The 642 club

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I carry mine in a DeSantis Gunhide. Seems to work very well. It stays in your pocket when you pull the gun.
I've got a 640-1 and a 642-2. I carry the 642 almost exclusively in the summer.
 
dgludwig: A little over a year ago S&W dicounted the 642 and 637 pretty drastically. I think you could get a 642 for around $320 and the 637 for $300 from CDNN. Dealers told me that S&W was trying to drum up some fast cash by discounting the 2 most popular models. Once complaints of pealing finishes started showing up, it occurred to me that S&W might be trying to get rid of defective finished stock. (I certantly can't verify that) Quite a percentage of gun owners buy one gun, may or may not test fire it, load it and throw it in a drawer. Hence the viability of lifetime warranties. Now that prices on 642 are lower how can they justify raising them,
 
I traded my Taurus 851 today and picked up a 2nd 642 for the same $309 price at K,S, and E in Indy. That was the last one they had.

So I've got two 642s now.
 
I may as well join the club. I have a 442 and a 642, both fitted with the compact Crimson Trace laser grips, and one of them is a constant companion. I also bought a 317 to have a training gun available for lots of rounds (firing over 100 at a time through the 442 or 642 is a bit ouchy, as far as I'm concerned!), and I'm about to add a 638 for a little variety... :D
 
The local range I frequent just a few miles away has a $369 price tag on their 642s.
This was a special sale KS&E were running at wholesale prices, so I was very lucky to get two of them at that same $309 price.

These little suckers are so darned light I can almost forget I'm carrying one.
 
Preacherman

How do you like the Crimson Trace grips? First of all, does the laser help a lot with accuracy? Second, is it a bit more comfortable than the factory grips (if you have the rubber ones, that is)? Third, do those grips affect concealability?

I'm sure that the laser helps with accuracy, and that the concealability isn't affected much, but I'd like to hear it from someone who didn't write the CT brochure, or who doesn't make money selling the grips.

I agree with you about the "ouchy" thing when firing quite a number of shots. I had mine out for the first (and, so far, only) time last weekend. You definitely know that you've been shooting the thing, even with light .38s. Maybe rubber grips will help. The trigger is very heavy and rough, and hopefully 30-40 dry-fires per night will help smooth out the trigger a bit and increase the strength of my finger (I'm used to, and spoiled by, the 4.5 pound pull on my .45).

All things considered, I'm very happy with the 642. It goes virtually everywhere with me, including to work (I'm the guy who decides the carry policy, and it is "bring 'em if you hav'em").
 
Hey Sam, I'm losing my job soon. Any openings down there? I certainly like the carry policy! :cool:

Mongo: I have never fired anything out of my revolvers other than normal .38 rounds. Can you educate me on using shotshell in the 642?
 
Boss,

No friggin idea about the shotshell. Number 9 shot. A bit expensive. I plan to cap one off next time I go to the range this week to see how it patterns at 7 yards.

I probably wouldn't shoot a snake that far from me, but I'm just interested.
 
Just got back from the range. The CCI Shotshell patterned at 7 yrds pretty much like I expected, all over.

The little shotties probably will be effective at about 10 feet max.
 
7 yards is about the farthest possible range a shot load would be usable. Try 7 FEET. I've shot several snakes with CCI birdshot loads in a 2" 38, and at about 5 to 10 feet, like you mentioned, they are good. Beyond that, they spread the pattern pretty fast and makes donut shaped patterns with a hole in the middle.
 
Signing up

Well, I took the plunge and purchased my 642 with CT grips today so here I am reporting for duty as a member of the club. I also purchased Federal Low Recoil Hydroshock Personal Defense ammo. The round certainly appears capable. Will advise results after testing it.

This really solves the problem of sixty year old eyes focusing on the front sight.
I am amazed at how quickly and steadily I am able to hold the lazer on target.

Regards

ExGun
 
I also purchased Federal Low Recoil Hydroshock Personal Defense ammo. The round certainly appears capable. Will advise results after testing it.

exgun: Please keep us posted. I would be very interested in your results with the low recoil hydroshocks. Are they 125gr or 135gr?
 
How is the recoil with the CT grips? I bought mine and then put the larger Hogue grip on it. Even with the bigger grip, my hands are sore after shooting a 100 rds at the range. I'm used to shooting my 1911 and it's much less the recoil than this little terror! :D
 
I don't have any. I am looking at getting some. When I said "I bought mine", I mean the 642 :D Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Thanks,
 
642 performance

Got to the range with the new 642CT today. The Fed Hydrashocks did well with a recoil of about a third less than standard loaded semiwadcutter ammo.
At 7 yds the Feds had about a 2 " spread and the semi s had about the same but they printed about 4 " beyond the Feds at 10 o'clock.

At 15 yds, everything about doubled.

Although the Feds were more pleasant to shoot, the semi s were well within managable range.

I can't say enough about the laser sights. My accuracy had really fallen due to aging eyes. It isn't a problem with this set up.

In conclusion, I am extremely pleased with the weapon and would recommend it to anyone.

Regards

ExGun
 
I joined the club last weekend, found a NIB 642-2 for $299 at a gunshow, couldn't resist.

I took it to the range for the first time yesterday and was surprised at the accuracy I was getting from a 1 7/8" barrel (and I'm not a revolver guy), I had no trouble keeping everything inside a 6" circle @ 7 yds. The trigger was pretty decent for out-of-the-box, but I'm sure it'll get better with use. I did find the front sight a bit hard to see, but a dab of red paint wil fix that. I ran 100 rnds of GA Arms 125 gr LRN 'cowboy' rounds, followed by a sampling of JHP's from GA Arms (Gold Dots), Federal (Hydra-Shoks), and Remington (Golden Sabers). All were +P 125 gr (Fed's were 129 gr). The JHPs were a bit more accurate (grouped tighter) than the LRNs, the Remington's seemed to have the most energy (and muzzle flash) of the JHPs. I was surprised thet the recooil wasn't at all bad for a lightweight, though the +P's were 'snappy'. Still, I fired 150 rnds with no soreness in the hand or wrist. I'll try some of the 135 GD's soon as I can find some.

All in all, it's a sweet little gun, I can see why so many folks like it - it really is a 'go anywhere' gun. I picked up a Bianchi pocket holster that is very stable and stays put well (it's got some sort of tacky weave fabric that grips the inside of the pocket), and a set of Eagle Secret Service grips on order.
:D
 
I joined the club this weekend, too, but only by association.. I picked up a 637 at Academy while I was in Houston visiting my buddy who just moved down there. Another buddy of ours was down there, so we decided to go to the range (before I bought the pistol). I had brought my Taurus Tracker in 22lr.

My first impressions are good ones. The pistol feels good in my hand, and the trigger pull is very nice in double action, and very light and crisp when cocked. I only fired 40 rounds of 130gr .38 spl FMJ at 7 yards. Recoil was snappy, but not really unpleasant, and it grouped OK, but was hitting a little high and right.

I'm really liking it so far. Now to get a few speedloaders for it (for keeping in the car), some Speed Strips, and a couple holsters. Oh, then I'll have to get off my butt and get my CHL!

Soon, I'll get to the range and put another box of .38 through it, and try a few of those 158gr .38 +p loads I have sitting around (used them in my .357 for home defense)
 
I got mine back from the Smith on Friday the 5th of Aug with its 940 cylinder installedso it is now a 942. Can I still be in the club because I kept the 38spec cylinder.
 
And here she is

637(2).jpg


and

637(1).jpg
 
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