smith and wesson 642 pro review

Are there any guns that take a small silver key? The only problem for female concealed carry with a J frame is the trigger pull which is very firm & very long. But lately watching the carnival taking place on the world stage, and our fearless leaders lack of resolve, I am in serious consideration of up gunning, The Religion of Pieces seems set on a 9/11 o2, and that isn’t even taking into consideration the new game those innocent children from the liberal welfare plantation love to play Polar Bear Hunting aka The Knock Out Game. My eyes are 75 years old. A Glock 17 would be a pretty good choice, too, if the blocky stock doesn’t seem too offputting to the shooter. At first blush, it might seem that Smith & Wesson’s little J-frame revolvers have outlived their usefulness. Pulled the trigger. The gun hasn’t been invented that can be deployed more swiftly, or from more places, than a lightweight snub-nosed revolver. This particular 642 came with the controversial internal lock that most serious shooters despise. Wow! Just ask Alicia Keyes. My wife started carrying 2 years ago and is very happy with the 638. I bought some Babolet tennis grip tape and slightly built the grip up. Interesting. HELLO FROM TEXAS..enjoyed this review..seems like all roads lead to S&W MODEL 642..I’M 69,,MALE WITH CCW and have learned from lots of owners and some shootist and some folks that need to grow up and remember that…. The old 38 S&W has a shorter cartridge case, the cartridge case is bigger around,and the bullet diameter is larger than the 38 Special. Crimson Trace, LaserMax, LaserLyte, Laser Schmayzer (I made that up) and others provide enough laser choices to keep Goldfinger happy. After some trial and error I was able to purchase a used Colt .32 Detective Special (in great condition) that she enjoyed. Ergonomics (firing) * * * 1/2 No manual safeties. im not rellylooking for any thing except an answer to a certin ? Maybe it’s the fact that I have always kind of wanted a revolver? All I had was a very expensive paperweight all three times. My 442 with full powered loads rolls back sharply into the web of my thumb. It’s very disheartening about the whole situation. (complete) pistol , it too uses the same interchangeable FCU . I’ve put 1,850 rounds of my reloads through a 3rd Gen FDE frame GLOCK G-19 9mm without cleaning and did no re-lubrication ANYWHERE and it still never missed a beat. A dab of sight paint on the sights fore and aft can make them marginally more useful, but that’s as far as it goes. Since even a ten-round mag offers twice the ammo of my snubby, I tend to carry a pistol more often than the J-frame. In my experience, the trigger pull on the 642 Airweight does not improve with time & remains at about 12-13 lbs. If anybody has info or links to solid ammo choices in under 2″ barrels, please post below and share the info. And if the rear sights don’t get the sight picture all flummoxed up, the short 4 5/8 inch sight radius will. I have a S&W .38 Spl Bodyguard (not the old Bodyguard, the newer version with the built-in laser) and I’ve just started using the laser. The engraver signed their work as “Shaw” and an even tinier marking tells us that the inlays are 18k gold. If I am shooting at the range (which I go to twice a week), I want to feel like I shot a gun. If sales mean anything, then the answer is an unqualified “yes.” Smith & Wesson’s J-frame revolvers remain huge sellers. Racking the slide using a special “female” technique of push/pull is a lot easier than overcoming a less than 2″ barrel, crappy sights and a HARD 10+ pound trigger pull……let alone the recoil. The 640, which is a more expensive steel framed version of the 642, is a much better gun, mainly because the additional weight makes the gun much easier to shoot. Again, really like the feel, etc but worried won’t have the strength to really use it. And that laser is just to see flinch control. Assialant up for muder 1. After that, you just need use the first crease of your trigger finger and pull cleanly straight back…bad pulls end up high-right for me. She has fired it at the range several times, and feels completely comfortable with it. Ten of those shots is about all I care to endure. I don’t trust S&W now. No cut hands. Results were similar with Hornady Critical Defense, Remington, Winchester White Box, Brown Bear and everything else I fed the 642. Same results. I have some hand /wrist issues (Carpal tunnel etc) and found the P250 to be Overall length: 6.31″ Four Seasons Firearms in Woburn, MA. The last was a Ruger SP101 2.5″ stainless .357 