The 642 club

[MassMark]

Way to go jt1 - I have been following this thread and though I have been semi-obsessed with an M1A upgrade, I had my trusty 642CT in pocket at the range yesterday. With the cylinder empty of course, I stared for many minutes at my 642 and cannot see anything but a round circle....Everything on my 642 seems GTG... By the way: Welcome all you new members to the best thread here, or anywhere! Cheers...

 

[DawgFvr]

New Grip

I have been going through a grip search phase for my 642. After trying the LG105 Laser Grip, well, I just returned to the original stock grip...now, um, I'm into a retro phase. Must have seen too many Bogie moveis over the weekend. After stopping in to our recent gun show, I saw some vintage J frame grips in a display case. After a little haggling, I got them plus a very well used Tyler grip...both totaled $35 bucks and, walla, I now have some very nice fitting grips. The speed loader works well, the grip is thinner but gives me great purchase...and they look pretty cool too...eh? What think ye?

 

[FireCaptDave]

642 vs. Kahr PM9

Does anyone have a pic of a 642 next to and/or on top of a PM9 so I can see the how the foot prints of the two compare? Any comments out there on size, concealablity, etc one vs. the other? Thanks!

 

[Gary A]

Try this: http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.jpg

or: http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.jpg

and check this THR thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=171820

 

[jad0110]

Finally, I think (i.e. know) that I want to buy some wooden grips for the 442, mostly because I think they are the most aesthetically pleasing. Anything in particular I should watch out for when purchasing these?

If you use a speedloader, just make sure it will clear before you buy them.

Dawg,

That's a sweet setup you have there. Be sure to report back on concealability (I'm sure they will conceal better than anything else you've tried), control, and felt recoil.

As for the concealability of the 642 vs the PM9, how would you be carrying? IWB, they are probably about the same. For pocket carry, most seem to prefer the rounded shape of the little snubby.

 

[jt1]

defective 642?
I have a 642 I bought a couple of months ago. I like the gun but have only had opportunity to test fire it once. It was a kicker but I know I am accurate enough to use it for its intended ccw purpose.The thing that bothered me recently was that as I was dry firing it, it seems that it isn't quite indexed all the way when I pull the trigger. IF I hold the cylinder with my hand lightly while I pull the trigger, it doesn't quite lock into place before the internal hammer falls.I can then click the cylinder into place with my hand after the hammer has already fallen.Shooting regularly, it seems to function fine. The momentum of a brisk trigger pull puts it in place right.My guess is that it is just slightly out of time from the factory.What does the collective think?

Patrick

(Imported from the 642 lockup problem thread)
patsue - After reading these responses I have tried to replicate your failure and no matter what I do I cannot make my 642 fire without the cylinder locked-up. Mine will always lock on the second click and then fire no matter what I do or the amount of pressure I apply to the cylinder. It appears you may have an actual problem and you might have to send it back as GP100man has said. You might have it checked locally first as suggested by Pistol Toter, but unfortunately at this point I have to recommend you get it looked at by some qualified person or the factory before it is used again. Please keep us informed. Thx to all of you who responded.

DawgFvr - Very nice indeed, and you sure can't beat the price. Have you fired it yet? I'm thinking of getting some of those rosewood ladysmith grips and wondering how they compare to the standard boot grips? Anyone?

FireCaptDave - Welcome to the 642 Club. I don't have any pic's for you, But I did fire and carried the PM9 for three months. While it is good auto and I have nothing negative to report about it, IMO it doesn't compare with the X42 as far as carry and concealment are concerned. The X42's also seem to point shoot better for me that anything else I have tried.

 

[FireCaptDave]

Thanks for the welcome and info. It looks like I'm a week or two away from getting a 642. With that said, what's the 641-x (-1, -2, etc.,) mean?

Thanks!

 

[AStone]

Dawg: sweet!
_____________

For now, just going to copy [edited] this (below) from that "problem" thread.

It seems to fit here as well as there.


_____________

Haven't fully digested all of the responses since I last checked in.

Will do that tomorrow.

Right now, I'm recovering from a 10 hr. handgun class that ate sunday.

Long, but worth it.

[CCW qualified. ]

Point is this: during said 10 hr class,
I shot 100 rnds (WC and FMJ) through th' mule
at an 18 X 18 (24 X 24?) target @ 7 yds.

Singles aiming.
Singles pointing, from low ready.
Rapid singles.
Double tap, rest, double tap.
Rapid double taps.

