S&W 442 Owners

[bassjam]

If a 640 is already painful for you after 50 rounds, I don't think you'll enjoy a 442 much at all. I can tell you as to myself I could shoot my Ruger sp101 and my current Kimber k6s (both similar to the 640) all day with .38's in them, but my hand starts to notice the recoil in a 442 after about 50 rounds, and the couple times I ran 100 rounds in a session I was absolutely DONE at that point. And Kleanbore's comment about control-ability with rapid fire is spot on, especially when you consider that many of us like to practice with regular .38's, and then carry hotter +p ammo.

I love my 442 but I don't carry it much anymore. It doesn't slide into my pocket quite as nicely as my LCP, and I can get several shots on target faster with the LCP too. Slow and steady the 442 might be more accurate though.

Generally I keep a K6s on my belt though.

 

[Jonesy814]

I recently shot some of the Federal HST, 135gr Plus P, short barrel load in my 442. It was surprisingly mild and hard to believe it was plus P. Follow up shots would be pretty darn quick with those

 

[jstert]

an airweight snubbie needs wadcutter ammo and fuller grips to allow me enough worthwhile practice.

 

[Buckeye63]

I carry Hornady 110gr FTX standard pressure

 

[ThomasT]

I carry Hornady 110gr FTX standard pressure

Yep. Thats why I recommended 110gr loads earlier. They do make a difference. And now that Tx has constitutional carry I carried my 442 for the first time today. I just carried it in my pocket sans holster. It fit good and stayed oriented correctly. And it was light enough I forgot I had it on me. It will be going with me with from now on.

I may cycle the EC9 in there a few times too.

 

[Monster Zero]

Looking at possibly picking up a 442. I have carried a 640 Centennial no dash since 1990. Love the gun but now retired I find pocket carry my favorite method. The 640 can get a bit heavy in the pocket. I would still carry the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P Short Barrel as I have a substantial stock. So my question is, does the loss of 8+ ounces make the revolver uncomfortable to shoot. The 640 gets a bit painful at the end of 50 or so. Is it worth the trim down? View attachment 1022596

In my experience, yes, the airweight revolvers recoil harder as one ages.

Mine has been relegated to the safe now, loaded with wadcutters...

 

[cfullgraf]

Several years ago, I decided to get comfortable shooting double action revolver with reasonable accuracy. At most range trips, I'd take my 642 and shoot a box or so of ammunition through it working on the double action shooting.

I've gotten quite comfortable with reasonable accuracy at shorter ranges of double action shooting after a year or a year and half of practice.

I've seen some folks do some amazing shooting with a 2" S&W j-frame out to 100 yards. But I feel being competent at 20 feet, 10 yards at most would be adequate with a short barrel j-frame for most instances.

You have to be aware of your limitations and thinking you can make reliable hits out to 30-40 yards with a 2" j-frame is asking alot.

 

[RON in PA]

My primary carry gun is my Smith 642 loaded with factory wadcutter ammo, either Winchester or Remington depending on what's available. This combination is comfortable to shoot with my 80 year old hands. Wadcutter bullets are good penetrators and create good wound channels even though muzzle energy is on the low side compared to +P ammo which often does not expand when shot from the short barrels of snubbys. Last night my 642 got some exercise, nice round holes in my targets.

 

[Kleanbore]

....pleasant compared to the .357 version in my 340,

What isn't?

 

[Gordon]

I find the aluminum framed versions to be no more nasty to shoot than the steel J-frames (of which Im already not a fan)- but I will never own another thanks to their propensity for cracking beneath the barrel extension.
View attachment 1022619
View attachment 1022620

Does S&W warranty that !!!!! ?????

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Does S&W warranty that !!!!! ?????

Folks on S&W forums have reported responses all across the spectrum from being sent new guns to being told "Sorry, cant help you."

Apparently they look at each case individually- if there is an actual written policy for determining who gets assisstance and who doesn't, S&W isnt revealing it.

 

[Gordon]

So you didn't have one bust ?
I have a nice one without Hillary hole that I have worn the finish quite a bit. The nickle plating rubbed off the aluminum . It shoots fine, I shot quite a few wadcutter to get to know it 15+ years ago, not keep it loaded with those 135 grain HST Federal short barrel loads , the few Ive shot hi to about the same place as the wadcutters and seem not that blasty .

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

So you didn't have one bust ?
I have a nice one without Hillary hole that I have worn the finish quite a bit. The nickle plating rubbed off the aluminum . It shoots fine, I shot quite a few wadcutter to get to know it 15+ years ago, not keep it loaded with those 135 grain HST Federal short barrel loads , the few Ive shot hi to about the same place as the wadcutters and seem not that blasty .

I bought an older, immaculate-looking 3" a few years ago, before I knew Airweight frame cracking was a thing. Got home, did some internet researh, flipped it over and sure enough, it was cracked. Apparently the longer barrelled examples are more susceptible. Took it back to the LGS the next day and the fella gave me my money back without any drama.

My buddy has a very worn example he was given for fixing a friends airboat. He shows me the gun, we open it up and, yup, cracked- though not as bad as mine was. He keeps it in his tackle box and has put probably a hundred rounds through it. Hasnt gotten any worse, yet.

 

[Jonesy814]

Several years ago, I decided to get comfortable shooting double action revolver with reasonable accuracy. At most range trips, I'd take my 642 and shoot a box or so of ammunition through it working on the double action shooting.

I've gotten quite comfortable with reasonable accuracy at shorter ranges of double action shooting after a year or a year and half of practice.

I've seen some folks do some amazing shooting with a 2" S&W j-frame out to 100 yards. But I feel being competent at 20 feet, 10 yards at most would be adequate with a short barrel j-frame for most instances.

You have to be aware of your limitations and thinking you can make reliable hits out to 30-40 yards with a 2" j-frame is asking alot.

I shoot mine out to 30 yards at a 9" X 11" steel plate. Can usually hit 4 out of 5

 

[jstert]

And now that Tx has constitutional carry I carried my 442 for the first time today. I just carried it in my pocket sans holster. It fit good and stayed oriented correctly. And it was light enough I forgot I had it on me. It will be going with me with from now on.

i only occasionally pocket carry my s&w 642 but always in a pocket holster, because it comes out faster and easier if holstered. you don’t need anything fancy, i got my pocket holster from the $5 bargain barrel.

 

[Gordon]

My 442 on top and my beautiful model 36 on bottom . Almost 1/2 a pound difference make a huge difference ! Yes the model 36 was a bunny buster for me on the trail using single action . The 442 can't do that but it can handle +p defense ammo I wouldn't put in the old 36 !