Hi all, I'm planning on getting a 642/442. I much prefer the look of the 442, however I've read that due to the fact that the barrel, yoke, and cylinder is carbon steel on the 442 vs. stainless on the 642, the 442 is more prone to rusting.

Then I found out that the 442 Pro "Moon Clip" model (SKU 178041) apparently has a stainless steel cylinder. However I've read conflicting reports, some people saying that the barrel is still carbon steel, other saying that the barrel is stainless but and the only part that's carbon steel is the yoke (I assume the yoke on the 642 isn't carbon steel...).

Anybody have an idea as to who's right or who's wrong?

Thanks in advance!

I have a 442 Pro Moon Clip.

A magnet will stick to the: Barrel, Yoke, and Cylinder

I really like the finish on mine. No wear issues at all so far.
I had a 638 before getting the 442 Pro Moon Clip. I was not nearly as impressed with the finish on it. It had a clear film that would wear off.

I swapped the grips on mine for Hogue Checkered Walnut Boot Grips. Very nice looking.

My main holster is a Lobo Model 1 Pancake.
Lobo Gun Leather - Home

I also carry in Nemisis & Jr Roo Pocket Holsters in my jacket pockets. A Mica no doubt would be a better pocket holster.

I have picked up extra Moon Clips from TK.
Welcome to TK Custom.com & Moonclips.com

Moon Clip Carriers (SAM) Shoot A Moon by California Competition Works. They now have a 5 shot J Frame version. You need to look the website over to find them. They are under California Competition Works "Revolver Accessories".
The Item Description is: SAM for 5 shot Revolver. I have 2 of them, they seem secure enough, and should wear forever.
http://demooner.com/

Get the 442 Pro Moonclip, you will love it. They do not seem to be very plentiful. Bud's is the only source I have found for one.

Bob

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ICORE MO2908

One of my CCW pieces is a 442 Pro. Was having trouble re-loading with speedloaders and moonclips as the grip was just giving me a tad of interference. So I got some faux service style in Ivory looking material, a Tyler T-grip and now the speedloaders or moonclip will reload in an instant. However carrying the extra moonclip is a pain as it had no holder so I carry it loaded with a moonclip, eject the clip and spent rounds and re-load via a normal speedloader that I can carry easily.
I did see the moonclip carrier mentioned in the thread above and might get one just to evaluate but I think my system works just fine. all5x

Thanks. I guess my next question is... do magnets stick to carbon steel too?

A magnet is not a true test for stainless steel. Magnets stick to carbon steel and most stainless steels used in guns. Has to do with the alloy used to give it strength. Check the properties in Wikipedia. I have PC627 & PC625, Frame, barrel, cyl, etc are all magnetic.
e.
Stainless steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I sent an e-mail to S&W, and also called them, and both CS reps stated that the 442 Pro moon clip version (SKU 178041) has only stainless parts, and doesn't have carbon steel parts. However this contradicts S&W's 2012 catalog (PDF), which on page 4 states that it has a carbon steel cylinder. But on their website, it says the cylinder is stainless steel, but it doesn't say whether or not the barrel is stainless steel too.

A bit frustrating...

Being keep-it-simple minded (some would just say simple minded), I never quite understood the craze for moon-clips for rimmed case cartridges. But I can see how they would be faster for reloading. However, I don't see the point in having a moon-clip gun if you're gonna reload via speedloader. Can you not carry a loaded full-moon the same way as you do a speedloader?
FWIW a magnet sticks to my old pinned-barrel model 60 stainless Chief.

To answer your original question, the S & W site says the 442 Pro has a stainless cylinder but makes no mention of the barrel. The photos show a black finish on both parts so that is no help in differentiating them; most S & W stainless revolver parts are silver.

To add more confusion - if it does have an alloy frame and stainless barrel/cylinder, why is this not called a black-finished 642? The 442 is supposed to have carbon steel parts.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Actually, I don't really care about the moon clip capability -- I hear that moonclips are picky about bullets and they can bend while in the pocket. The reason I want the Moon Clip version is it's got (at the very least) a stainless steel cylinder, which is allegedly more corrosion resistant than than the carbon steel used on the "regular" 442.

You could always have your 442 refinished by Robar.

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Centennial Every Day

To me the 442 Pro Moon Clip seems to have a better and more durable finish than I have seen on some other 442's.
I am way more impressed with it's finish than the 638 I had infront of it.

Ammo & Moon Clips in the 38 Special. The Undercut at the rim is not a standard size on 38 Special Brass. The TK Clips, which are the same ones that come with the 442 Pro Moon Clip from the factory fit several brands of ammo.
They main one they do not fit is Winchester.

I have Speer 135 Short Barrel and 125 MagTechs loaded in my clips at the moment. Remington Golden Sabers will also work fine, as will Federal Hydra Shocks.
I can live without Winchester PDXl, which is about the only desirable Carry Ammo that will not work in the Moon Clips.

