The 642 club
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jad0110
Member
RonR,
As for being able to shoot DA/SA in self-defense, I am in agreement with jt1 that trying to cock the hammer when you are dealing with massive adrenaline dump could be dangerous. For example, when cocking the hammer it may slip from your thumb, potentially causing an ND. Then there is the problem of lowering the hammer with said adrenaline in your system if you don't have to fire. Most of the time, there will be little time to even draw, much less cock the hammer. As a result, I rarely ever practice SA.
If you do get the 637 and find that the hammer snags, you can always get the hammer bobbed.
As for being able to shoot DA/SA in self-defense, I am in agreement with jt1 that trying to cock the hammer when you are dealing with massive adrenaline dump could be dangerous. For example, when cocking the hammer it may slip from your thumb, potentially causing an ND. Then there is the problem of lowering the hammer with said adrenaline in your system if you don't have to fire. Most of the time, there will be little time to even draw, much less cock the hammer. As a result, I rarely ever practice SA.
If you do get the 637 and find that the hammer snags, you can always get the hammer bobbed.
DAdams
Member
Round Versatility
Nem that is just cuter than a speckled pup.
Sweet.
.357 and .38 spl. Don't hurt yourself with that hot stuff.
Nem that is just cuter than a speckled pup.
Sweet. .357 and .38 spl. Don't hurt yourself with that hot stuff.
AStone
Member
G'man19, wow, .44 mag combo. That's pretty exciting. Maybe someday ...
B'ref, that's actually my girlfriend with the bad hair day. Of course, in my book, Milla J. can have a bad hair day and it doesn't change a thing for me. (And if you really believe she's my girlfriend, then you need to watch The Fifth Element ... right after I sell you a piece of property with a large old bridge on it ... )
DA, will be careful with it. I am so in love with it. It has already become my favorite rifle (and I haven't even shot it yet), and is vying for favorite gun.
AND, I met a very <ahem> intriguing, beautiful new woman the day after I picked it up. We're already planning to spend time together. (And she likes guns!) Now that's gotta be a good omen.
B'ref, that's actually my girlfriend with the bad hair day. Of course, in my book, Milla J. can have a bad hair day and it doesn't change a thing for me. (And if you really believe she's my girlfriend, then you need to watch The Fifth Element ... right after I sell you a piece of property with a large old bridge on it ...
)DA, will be careful with it. I am so in love with it. It has already become my favorite rifle (and I haven't even shot it yet), and is vying for favorite gun.
AND, I met a very <ahem> intriguing, beautiful new woman the day after I picked it up. We're already planning to spend time together. (And she likes guns!) Now that's gotta be a good omen.
AStone
Member
<chuckles>
Yeah, you're right.
Can't carry that '894 as easy as this '642 on my right side ...
1BLINDREF
Member
Nem-
Thanks for the link to Milla. I'd seen her but never knew who she was.
I like the blue bathing suit
Trench coat would look out of place in the middle of summer
Thanks for the link to Milla. I'd seen her but never knew who she was.
I like the blue bathing suit
35Rem
Member
Speed Loaders:
Get the A-zoom brand ( I think), these are the ones shaped like actual cartridges, and use them to practice your speed loads as well as dry firing.
It's a Two-Fer!
Get the A-zoom brand ( I think), these are the ones shaped like actual cartridges, and use them to practice your speed loads as well as dry firing.
It's a Two-Fer!
blenderhead
Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2007
- Messages
- 12
I have a 640...what is the main difference? Different metal and different weight? Is the 642 just .38 +p or is it chambered for .357 like the 640? Thanks!
Vanderbilt
Member
Add another 642 Club-influenced purchase to your tally, fellas. Yesterday I picked up a 642 from my local gun shop for $405 - maybe a few bucks more than what's available online, but I believe in supporting local shops (if they leave, I won't have anywhere to go and oggle the guns). The 642 is my introduction to S&W, as my other guns are both Rugers: an SP101 (slightly heavy for pocket carry) and a Vaquero (which goes nowhere near my pockets). Needless to say, I can't wait to take it to the range.
Before I stumbled on this thread, I believed that snubby's were too big for pocket carry - and I was considering a Kel Tec 3AT. As such, I decided to head over to the shop and see what all the 642 fuss was about. I asked one of the sales guys to show me the best pocket pistol they had, and he pointed me directly to a case of 642's. He even showed me his own 642, which he carries in a pocket holster. When the 642 disappeared into my pocket, I was 100% convinced. Anyway, thanks to all the folks on this thread for pointing me in the right direction!
