Wife wants J frame Smith w/X,X,X. Which one??

[Driftwood Johnson]

They are both alloy frames...

The barrel and cylinder on the 642 are stainless.

The barrel and cylinder on the 442 are carbon steel.

Frames are alloy, just different colors to match.

Howdy

Technically you are correct, they are both alloys. However in the firearms business, the word 'alloy' usually refers to an aluminum frame. Not technically correct, because any metal that is made up of two or more elements is an alloy, but that is the way it is in the gun trade.

For further identification, any Smith and Wesson revolver with a 6 for the first digit is a Stainless gun.



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I agree, make sure she shoots it before you buy. There is no value in an extra light gun if it hurts to shoot it.

I was in a local shop the other day and one of the clerks showed me a big N frame 44 Mag S&W. Asked me what I thought of it as he handed it to me. You could have knocked me over with a feather. The thing hardly weighed anything at all. I have a big standard Model 29, and am used to the weight of it. This thing felt like a feather. I'm sure it would be comfortable to carry all day, but I'll bet it would kick like the devil when you lit it off with a factory 44 Mag. The clerk agreed with me 100%.

I will admit, I am no fan of 357 Mag or even +P in a J frame Smith.

I have three J frames, a Model 36,





an older Flat Latch Model 36,






and a Model 60.



They are all steel, no aluminum or titanium for me. If I was going to be carrying them regularly, they would have some big, rubber, shock absorbing grips on them. And I would only be firing standard 38 Special ammo in them, no +P.

 

[springer99]

The wifes 642-2 is understandably stout with the +p but she likes shooting 38 standard cartridge,,,,

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IMHO, for a simple to use but very effective CCW, a S&W 642 as shown, fitted with CT lazer grips is about the best there is. If you like a darker finish, go with the 442 version. The grips really make a huge difference in shootability. My daughter had never fired any handguns, until last fall and wanted to try mine. Yes, it took her about 3 cylinders to get the hang of the 10-12lb trigger pull, but after that she was hitting center mass consistently at 10yds, with +P 158gr. loads.

If she's going to carry this in a purse all the time, you can then look at the same Centennial versions in steel, chambered for .357. Still shoot +P 38Spl loads in it, but at around 25 oz., it will even be nicer to shoot.

 

[bannockburn]

Driftwood Johnson

Like your J frames! I have been partial to the Model 36 (especially those with a 3" barrel), for a number of years. Currently though I have two, both with concealed hammers: a Model 649 and a Model 638. Both serve me very well and are a great way to go as CCW guns.

 

[Screwball]

For further identification, any Smith and Wesson revolver with a 6 for the first digit is a Stainless gun.

With the exception being the Airweight J-frames...

Don't get me wrong, having a 629-1 and a 1006, I'm very aware of S&W's coding systems, but that doesn't help the original poster.

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

If she likes the size & weight of the alloy J-frame, then just find ammo that suits her. The Trail Boss loads will allow her to get in as much practice as she wants. There are also mild defensive loads including the 90-gr Hornady "pink" hollow points. A 148-gr wadcutter might also be good for carry and not too stout with recoil.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

With the exception being the Airweight J-frames...

Well, all I can say is S&W has a lot of nerve making an aluminum framed revolver that has a 6 for the first digit of the model number. They sure didn't run it by me. I do see that the all those lightweight J frames that start with 6 have stainless cylinders, so at least I was partially correct.

 

[cfullgraf]

SO to get a no-lock, stainless and alloy, hammerless or concealed hammer Smith .38 Special +P, what are the model numbers please?

From the S&W web site, they list a different SKU# for the "lock" and "no lock" versions. That would help with identifying or ordering exactly what you decide on.

With my 642, I do not like shooting 38 Special +P in it. It is not comfortable.

Standard 38 Specials are fine.

But that is me.

Remember, a hit with a standard 38 Special trumps a miss with anything else.

 

[jmorris]

I would have her shoot one first. My wife wanted one until she shot one for the first time.

 

[Captain O]

Have your wife look into a S&W Model 632 in .32 H&R Magnum. She can practice from here to eternity with .32 S&W Longs. (It's a virtual certainty she'll enjoy every minute fo that)! After this shie can get some practice in with some .32 H&R Magnums and prepare for the possibility of a "serious social encounter". It will be a controllable and enjoyable "J" frame.

