S & W...642 vs. 442 ?

[anheiserglock]

Bbeing a revolver nubbie I feel quite comfortable in asking...Whats the difference bewteen the 642 and 442? From the S&W website I gather its a steel vs. aluminum thing, am I somewhat correct? Do any of the members have both? Would you recomend one over the other and why? It will be primarliy for HD / Night Stand use.

 

[philvis]

One (442) is blued, the other (642) stainless. Other than that, no difference so long as the dash number is the same. The 442 is my choice of gun to carry just because I got it at a good price used. Either will serve you well so long as you use good SD ammo and practice.

 

[anheiserglock]

Thanks philvis ..that was easy. I'm likin the stainless one myself.

 

[JellyJar]

Both are aluminium framed with steel barrels and cylinders. The only real difference is the finish.

 

[jhvaughan2]

one note: the x42s are not all steel. The cylinder and barrel are blue/stainless the frame is alloy.

The 40 and 640 are all steel but they differ; the 40 has a grip safety, and the 640 is 357 (since the 90's)

 

[OldCavSoldier]

S&w m642

I got an S&W M642 with Performance Center Honed Acton the day after Christmas. Went to the range the following weekend and put a box of .38SPL 125 grain rounds through it. WOW! Is it ever nice! On the not so nice side, it was a little uncomfortable to shoot after about 25 or 30 shots, so, I'm gonna shorten one of the S&W combat grips that came with my Model 60 and put them on the 642. It may be only a tad larger to conceal, but, the additional grip area and grip material "aft" of the back strap should make it a better fit for my hands.

Model 442 or 642.....either one is an excellent choice for concealed carry!

 

[aHFo3]

this may help.
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=412666
I ended up going with the 442.
The black coating wears off the corners pretty quickly, but I carry it daily in a pocket holster. At first I was a little put off by it, but now I think it looks kind of cool. I guess it is because it is honest wear, although I'd be curious to see what a real blued revolver would look like after the same amount of wear.

 

[David E]

I like the backstrap to remain open. This allows a higher grip in the gun, which helps control muzzle flip in rapid fire. The grips shown come up the sides of the frame to give more surface area to dissipate recoil better.

 

[rdrancher]

David...Do you have a photo of those stags from the side?

To the OP - You stated that you're going to use this for HD / nightstand duty. I think you would be better served with a longer barrel /sight radius and a larger frame. Just my .02


rd

 

[Iggy]

I agree with rdrancher, if this is to be used primarily for a HD/nightstand gun, you would probably be better served with a K frame sized 4" bbl gun.

 

[philvis]

I agree with above two posts, as well. My HD/Night Stand gun is a 4" Model 64...she's a peach to shoot and accurate as beats all! Somewhat less expensive to pick up used...they are everywhere!

 

[harmon rabb]

why on earth would you get a 442 or 642 for HD use? short barrel kills velocity and adds muzzle flash, crappy sights, heavy DA only trigger, 5 shot capacity.

if you want a smith revolver for HD duty, why not a .357 686+? better trigger, sights, capacity, and range of ammo you can use.

 

[anheiserglock]

if you want a smith revolver for HD duty, why not a .357 686+? better trigger, sights, capacity, and range of ammo you can use.

From what i'm reading here on THR, i get the feeling there's more available choices with the .38 spl and .38+P round in so far as variety from manufacturers and availability at the local "BOX" stores.

 

[MK11]

You can load the 686 with .38s. Or find a dedicated .38 that's more shootable, like a Model 10/64, Model 15 (in 4 or 2 inc lengths), etc.

J frames serve a purpose but just like a 2-inch Model 15 doesn't really cut it for pocket carry, it doesn't really shine as a nightstand gun.

 

[rWt]

And, spend the money on Crimson Trace grips.

Really helps you hit what you want to even with a less than desirable sight radius and in low light conditions where clearly seeing the sights can be an issue.

If you go with those grips, you could also go with a 3" barrel in a S&W model 13 or 65.

 

[moxie]

The OP said "primarily" for HD. Which implies that he may occasionally use it for CC. I agree that a 686 or similar full-sized gun is a better choice for dedicated HD, it's rather big for CC, especially pocket carry. So if he does want to carry it from time to time, particularly in a pocket, the 442/642 or other J frames will do both jobs. In this case, my personal choice would be a 640. The extra weight will be fine for HD and not overly onerous for occasional CC.

 

[shockwave]

if you want a smith revolver for HD duty, why not a .357 686+? better trigger, sights, capacity, and range of ammo you can use.

This is solid advice. For HD, there's no need to go with an easy-to-conceal weapon. Get the 6" and enjoy learning to use it. A .357 with a 4" can be carried more easily, but you'd probably want a shoulder rig.

 

[jad0110]

As others have said, .357 revolvers will shoot .357 mag or .38 special. But if you are thinking you'd just like to stick to .38 special and the gun won't be pocket carried, then you do have some really great choices in larger .38 revolvers. As much as I like my 642, for me it is a niche gun (pocket carry ONLY). For home defense, or carry IWB, I prefer larger heavier guns that point more naturally. But YMMV.

A couple of examples...

Depending on the exact model, a 4" .38 Special S&W K Frame can be had anywhere from $250 to $450. So you can likely find one for less money than a 642, new or used. My 15-3 4" is an excellent example, made in 1969. I picked it up in May '09 for $309. Right now, it is one of the best handling/best pointing handguns I own.








The Ruger Six Series revolvers (Security Six, Police Service Six and Speed Six) all make great home defense / carry guns (most are chambered in .357 Mag, but some came in 38 only, while fewer still were made in 9mm). I saw a table full of .357 Police Service Sixes (square butt, fixed sights) at a gun show priced at $299 each. I picked up this one for $275 a few months ago. One of the best all around values on the used handgun market, IMO.








Though there is something to be said for snubbies, in that they do present a bit less barrel for an assailant to grab onto. I've always liked 2" S&W K Frames for this reason. Being that they are all steel and fit my hands better, I find them easier to shoot than the diminutive J Frames. My .38 Special 2" Model 15-2 (made in '65) is one of my favorite all around guns (however, it is NO pocket gun). Paid $375 for it about a year ago. Actuallly, I shoot it just as well as my 6" Model 14.

 

[scottishclaymore]

As far as a carry gun goes, you can't go wrong with the 642/442. I occasionally carry other guns as well, but the 642 is always with me. There's a lot to be said for that. Also, contrary to popular belief, the 642 is capable of some surprising accuracy.



That's my girl right there. Sits in any number of pockets pretty much all day long.

For home defense, though, I'd recommend something more along the lines of her big sister below. Since you're at home, there's simply no reason not to get the bigger gun.

 

[RonBernert]

FYI: 442's come in a variety of finishes. Mine is Satin Nickel. Love the gun! Carried it almost every day for 6 years. A friend has a 642 and I like that just as much, and so does he. I think his is rated for +P+, my 442 is not. That may be the primary difference?