fiVe
Member
JohnBT: Feel free to consider yourself a member of the 642 Club. 
The 642 club
- Thread starter fiVe
- Start date
- Status
Convinced me... Got me interested in a pocket gun.
Did the research, liked what I saw and headed to the gun store to buy a 642. Got there, looked around and saw the 638 which has a partially enclosed hammer which can be manualy cocked and fired single action.
I've gone from being a full sized auto carry guy to carrying that 638 about 3/4 of the time now.
Ain't THR great!
JohnBT
Member
"Feel free to consider yourself a member of the 642 Club."
Thank you, thank you very much.
John
Thank you, thank you very much.
John
greyhound
Member
Bought mine as soon as I moved to Alabama from THR's own Mr. Ala Dan!
And, now that my six month residency wait is over and I have my CCW, its my main carry gun in a simple Uncle Mikes pocket holster. I am very happy with it!
('Course being originally from Maryland it does seem weird to have a carry license! )
And, now that my six month residency wait is over and I have my CCW, its my main carry gun in a simple Uncle Mikes pocket holster. I am very happy with it!
('Course being originally from Maryland it does seem weird to have a carry license!
)HighVelocity
Member
For anyone that's still on the fence here are a couple of beauty shots of my 642.
The grips are custom and the Pocket Holster is from K&D Holsters
Drawing from this holster in a pocket is rocket fast and reholstering is effortless.
The grips are custom and the Pocket Holster is from K&D Holsters
Drawing from this holster in a pocket is rocket fast and reholstering is effortless.
Attachments
fiVe
Member
HighVelocity: VERY nice pics. Thanks for posting them!
Jrob24
Member
I joined the club a few months ago. It conceals very well in a pocket holster. The recoil bothered me at first but now it's no problem. My carry ammo is 125 gr +p gold dots. I haven't been able to find the 135 gr
http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/pocket_dynomite/
http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/pocket_dynomite/
greyhound
Member
Anybody carry their 642 in an IWB holster? I think it would help get me used to carrying bigger guns such as my Glock 19 or 1911 if I was used to something "being there". (I have a Bianchi IWB for my 642 as well as an Uncle Mikes Pocket). Thanks.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greyhound my friend, many thanks for the intro-
Yes, I too have a soon too be 30 year old J-frame IWB holster from the
John Bianchi stable of leather goods. It has served me well since 1976.
My S&W models 37, 60 (old model), and 642 all ride well in this quality
leather holster.
Yes, I too have a soon too be 30 year old J-frame IWB holster from the
John Bianchi stable of leather goods. It has served me well since 1976.
My S&W models 37, 60 (old model), and 642 all ride well in this quality
leather holster.
Holster Choice
I use a Bob Mika, about $15 for jacket and pants pocket carry. Uncle Mike's works, but you car reholster single handed with Bob's since it has a spring steel reinforcement at the mouth. It also provides the opportunity to get a full grip before removing the 642, or Body Guard.
HiCap1
I use a Bob Mika, about $15 for jacket and pants pocket carry. Uncle Mike's works, but you car reholster single handed with Bob's since it has a spring steel reinforcement at the mouth. It also provides the opportunity to get a full grip before removing the 642, or Body Guard.
HiCap1
DHart
Member
rcm... the perfect j-frame grip for shooting pleasure and control (for me, anyway) is Pachmayr Compac. Not the smallest grip on the market, but arguably the nicest. Here are a pair on my 640-1... with the perfect spot made just for the little finger to rest... and these grips make shooting .357 loads moderately comfortably from the all steel J-frame. They absorb recoil very well.
fiVe
Member
DHart: As always, GREAT pics.
I just got back from vacation (to Houston & San Antonio). I carried the 642 almost the whole time. It was great--further proof that this is one of the best carrying guns made.
R/fiVe
I just got back from vacation (to Houston & San Antonio). I carried the 642 almost the whole time. It was great--further proof that this is one of the best carrying guns made.
R/fiVe
JMag
Member
I have my eye on a pre-lock 642 in the box and w/o a scratch on it. Anyone know if this gun should be priced at a premium v. the newer ones w/the lock? Is the finish any better on the pre-lock version?
This thread got me VERY interested in the 642, thanks to all.
This thread got me VERY interested in the 642, thanks to all.
JERRY
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,861
took my 642 "locked version" out for the first time today.......it handles as i expected any other snubby light weight to do.
but one thing that stood out above all the other snubbys i have, this one with wwb 130gr. fmj was bouncing a 2 liter soda bottle around with every shot at 15 yards. the best i could do with my other snubbys was 4 out of 5, and 4 out of 6 with my 64-2, but my 642 did it 5/5 for three full cylinders.
this is a good gun!
i did a side by side with my 642 and my Taurus 850CIA Titanium, the Taurus handled quite a bit quicker due to its ported barrel, i even tried shooting it from the hip with my hand shielding my face in case i got the infamous "blast from the ported barrel", nothing......the cylinder gap blast heated up my lower belly a bit but nothing bad.
not to high-jack the thread, but i really have to give Taurus credit its outstanding 850cia Ti.
but one thing that stood out above all the other snubbys i have, this one with wwb 130gr. fmj was bouncing a 2 liter soda bottle around with every shot at 15 yards. the best i could do with my other snubbys was 4 out of 5, and 4 out of 6 with my 64-2, but my 642 did it 5/5 for three full cylinders.
this is a good gun!
i did a side by side with my 642 and my Taurus 850CIA Titanium, the Taurus handled quite a bit quicker due to its ported barrel, i even tried shooting it from the hip with my hand shielding my face in case i got the infamous "blast from the ported barrel", nothing......the cylinder gap blast heated up my lower belly a bit but nothing bad.
not to high-jack the thread, but i really have to give Taurus credit its outstanding 850cia Ti.
oweno
Member
Bought a 642 a couple of years back, got a great deal on it, and put a box of 50 through it and was really unhappy with the action. Wicked bad heavy trigger pull and gritty to boot. Almost impossible to shoot, never mind with any accuracy.
