What do I have here? 442 Smith but how old??

[patsue]

I bought this like new 442 today used at my local fun shop for $340

I knew it was a no lock of course which is why I jumped on it but the more I look at it, it has color case hardened trigger and no integral cylinder stop on the right side of the frame.
Is it ok to shoot +P ammo from time to time? The serial number is BRR9XXX.

Patrick

 

[earlthegoat2]

Go ahead and shoot +P from time to time. It will be fine.

I would think it from the late nineties.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I had the same gun. It had the smoothest action of any j frame I've ever tried. I shot some +P's with no ill effects other than more recoil. +P's will not cause the gun to blow up, but will loosen it up and possibly streach the frame with a steady diet.

I regret selling mine and looking at yours you got a great deal.

 

[patsue]

It just says MOD 442 on the yoke so it isn't +P rated.

Whatever, I wouldn't shoot them only in a self defense situation anyway so I will just carry it and be good with it.

Patrick

 

[Bob79]

The gun was probably made in the early to mid 90's (catalog says 93-95 for no dash model), and its a "no dash" model 442. Officially the gun is not rated for +P use by S&W, but some +P will not hurt it all. I have the same gun. If you shoot the gun once a month, and put a cylinder full of +P rounds through it every month, you'll be just fine. Now if you shoot a box of +P every month, or you're shooting double tap or Buffalo bore +P then I'd say its not a good idea.

Make sure you open the cylinder up, flip the gun upside-down, and look at the area of the frame where the crane fits in underneath where the barrel threads into the frame. Sometimes in the airweights S&W threaded them too tight, and cracked the frames. I actually found this crack in an Airweight bodyguard I ALMOST bought a couple of years ago.

They are great guns, an action job from Clark Custom Guns will make the trigger pull just as smooth/light as the Ruger LCR trigger. Good luck.