Before I stumbled on this thread, I believed that snubby's were too big for pocket carry - and I was considering a Kel Tec 3AT. As such, I decided to head over to the shop and see what all the 642 fuss was about. I asked one of the sales guys to show me the best pocket pistol they had, and he pointed me directly to a case of 642's. He even showed me his own 642, which he carries in a pocket holster. When the 642 disappeared into my pocket, I was 100% convinced. Anyway, thanks to all the folks on this thread for pointing me in the right direction!
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CleverNickname
Member
I've been looking at maybe getting a 642, but I won't buy one with the lawyer lock. I found a used 642-1 online for $425, but that seems a little high. Any opinions on the price?
DAdams
Member
Welcome
Welcome Vanderbilt, don't be afraid to order the Robert Mika, pocket holster next. Probably a round cut.
Speer GD, 135 +P or the Buffalo Bore 158 gr Standard Pressure is good. So order up some BB ammunition while your on-line spending money.
Clever-
$425 for a no lock 642 is reasonable if it is 95% or better. Don't want to wait forever, since you will have the 642 for a long time and all it will do is apreciate over time....unless S&W eliminates the ILS, which is not very likely.
Welcome to Blenderhead too.
Welcome Vanderbilt, don't be afraid to order the Robert Mika, pocket holster next. Probably a round cut.
Speer GD, 135 +P or the Buffalo Bore 158 gr Standard Pressure is good. So order up some BB ammunition while your on-line spending money.
Clever-
$425 for a no lock 642 is reasonable if it is 95% or better. Don't want to wait forever, since you will have the 642 for a long time and all it will do is apreciate over time....unless S&W eliminates the ILS, which is not very likely.
Welcome to Blenderhead too.
Vanderbilt
Member
Thanks for the welcome, DAdams.
As for ammunition, the shop threw in a box of wadcutters w/the gun. I believe they're 158-grain. How do the benevolent 642 board members view the effectiveness of wadcutters? Are they a good choice for this gun?
As for ammunition, the shop threw in a box of wadcutters w/the gun. I believe they're 158-grain. How do the benevolent 642 board members view the effectiveness of wadcutters? Are they a good choice for this gun?
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,700
blenderhead; Vanderbilt,
Welcome To the 642 Club.
blenderhead, 421/442 NOT chambered for the .357
CleverNickname,
Buy it.
Vanderbilt,
Ammo of choice seems to be Speer Gold Sot or Federal Hydra Shok for Self Defense. For practice I shoot CCI Blaser Brass.
Welcome To the 642 Club.
blenderhead, 421/442 NOT chambered for the .357
CleverNickname,
Buy it.
Vanderbilt,
Ammo of choice seems to be Speer Gold Sot or Federal Hydra Shok for Self Defense. For practice I shoot CCI Blaser Brass.
model49
Member
It's time
I've been carrying an old model 49 Bodyguard for years. If I've ever had a sweeter trigger on a gun I can't recall it. But that ol' humpback carries like a chunk of lead. It's great for shooting cause that weight takes a lot of the bite out of the hotter loads. But I'm about to retire it to the nightstand.
I'm going for a 642 tomorrow. I'm tired of having to hitch up my pants all the time.
I've been reading a lot of this thread and gained a great deal of info on this 642. The moment I slipped one in to my pocket I knew it was for me.
Now if only one of these local gun dealers will have the sense to spot a sucker when he sees one I'll have an airweight by this time tomorrow.
Thanks for all the help.
m49
I've been carrying an old model 49 Bodyguard for years. If I've ever had a sweeter trigger on a gun I can't recall it. But that ol' humpback carries like a chunk of lead. It's great for shooting cause that weight takes a lot of the bite out of the hotter loads. But I'm about to retire it to the nightstand.
I'm going for a 642 tomorrow. I'm tired of having to hitch up my pants all the time.
I've been reading a lot of this thread and gained a great deal of info on this 642. The moment I slipped one in to my pocket I knew it was for me.
Now if only one of these local gun dealers will have the sense to spot a sucker
when he sees one I'll have an airweight by this time tomorrow.Thanks for all the help.
m49
35Rem - Welcome to you, Good tip on those A-zoom pratice rounds/snap caps,They are here:
http://www.lymanproducts.com/azoom/index.htm
blenderhead, Vanderbilt, CleverNickname - Welcome to all of you to the 642 club. You can't go wrong with the 642, always there in your pocket, always ready to help out if needed. The lock is really not an issue at all, if you don't like the idea of it a good "cleaning" will take care of it. If it is a apperance issue, then you will have to find a 642-1 .38+p or a 642 no dash .38 non +p.
