Smith model 442 no lock

[JackCrow]

My EDC
As many have stated in this thread, it is an unforgiving pistol and one needs to work with it and become familiar with how to shoot it accurately. But then it is intended for short range self defense, it was never meant to be a tack driver.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Does anyone have one of these? Yes I do and carry it daily.

How do they shoot? As well or better than you can shoot. Short barrel revolvers are no less accurate than other revolvers, they are just more difficult to shoot well.

 

[AZAndy]

Does anyone have one of these? Yes I do and carry it daily.

How do they shoot? As well or better than you can shoot. Short barrel revolvers are no less accurate than other revolvers, they are just more difficult to shoot well.

Badger grips? Very handsome.

 

[ccjcc81]

In my opinion, the LCR has a better trigger, and a better grip, and slightly better sights, making it much easier to shoot accurately.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes Andy, Badger Custom Rosewood boot grips. They are very comfortable to me and I like the looks too.

ccjcc81, that's nice but I didn't see the OP ask about a Ruger. In that case how about the S&W Bodyguard 38? The triggers even better than the LCR and you get a laser for the same price as the Ruger without one.

 

[MICHAEL T]

It depends on how "done got brokded" your gun is.

Damage it too much, and they won't do anything for you. Ask me how I know.

Since he doesn't want to answer Maybe a squib load or a double charge reload blew it up. . I can't think of any other reason Other than ran over by some thing heavy.

 

[popeye]

I carry a Colt Cobra or a S&W mod 38. I don't practice much because they're not much fun to shoot. The lighter and easier to carry they are translates into having the thing on you all the time. I guarantee if you need to use it you wont feel the recoil. I carry n my jeans pocket without a holster. I wouldn't do that with an auto.

 

[Screwball]

I have the 442 moon clip. Love it. I jumped on the 9mm craze with a Sig P290RS. It is a great gun too, but I keep going back to the 442. Great pocket carry.

Then convert the 442 to 9mm...

My 642-1.





And NP3 Plus coated to match the rest of the gun.



Picked up a Pinnacle converted cylinder off AR15.com, had it fitted, and now I have a dual cylinder revolver package. 9mm is fine being shot out of an Airweight, as people have been doing it for years. Not going to run +P out of it, but sound platform.

I'm issued a 9mm duty gun, so a 9mm backup makes sense. I also have a P938, which "replaced" my Ruger LCP. 9mm in moon clips is a lot easier to carry than .38s in speedloaders.

In regards to Ruger verses S&W, lightweight snubs are hard to shoot. If you get either, train your butt off with it to improve... don't think a trigger on one gun will do the work for you. I personally like the 642 over the LCR, but I've also been shooting that J-frame for going on eight years. The DA LCR pull just doesn't feel as smooth/constant as the S&W.

 

[meatballs]

Thank you all for the replies. I was considering the 442 as an affordable, reliable replacement for my Ruger LC9s. I want something smaller and light weight for summer carry, but seam to be having some trouble with my LC9s. I have owned many handguns over the years, and am relatively proficient in shooting them, but I think the LC9s might not be working so good for me. I am a southpaw with big meaty hands. The pistol points and aims nice for me (great grip angle) but my "bird finger" seems to be clicking the mag release button while shooting. I have worked with it for a while, and decided that it's time to get something else for the same purpose. Good little pistol, and I will keep it, but always had good lucks with the j-frames in the past. So, with that, the 442 seems to get good reviews on this thread. Time to buy another J-frame. Thanks gang.

 

[rhweb32]

Mines great, it rides in an Alessi ankle holster all the time.

 

[jstert]

im unable to tolerate sharp recoil, thus i was unable to enjoy shooting my airweight until i found and tried 38 cbc shorts and 38 wadcutters, both by magtech. now that i like to practice with it i will ccw it more, as opposed to my ruger lcr 22lr.

 

[meatballs]

Does anyone have one of these? Yes I do and carry it daily.

How do they shoot? As well or better than you can shoot. Short barrel revolvers are no less accurate than other revolvers, they are just more difficult to shoot well.

That's a nice one. I like the grips.

 

[Haywood]

As part of my carry rotation, I carry these Two. The top one with the Hogue Tamer Grips can be shot for a lot longer periods at the range. The bottom one with the standard boot grip is not a range gun but a box or two standard 38 special isn't too bad. I carry the one with the standard grips in my pocket and the other one appendix in the waistband. Normally it's 2 J-Frames every day .

 

[Rom828]

Love my 642. Great trigger for it"s intended purpose , long, smooth pull and breaks like glass at the end. I carry mine in a DeSantis IWB holster. Light enough that I forget I'm carrying it. Actually very accurate once you figure out the trigger. Got it so that I can have another alternative to my LCP when I don't feel like carrying a full size and because down deep I'm an old school revolver guy.