I was going to do 'something' about it but got distracted by a couple of Makarovs - E. German and Bulgarian - so I put the 642 away and sort of forgot about it.
A few months ago, I dug it out and did the following:
1. Reduced power mainspring from Wolff. I left the trigger return spring alone.
2. Lubed the internals with Militec oil/grease where appropriate. (The innerds were dry as a bone.) And thanks to all the posters here and on TFL for advice on how-to remove the side plate, etc.
Result? Fantastic difference - I can actually shoot the thing pretty well and it's 100% reliable with over 250 rounds so far. No problem with +P ammo either.
(I know that many object to reduced power mainsprings but there you have it.)
I was going to do 'something' about it but got distracted by a couple of Makarovs - E. German and Bulgarian - so I put the 642 away and sort of forgot about it.
A few months ago, I dug it out and did the following:
1. Reduced power mainspring from Wolff. I left the trigger return spring alone.
2. Lubed the internals with Militec oil/grease where appropriate. (The innerds were dry as a bone.) And thanks to all the posters here and on TFL for advice on how-to remove the side plate, etc.
Result? Fantastic difference - I can actually shoot the thing pretty well and it's 100% reliable with over 250 rounds so far. No problem with +P ammo either.
(I know that many object to reduced power mainsprings but there you have it.)
JMag
Member
Got my new 642 this week but have yet to shoot it. BTW, is LIMITED use of Federal Hydra-Shok 147gr. +P+ okay in the 642 or no go??
I have always been a auto guy. As my name implies, I'm partial to the 1911. A few weeks ago I bought a Colt Trooper III from a friend. I enjoyed shooting it. I really enjoyed shooting it. So much that I ran across a 642 yesterday. It was almost new with only like 15 rds through it. I bought it for $300 from it's only owner. Did I do good? I can't wait to fire a few rds through it.
DHart
Member
Jmag... in that gun I'd shoot .38 spl. for practice with only a few occasional +P loads for practice, then carry with +P. But NO +P+ at all!
JMag
Member
DHart, thanks for that. It makes sense to me.
DHart
Member
For those with FINISH problems on the 642...
A thought for those who might be having finish problems with their 642... I think the ultimate finish on a 642 would be hard chrome, with NP-3 or hard chrome on the internals... that would be a 642 with a finish to last a lifetime plus and have a super slick action as well. If my 642 ever presented any finish "issues" whatsoever, rather than refinish at S&W, I'd send it off for hard chrome with NP-3 on the internals.
A thought for those who might be having finish problems with their 642... I think the ultimate finish on a 642 would be hard chrome, with NP-3 or hard chrome on the internals... that would be a 642 with a finish to last a lifetime plus and have a super slick action as well. If my 642 ever presented any finish "issues" whatsoever, rather than refinish at S&W, I'd send it off for hard chrome with NP-3 on the internals.
rickr44318
Member
Another 642 fan
Good posts as always, and some good care-and-feeding tips.
I sold a Glock 27 last year with the idea of replacing it with a c/c revolver. It's a great little gun, but blocky, and I had reservations about using it as a c/c piece. I was looking at a 65 and a 649 during a show in Richmond ... one of the guys working the booth walked me through the pros and cons of both, and the 642 as well. I bought the 642 ... and haven't looked back. Thankfully I've not been tested, but after several hundred range rounds I'm confident inside 10 yards.
I now use an Uncle Mike's pocket holster, but after seeing the reviews here and on the S&W Forum I will be ordering a Round-cut pocket holster from Robert Mika ... fits OK in my Dockers pockets, though tight in jeans. There is a tiny bit of scuff on the cylinder, but not enough to be disfiguring. The only "customizing" I've done to swap in a set of Pachmayr grips.
Between this and a Model 36 in the bedroom safe (unlocked when I am home), there's something accessible all the time. Not paranoid, just cautious.
If you're thinking about the 642 -- if it fits your criteria for size/weight, capacity, etc. you won't be sorry. r/
Good posts as always, and some good care-and-feeding tips.
I sold a Glock 27 last year with the idea of replacing it with a c/c revolver. It's a great little gun, but blocky, and I had reservations about using it as a c/c piece. I was looking at a 65 and a 649 during a show in Richmond ... one of the guys working the booth walked me through the pros and cons of both, and the 642 as well. I bought the 642 ... and haven't looked back. Thankfully I've not been tested, but after several hundred range rounds I'm confident inside 10 yards.
I now use an Uncle Mike's pocket holster, but after seeing the reviews here and on the S&W Forum I will be ordering a Round-cut pocket holster from Robert Mika ... fits OK in my Dockers pockets, though tight in jeans. There is a tiny bit of scuff on the cylinder, but not enough to be disfiguring. The only "customizing" I've done to swap in a set of Pachmayr grips.
Between this and a Model 36 in the bedroom safe (unlocked when I am home), there's something accessible all the time. Not paranoid, just cautious.
If you're thinking about the 642 -- if it fits your criteria for size/weight, capacity, etc. you won't be sorry. r/
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