Damn a Model 442

[Gene L]

Shot mine today, with moderate .38 Special. Damn, did it kick. Enough so it turned me off for it as a carry gun. I've got better, much better carry OS (Oh S***) guns, and was disappointed at the recoil which at anything than belly range, would make follow up shots impossible. I'm not a good enough pistolero to deal with that punishing recoil.

I carried a model 38 for years as a last-ditch gun, but shot it very seldom. Can't remember recoil, but it's hard to remember pain. The 38 was a fine BUG, easily a pocket gun when I was toting a 1911.

[The_Truth]

They're both Airweight J frame 38s. Doesn't seem like they would be very different. I've got a Bodyguard Airweight (pre-Model 38) and recoil is quite manageable.

[Gene L]

You're right. The difference is I never fired the 38 airweight at more than 3 yards, if that. I can't remember firing it at all, but this was the SOP for BUGs so I must have. I may have fired it SA.

It's been a long time since I carried the 38, and memory fades. Back then, we were limited both by cost and by availability, on what was on the market. Lots of failure BUGs, not in serious situations, can't remember most of them, but the AMC Backup was one dramatic failure. Carried a .25 Jetfire back when that was the smallest pistol available, lots of cops did, then got the Smith 38. It was a PD gun, didn't cost me anything, but I had to turn it in eventually. A very handy confidence booster that would fit in my front pocket, a feeling of security in there, but I relied on my 1911 for all work and can't remember ever pulling the 38 but once, as a UC when a 1911 couldn't be carried. Surprising, how relatively easy it was to carry a 1911 in most situations back then.

[Jeppo]

Changing grips on my 442 turned it from “I hate firing this” to “Wish I’d brought another box”.

[.38SuperMan]

I really disliked the one I had for the same reason and sold it. I went back to my 640 no dash and the additional weight made it much more pleasant to shoot As mentioned above I even changed the grips to all rubber but still couldn’t deal with it.

[326MOD10]

Where I worked you had to qualify with your back up/off duty firearm the same as your duty handgun.

Carried a 642/442PC for the most of my career as a second handgun and had to work to be proficient with it, especially at the 25 yard line.

Yes it has a little sting but the trade off was well worth it.

Of course not knowing the OP's time frame of when he carried the Model 38, I still find it concerning that there was no further of a qualification than the 3 yard line. Ah the good old days.

[Goldstar225]

I'm sorry the 442 doesn't work for you. I've shot and carried my 642 for almost 20 years as an on-duty BUG and occasional off-duty carry. It takes some effort but they are far more capable than many give them credit for.

[Muss Muggins]

I've got a 442 in the rotation, and I'll agree, the felt recoil can be pretty stiff. I load mine with Hornady Critical Defense 110 grain, but I'll practice some with the old Yankee Gov't Speer 147 Grain +P+ stuff so I won't be taken aback by the Hornady recoil . . .

[crabshack]

Feed the Airweights wadcutters, much more managable.

YouTube

[wetdog1911]

I was kinda lucky in a sense, my very first J frame was a pristine M49 (the all steel version of your M38). I hadn't even owned a revolver in over 30 years, being a 1911 fan.

The second was a M442-1 after seeing the FFL's carry piece. The difference in weight was just under 8oz. THEN, I started watching vids of the various J frames being fired and quickly realized that those extra ounces in the all steel guns would make a world of difference with my "arthur" riddled hands, the very reason I had to put my 1911s aside.

I did get one more airweight, a M43C in .22lr, but also got 2 more .38spls, another M49 in nickel and a M60 in stainless and another .22lr, a M34, all with the 2" bbls and all steel.

Might be a bit heavier to tote, but I also shouldn't be limited to 1 or 2 cylinders for practice from recoil pain.

Rob

[smithman]

Grips that fit make a big difference. I have a 2.5” 44 magnum 5 shooter that I shoot very well because the grips just fit my hand so well. I shoot that little Taurus better than many of my larger less powerful guns...because it fits.

Find grips that fit you.

[Valmet]

They can certainly be a handful. I have a set of rubber Pachmayers on my 442 and while some folks ask why anyone would put a larger set on a small framed gun, it fits my hand well and it helps absorb recoil.

[M29since14]

Gosh, I’m a self-acknowledged recoil sissy and a 442 doesn’t bother me. I’ll admit I shoot more wadcutters and light SWC handloads in all of my .38s than I do +P type stuff, but even when I do occasionally fire the hotter stuff for practice the shape of the 442 grip seems a little easier on me than that of a normal Chief’s Special. I use Hogue Bantams on the 442. I agree with others. Before you decommission the 442, try some different stocks.

[Recusant]

That's the main reason I bought a Ruger Sp101 stubby. The trigger pull isn't as nice as a Smith, but the recoil from +Ps is more manageable.

[kaaskop49]

Would a pair of weight-lifting gloves, for example, help with recoil on the range? I use them due to nerve damage in the web of my right hand. Or would limiting yourself to standard velocity service loads (SWC bullet preferred) do the trick? I would hate to give up what has become essentially THE gold standard in pocket/CCW revolvers.

