642 or...

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dayman

New member
My dad - recently retired from the CG - has decided that he'd like to start carrying.

He wants something that can run rat/snake shot reliably - so, imho, a revolver.

He wants something metal-framed that's small/light enough to carry comfortably in a vest pocket, but not so small as to be impossible to shoot accurately.
He doesn't care if it can run .357.
He has about $400 to spend on the gun itself.
It seems the obvious choice of brand would be S&W.

My suggestion was/is a 642 (Bud's has them for ~$390), but I have basically no experience with S&W revolvers, so I don't know if there are better options.
Basically, it boils down to two questions:

1) Are the airweight guns too light to be shot comfortably?

I don't see him shooting boxes and boxes through it, but I know he'd like to go out back and plink around.

2) How's the DA pull, and would a 638(or something else) be a better option for a general purpose plinking/snake/SD gun?

His last two service weapons were the M9 and P229dak, so he's pretty comfortable with firing DA, but some are just obnoxious (thinking of my BG380).
He's okay with my Rugers in DA, but they're quite a lot heavier than the S&W's which seems like it might mitigate the heavy trigger pull a bit.


The local selection is very thin (and usually over priced), so there's a distinct possibility that he's going to have to buy it online without being able to test it out first.
I know "go try a bunch out" is the typical advice, but - short of a full day in the car to drive too and from a place that actually rents guns - that's not really an option.
 
I've got a 442 (black version of the 642) and I think it would meet your Dad's needs. It is only a 5 shot (like the 642) so that may be a consideration. Trigger is not perfect but it is reasonable. I have occasionally carried it in my pocket during archery season.

The downside of using a hammerless revolver as a "woods" gun is that you can't load 2 cyclinders with snake shot and the rest with bullets and then "thumb" your way past the snake shot. For that reason, he may want to consider a "shrouded hammer" model like the 38/638.
 
Either the 637 or 638 would allow him to manually cock the hammer.
I have eight snubs and they all have hammers, but I carry them in OWB holsters.
Once and awhile I carry my 637 in my leather motorcycle vest, and never had a problem with the hammer hanging up on anything.
 
I pocket carry a 642 on a regular basis. It's easier to carry and draw from a pocket than my 60-7 and I can hit with it as well as I can with the all steel revolver. I don't like shooting many +ps out of the 642 but standard .38s are easy to manage.

I've killed two rattlesnakes with the 642 and never used snake shot. The DAO trigger is good and gets better with practice and dry-firing. Sometimes, I'll shoot rapidly at torso sized targets from fifteen to forty feet away. Other times, I practice shooting a small target at five to ten feet away to simulate shooting at a venomous snake where its head attaches to its body.
 
I have a 342 (Titanium), super light, high recoil though. If you are looking for a woods carry piece for snakes and such. One of the small frame guns in 44Special will give a lot better patterns with the increased shot load
 
Sounds like Dad needs a 638. The 642 is an awesome revolver, and is very accurate but has a DAO trigger pull. The 638 allows for a single action shot which can increase accuracy, but is still just as concealable and snag resistant on the draw.
 
I have had the 642 for a long time and its a great gun. A little bit bigger is the 640 which comes in .357 and heavier frame. If you are looking for a "carry lot" and "shoot little" gun, go for the smaller and lighter 642. If you think you may do a bit more plinking, the 640 in .357 steel frame would probably work a little better for you. I like them both, and a fan of not having a hammer since I carry a lot in my pocket. Also nice to have .357 option.

I have switched the grips on my 642 to some exotic customs. Unfortunately they do not work well with a speed loader. Just something to think about.
 
Have him try the Ruger LCR .38 spl.+P.

It has the best out of the box trigger and IMO handles recoil the best of the J-frames.
 
Have him try the Ruger LCR .38 spl.+P.

It has the best out of the box trigger and IMO handles recoil the best of the J-frames.
Click to expand...

+1

I'd suggest the LCR as well, but the OP said all metal which is why I picked the 638.
 
Hmmmm... 640/642/638/649... decisions decisions....

I have them all but the 638 right now.

The 640 I use daily in the summer. It is the ccw gun I started out with back when CHL first started here in Texas.

But any of them would be excellent for the task.

Take him out shooting at a range that rents them all and let him decide.

Oh, and add a set of bootgrips.

Deaf
 
If it's a choice of two lightweights, the LCR over the 638 has a much nicer trigger. They also make an exposed hammer version now
 
It's really hard to beat any of the Airweights. I own a 637 and it is a fantastic gun. They of course are light, but I don't find shooting them to be a problem.

Another option is the Ruger SP101. Nice guns, heavy, rough trigger tha smooths out with use.
 
For a carry weapon, the 642 is just about ideal. I have one on me quite often and always feel well armed when I do. Light, compact, reliable and packing a real punch.
 
I carry a 642. It works great with std loads but starts getting feisty with +p loads.
Out of the box the trigger maxed out a 12 lb trigger pull scale. Not good.

I'd consider the exposed hammer variants in your situation.
 
I have a 642, and it's great. You can literally stuff it into most any pocket or void, and rest assured, you can pull it out w/o snagging it on something.

In cold weather, you can leave it in your coat pocket with your hand on it, and if necessary, shoot it from that position.

Just like in the movie Death Wish.............;)
 
I go no where without a 649.Always left front pocket,with a leather pocket holster.The imprint I get looks looks like a billfold.
 
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