My new smith 642

[Bookworm]

Hello there,

I just bought a new 642 a couple days ago and was wondering if anyone had any advice concerning an issue I'm having with it.

When I'm starting to squeeze the trigger, before the break, the barrel lifts up slightly, spoiling my sight picture. It has a very heavy trigger - the heaviest in any firearm I've owned or fired.

I'm using a strong grip (off hand around firing hand) btw.

Thanks..

 

[WC145]

Practice a lot, with lots of dry firing. The trigger will get smoother and a bit lighter over time and you will become conditioned to the weight of the pull. Or you could have a gunsmith do an action job on it that will smooth and lighten the trigger substantially.

Also, try gripping the gun higher or lower to see if that makes it better or worse.
Sometimes different grips will help too.

 

[shockwave]

When I'm starting to squeeze the trigger, before the break, the barrel lifts up slightly

This problem can be solved through training. The high-tech solution is to get a barrel laser cartridge and practice on a target. The old-school route is to work on your breathing and trigger pull. One method that works for me (with revolver) is to be slowly exhaling as the barrel lowers and the sights come into alignment just at the moment of break.

 

[Guillermo]

sounds like you have two things going on. The first is a tight, not lubed gun. QC at Smith is non existent and the inside of your gun might be very dry with debris in it. If you are willing to take the sideplate off, clean it out with compressed air and lube it up really good. If that doesn't do it, time for a trigger job.

The second thing is that the 642 has disadvantages but one of the main advantages is the ability to grip it higher. No hammer coming back allows you grip very close to the axis of the gun. Jerry Miculek, revolver champion and world class nice guy put these lessons on the web. They are outstanding and can help you control the gun even with the Godzilla trigger.

http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/JERRY_MICULEK/jerry_miculek.html

Best of luck

 

[cpallenjr]

Heavy Trigger

I ended up buying a Ruger LCR but in my research I came accross the Wilson Combat Custom-Tune Spring Kit for S&W J-Frame:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=848526

Also read recommendations to get some snap-caps and dry fire it 1000 times to lap in the trigger mating parts.

Good Luck, it's a beautiful piece!

Courtney in Seattle

 

[OldCavSoldier]

S&W does an action tuning for about $90. My 642 has been tuned and is soooooooo sweet, I gain five pounds every time I take it to the range!

 

[Bookworm]

Ha Ha We got to watch our waistlines..

Thanks for the posts guys, the spring does seem to be lightening up a bit with a good cleaning and lots of dry firing. The front sight still lifts slightly, but practice is starting to let me nose it down before the trigger breaks. A friend is eager to fire it too this weekend, so we'll shoot another couple boxes out of it and see.

For less than ten bucks for a spring set, it's prob worthwhile to order one. Thanks for the link, Cpallenjr.