Warped, pentagonal, polygonal or otherwise,
at least on average, it did as well as the 10 semi's there,
all with longer barrels.

And, it didn't even blow up.

 

[jt1]

FireCaptDave - The dashes indicate the pressure rating:

642 no dash - not rated for +P.

642-1 rated +P but not indicated on gun barrel.

642-2 rated +P and indicated on gun barrel.

Congrats, for a CCW you have made a good choice. keep in touch.

 

[AStone]

jt1, you have gone waaaay above the call of duty here. Thusly, you will now, henceforth and heretofore, be known as the Official Firearms Inspector for the 642 Club. I speak for all members here when I extend to you a very heartfelt thanks...

Ditto.

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Must have seen too many Bogie movies over the weekend.

Impossible to see too many... shweetheart !!!

BTW Love the grips, enjoy.

 

[wrentree]

Been awhile since I posted here. Just bought my 642-2 on July 5th.
Requires a little more practice then my other handguns but if a fat lady sings, I can shoot her at 7yds.

 

[jt1]

wrentree - Welcome to the 642 Club. We are pleased to have you with us. In most cases 7yds will be more than enough. Many times it is a lot closer than that. Congrats on your new 642, I hope it serves you well.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Another New Guy...

I just thought that I would check in as a newbie to the club. I have been working my way through the thread as time permits and have been very entertained. I bought my 642 back in May when I took my CCW class and really like it. It now resides in a Safariland pocket holster at work or a Smartcarry holster when I am relaxed and in a pair of sweats.
I also have a Springfield XD-9 (great piece), a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 (which I haven't got to shoot yet) and a Walther P22 that has to make a trip back to where it came from after one session at the range (some kind of burr on the muzzle end of the barrel that makes it wildly inaccurate).
Anyway, just wanted to say hello.

__________________________

"When I held that gun in my hand, I felt a surge of power ... like God must feel when he's holding a gun." - Homer Simpson

"I feel that if a gun is good enough to protect something as important as a bar, then its good enough to protect my family." - Homer Simpson

 

[fastbolt]

642-1 rated +P but not indicated on gun barrel.

My 642-1 has the +P rating on the barrel.

I don't remember at which point in production of the 642-1 models, time-wise, they started doing it, though.

 

[glockman19]

Well I was just about to go to bed when I realized I have 1299 posts and where not a better place to make my 1300th then the 642 Club.

Welcome,
Phydeaux642

 

[jt1]

Phydeaux642 - You are welcome here. How's that smart carry working out for you?

fastbolt - I was not aware of any -1's with the barrel marked. Thanks for the info, I'll do some more research.

glockman19 - Congrats on 1300, and I concur this is the best place for that one or any number.

 

[Phydeaux642]

jt1 - The Smartcarry surprised me. I really like it with the 642. It is comfortable and I can ride a bicycle with it on wearing sweats. With that said, I can't imagine using it with a 1911 as some folks do.



__________________________

"When I held that gun in my hand, I felt a surge of power ... like God must feel when he's holding a gun." - Homer Simpson

"I feel that if a gun is good enough to protect something as important as a bar, then its good enough to protect my family." - Homer Simpson

 

[yongxingfreesty]

when dry firing to smoothen out the trigger, should i do it as fast as I can or just pull trigger slowly until lockup of cylinder, wait 1/2 second and then pull it back a little more so it fires?

 

[MSWildfowler]

I just signed up for this forum today, in response to joining the 642 club on Sunday. Prior to buying this handgun, I am also a non-competitive target shotgun shooter, and wingshooter. I also have a Browning Buckmark .22 pistol for plinking. I've never been much of a pistol shooter other than the 22. I've owned this 22 for fifteen some years now and have probably fired it well over 25K times. Lately, it's been collecting a lot of dust.

I wanted to buy a gun like this for personal self-defense and did a search for S/W model 642, which got me here to this website. I like the gun and have shot about a 100 cheap target loads Sunday afternoon. Was shooting from both 21' and closer (distance was not marked) From the 21' mark, it seemed like my point of impact was lower than my point of aim. 4-6 inches higher than where I was aiming. While shooting from the closer mark (probably around 10-12 feet) I was hitting much closer to my point of aim. I haven't tried a variety of ammo yet, so will have no way to conclude anything specific. This just seemed curious to me. My .22 pistol mentioned above doesn't seem to do this.