Moon Clips & HillBilly Carry: That is what I call Low Threat Carry in a Rural Environment. I live in a rural area, and I am not real worried about being Mugged, Car Jacked, etc in my everyday travels. I might however pop a Copperhead about anytime during the Summer months. Unless I am going to a bigger town or city, I will likely have a shotshell or two up front during the Summer. With HillBilly Carry I have a tendency to have loose rounds in the gun, so I can swap out a shotshell or two after firing them. I will probably have a Self Defense Loaded moon clip or two on the belt, but I will also have a Tuff Products Quick Strip in the pocket with a few shotshells, and normally a few lead reloads to top off the gun.
It is unhandy in this mode to carry a moon clip load in the gun.

Moon Clips & Defensive Carry: Carrying a Moon Clipped Payload in the revolver for self defense you will more than likely shoot the gun empty before reloading. The moon clips in the gun keep all 5 rounds together during ejection. The J Frame has a short ejector stroke, and is not noted for positive ejection unless you do everything right, which you may not under stress. You can grab the 5 rounds in a cluster and get them all out of the gun if you need to during a tactical reload. I can normally do a faster reload with a moon clip than I can a Safariland Comp I or HKS speedloader. Between the more positive ejection, and faster reload, the moon clip gun has a big edge in a gun fight if it goes past 5 shots.

The 442 Pro Moon Clip will work just like every other J Frame 38 as far as using Speed Loaders, and Loose Rounds. The Moon Clip Cylinder Cut just gives you another Option.

Pocket Carry of Moon Clips: If the ammunition fits in the clips pretty well (Not Real Loose) you can probably get away with loose carry in an empty, loose pocket.
I believe TK sells a Pocket Moon Clip Carrier. It fits around the nose area of the ammunition, and keeps all 5 rounds in the clip. They are a little salty, however they are probably a one time purchase also. My best guess is getting the carrier off the moon clip reload will add about 1 second to the reload time.

The California Competoition Works 5 Shot Moon Clip Carriers is the best thing to happen for a moon clip J Frame, or an SP101 in 9mm. I had a 9mm SP101 several years ago, and got rid of it because it was a pain to keep my rounds in the clips when pocket carrying them. The Moon Clip Carrier would have totally taken care of that problem, as would the Pocket Carrier.

I hope I have answered a few more questions. I am a long time user of moon clips, and I really like them.

Bob

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ICORE MO2908

Alright, so I found another spec sheet on S&W's website that said that the barrel is carbon steel. So I e-mailed the S&W customer service rep again, and the person I spoke with (Paul, who it seems to me probably isn't "just another" customer service rep like I first thought) said that the spec sheet is wrong: the barrel is PVD coated stainless steel, and in fact the 442 Pro Moon Clip SKU 178041 has no carbon steel and is "basically a 642 with PVD coating". Hope that helps anyone else who was wondering the same thing.

I am a big fan of moon clips. It is the primary reason that I use my 940 as a BUG/off duty weapon to complement my BHP. Extra moon clips do have to be carried in something that will not bend them. I usually carry 2 extra moon clips, after that I can reload the 940 by thumbing rounds out of the BHP magazine-of course this assumes that the BHP is either not working as advertised or I have temporarily lost custody of it. I am contemplating having a couple other J frames cut for moon clips. The 640 pro seems like really god gun for them. I have the 632 Pro and I really like it. Kind of like launching .30 Carbine rounds at a little lower velocity.

For the life of me I cannot figure out why some folks these days seems so determined to own a maintenance-free gun. Such a critter simply does not exist; even a 100% stainless gun will rust without maintenance. Fact is, a daily 5-second wipedown with an oily rag will keep a blued gun rust free for decades except in the harshest environments. And even if eventually the bluing wears thin and a bit of rust may appear over time, so what? A gun is a tool, like an axe or a shovel, and if it is used as intended it will sooner or later show signs of that use, regardless of the type of steel. If you are the rare individual who encounters really harsh conditions on a regular basis, stainless may save you some small amount of fuss and bother; otherwise, just as with a car, do your preventive maintenance and you will enjoy using your gun for many years to come.

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Pisgah

Pisgah, for me it's not so much wanting a maintenance-free gun as it is not wanting one that allegedly (not sure how true it is, or how likely I'd be to experience it, especially since I don't really sweat that much) requires a lot more maintenance to keep from rusting than its stainless steel counterpart.

My 2011 642 goes in my front daily. I ride a bicycle to work 3+ days a week in the hot southwest. I don't do anything to it but clean it after shooting - I do not wipe it down. Mine shows no signs of corrosion.

No idea if the 442 Pro would hold up as well or just as well. I would have preferred an all black gun in my pocket, but I did t want to take the chance since there is no definitive info on what the 442s are made of, other than the cylinder.

Until I spoke to Paul from S&W, I felt the same way. It's a shame S&W doesn't provide a bit more detail on their website. However Paul seemed to know what he was talking about so I'm going to trust him and hope for the best.

Your previous post is definitely good info to have. A little late for me ;-), but I'd definitely look further into the 442 Pro were I buying today.