She'll love it!

If she doesn't require the Smith & Wesson name, she can pick up a Charter Arms "Undercoverette" in .32 H&R Magnum The Gold and Black "Standard" (Model # 53290) tips the scale at 12 ounces and the Lavender and Stainless "Standard" (Model # 53240) weighs 12 ounces as well.

The solid Stainless Charter Arms "Undercoverette" (Model #73220) weighs 16 ounces and is a pleasure to shoot.

 

[heyjoe]

i agree with Captain O. look into a 32 H&R revolver. a Smith and Wesson model 431 or 432 32 H&R air weight would also work well. 32 long and even 32 H&R rounds have very manageable recoil, are very accurate and are easier to keep on target for additional shots than 38's.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

32 S&W Long is a great caliber. The only problem is finding it. Your local gun shop may carry some, they may not. Same with buying on line. No matter what, it is going to be much easier to find 38 Special ammunition than 32 S&W Long.

 

[L-2]

SKUs for no-lock 442 & 642 as previously asked:
442/150544
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/..._766184_-1_757787___ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

642/103810
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57912_757910_757787_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

 

[Captain O]

Driftwood:

Not everyone can shoot a .38 Special, (even in the "target level" loads). It isn't as it was in the "old days". You can order "standard" .32 S&W Long ammunition and have it in your hands in a matter of a few days. I live within five blocks of a Gun Shop in a town of 1800 along U.S. Highway 30. I can walk right in and buy .32 H&R Magnums tomorrow. Online, I can buy both and have them in my hands in short order.

http://shop.reedsammo.com/32-SW-Long-100g-Lead-Round-Nose-32SWL100LFP.htm

http://shop.reedsammo.com/32-SW-Long-85g-Hornady-XTP-32SWL85gX.htm

http://shop.reedsammo.com/32-SW-Long-94g-Lead-Flat-Point-32SWL94LFP.htm

Your "they don't have it at Walmart" argument has little merit.

They also have .32 H&R Magnum ammunition (several weights). Need I continue?

 

[Screwball]

Your "they don't have it at Walmart" argument has little merit.

They also have .32 H&R Magnum ammunition (several weights). Need I continue?

Don't need to continue, as it isn't a highly produced caliber. There isn't the availability of either of those .32s compared to .38, .357, or 9mm. I'm sure .44 Russian is a great low recoil round out of a lightweight .44 revolver, but how much you want to spend on the few production loads?

I'm sure you can order different weights, but how many different bullet types can you get in those weights? That is where the larger markets of the more common calibers shine. Some people like certain bullet types (people really should find out what their carry loads will do if they need to use the firearm in self-defense), others like recoil impulse.

Having ten specific bullet variations is not superior to having 100 specific bullet variations. Shops in my area don't stock either of those rounds... mainly due to a lack of demand. You can order pretty much anything off the internet, but again, the variety isn't the same as being able to order any type of 9mm or .38.

 

[mavracer]

Well, all I can say is S&W has a lot of nerve making an aluminum framed revolver that has a 6 for the first digit of the model number.

It even worse when you get to the 3rd gen automatics,

 

[Captain O]

Screwball: The "People's Republic Of New Jersey" doesn't strike me as representative of the rest of the nation. Your state's "gun-friendly" attitude isn't well known. Another reason I don't have any intention of either entering, or passing through, "The Garden State" any time soon. From the last time I was there fifty-two years ago, I'm probably not missing much anyway. Oh, wait, I have always wanted to see the Campbell's Soup headquarters.

They still produce revolvers in .32 H&R Magnum and will continue to do so in the foreseable future. How many revolvers are being produced in .44 S&W Russian... .44 S&W American?

I didn't think so.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

They still produce revolvers in .32 H&R Magnum and will continue to do so in the foreseable future. How many revolvers are being produced in .44 S&W Russian... .44 S&W American?

I didn't think so.

Uberti chambers their replicas of the #3 Russian and #3 Schofield for 44 Russian. I have a couple of original Smiths that are chambered for it too. Nobody has chambered a revolver for 44 S&W American for many years, because nobody made the ammunition for many years, being of a heeled bullet configuration.

But that is besides the point. The fact still remains, delightful as a 32 S&W Long is to shoot, and I have a bunch of old Smiths and Colts chambered for it, 38 Special ammunition is simply more widely available than 32 S&W Long. You can argue all you want that your local gunshop carries it and you can find it online, but it is far easier to find 38 Special, and there is a good chance 38 Special will cost less per box too.

