Uh-oh. I think I'm in love....

S

springmom

New member
See, I got money for Christmas from my mother in law and from my dad. And I decided I'd go poke around at the used gun counter in Carter's Country today after we went shooting.

Not much there. CC's is a great store, great people, love to do bidness with 'em, but their used guns are sort of on the high side, so I thought, well, I'll just slide over and see what they have on special.

What they have is a S&W 642. Wow. And I can say it backward: woW! :D

I am currently annoyed at my Bersa because at the range it spat gunpowder back at me. Usually it does this and the stuff lands on my arms and feels like fire ants in lava boots, but today it spat in my FACE. On my LIP. Kids, don't try that at home, on the range, or anywhere else. That was, uh, unpleasant, to say the least.

But there is that lovely little 642.

Now if my MIL and my dad had been REALLY generous I'd be looking at the scandium alloy one...but that's another $300, so, no.

But I'm seriously considering divorcing my Bersa and trading it in on that S&W 642. The thing's even more concealable than the Bersa, doesn't hold much less (the Bersa gets indigestion if you put more than six in, including the one in the chamber) and I really liked the trigger action. Not sure I'd be jumping into +P loads just right away :eek: but I may just have to run away with that little revolver.

The hubster thinks he's created a monster here, I think! :D

What do you all think?

Springmom
 
Before you buy, there is a M638 at www.coalcreekarmory.com I got a actual flatlatch M38 humpback today. The M638 is a excellent double action revolver in 38 Special. I prefer the humpback. If I had the choice, I would far prefer a M638 over a 642/442. I may even call back and put it in layaway instead of the 3" RB M10-8 I wanted.
 
The 642 is indeed one of the most popular J frames around and offers both concealability and power in a very reliable platform. With modern ammunition the 38+p can best any 380 or 9mm around, so if you like the gun I would say go for it. Good luck
 
I have neither guns, but I THINK that the 642 is DAO, while the 638 offers you the option of being fired single action as well. I think it has a little bit of the spur poking out (not enough to snag) so you can cock it. If you look closely at a picture of one from the side you can see it.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=14772&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

I think that is a very neat feature of the 638. And I might lean toward it myself if given the choice. But, I...am more aesthetically inclined to the 642 just based on looks.
 
The ability to use a hammer for single action aimed fire is a plus. No snag is indeed a great feature of both the 642/442 and the 638. The 638 is felt by some to be the best J frame platform though and it is +P rated. They are durable and reliable. You don't see many out and about either. People will want to check it out if you buy one. CCA has an honest price on the used M638 they have. I mention it to you Springmom mainly because I am aware of your health problems. The M638 would allow you on a weak day physically to cock and still fire your revolver in the lighter single action mode. The few 642/442s I have tried, needed a good and firm grip to function. I think they just have a difficult trigger pull. YMMV
 
The 642 is an outstanding little gun that offers nothing but advantages for CCW. It's dead bang reliable with any kind of ammunition, it can be fired through coat pockets if necessary, it's easy to operate, and very easy to carry and conceal. It packs a very respectable punch, and it's very resistant to pocket lint. IMHO, the 642 is one of the very best carry guns available. The Bersa is a fine gun, but the 642 is in a class of its own.
 
I agree that 642/442s are excellent. I have worked with handicapped shooters, post-CVA patients and retrained a few accident victims and often, single action fire is a plus. Two handed grip, opposing thumb cocking and a lighter trigger pull is a need. I know Springmom is not in a wheelchair now. She has been. I know she has fired a 1911, she may have no difficulties with a DAO revolver. I simply wanted her to be aware of a great CCW option. BillCA likes his DAO S&Ws. I hope he posts on this thread.
 
thanks, Sir William

I think Carter's Country had both the regular-hammer and the concealed, and they're really pretty close to the same price since the concealed-hammer 642 is the one on sale. I know Gander Mountain has them both. I do NOT think I've seen the "shrouded" version anywhere....

At any rate, y'all are "da bomb". Think I'll go get that Bersa cleaned and go talk to a man about a revolver :D

My poor hubster. Look what he got started, getting me back into shooting....

