The 642 club

[Headless]

Hey guys! I finally went and bought my 642 Will be able to go pick it up next thursday. My father owned a model 36 for many years that he purchased way back, and he passed it down to my older brother who put some hogue grips on it. I really loved that thing, and the 642 looks to do what the model 36 did - and then some! +P rounds, lighter and a concealed hammer that won't catch on clothing when drawn!
I'm excited Where can i find those crimson trace grips cheap?

 

[Bubba Ron]

Crimson Trace Laser Sights

We got ours from Impact Guns, highly recommended, see:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/crimson_trace_laser_sights.html

 

[Terry1810]

I finally took my 642 to the range today. I shot about 50 rounds of some leftover 38 I got when I was running an armory in the Navy. I forgot how dirty that powder was!

I then used 20 rounds of Speer GoldDot 135gr +P, and wow, what a kick. Then came 20 rounds of Remington Golden Saber 125gr +P, again WOW!!! Last were Federal Hydra-Shok, 129gr +P. These rounds were much better going out of this snubby IMHO.

I changed the grip to a Pachmayr Gripper and did the three types again with much better control and felt recoil. The draw back is the stock grips will conceal much better than the larger Pachmayr, so I'll stick with the stock ones.

Then I noticed the blister in the web of my hand that was busted open. ( I was shooting one handed all the time). I put the stock grips back on (plus a shooting glove) and finished up shooting close to 200 more rounds of that old dirty nasty 38 cal military ammo turning the gun almost black.

These 370 rounds was time consuming, five shots at a time, but fun.

I like the 642!!!!!

- Terry

 

[gparrish]

I had my 642 out this afternoon and fired 5 rounds of 135gr. Gold Dots and then about 15 rounds of light handloads. (I was really out to shoot my King Cobra). I was using the NRA Crimson Trace Lasergrips and didn't think the Gold Dots were too bad. At about seven yards I could cover all 20 with the palm of my hand. My range is shady and I had no problem seeing the laser dot. I don't know if it is the shape of my hand or my grip but I have trouble maintaining pressure on the button on the lasergrips while sqeezing the trigger. Anyone else have that problem?

Gparrish

 

[AStone]

These 370 rounds...

Holy cow.

Ouch.

 

[Terry1810]

370 rounds...
Holy cow.
Ouch.

I had to reduce the trigger pull down somehow didn't I? That was more fun than snap caps.

- Terry

 

[Headless]

Going to pick up my 642 tommorrow. And about 200rounds. I was looking around for some info on the 642's trigger pull - does anyone know what it is? 4#? 8#? 12#?

 

[Lord Bodak]

I put Hogue Bantams on my 642 after 100 rounds in a session with the stock grips did a number on my thumb. I haven't had a chance to shoot it with the Bantams though, I've been slacking off

 

[Headless]

Just got back from picking up my new baby It's amazing how light these guns are.

Anyone know what the factory trigger pull is in lb's? manual doesn't say either

 

[badge4436]

642-1 without internal lock

Was going to give my son my 642-1 without a lock but am having second thoughts. I carried that baby on patrol for a number of years as a backup. Think I will buy him a new 642.

He can have the non-lock 642 when I check into the Wooden Waldorf.

 

[up_onus]

im a 340pd owner.... Crimson Trace?

Basically the same thing, cept mine weighs in at a whopping 3-4oz lighter..
I love the damn thing! So ez to thro in the pocket...

What I really want to know is has anybody tried the Crimson Trace LG-405? They say it has a "recoil reducer" on the backstrap. Does it work ? Is it worth an extra 229?? I can shoot the thing fine, althought 357 rounds will do a number on me after 10 shots or so I stick to practice mainly with 38's.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Hope this is an appropriate place to ask:

What's the difference between "Centennial" and "Bodyguard" styles?

 

[fiVe]

TexasSIGman:

I think a Centennial looks like a 642, but it is not an airweight. These heavier versions were called 640s.

The Bodyguard is a humpback, and I've seen these in heavy and airweight versions.

Others more knowledgable--please chime in.

R/fiVe

 

[Headless]

Well, i've had my 642 for a few hours and have had the chance to dry fire it a bit, and i must say i'm a bit dissapointed in the heavy trigger pull. For comparison, i dry-fired my brother's model 36 and the subjective effort to pull the trigger, even in double action, was half that of this 642. On the plus side, the 642 is considerably lighter and has a concealed hammer...and can handle +P rounds. Does anyone have any information on weather the 642 will continue to function with a lighter spring installed? Say 6-8lb rather than what this is currently (12lb? 15?! hehe)

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

The trigger pull on my 642 has improved dramatically over the course of the first 1000 rounds. On the other hand, a friend's 642 had some sort of screw come loose inside during the first 15 rounds and the cylinder locked up. I shot rounds six through ten, and it had the crunchiest, roughest, just-plain-worst trigger pull of any gun I have ever fired.

I doubt you are having those kinds of problems--they are extremely rare--but you should probably make sure everything is functioning properly. Once you've determined that, you can go about the business of dry firing and live firing the trigger into an acceptable state. Or you can take the good advice in this thread and improve the trigger pull. Personally I prefer a heavy trigger in a gun I use for pocket carry.

