Lightweight Small Revolver Club
- Thread starter xy17
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Skidooman wrote:
"i carry the 642 on a daily basis in a SOB holster, love it, i debated whether to get the hammerless or not, but i played around with the triggers on some, and didnt like them, decided on the hammered. In all my practicing ive never caught the hammer on anything. with the 642 in single action i can shoot some impressive groups (for how i shoot anyways)
just some thoughts."
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I own a 642 and it is my 'always carry' gun.
But you lost me in your post because I'm not aware that S&W ever made a 642 with a (external) hammer. And there is no 'single action' mode on a 642!
Could it be you are remembering the model number wrong? Do you actually have a 637?
Ron
"i carry the 642 on a daily basis in a SOB holster, love it, i debated whether to get the hammerless or not, but i played around with the triggers on some, and didnt like them, decided on the hammered. In all my practicing ive never caught the hammer on anything. with the 642 in single action i can shoot some impressive groups (for how i shoot anyways)
just some thoughts."
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I own a 642 and it is my 'always carry' gun.
But you lost me in your post because I'm not aware that S&W ever made a 642 with a (external) hammer. And there is no 'single action' mode on a 642!
Could it be you are remembering the model number wrong? Do you actually have a 637?
Ron
Taurus 731 in .32 H&R Magnum. Ti is 13oz and extemely comfortable to shoot with having 6 round capacity and a muzzle energy of around 230 fp. (slightly higher than a standard 158 grn .38 Spl loading)
Carries great in a Desantis front pocket holster.
Carries great in a Desantis front pocket holster.
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Xy17
The 642 with +P is a pocket full of power in a lightweight gun. Becoming competent with this combination is no easy task. The gun is up to it, but I'm guessing not every person is. When I practice with regular-pressure .38s, my 642 rips a piece of flesh off the base of my thumb. .38 +P in the form of Golden Sabers, Gold Dots, or FBI load beats me up even quicker.
I'm not a fan of installing larger grips, which I know will make the gun more comfortable to shoot, because they will make easy pocket carry impossible. The 642 in a pocket is a study in compromise, and the caliber exceeds what most should expect from an easily pocketable gun.
As to the difference between .357 mag and .38, it depends on the load. The Gold Dot Short Barrel, which I prefer, shows very little difference in performance between the .38 and the .357. Since the .38 is very noticeably easier to shoot, I think it's the better choice.
As for normal .357 cartridges, they beat the living hell out of any .38 in terms of power, no matter what barrel they fly out of.
But you still need to control your gun and get hits. If a person wants to carry a .357, the smallest gun I could recommend is a steel J-frame with huge grips or an SP-101 with stock grips. Even then, you're a stud if you can get consistent hits one-handed.
What I'm saying, I guess, is that a 642 with +P is a very challenging gun to master. An even lighter gun, shooting ammo with twice the power, is insane.
The 642 with +P is a pocket full of power in a lightweight gun. Becoming competent with this combination is no easy task. The gun is up to it, but I'm guessing not every person is. When I practice with regular-pressure .38s, my 642 rips a piece of flesh off the base of my thumb. .38 +P in the form of Golden Sabers, Gold Dots, or FBI load beats me up even quicker.
I'm not a fan of installing larger grips, which I know will make the gun more comfortable to shoot, because they will make easy pocket carry impossible. The 642 in a pocket is a study in compromise, and the caliber exceeds what most should expect from an easily pocketable gun.
As to the difference between .357 mag and .38, it depends on the load. The Gold Dot Short Barrel, which I prefer, shows very little difference in performance between the .38 and the .357. Since the .38 is very noticeably easier to shoot, I think it's the better choice.
As for normal .357 cartridges, they beat the living hell out of any .38 in terms of power, no matter what barrel they fly out of.
But you still need to control your gun and get hits. If a person wants to carry a .357, the smallest gun I could recommend is a steel J-frame with huge grips or an SP-101 with stock grips. Even then, you're a stud if you can get consistent hits one-handed.
What I'm saying, I guess, is that a 642 with +P is a very challenging gun to master. An even lighter gun, shooting ammo with twice the power, is insane.
I have owned dozens of handguns over the years including a number of .38's and .357 mag. guns. I wanted a light gun for pocket carry. The simple fact is that the more energy the cartridge produces the more recoil .
