The 642 club

[kmrcstintn]

holy hades!!!

just how big has this thread become?!?

is THR renting server hard drive space from NASA to keep this thing going?!?

 

[fiVe]

Welcome back, kmrcstintn! I've been wondering about you. How's your 642 holding up? Can you give us an update on how many rounds you've put thru it?

Glad you stopped by (yes, we've grown since your last visit), and I hope you will visit frequently.

R/fiVe

 

[NoWake]

New to the High Road and figured I may as well make my first post in this thread, since last week I became a verry happy owner of a 642. Never been that big on revolvers for carry guns, but the 642 has completely changed my mind. I love this thing. My XD doesn't get out near as much anymore.
I am afraid though that I will soon lose my 642 though as it seems the wife has taken a liking to it. When that happens I will definitely be getting another 642 or possibly an M&P 340.
This little gun has expanded my views and made my wish list that much longer.

 

[mikeyinokc]

Originally posted by Phydeaux642

Are there any 642 Club members out there who use the Smartcarry holster on a regular basis? I use it quite often and am curious about other users experiences with it.

I just got a 642 about 3 weeks ago, and haven't carried it in my Smartcarry yet. I have often used the Smartcarry to carry my Walther P99. Especially when out for my evening walks, and when wearing wind pants and the like. I will carry the 642 in it now. I would think it would be even better than the Walther.

 

[fiVe]

This little gun has expanded my views and made my wish list that much longer.

NoWake: No surprise there. Welcome to the 642 Club and to The High Road.

 

[gtmtnbiker98]

Well, here in about two hours I will be picking up a brand spanking new 642 from my ffl buddy - paying $329.00. This will be my second j-frame air weight to share duty with my 637-2 that I love dearly. Just had to try the 642 and again, this has to be the longest Internet thread I've ever seen.

 

[sixgunner455]

Are there any 642 Club members out there who use the Smartcarry holster on a regular basis? I use it quite often and am curious about other users experiences with it.

Been using my Smartcarry with pocket pistols, including my 642, for years. Works very, very well for discrete carry. It's old, getting worn in spots, and needs a seam re-done, but I've been using it regularly, sometimes exclusively, for 7+years.

.38 spl +P is "good enough" in an air weight

+P is too much for my wrist. I shoot some through it occaisionally, but a box of 50 can last me for a long, long time. Put ten +P through it Saturday. Wrist was very pained for 2 days. Still feel it today.

125gr standard pressure hollow points here, softball lead reloads for most of my shooting through it.

 

[jad0110]

So the really question is, if you had a $1000 to spend on your one-and-only handgun, would it be a full-on 340?

If not, what would you suggest.

Hmmm, with $1,000 I would buy:

- A S&W 642 for $379 locally
- A used Ruger Service/Security/Speed Six 357 Mag with a 2.75 or 3" barrel for around $300
- A well worn but functional S&W Model 10 4" for around $200, just for fun

With tax, that'd about do it!

 

[glassman]

Like This Pic

I know everyone here has seen one but I just like this picture.

 

[FireCaptDave]

Toothpaste???

Yesterday I was speaking to a gentleman who's a range master/weapons instructor for my local Sheriff's office. He's also a certified S&W armorer. We were talking how a J-frame's action can seem a bit rough right out of the box. He said one way to smooth it out is to take off the side plate, squeeze toothpaste into the action, reapply side plate and dry fire a bunch of times (I think he said about a 1000.) He said the toothpaste helps remove any burrs on the metal. Of course, after you’re done dry firing you open up the side plate and remove the toothpaste.

If this guy wasn't a RM and a certified S&W armorer, I'd think he's nuts. Has anyone else heard of such a thing?

(I'm being serious as a heart attack here....)

 

[JMFred]

I'm sure it would work just fine. Toothpaste has mild polishing compounds in it- That's why it makes your teeth feel smooth and removes plaque. Toothpaste will also polish metals and plastics. I've used it to smooth the twisting motion on some of my flashlights. My biggest concern would be cleaning the action out real well. I suppose a healthy dose of WD-40 might do the trick.

 

[sdra2007]

Just got my new 642 a few weeks back. Shot about 110 rounds through it now. Deffinately a great little gun. Goes everywhere with me.

 

[AStone]

Toothpaste: I got the same recommendation recently on Marlin Owners Forum for smoothing the action of my 336: fill it with some whitening (abrasive) toothpaste and rack it a billion times, then wash out toothpaste, clean well, oil, etc.

Haven't done it yet. May still.

 

[jt1]

NoWake and sdra2007 - Welcome to you both, we are happy to have you in the club house.

gtmtnbiker98 - Great price on that 642. I don't know if this is the longest thread, but I know it's the best.

glassman - That sure is a "sharpie".

