This used example has been on layaway for a few months. So far I've only done the usual going over and some snap cap dry firing.

20141225_141746 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20141225_141551 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

The trigger is perfectly smooth and stageable in double action and I was surprised to see the single action break at 3lbs flat, bettering both my vintage and newer N frame by a couple lbs.

The entire gun was soaked in what smells like WD40. I am impatiently waiting for my Plug to come in to get in there and lube it properly.

Those that pass these new guns over as junk don't know what they're missing. I'll leave my final judgment for the shooting range, but I expect good things.

It saw little to no carry use as there was no burnishing of the cylinder finish and no polishing on the edges. Looks like I'll be adding all the character marks.

The wife was much less than thrilled over the purchase as this makes #3 for the year. About half was covered by extra parts sales so I think she should not be so harsh.

I will try some 357's through it but will most likely stick to +P.

Very nice!

It will be a nice contrast to your 442. Salt and pepper.

Yea I agree all the 60s and my 640 have great triggers ! That lock don't bother me at all.
Jake

PS the old k and n frames were better but they are gone now

Nice gun; I predict you will come to love it even more than you obviously do already. A 649-5 was the first small frame Smith I ever bought and I have never regretted the purchase. A couple of years ago I put a Big Dot sight on it, which improved the speed of target acquisition greatly (or at least gave me the impression of faster target acquisition). Even with a dab of white paint the factory ramp just didn't do it for me.



Maybe I'm a wimp, but I still haven't shot any .357 rounds in mine. Those ebony stocks, which I found on Ebay, are partly to blame for that. They look stylish enough, but they need to be wider in order to spread the recoil over a few more square inches of hand surface. I have designed the stocks I want on this gun. I just need to break out the saws and files in order to make them happen.

__________________
David Wilson

I have no problem shooting an SP101 with magnums. With these grips it weighs nearly the same, they're just not as squishy as the Ruger factory grips. I'll find out soon enough.

Factory 110gr Mag loads are ideal for this steel frame job. So are CCI Blazer .357 158gr JHP. Double taps are possible with both loads. Neither load has jumped crimp in my Model 60 and SP-101.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Nice 649. Magnums are manageable in the 649.

I truly love my 442. It's a pleasure to carry and shoot. I'm hoping this will be the same.

Thus far I've tried 125gr Remington +P and 125 gr Hornady 357. The +P was downright gentle, and the 357, while quite manageable, had my ears ringing with muffs on...outdoors! I'll have to use double ear pro if I do that again for sure. There was some flash but nothing excessive. Indoors it would have certainly been painful on the ears.