S&W 642 at the range today...

M

Marko Kloos

Inactive
Very relaxing shooting session. Gun goes bang five times, open cylinder, eject empties, reload, repeat many times. No FTEs, FTFs, magazine worries, or cleaning up brass. At the end, reel target in and look at group that can be covered with palm of hand.

When I was cleaning the little 642 this evening, I loaded it back up with Speer's new snubby-optimized +P Gold Dots, and looked at it before I put it back in its pocket holster....and I'm thinking: "I'm not a cop. I don't have to go looking for trouble. What kind of tussle could I possibly get into that this little thing couldn't get me out of in a competent fashion?"

With all the tactical this and high capacity that, sometimes the simple things still work just as well.
 
Thanks. I get the same warm fuzzies with my Smith 442, and my Smith 13 and my Smith 28 and my Smith 25 and, well you get it. For years I messed with various 1911s and still love them but there is much to be said for the revolver's operational simplicity. If the ammo fits and the gun ran fine the day before, you're in business. There's also that feeling of Zen-like focus and centeredness that comes from good, fast double action work.
 
What types & brands of factory ammo have you tried that shoots
closest to Point of Aim/Point of Impact with your 642 ? I just bought
one last month, and have only had it to the range a couple times
(little less than ~ 100 rounds through it so far). I tried some
cheap "Hot shot" 158 grn 38 Spl ammo, and at 15 yards, got 1 X ring, 1 9 ring,
and about 2 dozen holes about 8 inches low, dead center. I moved the
target into ~8 yards, and they still printed all over the place. I then tried
some Remington +P (can't recall the grn weight at the moment, but it is
a standard green-box load) and I put 3 cylinders full in about 2.5 inch group,
pretty much dead even with the bullseye but about 2 inches to the right.
I am still working on improving my form and grip with this little guy, but
it seems that ammo preference is critical with a fixed sight snubbie (duh !).
Made me appreciate shooting my 4" GP100 more afterwards - but I don't
plan on trying to carry that in my pocket these days...

Appreciate any info you're willing to share, thanks !
 
I mentioned this on another thread but for me, I started out as a 1911 guy. The problem (it's a good problem) is that my Dan Wesson 1911 is so accurate, you have to try to miss. It is literally point it and shoot it and then you see a hole where you pointed it. It got boring.

The second issue was I went gung ho on mags and have 6 10round mags. When you have a high cap mag, you tend to rush your shots. Not only is that wasteful but ammo is expensive to be just arbitrarily toss lead downrange. I could empty 50 rounds in 1/4 of the time it takes me to shoot one revo. My shooting got better, and my pace slowed down. My accuracy on the 1911 went UP after a month of just shooting revos (.357/.38sp)

I'd love another 1911 but I would be "duplicating" not adding to the variety. For now, I'm stuck on revos for a while. When I can afford the CASPIAN ARMS w/ an all Damascus steel 1911, that will be my next 1911.
 
I bought my wife a S & W 642 38 spl. last week and myself a S & W 686P .357 magnum. The carry ammo recommended for her (and me) was the Speer Gold Dot, 135 grain, +P 38spl. JHP. This is the one that's supposed to be optimized for shorter barrels, like snubbies. My instructor even said I should shoot this +P Gold Dot 38spl. in my .357 magnum with the logic that with a 2 1/2 inch barrel .357 mag ammo wouldn't be a measurable improvement over performance of the Speers and the Speers are easier to shoot. Anyone who shoots a .357 magnum agree or disagree?

U.F.O.
 
with a 2 1/2 inch barrel .357 mag ammo wouldn't be a measurable improvement over performance of the Speers
Click to expand...

False. 125gr .357 Magnum loads hit the forcing cone with more velocity than the hottest +P .38's have when exiting a 4" tube.

and the Speers are easier to shoot.
Click to expand...

True. I own more than one .357 that currently has its charge holes stuffed with +P .38 Specials.
 
Hi Tamara, Thx for the help here. I couldn't resist buying a wheel gun or two. I grew up lusting after them. I did notice, big time, that .357's have considerably more felt recoil than non +P 38spl's. Haven't shot the +P Gold Dots yet. Should I carry 125 gr. .357's in my 686? I kept them on target pretty well the 1st time shooting that caliber. I've already decided to make it a sometimes carry gun.

U.F.O.
 