mag. Bad guys and good guys, off-duty cops and on-duty thieves, detectives and detectees, hit men, hit shows and hot chicks have all featured the Centennial as their quintessential concealed carry piece. I don’t want someone to feel like they can’t get a certain firearm because they read that it’s not made for them. It’s light, easy to carry, easy manual of arms (pull trigger). Hey, chill out “Rob”! Don’t get me wrong. Revolvers accomplish this. They can be updated to gen 2 parts. Sections cut from a bicycle tire inner tube work well too. Nasdaq:SWBI. My wife and I have 2 638 models and one 642. I purchased my very own 642 today, which will replace a borrowed .38 revolver that is slightly larger and heavier. Does anyone know how I can remedy this problem? I’ll see how the airweight works out through combat shooting tests between now and June when I should receive my permit. Not that he tried, but I’m willing to bet. I also added a laser. It’s a DIY job, or can be performed in ten minutes by a gunsmith when he does the obligatory trigger job on this revolver. I painted the otherwise non-existent sights carefully with a toothpick in order to force myself to raise the front (only painted the lower half of the front sight.). For me being primarily a 5″ 1911 Government .45 ACP, GLOCK (all models), Sig Sauer classic P-Series, Beretta M9/92FS, CZ-75B and S&W M&P guy, even I have trouble shooting one to my HIGH standards and liking, and I’m the guy who has a 24/7/365 key to a private gun club and shoot between 200-600 rounds a week. S&W Model 10 then the 642. There are grips that look better or cost more, but none that I’ve tried work better than the 642’s standard grips. Help me out with a leather pocket holster, as I have a Betz belt slide, but really want a good leather pocket holster. Oh and I just loved that Peter Gunn show. Nothing. Good for her! You may have to remove your grips. Ergonomics (carry) * * * * * I really don’t care though. So long as I could keep my M14, that is. If you expect to be able to shoot a 642 in SD, you have to, have to master the trigger pull. I carry the 642, but bought 3 LCR’s for my wife & 2 daughters. This will make the pull lighter, smoother and more predictable. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/579301/desantis-clip-grip-right-hand-smith-and-wesson-round-butt-j-frame-polymer-black?cm_vc=S014. If you like the gun, you will spend time with it on the range and carry it with you. police. If you aren’t going to carry it on your person, you’d be better off with a full size gun. Those interested in target shooting can always buy a similar S&W with a steel frame or in .22 for long afternoons of fun on the range that will also translate to proficiency with the carry weapon. Pictured is a two inch, five-shot group that I rapid-fired offhand at 5 yards with Fiocchi range ammo. I own 15 S&Ws and this is my “go to” S&W. It’s only 11.4 oz. Review to follow. Since it’s new have you talked to SMITH & WESSON to see what / if they will replace it or anything? Have you tried the pencil eraser test for firing pin function? The LCP is great in smaller pockets. I would carry a Shield but the morons put a tiny safety on the gun and I don’t trust myself to be able to disengage it when the SHTF. I agree that the trigger pull is very safe and heavy. The 642 has crimson grips and I have carried it for almost 20 years. Small snubbies are pop icons in the gun world. Nice review. it works fine in thes guns lots less recoil. With the short barrels and heavier loads (especially +p), the muzzle flash and discharge report have a certain clearing the room effect. for beginners start them out with the anemic 38 s& w round. I’m female and my first handgun was a S&W 642 (for some reason I thought a semi-automatic would be too difficult to break down and clean). It really helps with dry-fire “point & shoot” practice, too. Airweight is what S&W calls its old school lightweight pocket revolvers with aluminum frames and stainless steel cylinders, cranes and barrels – and that’s the entire barrel, not just a sleeve. There are situations, though, where the J-frame revolver is my best or only option. I am hoping and have heard they are pretty good about taking care of this and hope they replace it with a new one. Then, he moves the target out in three foot increments to 21 feet. New shooters should avoid them. Moreover, it has never catastrophically malfunctioned. You buy a complete P250 in whatever caliber / length ( sub compact, compact, or full size frame) the grips are sized small, med, and large respectively. Carson Kressley can’t