In a somewhat ultralite gun, this means something less pleasant to shoot with .38 Spl + p or .357 magnum loadings, and I wanted to try this new .32 magnum cartridge for that reason, and out of pure curiousity. I am very pleased with my choice.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Like I said above, I carry Speer Gold Dot 135 gr Short Barrel ammo.
For practice I usually fire Remingtom UMC 130 gr .38 Sp FMJ and Remington UMC 125 gr .38 Sp +P JHP. I usually buy Remington UMC ammo because of the price. I buy the Value Pack which is 250 rounds in five 50 round trays all in 1 box. The price is better that way. I usually fire 50 rounds of the standard .38 and then 20 to 40 rounds of the +P stuff. The last 5 rounds I fire are the Speer ammo I had loaded in the revolver. That's to make sure the the last rounds I fired will be the same ammo I will be firing if I have to fire my weapon in SD. (God forbid) If you are going to fire off your carry ammo don't forget to bring a reload for on the way home. Never leave the range without ammo in your carry piece. I usually have a full gun and 2 reloads when leaving the range, you should probably do the same. If there are people at the range I don't know or who look "funny" I won't even practice with my CCW, it stays concealed. On those rare days I shoot everything else I have with me except for my CCW.
gunmn74
Member
xy17 response
I was also looking at a Beretta .32 tomcat, size looked great but not
enough gun for me to feel comfortable with.
I was also looking at a NAA .32 or 380 guardian. I still may buy on of these.
I was also looking at a Beretta .32 tomcat, size looked great but not
enough gun for me to feel comfortable with.
I was also looking at a NAA .32 or 380 guardian. I still may buy on of these.
michael_aos
Member
I've narrowed my wish-list down to 3.
M&P 340:
Model 642:
Model 640:
M&P 340:
Model 642:
Model 640:
norfdet893
Member
mine is a toss up between my (pre lock) 638 with CT LG-405 grips any my 637 with wood grips and Tyler-T. Sometimes I carry both of them, my 638 in a pocket holster and my 637 in an ankle holster.
Hi Ichiro
Thank you for all of your comments.
I do like a realistic, intelligent analysis when I'm researching a product.
There are many people here, on The High Road, that give thoughtful insight to the questions posed.
I don't believe that Consumer's Report tests guns or ammo. It would be helpful if they did.
I've been thinking lately that the key to handgun stopping is accuracy and should be placed on top of the list in choosing a pocket gun. A hot load isn't as important as shot placement. You have got to able to hit with it under stress.
Your comments about becoming competent with a 642 loaded with +P ammo rings true. It must be daunting.
I agree with you that you still need to control your gun and get hits.
Is the 642 so powerful that one cannot provide quick follow up shots, no more than a half a second between shots, a third of a second would be even better, and hit an eight inch square?
I've read that there is a 90% or more degradation of skills achieved through training and practice, during an actual encounter. That includes law enforcement officers.
So I would say a well-trained person, in their first shootout, would be doing well to get one hit out of five shots at 10 feet, anywhere on his opponent's body.
So what would be the best gun to have during an encounter, with the reality of stress effecting your mind, body and nervous system?
You've been practicing hard with your 642. Are you satisfied that it will serve you well if you really need it for critical shot placement or do you think that something less powerful like a .32 Magnum might be a better choice for easier control and marksmanship?
XY17
Thank you for all of your comments.
I do like a realistic, intelligent analysis when I'm researching a product.
There are many people here, on The High Road, that give thoughtful insight to the questions posed.
I don't believe that Consumer's Report tests guns or ammo. It would be helpful if they did.
I've been thinking lately that the key to handgun stopping is accuracy and should be placed on top of the list in choosing a pocket gun. A hot load isn't as important as shot placement. You have got to able to hit with it under stress.
Your comments about becoming competent with a 642 loaded with +P ammo rings true. It must be daunting.
I agree with you that you still need to control your gun and get hits.
Is the 642 so powerful that one cannot provide quick follow up shots, no more than a half a second between shots, a third of a second would be even better, and hit an eight inch square?
I've read that there is a 90% or more degradation of skills achieved through training and practice, during an actual encounter. That includes law enforcement officers.
So I would say a well-trained person, in their first shootout, would be doing well to get one hit out of five shots at 10 feet, anywhere on his opponent's body.
So what would be the best gun to have during an encounter, with the reality of stress effecting your mind, body and nervous system?
You've been practicing hard with your 642. Are you satisfied that it will serve you well if you really need it for critical shot placement or do you think that something less powerful like a .32 Magnum might be a better choice for easier control and marksmanship?
