chaim
Member
I just bought a S&W 442.
I was looking for one of several things- a new service sized (smallish service sized) .40 or .45 (leaning towards the Ruger KP345), a pocket/mouse gun, a Kahr PM9 or P9 Covert, or a Browning/FN HP.
Well, I've long wanted a lightweight snubby. Then, today I went into this shop to see if they had one of the items I was looking for and here this gun was- it is a new 442 (a little nicer in the "blue" finish than the 642's "stainless") with some really nice non-standard wood grips (a photo is seen in the attachment below). I don't know if they ordered it that way for retail sale or if it was a special order for an employee or customer who changed their mind. At any rate I was thrilled, especially with the price. The 642s have been selling for less than the 442s the past year or two due to S&W's aggressive pricing of the 642s. Still, around here the least I've seen the 642s of late is just over $400. Used I've seen 442s for $400 and sometimes a tad over. This brand new, non-standard, 442 with $60 special order/aftermarket grips (and I prefer wood to rubber on a revolver) was only $400!
I am very happy, and I can't wait to actually get to try it out (MD has a waiting period so I can't get it until late next week).
I think the 15oz 442 should make a very good pocket gun when out of state (when in a state where I can carry). 5 rounds of .38+P JHP (usually 125gr Gold Dots) should be great as a backup, and pretty decent when I have to use this gun alone. May be a bit stout when firing (15 oz is pretty light for +P rounds) but usually I can practice with regular .38spl anyway. Plus, my practice when shooting my DAO Taurus 85CH should be fairly transferable anyway and that is a steel framed revolver making it much easier to handle plenty of practice.
I was looking for one of several things- a new service sized (smallish service sized) .40 or .45 (leaning towards the Ruger KP345), a pocket/mouse gun, a Kahr PM9 or P9 Covert, or a Browning/FN HP.
Well, I've long wanted a lightweight snubby. Then, today I went into this shop to see if they had one of the items I was looking for and here this gun was- it is a new 442 (a little nicer in the "blue" finish than the 642's "stainless") with some really nice non-standard wood grips (a photo is seen in the attachment below). I don't know if they ordered it that way for retail sale or if it was a special order for an employee or customer who changed their mind. At any rate I was thrilled, especially with the price. The 642s have been selling for less than the 442s the past year or two due to S&W's aggressive pricing of the 642s. Still, around here the least I've seen the 642s of late is just over $400. Used I've seen 442s for $400 and sometimes a tad over. This brand new, non-standard, 442 with $60 special order/aftermarket grips (and I prefer wood to rubber on a revolver) was only $400!
I am very happy, and I can't wait to actually get to try it out (MD has a waiting period so I can't get it until late next week).
I think the 15oz 442 should make a very good pocket gun when out of state (when in a state where I can carry). 5 rounds of .38+P JHP (usually 125gr Gold Dots) should be great as a backup, and pretty decent when I have to use this gun alone. May be a bit stout when firing (15 oz is pretty light for +P rounds) but usually I can practice with regular .38spl anyway. Plus, my practice when shooting my DAO Taurus 85CH should be fairly transferable anyway and that is a steel framed revolver making it much easier to handle plenty of practice.