Springmom
 
I hear you Springmom. I got Christmas Money burning a hole in my pocket, and I have already swung by one gun counter and will be hitting another store later today. I'm either buying used or putting money down on something new, but I still have not settled on what I want yet. You can't go wrong with a .38 snubby, it was my second handgun purchase and I love shooting it.
 
Did It, Did It, Did It!!!!

Having given thought to what Sir William said about SA action possibility when the old hands are feeling, well, old, I ended up with a S&W 37. It's the full-hammer version, but having messed around with it in the store I don't think that's going to be a big deal. That is a SWEET little revolver. Nice black revolver, that nice little AirWeight feather-in-my-pocket weight, not so much as a hair of scratch or finish problem. Gander Mountain gave me 70% of blue book (and humorously enough, the kid who sold me both my handguns was the one who took the trade... and said he was going to buy the Bersa himself in a few days!) so I got the gun and a box of ammo, plus giving Uncle Sam and the State of Texas their cut, for exactly $3.20 more than I got for my Christmas money.

Ho, ho, ho! :D

They did not have a shrouded-hammer version of this gun at all, so it was either a Chief's Special or a Centennial, one or the other. I opted for the gun that gives me SA/DA options.

Can't wait to get it to the range!!!!

Springmom
 
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Well, hopefully all of the rave reviews on the 642 are true, because I picked mine up yesterday, complete with Crimson Trace grips. I was planning on going to the range with it today, but my wife decided to rear end a guy on the way home from buying the gun, so today was spent dealing with insurance and body shops. BLECH.

Sad to hear that you don't like the Bersa, I was actually considering selling off my Ruger 22/45 to help finance puchasing a Bersa .380 for the LOML (yeah, I still love her, even though she just beat up her car).
 
well, no, the Bersa is a nice gun...

...although getting a faceful (felt like it!) of hot powder after a shot was not my idea of fun. The Bersa's a nice carry gun, no doubt of it; but I think this will be better, especially for summertime, when it's either carry in a pocket or carry in a purse (and pocket is better). This will be an ideal BUG, and not a bad first-line defense either; and hopefully without the spitting gunpowder.

Go let her check out a Bersa, and give her a chance to fire one. If she likes it, buy it! I don't know that they all do that as badly as mine did. But you might let her check out the S&W airweights, too ;)

Springmom
 
Actually, we've looked at the Bersa and she's digging it pretty hard. We haven't shot one yet, but I'm thinking that will just seal the deal. All I need to do now is offload that Ruger and she'll have one. :D Hopefully tomorrow we'll get to try out the 642 (man, I'm looking forward to playing with the laser [yes, I know, guns aren't toys, but they are still enjoyable]).
 
Get the Smith :D The current love of my life is a Smith 638, similar to the 642 except mine is the "humpback" version that you can cock for single action shots and I adore mine. Ain't nothing wrong with the 642 though.
 
Great find! The older M37 is a wonderful revolver! I have plans to acquire a M36 3", a M37 2" and possibly a M38 and M638 humpbacks. I have a M30 in 32 S&W Long already. A good Centennial and I think I will be set for life. The M37s are excellent for CCW. I am only glad that I could offer any advice to you Springmom. I hope you do buy a S&W K frame someday too. A 3"heavy barrel 38 Special in RB form is a neat revolver. I am giving thoughts towards a M13 357 Magnum.
 
Please know that having the powder blown back in your face is not cured by going to the revolver. That situation can be created by most any handgun platform. If the forcing cone gets dirty or the revolver gets a little out of time the same blowback of the powder can occur.
Just a friendly little tip in case you think you have solved a minor problem.

The problem with your Bersa was probably more ammo related than a malfunction of the pistol.
 
Thanks, Majic

I kept that thing clean as a whistle, and I had it happen with a number of different types of ammo. I expect that it was that particular Bersa more than anything else. And it wasn't really a little bit...not when it's bad enough to burn your lip and face.

It'll have a good home if the kid who sold it to me originally at GM goes ahead and buys it. He was quite impressed with its condition when I took it in.... and unlike me, if he wants to tweak it, he can go to the gunsmith's bench and work on it ;) If it spits on him, maybe he can work on it and fix something!

Again, I like the Bersa, and as a concealed carry it was terrific. But I want to enjoy my range time with each gun I own, not come away needing ice and a burn cream :(

Springmom, looking forward to putting the new baby through its paces
 
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