XY17
XY, this is an interesting thread.
Well, it depends on the shooter and the ammo (for speed of follow-ups), and the distance (for hitting the eight-inch square). Personally, I have no problem with quick follow-up shots using my 642 and +P ammo. It just hurts! And that limits my practice time considerably. By way of comparison, I can comfortably empty cylinder after cylinder of +P from my SP-101 until I get bored with it.
My opinion? A double-action revolver. More precisely, the double-action revolver you have with you at the time. I think any J-frame is a good choice if you carry it everywhere.
"Marksmanship" is too classy a word to describe the nightmare I hope to live through with the help of my 642. Like just about every other citizen who has had to shoot someone to save his or her life, I expect I will point my gun at the assailant rather than using the sights, and pull the trigger until the threat stops or my gun runs out of ammo. I also expect that, if it ever happens, it will be in the dark, within a few feet, and in a real big hurry.
I would say that if a 642 with +P is hard to hold onto when you shoot, then a .32 mag might be the better choice. You could also try non +P ammo in a 642, with lighter bullets, like the 110-grain Hydrashok. But if you're going to do that, you may as well go with a .32 mag and get the extra round.
I chose the 642 because the .38 round is available and fairly cheap, and because the better +P rounds are considered very good stoppers. The 642 also shares speedloaders with my SP-101, and I like to simplify things where I can. I also started reloading .38 recently. Eventually, I will work up a load that will allow me to practice more with my 642.
Well, it depends on the shooter and the ammo (for speed of follow-ups), and the distance (for hitting the eight-inch square). Personally, I have no problem with quick follow-up shots using my 642 and +P ammo. It just hurts! And that limits my practice time considerably. By way of comparison, I can comfortably empty cylinder after cylinder of +P from my SP-101 until I get bored with it.
My opinion? A double-action revolver. More precisely, the double-action revolver you have with you at the time. I think any J-frame is a good choice if you carry it everywhere.
"Marksmanship" is too classy a word to describe the nightmare I hope to live through with the help of my 642. Like just about every other citizen who has had to shoot someone to save his or her life, I expect I will point my gun at the assailant rather than using the sights, and pull the trigger until the threat stops or my gun runs out of ammo. I also expect that, if it ever happens, it will be in the dark, within a few feet, and in a real big hurry.
I would say that if a 642 with +P is hard to hold onto when you shoot, then a .32 mag might be the better choice. You could also try non +P ammo in a 642, with lighter bullets, like the 110-grain Hydrashok. But if you're going to do that, you may as well go with a .32 mag and get the extra round.
I chose the 642 because the .38 round is available and fairly cheap, and because the better +P rounds are considered very good stoppers. The 642 also shares speedloaders with my SP-101, and I like to simplify things where I can. I also started reloading .38 recently. Eventually, I will work up a load that will allow me to practice more with my 642.
Steven1281
Member
S&W 637 Airweight here. Showing lots of "character" and scuff marks from a few years of carry, but still functioning just fine. Not a target shooter or beauty queen by any means, but you just can't beat these lightweight models for a carry choice IMO. - Steven
Smith & Wesson Model 37-2. Part of a fairly recent run of retro 37s with bobbed hammer. Built on the old frame, it is no more than marginal for much (if any) plus P usage, but it is a little beauty, well-made, no lock or MIM, and very light. There are a number of adequate, if not ideal, loads, including Federal 110 Hydrashok, Winchester 110 Silvertips, Magtech 158 SJHP, plain old 158 SWCs, various Hornady loads, my stash of standard Nyclads, a non plus P Speer load that can be found, etc. I would use plus P if necessary but not as a standard diet. It's academic for me since we don't have CC here but I do like snubbies anyway and it makes a nice little lightweight gun here on my property. I think any of the above loads are superior to a .380 from a short barrel, IMO.
Piedmont Plinker
Member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2006
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What is that M242? Is it out of production? What is its capacity?
GunNut
Member
I believe it is a 7-shot .38special and yes it is out of production.
MCgunner
Member
Don't need no stinkin' Smith and Wesson.
158 grain +P. So it kicks a little. I ain't no girl.
Seven shot .38 Special +P Airlite, on the aluminum alloy L-frame with a titanium cylinder. Sister to the 296 (5-shot .44 special). It only weighs 18 oz. Carries really nicely in a vest pocket.
And yes, it is an orphan. They were introduced in 1999 and disappeared from Gun Digest by the 2003 Edition.
Rick
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