I just checked MidwayUSA, and although they list thirteen varieties of 32 S&W Long in their catalog, seven of them are out of stock, and of those seven four of them are no back order. MidwayUSA has 102 varieties of 38 Special listed. Kind of hard to argue with that kind of availability.

The cheapest box of in stock 32 S&W Long was $24.49. The cheapest box of 38 Special was $15.99. The OP's wife sounds like a fairly new shooter, so I am assuming that easily available, inexpensive ammunition would be a plus for her.


Just so you know that I like the 32 S&W Long cartridge, here are a few of my 32s.

32 Hand Ejector, 1st Model.






A pair of S&W 32 Regulation Police revolvers.






A really nice little Colt 32 Police Positive.




I really like the 32 S&W Long round and love shooting it. But because of limited availability I do not recommend it to new shooters.

 

[SwampWolf]

You might want to consider a Ruger LCR, chambered in .327 Federal Magnum for your wife. This concealed-hammer revolver is relatively compact and light-weight and has a six-shot capacity. It can be loaded with the mildest .32 caliber ammunition, all the way up to full-house Magnums. And the da pull, imo, is way nicer than the many J-frame Smiths I currently own and/or have owned.

An LCR, chambered in .327 Magnum, is slated to replace an older Colt Cobra I presently rely on for ccw duties (I want a concealed hammer and I insist on having at least six rounds on board-because I can with no downside).

 

[Woody174]

My wife has a 642 she soaks up the recoil pretty good as shes in the low 400 lb on the scale and i really think it helps, but she only shoots 38 special, she tryed the +p but she likes to shoot one handed occasionally and has a much easier time with 38 loads

 

[Captain O]

Handloading will reduce not only the cost, but permits the load to be tailored to the handgun. You can crank out as much ammunition as you need and no one is going to stand up in court and testify "the BG was shot with a 'hot loaded .32 H&R Magnum'" in order to gain sympathy from a jury.

The revolver has some great attributes, the first of which is low recoil. A "spicy" .32 Magnum will penetrate sufficiently, and expand nicely with low recoil. A perfect combination for surviving a shootout. The rest is "icing on the cake".

 

[stoky]

I'm partial to Model 60s (.38s)

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Handloading will reduce not only the cost, but permits the load to be tailored to the handgun. You can crank out as much ammunition as you need and no one is going to stand up in court and testify "the BG was shot with a 'hot loaded .32 H&R Magnum'" in order to gain sympathy from a jury.

All well and good if the shooter is a reloader. Let's ask the OP if he is a reloader, if he reloads 32 S&W Long, if not whether he wants to, or if he would just rather buy factory ammo.

I still say, if you want to have a large selection of factory ammo, 38 Special makes a lot more sense than 32 S&W Long.

 

[Captain O]

The OP reloads and casts for the .38 S&W Special. Dies and molds for the .32 are relatively cheap and spacers can help regulate for the various case lengths. This is all that's stopping him from using a revolver that's generally easier to shoot than the .38 S&W Special.

Now I know that the .38 S&W Special also shoots the .38 Short Colt as well as the .38 Long Colt, but not many are going to go searching for these semi-obsolete revolvers that are even more obscure than the .32 S&W Long. Unless you're a true afficionado, you aren't likely to buy these, as they are more expensive than the .32 S&W Long, or .32 H&R Magnum. Heck, even the .32 S&W is far more readily available than the .38 Short Colt or the .38 Long Colt. AFAIK, Winchester-Western is one of the few loading for these old cartridges. On the other hand, Both WW and Remington, as well as Reed's Custom Ammuntition, Buffalo Bore and Federal are still loading for the .32 S&W Long.

Now what?

.32 S&W Long as low as $18.95 a box.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/pistol-ammo-32-sw-long

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I give up.

 

[gbran]

I have three J-Frames, 638, 38spcl shrouded hammer, around 15oz, pretty lively with +Ps.

A 649, shrouded hammer, .357/38, 23oz, really lively in 357.

And a 442 pretty much the same as the 638.





All the J-Frames are a joy to carry, but you're limited to 5 rounds. The 649 and 442 triggers are fantastic. The 638 OK, but not fantastic.