Revolver Dilemma

[JCallaway82]

Oh no! I am conflicted now.

Yesterday I attended a gun show here in Houston and finally got a chance to hold the M642 or 642 )not sure of the difference and LCR at the same time. Now I am stuck...

I have a deposit down on an LCR, but now I am wavering. From pictures online I was never interested in the M642 because of that huge ugly hump on the back....

But after holding it, it was noticeably lighter then the Ruger of course and it just felt good in hand.


I didn't get a change to dry-fire the 642s, I know the LCR has a nice trigger pull. But it also comes down to cost..

The M642 at Bud's is like $361 while the LCR is $434 (357 version) and $398 (.38).

Any insights?

.........
LCR - M642

 

[JCallaway82]

I only wish it looked like this...


I cut that ugly hump off in MSpaint, I think it looks 10000X better. And less protrusive.

 

[hardluk1]

I am not sure about these plastic metal revolvers. To many really good and lite all metal revolvers out there. I would get the 15oz 642 my self and I an not a s&w fan.

 

[JCallaway82]

I am not sure about these plastic metal revolvers. To many really good and lite all metal revolvers out there. I would get the 15oz 642 my self and I an not a s&w fan.

That's how I feel about it myself. I can't see why a gun that is half-polymer costs more than a solid metal gun....

 

[Sassi]

I had the same issues as are mentioned here. I bought a S&W 642 and have never looked back. I like the feel and look of the 642 over that of the LCR. I think that I made the right decision....at least for me.

 

[JCallaway82]

I had the same issues as are mentioned here. I bought a S&W 642 and have never looked back. I like the feel and look of the 642 over that of the LCR. I think that I made the right decision....at least for me.

Yeah. And funny enough you always hear about how light and compact the LCR is, but the 642 is pretty much the same size, and definitely lighter. Maybe a little uglier, but you can find them for $350.....


I think my choice is nearly made.

Thanks for your input.

 

[dbro822]

642, it been there and done that, not knocking Ruger they have a fine company, but the plastic/metal revolver is still new.

 

[PabloJ]

Soviets made full-size polymer framed .357mag revolver with flat-sided fluted barrel years ago. The single action Bisley framed Ruger is very hard to beat but when it comes to DA revolvers I would take S&W over anything equivalent Ruger has ever made.

 

[jon86]

Have you looked at the smith and wesson 638?
The 638 has a shrouded hammer. So unlike the 642, you can still shoot it in single action if you want. If it were ME... I'd REALLY strongly consider the LCR 357. I like the ability to shoot 357s. But the 638 is lighter than the LCR 357. Decisions, decisions. Let us know what you end up with.

 

[RMc]

Oh no! I am conflicted now.

Yesterday I attended a gun show here in Houston and finally got a chance to hold the M642 or 642 )not sure of the difference and LCR at the same time. Now I am stuck...

I have a deposit down on an LCR, but now I am wavering. From pictures online I was never interested in the M642 because of that huge ugly hump on the back....

But after holding it, it was noticeably lighter then the Ruger of course and it just felt good in hand.


I didn't get a change to dry-fire the 642s, I know the LCR has a nice trigger pull. But it also comes down to cost..

The M642 at Bud's is like $361 while the LCR is $434 (357 version) and $398 (.38).

Any insights?

.........
LCR - M642

The "hump" as you call it on the 642 makes the lightweight revolver eminently more controllable. The hand can ride higher on the grip thus lowering the line of sight and reducing recoil leverage.

 

[sixgunner455]

The 642 is a fantastic gun, and a great deal. And looks MUCH better than that sorry crossbred 638. Talk about an unsightly hump!

 

[whalerman]

I've had a 642 for a while. Carried it for a while. Its a great gun. I'm not putting down the Ruger at all. But the Smith is a great gun. As far as the "hump" that bothers you so much. Turn off the lights. You'll learn to love the hump. As RMc says, in the dark you will love how much more handleable it is.

 

[oldbear]

Ruger makes great guns that are tank tough, but I've been an S&W guy 40 + years. I gotta vote for the Smith.

Know that whatever your choice is you will be getting a great revolver. Enjoy whatever one you pick.

 

[ms6852]

I own the airweight smith and wesson 642. It is not fun to shoot, recoil is very noticeable compared to a regular weighted gun and accuracy will suffer if you do not practice alot.

 

[OldCavSoldier]

My family got me a M642 two Christmases ago and it became my primary concealed carry gun (not truck gun) that day. I've put maybe 500 rounds of my carry load .38SPL (Win 125 gr JHP) through it for practice. It shoots fine and is easy to control, at least for me. Also, considering that I carry it 99.9% of the time and shoot it .1% of the time, the size and relatively light weight of the M642 suit me very well. S&W honed the action and my five-round 25 yard "rapid fire" groups fit on my 6-inch paper plate target, so, I guess the performance suits me, as well. That is me, though. Lots of others with lots of other experience and opinions.

 

[JCallaway82]

Really good advice from you all. Some hilarious comments as well..about my hump preferences...