limp-wrist a snubby. If they don’t like the feel, I would suggest a 4th Gen where the back-strap can be changed. Becoming more and more far sighted as time progresses, I think a laser is a useful tool to have mounted. It’s as if I was dry firing, with bullets in the chamber. The only thing I like about the BG 380 is that it makes a nice concealed carry. Politically correct may have been a term used in the U.S.S.R. and the same type of people have promoted it here. Fix it or not. After a little work, it puts many Pythons, Cobras, and Diamondbacks to shame, not to mention $7800 Korth, and Manurhin revolvers. A much better gun for me to shoot. I just found Hogue makes a bigger rubber grip and am ordering one today from Brownells. Compare that to a pistol that can jam like the Grateful Dead when it’s fed cheap ammo. As she gets used to the sights, trigger pull, recoil, etc, then move up to semiwadcutter ammo & finally to hollow point +p Speer Gold Dot for self defense. My rapid fire five shot strings with the Charter Arms in Indiana yielded two hits out of ten on an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of copier paper, at approximately 15 feet. I would like to offer a couple of observations as a 642 owner with CT lasergrips. From hand-cutting and fitting to precise fine-tuning, Performance Center firearms are top performers. The lc9 is easier for carry but give me my wheel gun for always going bang. If you are inexperienced and want to learn how to shoot this gun, first spend $100 -$150 on an action job. Another option for your wife might be to try Hornady’s “Lite” reduced recoil Critical Defense .38 special ammo. Point and pull the trigger. #GunOfTheDay – Normally, Smith & Wesson’s Model 28 revolver in .357 Magnum is viewed as the entry level N-Frame – but not this one, ca. You have entered an incorrect email address! In my opinion the first rule of choosing a gun for anyone is to find one that fits their hand. Yes, it’s light. They only carry five rounds of .38 Spl +P ammunition and, at 15 ounces, they weigh about the same as some autoloaders that hold more rounds. I have never shot another firearm that has a similar sight picture. Smith & Wesson also makes heavier small revolvers all in steel and lighter “Airlight” models in exotic metals. Look for a small set screw in the bottom of the front strap and tighten it all the way. Apx. I would suggest a k frame for all home defense newbs and even experts. quote In fact, during the first range session, a new shooter may begin to wonder if it will go off intentionally. So far this is my favorite handgun. Personally, I’ve gone through many pistols, but I keep coming back to the wonderful J-frame. I have the same issue with a Taurus 738 TCP. You might notice how very close the two rounds are in reality, biases aside. “Carson Kressley can’t limp-wrist a snubby.” — Not a bad review, but what’s with the homophobic comment? I know that I am not Annie Oakley and this is for defense, but sometimes target shooting is just fun. Most women and many men find guns the size and weight of Glock 17 or CZ-10 too large and heavy to conveniently carry on their body with the wardrobe they choose to wear. The S&W 642 slides in my pocket, doesn’t pull my pants down, doesn’t print, and gives me 5 rounds to get to my truck where in my backpack is my Sig and behind the seat a shotgun. I like it a lot and it works well. Learn it, leave it preach it! Should everyone follow suit and pack Gunn’s gun? I then took my CCW class. Green Crimson Trace Laser grips will help hitting what your shooting at a lot. If you need to lock the mechanisim of a double action revolver, put a real padlock behind the trigger. At $350 they should be the go-to HCP firearm. The revolver will fire every time. My wife has a .380 and loves hers. Any idea why? After reading many of these comments, I feel much better. up to $2,300 in a mean Washington D.C. residence. Since there aren’t any Women can do just fine with an airweight. Materials: Aluminum frame, stainless steel cylinder, crane and barrel As much as you’d like to silence anyone who doesn’t see it, or do it, your way…he has a full set of rights to say whatever, and write whatever he pleases. The best way to try lots of guns is by joining a gun club, going shooting with friends or getting instruction and renting guns at dealer that has a range that refunds some of the rental if you buy a gun or guns from him. Or the NyClads some swear by. Also even if glasses were able to be used to focus on the sights, the target would probably be blurred due to the glasses being TOO MUCH