ALL - I have heard about the toothpaste thing as well, sounds like it would work and make quite a mess too.

 

[Clyde from Carolina]

Wow, I had no idea there were so many 642 fans. This has got to be the longest thread I have ever seen on any gun forum!

My old 642-1 is still doing fine. Wouldn't trade it in for anything.

I posted about it several weeks ago, but I'm just stunned at the number of pages in this thread.

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Glassman, I know what the pistol is, but what is that Sharpie thing?

Give your 642 a few years of pocket carry and it won't be so shiny...

Welcome to all the new members, BTW. There are too many to recount.

 

[Headless]

If i had 1000$ i'd get the S&W 340MP and a S&W CS9 or CS40. I in fact just bought a CS40 and it should arrive this week. Pocket carry my 642, keep the CS40 on ankle or IWB. Extra mag. In this day of multiple attackers the 5 round 642 and awkward reload made made me nervous. CS40 = 7+1 + 7 in an extra mag, plus the 5 in the 642 = 8+7+5=20 rounds and 2 guns just in case I think a NIB 340 and barely used CS40 would be right at 1k.

 

[Phydeaux642]

I haven't made it all the way through this thread, so, forgive me if this has been asked and answered somewhere along the way. I have a 642, which I like alot, but I am considering purchasing a 340 M&P so I can feed it a steady diet of .38 P+ in order to get used to the recoil. A lot of the guys in the local gun shops where I live said they do not recommend a steady diet of P+ in the 642. Has anyone fed there 642 a lot of P+, and how has it held up? I figure you ought to shoot what you carry.


__________________________

"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

 

[Headless]

I've fired about 2200 rounds out of my 642 now - about half +P, maybe 40% +P.... She's fine. The trigger is nice and smooth now - the second 'click' of the stage is so smooth i can't really even tell it's there anymore - she still locks up fine and her accuracy has either gotten better or i've just gotten better with her I was sniping at tennis balls with it at the range last weekend @ just over 30 yards and managed to hit them 4 times in 10 shots single handed. I don't think +P is a problem for the 642...at least, not factory +P like WWB.. dunno if the beastlier buffalo bore rounds or extreme power doubletap ammo would be worse; i don't fire those. I've fired a bunch of hot corbon 110gr DPX (around 100 rounds) without remark though.

I'd still get a 340pd if i were you

 

[AStone]

I was sniping at tennis balls with it at the range last weekend @ just over 30 yards
and managed to hit them 4 times in 10 shots single handed.

At 30 yds? With a 642?

Dude, if the balloon goes up, I want to be on YOUR team.

 

[Headless]

I've got witnesses! I actually hit one...well ok, i grazed it, at 50 yards It only took me 4 reloads My brother's model 36 is easier to shoot at range, but i'm finally getting the hang of the 642. Single action hair trigger is really nice on the mod 36, though...and the sights are much thinner/slimmer which makes it easier to sight at a distance.
Most people never try shooting at things far away with their snub - i think you'd be surprised what she's capable of if you do your part. inside 10-15 yards i can hit tennis balls 2 or 3 times in a row while it's still rolling from the first shot on a good day... I practice alot with tennis balls - much cheaper than shoot 'n c targets, and they're reactive. The only short barreled gun i've had problems aiming is the keltec 380 with the worthlessly low profile nub sights. It took a me whole mag to hit a tennis ball once at 10 yards with that thing.

 

[tsidorus]

For what its worth I feel standard pressure American Eagle 158Grain SWC have more felt recoil than 125 Grain +p Gold Dot loads...

-Tsi

 

[jt1]

I've got witnesses!

Of course as a 642 Club member, your word is you witness.

tsidorus - Welcome to Club 642, make yourself at home. As you are aware felt recoil is very subjective, there are so many factors involved, powder charge, burn rate, bullet weight, grip varations, fatigue, etc. Sometimes I can fire a given round all day with no problem and sometimes the same load seems really hot.

 

[flc]

If anyone knows somebody interested I have some CT LG405s on sale in accessories

Getting ready to go on a high country fishing trip. The 442 stays home but the 640-1 goes as backup to my foty-fo.

 

[tsidorus]

Jt1- Thanks for the welcome. Friend of a friend... well spouse of a friend produced a 642 carrying CCW in the Florida summer after we had lunch I was hooked. I had no Idea he had it during lunch and thought it kinda odd he didnt order a drink, But then it all made since... Anyhoo exactly my feeling about felt recoil. I was just pointing out to Phydeaux642 that you need not nessessarliy use the higher pressure of +p to get a bigger push (recoil) but then again Im sure the 158grain buffalo bore rounds will kick more than the American Eagle.... Its all Relative.

-tsi