M642 it is. I just called my guy and had him put a hold on a M642 instead and transfer my deposit over to the new gun. Since it is about $100 cheaper than the LCR i wanted, I'm sure I'll get it much faster (layaway is the only way I can get guns right now unfortunately) I'll have it by months end though I hope)

Thanks Again!

 

[joepa150]

I believe that the LCR 38spl version is lighter than the 642 but the 357 LCR is about 2 ounces heavier.

 

[sixgunner455]

Great choice, JCallaway.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

JCallaway82,
I think you will like the M642 a lot, I know I do. Now to throw you another curve. Are you really set on a Silver revolver or do you like Blue/Black better? The S&W M442 is the same gun as the M642 but in a Black finish. I have both but I usually carry the M442 with Rosewood Badger Custom grips.

 

[bannockburn]

JCallaway82

Great choice and I think you will be very happy with the Model 642. When I first started shooting revolvers, a snubnose .38 was at the top of my list. Back then we really didn't have a lot of choices (Colt and S&W being the most sought after), and they weren't easy to come by. It seemed like everyone wanted the Model 60 because of its stainless steel construction. But I found that the guns with the "hump" were easier to control; the recoil felt like it came staight back with less muzzle rise than a non-shrouded version. There were the Models 38 and 49 which still allowed a SA mode, and the Models 40 and 42 which were DAO. The last two were very hard to come by, but the Models 38 and 49 were available and I had several of them over the years before finally settling on a Model 649.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Good choice, try and demo a pair of Crimson Trace grips.

 

[Lucky Derby]

FWIW the 642 and M642 are one in the same. The M stands for Model. Sometimes people add it to the model number and sometimes not.

 

[JCallaway82]

Great choice, JCallaway.

Thank you sir. The support here for S&W was the deciding factor, and I've never owned one. It's time.

JCallaway82,
I think you will like the M642 a lot, I know I do. Now to throw you another curve. Are you really set on a Silver revolver or do you like Blue/Black better? The S&W M442 is the same gun as the M642 but in a Black finish. I have both but I usually carry the M442 with Rosewood Badger Custom grips.

Ha. I was afraid someone would say this. I like both..and the variety of grips available for the 642 really helped. I like the idea I can dress her up for various occasions. A grown man sometimes feels compelled to accessorize his gun.... Nothing wrong with that...haha.

JCallaway82

Great choice and I think you will be very happy with the Model 642. When I first started shooting revolvers, a snubnose .38 was at the top of my list. Back then we really didn't have a lot of choices (Colt and S&W being the most sought after), and they weren't easy to come by. It seemed like everyone wanted the Model 60 because of its stainless steel construction. But I found that the guns with the "hump" were easier to control; the recoil felt like it came staight back with less muzzle rise than a non-shrouded version. There were the Models 38 and 49 which still allowed a SA mode, and the Models 40 and 42 which were DAO. The last two were very hard to come by, but the Models 38 and 49 were available and I had several of them over the years before finally settling on a Model 649.

Good to hear the hump has a real purpose, and it's "ugliness" kinda grows on you. Then later own, I hope to get a nice stampede like you have.

Good choice, try and demo a pair of Crimson Trace grips.

Those look nice. I like how they ride higher up that "hump". These are going on the wishlist along with 3 pairs of grips from this website.....

(Some rosewoods, some black and silver...and the nice big fat rubber hogue grips.)

http://www.grips4guns.com/revolver/smithwesson/jround.html

ohman, what have I gotten myself in to.

FWIW the 642 and M642 are one in the same. The M stands for Model. Sometimes people add it to the model number and sometimes not.

Thanks for that, it was getting a bit confusing..with the 642..m642....632-1..642-2...all this and that... All I know, the one I have on hold says M642 (no lock) lol. That's good enough I guess.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

As rMc mentioned, ride up on the hump, biggest advantage is it allows the line of bore to set lower in relation to your wrist, faster follow up shots, more natural pointability. I just got a airweight 638 ( with the hammer shroud) using standard win 38 158 grain, shooting single action my brother and I were ringing the 8" gong about 2 out of 5 times, at a NS 100yds! I used to be a Smith snob, I thought they hadn't made a good revolver, since they quit pinning the barrels. but my 6os vintage mod 36, or 70s vintage mod 10 snub wont do that, + its rated +P! Extremely pleased with this little gat

JCallaway you didn't used to live in Fountain Colo did you?

 

[JCallaway82]

I finally got me M642 in, I love it. I thank you guys for all your great recommendations, you did not steer me wrong.

But boy with the +p, It's got a little snap to it, but I like it. It lets you know it's there, haha.

And the darn thing fits right in my pocket. CZF from the boards here recommended High Noon Holsters and I just put my order in for one of their Bare Asset holsters. Looks like a steal at $26.95.

http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/Bare_Asset/bare_asset.html

I'm also putting in an order for this lovely holster from Hank's, just for the days that I want to look fancy.

http://hanksgunleather.com/sw.html


I'll get some pics up once I can get a decent group worth showing. hahah!

Thanks again.


@RugerMcMarlin. No sir, I did not, but I did date a girl named Teresa Fountain once. So it is somewhat similar! lol Cheers!