magnification for added distance. Measuring the pull weight is tough since it exceeds the limit of most truck scales, but 200 kilos sounds about right. • Performance Center Tuned Action • High Bright, Polished Cylinder Flutes • High Bright, Polished Thumbpiece and Side Plate Screws • Custom, Synthetic Grip with Wood Inserts • Chrome-Plated, Polished Trigger • Cylinder Cut for Full Moon Clips (Moon Clips Included)A moon clip is a ring-shaped or star-shaped piece of metal designed to hold multiple cartridges together as a unit for simultaneous insertion and extraction from a revolver cylinder.ALL BACKED BY OUR SMITH & WESSON LIFETIME SERVICE POLICY. I changed out the ammo. Nor do they make the 342Ti which sits in my pocket as I type this. I will definitely say that I felt the kick much more than with the smaller semis, but I liked that. His go-to guns are a Smith & Wesson 642 Performance Center for carry and a Ruger GP100 in the nightstand biometric safe (he has kids). On a good day I can print them 2″ wide. Successfully using these snag-free pimples requires a bit of practice. If you compare +P 9 to std 38 you get a false result, much the same as comparing a squib to a full power load. A trigger job could likely resolve this issue. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. It looks all business too. P.S. Yes, the trigger is hard to pull and it actually cut my hand in the beginning. But to your point about the sight picture. There’s no way to just spend a few hundred dollars on a gun and become safe. I have an HKS 36-A speedloader and I don’t have any trouble using it with my 642. The .327’s are tough to find, so a .32 would maybe be a good compromise. That’s very close (withing $10) to what I paid for my Taurus 605 3 years ago. And don’t forget that there is no requirement to carry 5 +p rounds in it. But once pressed, the shooter will know why the little gun’s trigger isn’t knurled. Lots of good pocket holsters are available for J-frames, and they all work just fine. The two are not interchangeable. If you are going to buy expensive ammo know that some expensive ammo works well and some not so well from a 2″ barrel. 1984. We all know the mantra “equal height, equal light.” We all know these things, but the rear sight on the 642 does us in when we try to apply them. Have you considered a Chiappa Rhino? To the “I can’t carry a heavy gun” wusses – my 66 year old, 5’2″ mother in law carries a 640 every day. Big business just trying to make money at the expense of quality. The main argument against any snubby is its five-round capacity. but smooth.and NO trigger STACKING. Nothing will equal the old Colt watchmaker’s action, though! The 642 is just as accurate as it needs to be, and maybe a little bit more. Damn near perfect. I can shoot my own S&W 642 better than some autos with a lot more grip surface. No, because there are disadvantages to carrying any small revolver. I used to carry my 442 as a back up. She found the 640 recoil tolerable and the 642 recoil painful. Loading a revolver is simple. But, if you are going to depend on it to save your life, you must master the recoil and the DA trigger. For this reason I have not installed CT grips. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If the gun is easier to shoot, you’ll practice with it more, and have better odds of getting good hits when it counts. As for women and the J-frame, perhaps the author’s experience has been that more women than not have a harder time with recoil. One of the things that was mentioned in the review, but needs to be mentioned again. Then, it ejected cartridges down the front of my shirt, burning me enough to leave a scar on one occasion — strike 2. I don’t like the condescending remarks about women either: “A J-frame would not be a proper choice for noobs, especially women. Owner of Reloaderaddict.com, Boyd Smith is a major handgun enthusiast, and although he owns Glocks, he prefers the revolving wheel type. Availability subject to applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you can adjust the laser properly (see earlier comment about sighting to the middle of the front sight…very true but no mention from our beloved… S&W), then you are back to point-and-shoot using the laser to locate your first shot. With a Uncle Mike’s #3 pocket holster or Fobus ankle holster, I hardly know it’s there & no one else does, either. I haven’t tried doing so, preferring to let a ‘smith have at it with his collection of little files. +P) that weighs 22.2 ounces and is lot nicer to shoot with 38 Special ammo and not that much harder to carry. stock