S&W 642 and 342 is the recoil as bad as everyone says it is?

[megatronrules]

Was looking at one today, a 642 and a 342. The 342 was so light it was nuts! Now the first thing I heard was it would rip my hand off when I fire it. Not a pleasant thought. How bad can it be? The guns in question are in .38special not .357mag.

I like the 642, it seems just light enough to be an always gun, but not too light to shoot without pain. Or so they say. Whats the deal on these snubs?

 

[Rover]

S&W 642 and 342 is the recoil as bad as everyone says it is?

Worst!

Unless you like recoil, stay away from the 342.
I would recommend the 642 everyday of the week and twice on Sunday over the 342.
Just my opinion.

Regards

 

[M1911]

Different folks have different experiences. I've got a 642. I shoot 158 gr +P and 125 gr. For me, it hurts. My trigger finger gets whacked by the trigger guard. The impact on my palm isn't too bad. I've never put more than about 25 rounds through it in one range visit. No way I would go any lighter than the 642. YMMV.

 

[MikeJ]

I agree with the other posters. The 642 is as light as I want or need to go. I have a model 37, same weight as a 642, and it has plenty of recoil. I also don't like the restrictions on ammo selection with the 342.

 

[Greg G]

342 PD

My favorite carry pistol in a Kramer pocket holster in the left breast pocket of my suit coat. Recoil? Hell Yes! When I practice with it I put a bandaid around the crotch of my thumb and index finger to keep the top of the left side rubber grip from rubbing a blister. If I ever have to use it I won't worry about the blister.

 

[ACP]

I've had a 642 for several years, carry it daily, practice with +p rounds, and don't notice the recoil. I'm 5'9", 170 lbs. Then again, I exercise every other day. YMMV.

 

[longeyes]

I have a 442. The consensus here is you don't want to go lower than Airweight (15 oz.). I agree. Personally I don't enjoy shooting this revolver with any "hot" ammo; I prefer it with standard pressure fare.

 

[Greybeard]

Bigger grips (that cover backstrap) do make 'em a little more bulky but can greatly tame the pain.

Carried a 342 for about 2 years. An excellent piece for me before going to 340. Shot the 342 a LOT with 130g FMJs without major pain. YMMV.

 

[FJC]

I have a 340PD. I've found that I can shoot standard .38's in it all day long with no problem. +P .38's are very shootable/controllable, but after around 30 rounds they do make my hand sore. I don't view this as a pistol to shoot just for fun/plinking, though, so usually just put a cylinder or two of ammo through it at any given range session, just to make sure it's functioning and that I'm hitting what I'm aiming at.

.357's are shootable, but downright painful. I also found that followup shots were slow for me.

As a result, I carry +P .38's in mine. I'm told that Pro-Load makes some "tactical light" .357 Magnums that are very good with these pistols, but I haven't tried any as of yet.

 

[BigG]

They are shootable but should be made in DA only. The hammer spur models lure folks into cocking them and then you only have about one finger's grasp on the grip. Recoil drives the trigger guard into the ring finger. In DA shooting you get about 2 1/2 fingers holding the little beast (incl your trigger pull) and it works out just fine. YMMV

 

[Serpico]

I like the 442/642....light enough and it still feels like I am holding a gun when I draw it.....

 

[ChristopherG]

FJC has it just right. The Airlites are great guns, and if you're going to carry it in your pocket, 3 oz. will make a difference. Perhaps not a big difference, but some. The Airweights are surely great guns; but so are the Airlites.

I like to shoot mine. I use 38+p regularly and suffer no ill effects from shooting a boxful--though I couldn't say this the first few times. It's like anything else; you learn how to do it.

The terrors you've read about amount to scaremongering, where the .38 is concerned. In an Airlite, .357 hurts; but that's not an issue with the 342. If you get it, and stick with it through a couple of bandaids, and don't imagine that it's the gun you'll want to spend two hours shooting every week at the range, you won't be disappointed.

cg

 

[FunYet]

I replaced the stock grips on my 642 with Hogue Bantam grips. The provide a bit more cushion from recoil. I also learned to grip the gun high on the backstrap so it does not flop around, and add to the feeling of "kick". When I first got the gun I seemed to struggle more with shooting DA only than recoil.

 

[M1911]

I'm 5'9", 170 lbs. Then again, I exercise every other day.

I'm 5' 9", 160 lbs. I exercise a couple times a week. So? It still hurts when the trigger guard smacks my trigger finger.

 

[mikey357]

...I have NO experience with the "AirLITE Ti's" in anything bigger than .32 H&R Mag...after my experiences with the "AirWEIGHTS"in .38 Special...a couple of 442's and 642's...I do NOT want to shoot an "Airlite Ti" in .38 or .357!!!
My "Always" gun is a 442...and Mrs. 3-5-7's "Always" is a 642 "LS"...they are both loaded with .38 Special "Plus-P" 158-gr. lead SWC hollowpoints...which are, at least to ME, kinda' UNPLEASANT...not a lot of fun to shoot...but they ARE manageable, WITH a FIRM hold on the gun and concentration on what you're doing...both our "Airweights" are fun to shoot with 148-gr. target wadcutters, just "OK" with 158-gr. standard-velocity ball, but border on UNPLEASANT...nearly ABUSIVE...with the "Plus-P" carry loads...truly, a "Carry a lot, shoot a little" combination...FWIW....mikey357

 

[ACP]

M1911 -- my trigger finger weighs 75 lbs. Seriously, I guess my implication was I'm tough or something, which isn't the case. I guess I just don't notice it. I've got short, fat little fingers. I also tend to practice on Speedwell realistic (i.e., human with a gun)
targets at close and medium range, drawing from the pocket and point firing until the gun is empty. It happens so fast, I stress myself before drawing (jumping jacks, running in place, picking up brass and suddenly looking up to "discover" the target threatening me, etc.) that I really don't notice the recoil or any effects on my trigger finger. I've never noticed any cuts or swelling.

Now, my old Walther PPK/S, that's another story...

 

[M1911]

I've got short, fat little fingers.

Mine are relatively long and thin. That might have something to do with my trigger finger getting whacked by the trigger guard.