642 air weight

R

r.w. schrack

New member
recently purchased a 642 lightweight and fired it, it got my full attention quick and that was with only regular 38's can't imagine what a p+ wou;d be like it is fairly accurate and is a good back up but i would prefer something with a little more weigh and maybe a 3" barrel like a 686, also the trigger pull on the 642 seems about 10 pounds. any helpful hints on the 642.
 
As you've found out most folks want to shave every ounce from their carry piece untill they fire it. Then they wish it was 2 pounds. I'm guilty myself. Haveing tried it both ways, my personal feeling is that it's easier to deal with the extra 3-8 oz in the pocket/ holster and have the recoil absorbtion when I practice /ever need it. ( Too much recoil does impact MY accuracy and enjoyment /frequency of practice .) FWIW, if your only going to shoot 38's anyway, I'd suggest you look at a "happy medium" pre (96') 19-20 oz J mag frame mod 60/36/640/49/649 etc. They are more controlable /comfortable to shoot and are even a little smaller in frame size. I also own and can recommend the newer J mag framed 640's (357)/ 60. Same size as what you have but MUCH more pleasent to shoot due to their 23 oz weight. +P's are no problem in the new 640/60's and I've even ventured some 357's from time to time. Several of these models come/came in a 3" length. I'd note that while a 686 is a fine weapon, it's well over twice the weight (and size) of your 642. You may find you've swung to far the other way. Other in between revolvers that I ( own )and find comfortable to shoot but still easily concealed would be the Ruger SP101 ( 25 oz in 3") .Finally ,any one of the S&W K frames in 2,2.5" or 3"that are unlugged ( 10,13,19,65,64,66) will weigh in in the 29-32 oz range.
Lastly, The only other suggestion I could make ( other than to trade it) would be to put some larger , heavier rubber grips on the 642. I have found the hogue style do help on this size weight gun.

hth
 
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therein lies the rub

That's the problem with concealed carry small guns. Nice and light of course to pack around but when it comes time to practice, practice, practice all you can think about is that damn grenade going off in your hand every time you pull the trigger and you decide to hell with it and leave it home and head for the range with your guns that won't cause instant carpel tunnel every time you light it off. For me personally, a gun I won't practice shooting isn't worth owning, especially one that will be employed when TSHTF. Fleiger
 
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I currently have 3 J frames and several grips for them. I'm always changing grips to try a new feel and look. I agree that the Pachmayr Compact grips give you the most shooting comfort and control at the cost of being more bulky than say the Hoque Bantam grips or Uncle Mike's boot grips. It's a trade-off between compactness and control/comfort. I've settled on the Hogue Bantams for my 642 because I carry this gun in my pocket and like the smallest reasonable grips possible. I have the Pachmayr Compact's on my 2" M60 357 which rides on my belt. My 3" M60LS 38 currently wears a set of S&W wood target grips(round butt profile). I really like the classic look of the old S&W factory wood grips that used to be standard on the J's and if I ever get a classic Chiefs Special it will have to wear them just for that warm fuzzy feeling. If you want something heavier than the J's to carry I suggest you consider a 3" K frame. My favorite is a 3" 66.

BTW: If you think that 642 with 38s kicks, just imagine the Ti J snub 357 shooting full power 180grs. :eek:
 
I say shoot it more and you'll like it more - seriously. I picked up the 642 just over a year ago with the S&W super cushy laser grips, and it was an easy handle with those. But I didn't like how big those grips were so I purchased a pair of used S&W Chief's Special wood grip panels. Yes, now it drops right into my front pocket without a problem, and yes it packs more of a wallop with those tiny panels. It got my attention right away, but I stuck with it. I swear, the more I fire it the better I like it - most seriously! Among other guns, last weekend I put 50 standard rounds through it and didn't think a thing of it. As for +P loads, I've shot a cylinder or two through there with those panels installed, and it's really not that much more pressure/recoil. I think it's 17,000 compared to 20,000 if I'm not mistaken. I have heard numerous times to not make it a habit of running a lot of +P's through this frame though, just 'cause it loosens it up prematurely unnecessarily. As for numbers, 100 rounds of +P's is said to not be a real good thing through this gun...
 
now you understand why many "experts" consider the small framed snubby to really be a gun for thehighly trained...it takes alot more practice to master it with "true" defense loads.

pactice really is the only way to get used to handling the smith J-frame. i'd start with longer grips (hogue, UM, pach compacts) and taking off the sharp edges on the trigger and cylinder release. start working with mid-range wadcutters and work your way up through 158gr ball to +p loadings.

as your control improves (and you're shooting groups rather than patterns) you can start using smaller grips...i prefer rubber and am currently using the UM boot grips, but am eyeing the hogue batams too

i know the standard for HD had been the 158gr +p LHPSWC but you might consider a lighter round in the 642. i'm using the federal personal protection 112gr jhp and thinking about the new 135gr gold dot.
 
I remember my first range session with my 442. I thought it was the most useless gun in the world. But like some of the folks said, practice, practice. Now I plink with it. But I still don't like +P practice day :)
 
Just keep telling yourself how much fun you're having! :D Then, when you stop shooting, you will REALLY enjoy it! ;)

I used to have a 442 Airweight with Boot Grips and it wasn't too bad to shoot. One thing is to get a tight grip, so that it can't actually hit your hand in recoil. If you are using the stock wood grips, find a Tyler or Pachmyer T-Grip to fill in between the frontstrap and the trigger guard. This makes it much more comfortable.

A few years ago, I went to a Mdl49, which is a little heavier, and recently put factory grips with an adapter on it. The little thing shoots like a dream! Of course, if I want to actually hit anything, I have to do my part. :p
 
I like to draw my 442 (blued 642) from concealment and put five hot reloads on target as quickly as possible. The faster and hotter, the better. But, as said above, it takes a lot of practice. It also helps to bring another, larger gun to the range, as well. When the 5-shot starts heating up, you can put it down and relax with a gun that has a lot less recoil.

straightShot
 
This is interesting. I was considering the "Chief" model 637. I think I'll save my $300 on the airweight gun. I agree that alittle more weight is better when controlling the recoil. Besides, I enjoy my 908S in 9mm.
 
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