baby grip for cc, longer hogue or ? The sight picture and radius are a struggle even with experience. We replaced it with a K-frame that is much more to her liking. Agreed. But it’s a nice little gun and I’m going to keep it. Thanks, If some cash fell out of the sky I think two 642s would be nice, though I sometimes ponder the idea of the (shrouded hammer) 638.giving sa/ da ability with no hammer spur. I feel it is better with the lasers assistance to know where the projectile will hit. I’ve not used them because I have no problems with the regular and +P ammo. Admittedly I took the graduate level test after being away from shooting for four years, but I wasn’t encouraged by the idea of carrying an airweight revolver. ( just don’t like the slot that would seem to allow crap inside the frame. However, the longer I used it, the easier it got (and using a pair of gloves while practicing helped also). I can hit here I point, and am confident it’ll get me to the truck. Performance Center by Smith & Wesson - Where fit meets performance. I guess another option could be the Glock 26 which is what Lou Chiodo carries or go with my 1964 Chief’s Special, which is what a gunsmith I talked to recently, carries. Revolvers don’t fail to feed or fail to eject. The range guy couldn’t believe that I was a noobie and said I was a ‘natural’. If soft lead, as Remington has. Okay, a lot of practice. Well in our city there are gangs, flash mobs, and more than 1 or 2 assailants all too frequently. By that the pistol should point almost exactly where you look when presented to the target. I sold it and bought a 642. It would leave a permanent, pressed-in tattoo. Mike K. The pan could use a bit of a wash. J-frames aren’t picky about ammo, either, and they’ll digest whatever they’re fed. I went in with all intentions of getting a Ruger LCP or LC9, maybe even a Glock 43… but nothing felt as good in my hands as the Smith and Wesson 642 .38 Special. http://www.crimsontrace.com/Home/Products/SmithWesson/tabid/199/Default.aspx. It is comfortable, very accurate, and easy to break down and clean. But, oh what stopping power. They have no idea of what they are like to shoot. You’re absolutely correct. Try the Crimson Trace LG-405 grips. The 642 CT (Crimson Trace) model with the laser built into the grips is tits (that is a positive naval adjective). Performance Center by Smith & Wesson - Where fit meets performance. However, there is one point I have to disagree with you on. I believe he said the no-lock model is the 642-1. . Probably this is a size of the hand thing. I’ve lost count of the number of women students we’ve had who were initially “turned off” to shooting by men who made their first shooting experience firing a balsawood snub and a 12 ga pump shotgun loaded with buckshot. My wife is adverse to the recoil on the .38’s and .357’s. Needless to say, I will never recommend Smith and Wesson. Semi’s that are in perfect condition can malfunction simply from an improper grip, a very easy thing to do. The Pro Carry On Duty Thumb Break design is a close fitting, high ride, pancake holster design with a reassuring thumb break retention strap for additional weapon retention. A 342PD with Karl Nill boot grips is my constant companion. I recommend going to a range where they rent guns and trying out a number of different models. A most entertaining and informative review. Finish: Matte silver By continuing to browse our website you agree to our use of cookies. One doesn’t really aim a snubby, more like point. Not only is accurate shooting fun, but it also builds confidence. Some folks want to point a revolver at a potential assailant and then cock it to show they are “serious.” By so dong, they are holding a revolver with a hair-trigger that will dischage at the slightest movement on the shooter’s part. With the partial restoration of our second amendment rights here in Illinois, I’m thinking of carrying a Smith Model 638 and a Kel Tec P32. I find that frequent practice with the 642 is a good thing, and I usually only fire about 25 rounds per range session through it. They aren’t as simple to operate as revolvers for those who don’t get to practice a lot. I’ll probably use it at the range, but that’s it. All rights reserved | I do not expect my wife to be defending herself at 10 – 25 yds. Would you believe more than 12 pounds? The cylinder and barrel are stainless steel. As of yesterday, I have done just that. After a dozen or so trigger pulls, either live or dry fire, I start using both index fingers if my finger is tired; there’s plenty of space inside the trigger