 

[red rick]

IMO they are a great pocket gun , other than that I think there are better options , better trigger , better sights , more capacity and just as easy to conceal on the waist . About the only time I carry mine ( 642 ) is when I am lazy and do not feel like dress around a gun .

 

[stiab]

As to sights and trigger, the 442 sights will be larger than earlier J frames, and the trigger will be better than exposed hammer models, because it has no hammer block. I have owned several, including all finishes it was ever made in: flat black, gloss black, and nickel. Down to just three now, two flat black I carry and the nickel is in the safe.

 

[Litlman]

442 in pocket most days ,forever. Trigger has smoothed out over the years. Been carrying it since 1993. I am not an expert but I can work it well. When I am shooting at the range. I always pull it out and run at least 2 cylinders, reload and place back in uncle mikes pocket holster and return to pocket.

 

[Sistema1927]

It depends on how "done got brokded" your gun is.

Damage it too much, and they won't do anything for you. Ask me how I know.

I had a no-lock 642 that cracked the frame near the forcing cone. S&W replaced it for free and paid shipping both ways.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

I like it. Very nice pocket carry choice. Reasonably accurate. Recoils hard. Make sure the ejector rod stays screwed in. Difficult to find something as nice to carry as this one.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

 

[BLU]

In a visit to my LGS I spotted a no-lock 642 Pro, (Pro model can use moon clips for a ridiculously fast reload). Having a Model 36 at home, I was familiar with a short barreled S&W. I held it and marveled at it's lightness. Not much weight to counteract the physics of shooting a .38 Special +P but that didn't deter me from bringing it home! Of course I took it apart and polished this and that. I ordered different springs from Wolff. Once I installed those and had tested it with all forms of ammo I'd be carrying, I'd select the 642 for carry more days than not. Range days the 642 came out more often than not. I've become pretty good at hitting my intended target with 158 gr. .38 Special. After verifying I can hold the gun through 5 rounds of +P, I carry with +P but practice with .38 Special. On colder days, (hide it under a coat in a holster), I sometimes switch grips and use the full hand square butt grips which really aid in control. I don't think you can go wrong with the 442/642. If the trigger is too much for you, consider different springs. A change of grips can make a world of difference too. I love my 642 so much that I sold my LCR and I'm feeling guilty about how little I carry my SP101!

 

[Triggernosis]

It only holds 5.
Other guns, which conceal equally well for me, and that didn't have the recoil issue, and which hold more rounds came along.

Which guns might you be referring to?

 

[Deaf Smith]

A local gun store regularly has those new Smith model 442 no lock models in stock. Anyone have one of these? How are they to shoot?

Excellent SD revolvers for close in work. Not a 25 yard gun for most folks (but in good hands it can hit a man sized target at 100 yards) but it will 'get you through the night'.

I have the 'Professional' 642 model, no Hillary lock and set up for .38 Spl ring clips. One can shoot it with a 5 shot ring clip or not.

Deaf

 

[Haywood]

In a visit to my LGS I spotted a no-lock 642 Pro, (Pro model can use moon clips for a ridiculously fast reload). Having a Model 36 at home, I was familiar with a short barreled S&W. I held it and marveled at it's lightness. Not much weight to counteract the physics of shooting a .38 Special +P but that didn't deter me from bringing it home! Of course I took it apart and polished this and that. I ordered different springs from Wolff. Once I installed those and had tested it with all forms of ammo I'd be carrying, I'd select the 642 for carry more days than not. Range days the 642 came out more often than not. I've become pretty good at hitting my intended target with 158 gr. .38 Special. After verifying I can hold the gun through 5 rounds of +P, I carry with +P but practice with .38 Special. On colder days, (hide it under a coat in a holster), I sometimes switch grips and use the full hand square butt grips which really aid in control. I don't think you can go wrong with the 442/642. If the trigger is too much for you, consider different springs. A change of grips can make a world of difference too. I love my 642 so much that I sold my LCR and I'm feeling guilty about how little I carry my SP101!

. I feel the same. I wood like to sell the LCR and my SP101 only dose night stand duty. I carry the 442s the most.

 

[Jimmy10mm]

I just recently got a S&W M&P 340 to replace a 642 (with lock removed) Traded the Airweight to a friend and then ran up on this. Steel barrel & cylinder, scandium frame, and no lock. I like the shroud over the extractor rod as well. The trigger is stock, and mighty heavy to pull. I may just get a spring kit, or even have a smith do an action job.

I've got Desantis Clip grips on it and carrying it is a pleasure. With 357s it is predictably a bear for recoil, but due to the steel barrel/cylinder, not near as bad as a 340PD I had years ago. Sold that when I read the "Truth About Guns" article about blown Scandium frames. Anyhow, it was a pricey item, but worth it AFAIC.