There's not a thing wrong with a good 125gr .357 loading; a lot of folks still consider them to be the bee's knees...
 
greenmtnguy,

What types & brands of factory ammo have you tried that shoots
closest to Point of Aim/Point of Impact with your 642 ?
Click to expand...

He was using Atlanta Arms & Ammunition 148gr plated wadcutters. The group was, indeed, palm-sized. He stated it was fired rapid-fire, two handed. Not sure what range he was shooting at.

I do, however, know that the man is a pretty dang good pistol driver. ;)
 
U.f.o.,

Any loading that you also like besides that? Particularly for a .357 snub nose?
Click to expand...

I'm partial to Gold Dot and Golden Saber bullets, as both designs were otimized to perform well in a variety of tests involving barrier penetration and clothed gelatin. Whether you pick the light & fast loads or the slightly slower loads with high sectional density is going to be a matter of personal preference. The 125's will be much easier to shoot in a snubby than beastie 158's...
 
"Tactical this, high capacity that..."

You're absolutely right. That is why I carry a S&W 681PC for my duty weapon and S&W 642 as my backup. Simple Is Good.

Duty
7 Federal 125gr JHP's in the gun
21 more in speedloaders on belt

BUG
5 Federal 110gr Personal Defense JHP's in the gun
5 more in speedstrip in shirt pocket, behind business cards

:D

I think I have anything short of the L.A. Bank Robbery covered. :cool:
 
He stated it was fired rapid-fire, two handed. Not sure what range he was shooting at.
Click to expand...

It was a prudently speedy pace, like one round every two seconds, at seven yards.

Now I'm rethinking the purchase of another 9mm squirtgun in favor of a round gun. Maybe that tasty S&W titanium .357 J-frame with the 3" barrel that lives near the FiveseveNs in the case?
 
Ain't the 642 a sweet little piece?! :)

Bought one new with the OEM S&W Crimson Trace laser grips about a year ago as a center console/glovebox gun:

163811_large.jpg


Although I'm an iron sights kind of guy, the laser system with it's completely different sight plane is incredibly accurate and easy to use - sure does take a different mind frame focusing on the subject & dot instead of the front sight though! And if ya don't want the laser, there's a little switch on the bottom of the grip to turn it off completely, which is how I keep mine. That larger rubbery grip is fabulous though! I even went and bought some used S&W Chiefs Special wood grips and tried them on there just to see how small the whole gun could get. Although the recoil is worse with the thin wood panels, it's truly incredible that this gun can EASILY be carried in your front jeans pocket without printing or being too large a mass to do so comfortably.

Here's a couple decent articles I found back when I was researching this revolver:

Smith & Wesson Premiers Model 642 J-Frame with Crimson Trace® Lasergrips® at Industry Trade Show

Ayoob says Lasergrips plus S&W 642 equals value

And here's a good article on ammunition choices for this gun:

Handguns Magazine - Pocket Full of Dynamite

And here's a little article concerning the effectiveness of the laser sight on this gun:

Graybeard Outdoors - Crimson Trace Laser Grip Product Test Results
 
Over the years I've carried (or tried to carry) a long list of handguns. 1911's, Sig 220, Glocks 21, 30, 17, 26, K and L frame Smith & Wessons, the list goes on. The only ones I've ever carried on a semi-regular basis are a Glock 26 and a Ruger SP-101. I'm just too lazy to make the effort to carry a big heavy handgun, I freely admit it. Last week I picked up a 642. It seems to be pretty easy to carry in everything from heavy winter attire to baggy shorts.

I checked through the safe to see what .38 spls. I had. Found a box of 125 gr. +P Federal Nyclad hollowpoints and a box 125 gr. Remington +P hollowpoints (the regular old variety, not the Golden Sabres). Any thoughts on either of these for carry in a 1 7/8" barrel? Is the above mentioned 135 gr. Gold Dots the best thing going these days? Thanks.

Gene
 
I bought a 442 for my wife about 3 years ago, and she rairly carried it so I sold it. That was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I carried it every once in a while and loved it. I carried for three days in Savanna, GA. in my front pocket and didn't even realize it was there. At the time, my carry gun was a G-19, so I really didn't think I'de miss the little .38, but I do. After realizing what a mistake I made, I vowed never to sell any of my guns for any reason. It seems like the ones I've sold turn out to be sorely missed, even though I thought I wouldn't. :(
 
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