S&W X42, a value at any price.
model49 - You are most welcome here. You will be happy with your new friend, All of the best qualities of your 49 and a lot easier to live with. Be sure to give that 49 a good retirement home.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/azoom/index.htm
blenderhead, Vanderbilt, CleverNickname - Welcome to all of you to the 642 club. You can't go wrong with the 642, always there in your pocket, always ready to help out if needed. The lock is really not an issue at all, if you don't like the idea of it a good "cleaning" will take care of it. If it is a apperance issue, then you will have to find a 642-1 .38+p or a 642 no dash .38 non +p.
S&W X42, a value at any price.
I would not care to be on the non-primer end of them.
model49 - You are most welcome here. You will be happy with your new friend, All of the best qualities of your 49 and a lot easier to live with. Be sure to give that 49 a good retirement home.
DAdams
Member
Bilt
Vanderbilt
There are ammunition makers who are specializing in "short barrel" stuff.
Low flash, etc. This Speer Gold Dot for short barrels is a good bet. Try it out.
If this is a bit too hot, you may want to get some Buffalo Bore 158 gr standard pressure, for short barrels.
TESTED. PROVEN. TRUSTED. GOLD DOT®
PERFORMANCE YOU CAN COUNT ON. EVERY TIME.
Why? Because we make sure that your Gold Dot® ammunition will excel in the stringent handgun ammunition tests developed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for service-class* handgun cartridges. These tests evaluate total penetration, expansion, and retained weight in bare gelatin, and gelatin shielded by common barriers, to find out if the cartridge produces the tactical penetration required. Look at the table below for an example of Gold Dot results. The load is the 38 Special +P Short Barrel Gold Dot fired from a 2-inch revolver, a real challenge for other bullet types. Those numbers tell you this is an outstanding performer, as are all our Gold Dot products.
38 SPECIAL+P 135 GRAIN GOLD DOT SHORT BARREL HOLLOW POINT EXCELS THROUGH FBI PROTOCOL TESTS. View Specifics Here, Gold Dot shows optimum penetration and expansion through bare gelatin.
Product Listing
• True, bonded-core bullet velocity-tuned for optimum terminal performance
• Nickel-plated case
• Low-flash propellant
• Famous CCI® primers
http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/short_brl.aspx
Here is the link to lots of good information.
Here is the Buffalo Bore link page.
They do some nice speciality loads.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#standard38
You can use pretty much anything at the range. I would start with standard pressure 38 spl fmj or jhp then try some plus P. Virtually any brand from WalMart such as Remington or Winchester White Box will work.
Purchase a couple of boxes each of the good stuff, practice with it, then use it for constant carry.
*******************************************************************************
Mika Holsters.
For those of you who haven't tracked it down yet. Here is Robert Mika's website.
They are ugly, but they conceal well, stay in the pocket and are fast.
Can't beat a X42 in a Mika roundcut.
http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/
Order direct.
Vanderbilt
There are ammunition makers who are specializing in "short barrel" stuff.
Low flash, etc. This Speer Gold Dot for short barrels is a good bet. Try it out.
If this is a bit too hot, you may want to get some Buffalo Bore 158 gr standard pressure, for short barrels.
TESTED. PROVEN. TRUSTED. GOLD DOT®
PERFORMANCE YOU CAN COUNT ON. EVERY TIME.
Why? Because we make sure that your Gold Dot® ammunition will excel in the stringent handgun ammunition tests developed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for service-class* handgun cartridges. These tests evaluate total penetration, expansion, and retained weight in bare gelatin, and gelatin shielded by common barriers, to find out if the cartridge produces the tactical penetration required. Look at the table below for an example of Gold Dot results. The load is the 38 Special +P Short Barrel Gold Dot fired from a 2-inch revolver, a real challenge for other bullet types. Those numbers tell you this is an outstanding performer, as are all our Gold Dot products.
38 SPECIAL+P 135 GRAIN GOLD DOT SHORT BARREL HOLLOW POINT EXCELS THROUGH FBI PROTOCOL TESTS. View Specifics Here, Gold Dot shows optimum penetration and expansion through bare gelatin.
Product Listing
• True, bonded-core bullet velocity-tuned for optimum terminal performance
• Nickel-plated case
• Low-flash propellant
• Famous CCI® primers
http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/short_brl.aspx
Here is the link to lots of good information.
Here is the Buffalo Bore link page.
They do some nice speciality loads.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#standard38
You can use pretty much anything at the range. I would start with standard pressure 38 spl fmj or jhp then try some plus P. Virtually any brand from WalMart such as Remington or Winchester White Box will work.
Purchase a couple of boxes each of the good stuff, practice with it, then use it for constant carry.
*******************************************************************************
Mika Holsters.
