The 642 club

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fiVe

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As of Wednesday, I am the proud owner of a S&W 642 snub nose. This thing is a joy to carry.(It is just over 12 oz. lighter than my East German Makarov.)

It appears that the general consensus is that Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P HP is the best ammo. Are there other good choices?

Is it ok to dry fire this revolver without snap caps?

Thanks for the info!

Regards,

fiVe
 
Excellent! I really like mine...with Crimson laser grips and in it's Mika pocket holster. Hope you get good service from your new 642.

Frandy
 
The holster is an inexpensive "gun show" special. IIRC... the brand is Python, about $9.

It actually works quite well. The square profile makes the gun look very similar to a billfold in your back pocket.

The "clear coat" finish S&W puts on their alloy fames will not take a lot of agressive cleaning. I've had good luck using Hoppe's #9 with a bronze brush in the chambers, and nylon brushes everywhere else. After over 2k rounds, it still looks like new.

Good Luck...

Joe
 
The dry firing debate has always intrigued me. I have dry fired thousands of rounds in all make of guns. But, really, thats not how the gun was designed to work. It expects a primer under the hammer to act as a cushion. A very old gunsmith once gave me the example, If I gave you a ball peen hammer and a ball bearing and you spent all day banging the two together, eventually, one or the other is going to show signs of wear. Point was taken. I still dry fire when I'm just playing with a gun, but, if I'm working on it and intentionally dry firing it a bunch, I'll use snap caps, fired cases or something in there.

One of my 642's, if I dry fire it a bunch, will tap the bushing out ever so slightly from the breech end. If I fire a round or drop a punch down the barrel and tap it once, it seats itself back down. Since I said "one" of my 642's, you would be right to assume I like them alot.
 
Got mine about 3 weeks ago, very happy. I think that since it was about half price of the 340PD there is no way I could justify one of those just for the chance to fire .357 out of an even lighter gun. The 642 has given me all kinds of carry options, but there is no way I'd carry it as a primary. This is my first speedloader gun and I hate them, give me more moonclips!
 
Thanks for the info. I think I have found my new carry piece.

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You guys are gonna tempt me too much. Now I'm wanting one worse than before.
My Det. Special is going to get jealous.

Anyway...very nice pieces
 
...the 642's are NICE "Carry Guns"...I have it's poorer, blued cousin, the 442...my WIFE gets to carry the 642...poor ME!!!
BTW, I have been dryfiring Smith revo's for about thirty years, NOT using "snapcaps", and haven't had any problems...MY "Carry Load" is the old "FBI Load", the 158-gr. LSWCHP at "Plus-P" pressures, as loaded by either Federal or Winchester...I haven't tried the 135-gr. Speer JHP yet, but it looks like a good 'un, too....mikey357
 
Hmm, I, too admire the nylon pocket holster owned by Mr. Hadley. I looked on the Python Holster Company website, and they do not make anything close to what Mr. Hadley owns. I just got back from the WAC gunshow in Puyallup, and did not see anything like that. If Mr. Hadley has any further insights on the manufacturer, or it has a tag on it with any information, I do hope he will post.
 
I make little donut shaped plastic discs from Tang lids for use as snap caps in my revolvers.
You need to double them up. They also don't work on P&R Smiths.

Here's the 642's "black" sister
 
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SnWnMe: Great pic. Who made your clip-on holster?



I'm finding that IWB carry just doesn't work well for me. I use a zippered denim pouch called a "Gun Pack" from Uncle Mike's. Of course, now I can pursue pocket carry (probably a Mika's Pocket Holster ), but I am curious as to how others carry their 642. Please post and be as specific as possible (pics, too!).

Thanks,

fiVe
 
One of my carry guns is a nickeled 442 with Crimson Trace. I've not had any bad experience with any pocket holster - they all seem to work just fine. I agree - the lightweight J-frame with no-hammer + laser is a classic SD weapon. Simple, reliable, extremely carryable, easy to present, and with the confidence of the laser, very accurate at SD distances.
 
I bought a pocket holster for mine from Mika's. The guy is nice and delivers a high quality product for a reasonable price. Just give him a call.

Mark
 
fiVe posted:
BTT - still curious about how others carry their 642.

I used to carry my 442 as a primary weapon, using a Galco "Concealable Belt Holster".
Now I'm carrying a Kimber 45acp using a Milt Sparks Watch Six, and the 442 has been relegated to "deep cover" days when a cover garment is not possible.
In that instance, I use Thunderwear/Smartcarry.
It seems that a lot of folks aren't comfortable with that method of carry, but it works great for me.
Good luck. :)
 
In the pocket....

Although I don't own a 642 or 442, (wished I did) I carried my Smith mod 638 and 340SC in an uncle Mike's size 3 fabric holster. I like the Uncle Mike's because it is v-e-r-y lightweight, inexpensive and does a good job of masking the outline of the revolver without adding bulk.

Nice choice; I'm going to get me one when I can find a good quality used one. They're tough to find because most are too good to part with.
 
'Academy Sports/Outdoors' chains have new 642's for $349 - as does a local gunstore. The LHPSWC +P 158gr by Remington, #R38S12, is pretty stout with that little boot grip. I keep my 2" 10 and 3" 65 stoked with them. The slightly bigger Hogue's make all the difference. I was considering the black 432PD, a .32 H&R 6-shooter, at the same price. Decisions...

Stainz
 
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