guard. Customize This * * * The reality of protection is that you never know when you?ll need it. I didn’t find it to be difficult to shoot at all and I practiced with it for awhile. It’s also a bad idea to limit your carry option to a firearm that is generally only effective at 5-10 yards. I hated the .357 Airweight, and the 642’s trigger was so flippin sorry, I was elated to pick up a used slightly holster worn 1980 Colt Detective Special for well under $600. I sense “a disturbance in the force”, as if my collection were going to shift. He had a protective vest on. The first time I had her fire it was by drawing from a purse and rapid fire at a silhouette at 5 yds. And I’m using the pink grips; what more could a woman ask for?! Depending on the individual this can happen in one session or over several. That’s a total exaggeration of course. I’ve seen 10 year old girls fire a GLOCK G-19 9mm before. took posession of a 642 new in the box exactly one week ago. The laser ( if adjusted) should allow better aim locating of shot quickly, that otherwise could not be attained easily or quickly, the only alternative is simply point shooting. I carry my 642 around my home, too, where I have fast access to other guns to finish the fight if my snubby doesn’t. The other was a S&W Air weight model 642 .38 spl. She holds her own with my Sig P226. The White House has created a purpose of producing 19,700 kilowatt hours per yr using the panels; this quantity of renewable vitality would generate an annual savings of the 442 is the one i carry very dependable for sure added a pair of crimson trace handles for fast aiming…one small can of woop a$$. Bought it brand new only 200 rounds of 38 special Plinker ammo frame cracked bad and the back part bent, Can’t figure out how to post pics but was a 638 series. Also, in today’s world, one can handload either round to the same exact pressure standards, but it will be over handbook max for the 38, which is still downloaded for the aluminum framed guns, even in +P. Hi Kat – And you need to look inward at your ignorant comments. My wife has never fired a hand gun, and it’s been almost 30 years since I sold my last one. Load any .38 Special cartridges, from the priciest to the cheapest, and the J-frame revolver will shoot them all. I plan on getting one of these soon for summer carry. I carried a J frame for years and only once wished for more ammo in the cylinder. Perhaps it is my hands’ reaction to the snappy recoil, or maybe it’s the very short sight radius, but I have to raise the front sight the same way in order to shoot level. Personally, I’m not planning on needing more than one shot delivered with pinpoint accuracy to the right spot. Oh, the Sig P250 is real neat in a 9mm compact or subcompact . I am a woman and I’m 5 feet tall and weigh less than 100 pounds and I love the 642. ScubaOz does some good ammo testing videos on Youtube.com. I just insert about 1/4″ of the cartridges into the cylinder and release them. To each his own. The recoil is very snappy making it unpleasant to practice with. Great as an everyday concealed weapon. Great gun! Not sure if it was a response to the competition or the fact that they were somewhat overpriced, but they are priced very nicely right now. My brother gave me a Smith & Wesson .38 special Model 67-1 and I notice that although this is a double-action revolver, the hammer will not lock into position when pulled back. Item currently sold out 4.8 out of 5 star rating (17 reviews ) As to the recoil, .38 Specials don’t typically kick hard, even in +P. Best of all, it won’t affect the warranty. I never saw a reason for carrying a back-up gun, but if I did, the 642 would be my first and only choice. Some women prefer a 1911, and some men a S&W Bodyguard 380. When bad things happen the gun does its job. Fits my hands better and reduced the felt recoil. it is long…. I also generally warm-up with some other gun, like a larger S&W DA revolver, then shoot my 25 rounds in the 642. Larry, At three yards, even my wife doesn’t need to use the sights if it came to that. I loved this article and all the pro and con arguments. That doesn’t mean it’s the “right” gun for everyone. I am not strong in the hands/ wrists… but I have some friends that recommended the S&W 642 due to being easier to use, clean then a semi as a first gun.

Flow Wrapper Auction, Minecraft Medieval Hospital, Joico Blonde Life Brilliant Glow Brightening Oil, Lee Norris Net Worth, Dan Markham Filipino, How Well Do You Know Orion Quiz, 30 Watt Appliance Bulb For Microwave, Pathfinder Kingmaker Artisan Masterpiece Requirements,