For those of you who haven't tracked it down yet. Here is Robert Mika's website.
They are ugly, but they conceal well, stay in the pocket and are fast.
Can't beat a X42 in a Mika roundcut.
http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/
Order direct.
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MassMark
Member
WOW!!! The "642-Heads" just keep a comin'!!! Welcome to all new members and congratulations on a wise purchase!!!
Vanderbilt Welcome - after carrying bottom feeders for the last 20-years, my transition to the 642CT took some getting used to. The one thing that did not, was the ease at which it carries and the variety or ways to pack it up and hit the bricks....I field tested a lot of ammunition - box after box after box....I also did a ton of reading and research, (most right here). I finally found the 135gr Speer Gold Dot +P's to be the ideal carry round, (for me). Low flash, high power, accurate, barks like a big bad dog, but comes back to point for follow-ups with no worries mate. There's a lot to choose from out there and I recommend you shoot a lot of it. I found training with Winchester JHP 125 +P was an affordable option, (short of reloading), until I bought a full case of Speer GDHP badness...
In any case, read a lot, post a lot and of course shoot a lot...Welcome aboard everyone!
Vanderbilt Welcome - after carrying bottom feeders for the last 20-years, my transition to the 642CT took some getting used to. The one thing that did not, was the ease at which it carries and the variety or ways to pack it up and hit the bricks....I field tested a lot of ammunition - box after box after box....I also did a ton of reading and research, (most right here). I finally found the 135gr Speer Gold Dot +P's to be the ideal carry round, (for me). Low flash, high power, accurate, barks like a big bad dog, but comes back to point for follow-ups with no worries mate. There's a lot to choose from out there and I recommend you shoot a lot of it. I found training with Winchester JHP 125 +P was an affordable option, (short of reloading), until I bought a full case of Speer GDHP badness...
In any case, read a lot, post a lot and of course shoot a lot...Welcome aboard everyone!
jad0110
Member
See for yourself. Though these wadcutters featured here are 148s, it'll give you an idea:
http://www.brassfetcher.com/38wadcutter.html
IMHO, shot placement and penetration are the two most critical issues. If you can shoot the 158 WCs well, you certainly won't have to worry about penetration. Since they don't expand, they don't bleed off as much velocity, so the penetrate much further than most hollowpoint ammunition. Perhaps too far for some people to feel comfortable with in populated areas. Although wadcutters would make excellent SD rounds in cold, northern climates when BGs would be dressing heavier.
Nem,
That is once nice looking lever you got there! Did you toss the 870 for it, or do you still have it? 38/357 is a great option for you, as I imagine it makes ammo logistics a lot easier. Plus with all the 38/357 you'll be going through it may be a good excuse to reload
.And I hope everything works out well with the new lady friend. Nice bonus that you share a hobby you can enjoy!
DAdams
Member
IWB Carriers
I encountered this Kydex IWB holster on the S&W Forum.
Thought some of you might be interested for such a M.O.
http://www.shotist.com/products.html
I encountered this Kydex IWB holster on the S&W Forum.
Thought some of you might be interested for such a M.O.
http://www.shotist.com/products.html
Phydeaux642
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,886
CleverNickname- I paid $400 for my 642-2, so, $425 for a 642-1 doesn't seem too bad to me if it's in really nice shape. I missed out on a 442 "no lock" last week for $369 that had never been fired. As you might have guessed, it didn't last long.:banghead:
Also, I ordered a Mika round cut for the ol' 642 last night. He emailed me and said it would be three or four weeks before he could get me one. I said that was fine because I heard that the holster was well worth the wait. So, if you are thinking of getting one, the quicker you order, the better.
_____________________________
"Phydeaux, bad dog....no biscuit!"
Also, I ordered a Mika round cut for the ol' 642 last night. He emailed me and said it would be three or four weeks before he could get me one. I said that was fine because I heard that the holster was well worth the wait. So, if you are thinking of getting one, the quicker you order, the better.
_____________________________
"Phydeaux, bad dog....no biscuit!"
AStone
Member
Thanks, Jad.
I did sell the 870 to a local high roader who lives in a nearby town. (Always great to meet THR folks.)
I think the 1894 makes MUCH more sense for me as a companion to my 642 and 65. It simplifies ammo stocks considerably.
Yep. I'm looking into buying reloading equipment this year. I'm researching it now in various threads on THR (here's one that I started) and over on Marlin Owners Forum. I hope to invest and get into it this winter if my finances allow it.
Thanks. My fingers are crossed. I'm trying to be optimistic. My love life has been pretty rocky for the last few years; I'm so ready for something enjoyable for a change. We'll see.
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