I am thinking of buying a new 642 Airweight and while looking on line I noticed that it also comes in the pro series. My question is, in addition to the cylinder being cut for moon clips what other enhancements does the 642 Airweight pro sport, trigger job, etc? Also, I have never used moon clips are they more useful than a speed loader for ccw?
Thanks,
Sam

I think the pro also comes minus the ILS

Moon clips and no lock, that's it but it was worth it to me.

Love the no lock but not sure the cut out for moon clips is worth the extra cost. Are they useful for ccw, how do you carry moon clips.

The PC version is a good choice, as is the Gunsmoke version, just throw the goofy grips on the Gunsmoke in the trash and buy yourself some real grips.

I like the moon clips makes for a speedy reload I had a custom pouch made that carries two one set bullets facing down and the other clip goes on top bullets facing up.

How are the PC & Gunsmoke editions different & do they sport the integral lock?

They both have an action job and the Gunsmoke version is a 637 with a bobbed hammer. They both have locks, no big deal.

My 642 PC has around a 9.5lbs trigger pull that is a lot smoother than any of the new 642/442 I dry fired at the LBS.

I checked out moon clips on YouTube & I think I am going to go with a pro & and somewhere down the line get the PC master trigger job.

I have a M-642-1 PRO - came with three moon clips. It is a beautiful specimen with very smooth DA pull-through.
Moon clips can be great, or they can be a PITA. I have Winchester factory loads "clipped in" for my CC use, and they snap into the clips easily, and out easily. One point I've never seen mentioned is that the first round goes in easiest, the last hardest, and when de-clipping the first round is the hardest to get out, then the rest go easy. This is due to the tension placed on the spring steel moon clip by the cases. You can, and I DO load my moon clips by hand, but for those a bit fumble-fingered, or lacking fingers coated with a leather hide, a tool is probably a nice thing to have.
The "problem" with clips is different brands of case have slightly different dimensions which can play Atch-E-double-toothpicks with loading the clips. Also, reloaded ammo tends to have larger case heads and will often refuse to "clip in," but even if the first one does, by round three they won't go.

Okay that was the bad, now for the good. Moon clips streamline your carry ammo...a five round "en bloc" clip for the 642 is pretty compact. Since the entire unit drops in, there is no fumbling with a speed loader...and it is FAR easier to drop in a block of rounds than load individually. Also...not often mentioned but of MAJOR import, moon clips means your empties come out "en bloc" which eliminates that one round that decides to remain behind...on the J-frame this isn't a problem since the ejector start does not move out far enough to allow a rim to drop in behind, but on full-size revolvers, it's not uncommon at all for a single shell to drop under the ejector star...scrupulous technique should avoid this, but Murphy is always lurking.

So the "short" answer is, plan to use your moon clips for factory ammo...I know Winchester works in mine, but expect to load single rounds when playing with reloads.

Thanks for all the responses, you guys have been very helpful.

I agree with everything Kilibreaux said. I love my 642 Pro and it's not that much more than a regular 642. They can be had for a little over $400.

This thread is useless without pics....so....



Edit: Damn flickr and their blocking of full size images.

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Still carrying my S&W 642