Thinking of trading my 642-2 for a M&P .38 revolver with laser. The 642-2 is a bear to shoot and my wife can bearly pull the trigger. The M&P has a much netter trigger and a laser. My wife can't pull the trigger on the 642.

Thanks.

I installed an Apex Spring Kit in mine. Cost about $20 plus shipping. Reduced trigger pull to approx 8.5 to 9 lbs. Shoots like an entirely different gun. Smooth. I've put approx. 1500 rounds thru it with no misfires. I love carrying and shooting it. FWIW.

I don't get that.
The first thing I did was ask my wife to dry fire the 642-1 PRO and she was able to do so with ease. (My wife does not have strong fingers)
A spring kit might be the right answer for trigger pull, but at the same time there is no substitute for "cycles" where the trigger parts are wearing against the hammer parts.
After wringing out all the choices, and years of testing this and that, the little J-frames really are probably the ideal CC choice for most who need a SIMPLE gun that they can just pull and shoot.

My 642-2 belonged to my sister. After she bought it she realized she could not easily pull the trigger. She had health issues and should have asked me to go with her to pick out a firearm. I loaned her one of mine she could shoot. She has passed now and I have carried the 642 some but now my wine can't shoot it. She's getting a little Arthur in her hands. Bottom line is that the 642 is not fun to shoot. I can't see why S&W markets them to women and puts such terrible triggers on them.

I did the same with my 642, and have not regretted having done so. The stock trigger pull was off the scale, and now it breaks smoothly at 9 lbs. If you're already sold on the M&P and the 642 holds no nostalgic value, go for it, but the Apex Kit is an easy and affordable fix.

I had a 642 that I sold last year. I didn't shoot it well, and it was no fun to shoot. It's a nice gun, just didn't work for me.

Trade for which ever gun is going to work for the two of you, but first a have the wife try the trigger on the M&P.

Personally, I suggest against the little J frames for wives, daughters, and girlfriends...

That is unless they have shot one and know what they are getting with these little guns: Heavy triggers, poor sights, a short sight radius, and really snappy recoil. They are not fun range guns for most women so practice, accuracy, and confidence generally suffers.

I also would avoid the micro or pocket sized auto guns. Again you get the poor sights and short sight radius. The other problem comes with the smaller and lighter slides on these little guns. This means the manufacturer has to ramp up the recoil spring rates to help absorb recoil. Some of us big strong guys have a hard time racking the slides on the little autos. As a general rule small and "cute" doesn't mean light recoil, easy to manipulate, or fun to shoot for most women.

She might find a compact, or mid-sized 9mm auto will be much more fun to shoot. With the heavier slide mass the recoil springs aren't too stiff so working the action is easier and 9mm recoil will be very manageable.

The key is letting your lady shoot several guns at a rental range and making her own decision. She might like the M&P 38 you mentioned or some other gun you haven't considered. My wife and daughter picked the GLOCK compact and sub-compact G19 & G26 in 9mm as their favorites. They actually like going to the range and can "run" these autos through the various malfunction drills. However, they still avoid shooting my snubbies.

Did I get rid of my J frames? Nope, I keep them for my own enjoyment. So get her a gun she is happy with and get the gun you want for your fun.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

I know of several guys that have sent there J frames back to SW for trigger work, they had arthritis , SW accommodated them.

Here is another vote for a trigger job before you regret giving up a nice revolver.

Springs are cheap. Polishing, if you have the skills, is free. Worst case, a professional trigger job is not terribly expensive.

Now that I have installed new springs and polished the recoil slide contact surfaces, my wife seems to enjoy shooting her J-frame.

Yes, she might just be saying that to make me feel good, but the trigger is now much lighter and extremely smooth. She burns up a box of 50 every time we go to the range.

Oh, and try the Hogue Tamer grip. It makes these little guns much easier to hold onto, thus more fun to shoot.

Life is good!

Thanks for the input. My wife's favorite gun is my no dash 686 I carried at the start of my career. It had a professional trigger job and I won many a pistol match with it. It is just too big and heavy for her to carry. Normally I don't suggest small revolvers for ladies either- limited ammo, recoil, crisply triggers and sights, etc. but with her arthritis she can't rack a slide. Getting old ain't for sissies!

Amen! Ya don't need to ask how I know!

Well here's the update. I was at the gun shop I work at yesterday intending to swap for the .38 body guard when along comes a used but mint condition all black Kahr P380 with extra mags. I never have wanted a .380 but this one caught my attention. Since it was used ( but barely) I scooped up some ammo and walked downstairs to our range and popped off some rounds. My five shot group at 15 feet was barely over an inch. The same with the bodyguard was almost 3 inches due to the long heavier trigger. I was amazed how accurate the Kahr was so it came home with me. I know a .380 is minimal at best but it will be a backup not primary carry. Wife liked it too.

If you can't shoot it easily you won't carry it. If you won't carry it then it's a paperweight. Get a different gun. If you're not a collector per se, trying to have one of this and that model, don't hamper your self defense with a gun you can't shoot or that your wife can't shoot.

My solution, since I carry a 642-2 every day, factory trigger, and it doesn't bother me, would be to get my wife a different gun. Presently, I have no wife, but when I did have one who wasn't afraid of guns (I've had several wives so I know wherefrom I speak) I let her pack whatever gun made her happy. We didn't share and that was the end of that. Yours is yours, mine is mine, and heaven help anyone who accosts us both at the same time.

If you can't afford two guns, one for each of you, either get the springs suggested above or find a gun that works for you both, whether it's a new M&P .38, an old Model 10, whatever.

Not being able to shoot a particular gun at the range is annoying. Not being able to shoot that same gun when your life depends on it is fatal.

***GRJ***

Can she rack the slide well enough?

I have a couple of Kahr PM40 pistols that I like to carry while on my bike. One at a time, of course.

In my experience, Kahr pistols usually need quite a few break in rounds and often some TLC at first. It sounds like you neatly side stepped that requirement, sir.

Congratulations!

Thanks. She likes the fit and feel of the Kahr. We'll work on manual of arms this weekend.

My wife can pull the trigger fine, but she can't hit the broad side of a barn with the 642. I, on the other hand, love it and have no problem with accuracy. I took off the side plate and cleaned it out (it needed it and was brand new), did a little hand polishing, and lubed it with corrosion x. Then I dryfired the heck out of it. I have arthritic hands but it's real smooth to shoot now imo.