I've previously mentioned a former poster who wrote of carrying a Model 37 Airweight with target wadcutter ammunition. He said WCs enabled him to make fast, accurate follow-up shots. This is not a person I would care to mug!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

[Gene L]

Originally Posted by 326MOD10

Where I worked you had to qualify with your back up/off duty firearm the same as your duty handgun.

Carried a 642/442PC for the most of my career as a second handgun and had to work to be proficient with it, especially at the 25 yard line.

Yes it has a little sting but the trade off was well worth it.

Of course not knowing the OP's time frame of when he carried the Model 38, I still find it concerning that there was no further of a qualification than the 3 yard line. Ah the good old days.

There was no qualification course for BU weapons back in the early 80s where I worked. In fact, I don't think a BU was authorized, although most carried some kind. I may have shot it at 25, just don't remember.

[kscharlie]

I bought a 642 back in 2010. Don't know if the new Airweights still come with those tiny boot grips or not. My hands are not overly large, but not small either. I do have very long fingers. Those boot grips gave me absolutely no place for my pinky finger. Standard loads were almost manageable, +P loads was worse than shooting one of my .44 mags.

I ended up getting Hogue Tamer grips for this gun. They made an amazing difference. Standard loads are now very easy to handle, and the +P, while very snappy, are manageable. The Tamer grips are larger in circumference and totally wrap around the grip frame. They also provide a good solid place for my pinky.

The downside is that they almost cancel the gun as a pocket gun. That doesn't really concern me, as I dislike pocket carry of any type of gun. Mine usually goes in a cross draw holster. Rarely, I will put it in a Nemesis pocket holster. It can work that way, but I still don't care for it.

For an additional $30, they would be worth a try.

[andyo5]

I have a M340 with the Hogue Tamer grip. It still fits into my jeans pocket.

[kennethg]

Gene L,
If you are willing to try the 442 again, try shooting it with Federal 110grn
Hydra-Shock JHP Low-Recoil ammo.
It might make a difference.

[Rpg]

The airweight j frames are the most difficult handguns to master, IMHO.

Rubber grips (or other over sized grips) help a great deal, but ruin their pocket carry-ability: the primary reason for these guns.

I’ve used M38’s in the pocket for almost 50 years using factory magnas with a Tyler T which makes standard velocity 158 gr swc ammo quite pleasant. 148 gr wc target ammo is also a great choice for sd and makes these guns a pleasure to shoot.

The mistake lots of folks make is insisting on using +p and/or the latest gee whiz ammo.

These folks have been hornswaggled by the ammo manufacturers and internet warriors into imagining that the $1 per shot stuff actually works in a tiny, light revolver.

[Gene L]

The 442 came with big rubber grips. I'm sure they helped, but muzzle flip was considerable. I'll try the 110 gr. Hydra-shock bullets...I like everything on the gun except the recoil. Getting wimpish in my old age.

[SC_Mike]

I fired my 640-1 with full .357 loads once... once.

[Doug M.]

I have had light J frames. I dislike them, and find them worse to shoot with most ammo than my 296. They are also harder to shoot well than any other platform due to ergonomics. The only ammo I would seriously consider using in a light (or most any other) J frame is a good quality hard cast target wadcutter, or maybe standard velocity 158 grain SWC. What you want is a flat front and decent penetration.

FOR ME, even when unpleasant to shoot due to the ammo and configuration combination, I prefer a good quality small auto-pistol for deep concealment in circumstances in which appearing conspicuously unarmed is of value. I have a Glock 33 in a Kramer pocket holster that works well in both dress clothes and cargo pants. It is not even close to fun to shoot, but better than a light J. I put XS Big Dot sights on it, and I have qualified with it out to the 25.

My new Shield w/RDS is likely to be the new belt gun once tested, due to my vision. With a good holster (Dale Fricke) and belt, I should be good to go in most circumstances.

[R*E]

Grips make all the difference. I have Pachmayer compact pro grips on my 442 and it tamed the little beast.

Pachmayr Compac Grips S&W J-Frame Round Butt Rubber Black

[Backlighting]

I got rid of my snubbie (S&W 638). Recoil and short sight radius were the main issues. I replaced it with a semi-auto Ruger Security 9 Compact. Longer sight radius, 10+1 and more power with less recoil. Add to that the price per round is much less.

[scruffy]

This is the softest shooting combo I've found for my 442. Pachmayr Compac grips and Federal Micro HST .38+P. Feels like mild load .38s and grips help with muzzle flip. Downside is grips aren't the best for pocket carry.

[GerSan69]

Just throwing a different philosophy in here...
Some guns are strictly "all other options have run out" guns. An Airweight revolver has the added title of "I'm too old to carry something heavier today" guns. I would shoot them once in a great while - or maybe even just once, to verify point of aim - and put it in the rotation box for appropriate occasions. Not gonna shoot it all the time, especially not every range trip. Heck, not even every year. (And that's the good part: leave a revolver in the box for a day or ten years, it's still gonna shoot.) As long as it's available for those times when it's the best option to be my last option. See what I'm sayin'? Thanks!

[joe44va]

Seems to me that, as I age, recoil is becoming less manageable. Sure like my 63 and 617.