Also, it seems that my trigger is painfully firm. According to my spring loaded, non-electric analog fish scale, it takes over 14 lbs of pressure to dry fire this revolver. I don't happen to know if this is an accredited way of measuring the trigger pull, but this seems overly heavy to me. I have a pretty good sore spot on my finger from pulling the trigger.

I've read many pages of this topic, but far from all pages. It seems that many here are happy with their trigger after the gun has been broken in from a few hundred rounds. It didn't seem that it was a very popular idea to do any trigger work.

Does anyone recommend a spring kit and/or internal polish on this gun to smooth the trigger. I don't know much about a trigger job, and don't know what's being installed/replaced. Is there any inherit danger in doing such work? What about loss of reliability from having such work done? I'm planning on taking this gun to a local, reputable gun smith rather than sending it off somewhere.

This is a cool site, and hope to become an active participant over time.

 

[DAdams]

Add On

Goodness.... I go away for a few days and the Clubhouse is so crowded I could barely get in the door. fiVe. It's time to put on an addition.
Welcome to all the New Members.

I had a chance to spend some time at an outdoor range (DNR in Michigan, near Brighton). 25 yards was the shortest range. Glad I bought the Shoot n See Targets. I found out I can hit a 14 X 18 inch target 95% of the time from 75 feet with the 642 I actually did better with the BERSA BT 380 with 90 gr FMJ. What a difference 1.5 inches makes.

FireCaptainDave you asked about the size difference between a 642 and and a Kahr PM9. Gary A provided some excellent references, notably Bobo's MouseGun Comparison.

I have both so here are my contributions.


642 in a Mika Round Cut and PM 9 in a DeSantis Nemesis




Compared to a S&W 686 3 inch.






The Pocket Gang. 642, M&P 340, PM9

Drop me a line if you have any questions.

 

[AStone]

The Pocket Gang. 642, M&P 340, PM9

Must be pretty crowded in there.



Very useful comparison images. Thnx.
___________

Indeed, welcome to all the new members.

Nem

 

[jad0110]

Warped, pentagonal, polygonal or otherwise,
at least on average, it did as well as the 10 semi's there,
all with longer barrels.

Nem,

Glad to hear you awoke early enough this time around . When I took my class I did not yet have my 642. Wish I did, it'd been nice to show all those full-sized auto shooters what a snub-pocket protector can really do!

jt1 and FireCaptDave,

There was a period of a few months I believe, just before switching to the -2 where the -1 barrels were imprinted with the "+P" rating on the barrel. I think there is a picture of one here on the 642 Club, actually.

MSWildfowler,

Welcome to the Club! My 642 had a pretty stiff trigger when I first brought it home. As you said, dry fire it about a thousand times (triple check to make sure it is unloaded, pointed in a safe direction of course). You will notice it gets a lot smoother. My pull feels lighter too, but that could be because my trigger finger has gotten stronger .

I personally would NOT change to any lighter springs or whatnot. Now, if a reputable gunsmith can polish the action enough to give it an ultra smooth, clean, crip break it would certainly make the pull feel lighter without compromising reliability. I have been thinking about giving Jerry Miculek's "Trigger Job" DVD a try.

If nothing else, have him crack it open and clean it out/relube it really good after a thousand dry fires or so. I cleaned my 642 out after a total of roughly 2,000 dry fires + live rounds and it was pretty gritty/dirty in there. After relubing it, the trigger was smoother. Just a little, but it was noticeable.

 

[DAdams]

642 Break In

X42 Break in Recipe:

Start with 1000 dry fires; add 500 rounds of live fire, and while you are driving use a grip developer to build up a crushing grip/trigger finger.

This exercising of the hands on long vacation drives is bound to make the family crazy and ellicit all sorts of wry remarks from the peanut gallery.

It does get a bit dusty from the MIM parts smoothing so you may want to have it dusted out and a moderate lube job.

The combination of breaking in and getting a strong hand will make it a natural defensive extension of you.

 

[jt1]

Nem - Glad to hear everything went well for you. Did you get your CCL?

MSWildfowler - Welcome, we are happy you have joined us here. The trigger will get better with use. I agree with the others that a trigger job at this point is not a good idea. Give it some time and both you and the gun will improve. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

DA - Can you give us your impressions of the Khar vs the 642?

...period of a few months I believe, just before switching to the -2 where the -1 barrels were imprinted with the "+P" rating on the barrel...

jad - You sir, as usual are correct. Last night I started researching a little bit and found a lot of interesting things. I will post some of it when I get done.