard velocity.
If you find that .38 Special +P has too much recoil for you to be comfortable shooting from your 642 (Many people, even tough men, find the recoil sharp, to say the least) you can switch to the 125-grain Federal Nyclad .38 Special, which is an effective defense round in standard pressure and is being produced again, according to another thread I read recently here at THR.
If you find that .38 Special +P has too much recoil for you to be comfortable shooting from your 642 (Many people, even tough men, find the recoil sharp, to say the least) you can switch to the 125-grain Federal Nyclad .38 Special, which is an effective defense round in standard pressure and is being produced again, according to another thread I read recently here at THR.
jakk280rem
Member
the only caveat i have to add to the above posts is to not use non jacketed ammo. factory 38 spcl lead loads have a very light crimp so as not to deform the bullet during assembly. the low mass of the gun can cause the bullets to become unseated during recoil, binding the cylinder. stick to jacketed or hardcast bullets with a firm crimp, and enjoy.
Most new guns are dirty because they are fired at the factory. I wish I could order a gun that was test fired with 100 rounds. I think we would have less problems that way. I'm sure they don't have time to do this with every gun but, I would pay a little extra to make sure all the bugs were out.
benderx4
Member
Not a dumb question at all. When it comes to semiautos, there are many out there manufactured in Europe "expecting" to be fired with NATO quality ammo.
When these guns reach the States and are loaded with our "wimpy" ammo, some don't operate correctly because of the reduced pressure.
When these guns reach the States and are loaded with our "wimpy" ammo, some don't operate correctly because of the reduced pressure.
jaydubya
Member
Jakk280rem said: "the only caveat i have to add to the above posts is to not use non jacketed ammo. factory 38 spcl lead loads have a very light crimp so as not to deform the bullet during assembly. the low mass of the gun can cause the bullets to become unseated during recoil, binding the cylinder. stick to jacketed or hardcast bullets with a firm crimp, and enjoy."
That is true of S&W Airlite snubbies, the frames of which contain woofle dust to get them as light as possible yet still hold their shape in a high wind. But the 642 is an Airweight, not an Airlite. I fire almost nothing BUT lead from my 637 Airweight (the 642 clone with the visible hammer), so far about three thousand of them. Every other week I shoot fifty rounds of standard pressure 148gr WCs at the range. Even with that wimpy load, that is all my hand will take. Often I will also fire a load of my HD/SD ammo, Remington +p 158gr LSWCHPs -- the FBI load. Five of those is quite enough for practice, thank you very much indeed.
The only lockups I have had were at first when I forgot to tighten the ejector handle. I don't forget anymore, so I decided to skip the Locktite route.
Cordially, Jack
That is true of S&W Airlite snubbies, the frames of which contain woofle dust to get them as light as possible yet still hold their shape in a high wind. But the 642 is an Airweight, not an Airlite. I fire almost nothing BUT lead from my 637 Airweight (the 642 clone with the visible hammer), so far about three thousand of them. Every other week I shoot fifty rounds of standard pressure 148gr WCs at the range. Even with that wimpy load, that is all my hand will take. Often I will also fire a load of my HD/SD ammo, Remington +p 158gr LSWCHPs -- the FBI load. Five of those is quite enough for practice, thank you very much indeed.
The only lockups I have had were at first when I forgot to tighten the ejector handle. I don't forget anymore, so I decided to skip the Locktite route.
Cordially, Jack
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