 

[Terry1810]

When I first got my 642, between my daughter and I, we dry-fired (into snap caps) over 1,000 times. After each session when we were over 500 count, we each noticed the improvement when we next tried it. I then opened the side plate and made sure any metal dust didn't build up. (I found very little)

By the time I got to the range and fired well over 300 rounds that day, the overall trigger pull was much better. Either all the dry-firing helped or my trigger finger is much stronger now.

Others that have fired it have said, "I heard these this had heavier trigger pulls, this isn't to bad."

- Terry

 

[xd9fan]

I love my 642. From a post on this massive thread I saw a guy with this holster:www.copsplus.com/prodnum4127.php
its the best belt holster ever. This company was fast and easy to deal with. Wearing it right now!!

 

[bullfrog99]

consider this notice, my application to the club

(You were right Iggy, I never stood a chance...)



I picked her up yesterday with a box of Remington LSWCHP +P and 500 unprimed brass. I picked up the rest of the trimmings to load them today, except I forgot that I only had 200 primers left...

Between this thread and "The snubby still rocks" article in the July '06 SWAT magazine, someone aught to be gettin a commission...



P.S.
Anyone recomend a good IWB holster for someone ahem... a touch soggy round the middle, preferably leather?

 

[fiVe]

bullfrog99: Your application is most certainly accepted. VERY nice piece. Welcome to the club.

Regards,
fiVe

 

[Headless]

Went out to the range today and put the first 100 or so rounds through it my new 642-2... half the 'UMC' green box remington's, and half 125gr+P winchesters. My hand hurts. Can't wait for my hogue grips; it was a stark contrast recoil wise, firing my brothers model 36 right after firing the 642. I've dry fired it about 800 times now and the trigger may be slightly smoother but is still way harder of a pull than the model 36's... opened it up to clean and lubed up all the moving parts and the trigger is a bit better than before using rem-oil on everything. Overall i'm happy with it Need those grips; bare frame against hand = pain firing +P's

 

[jad0110]

Joined the club in the spring with the purchase of my 642, but things have been getting busy lately (I'll be a daddy in October ).

I am extremely happy with my purchase. I knew I wanted a 38 snubby for CCW, and this thread sold me on the 642. I had considered a semi auto like a Beretta Bobcat, Keltec PF9, or Kahr CW9. But my top 3 wants in a CCW piece are as follows: 1. Reliability 2. Reliability 3. Reliability! I have dry fired mine probably 500 times, off and on and have put 220 rounds through it. I bought mine NIB (yes, it has the lock , which I just ignore) and have noticed the trigger loosening up pretty well. The trigger is certainly getting better, but its not quite as light and smooth as my Taurus M66. My shot groups, though certainly nothing to brag about, are starting to get more respectable. Lets just say I can very reliably defend myself out to about 10 yds. I'm continuing to work on my trigger control, and it is taking some time to get used to the open sights. Has anyone ever tried painting the front sight to make it stand out a little more? If so, was it successful?

I was a little worried at first about the recoil in such a small, light gun. However, I didn't find the recoil to be any more objectionalble than my .357 Mag 66. Speer Gold Dot .38+p was certainly a little stiff, but the gun remained manageable. My hat's off to you guys packing .357 snubs, especially airweights and AIRLITES . Actually, I was really surprised by the lack of muzzle flip. My Springfield XD (9mm) flips like crazy, but my 642 recovers very quickly. I do have to remember to remove my wedding band before shooting (or even dry firing), as I got a nice blister on my ring finger when I forgot to. Oh yeah, and my hand is usually fairly sore the next day.

I'm running into the same problem with my Uncle Mike's pocket holster that many of your are having (with wear, the cylinder is starting to print through). I was considering a Mika Pocket holster. What is the latest consensus, square or round cut?

Thanks everyone for your posts, this is a fantastic thread!

 

[fiVe]

I was considering a Mika Pocket holster. What is the latest consensus, square or round cut?

I went with the round cut because it will fit a round and square cut pocket. IMO, you can't beat a Mika pocket holster.

R/fiVe

 

[jes]

642 Fun

I'm continuing to work on my trigger control, and it is taking some time to get used to the open sights. Has anyone ever tried painting the front sight to make it stand out a little more? If so, was it successful?

I painted my front sight orange and it really seems to help. If you want to use temporary color, just try crayon instead of paint.

I love the 642. It's my regular carry gun, which I carry in my pocket using a FIST holster. I also practise it regularly in Indoor Defensive Shooting exercises...I try to save my last target in each set for the 642 (I use an XD9 as my range gun). My times suck, but I get realistic practise on drawing, firing, and reloading.

 

[jayp]

I joined the club

New member here- bought a 642 and a Kramer pocket holster at the PDX gunshow on Saturday.

I'm really impressed how easy the revolver conceals in the front pocket of my shorts or jeans with the Kramer. I recommend it highly.

5 rounds of totally reliable 38 special +P- let's hear it for the wheelgun!

 

[Cocked & Locked]

642-1

I bought this 642-1 in '97 and carry it daily in a Wild Bill's pocket holster or loose in my pocket. The finish has held up well except for a couple of small areas from the holster wear, etc.