Joined the J-Frame club

[Dr. Marneaus]

I have been carrying a .380 for the past year and wasnever super comfortable with that caliber.

Came into a no lock 642 for a good deal and am much happier.

The cylinder would rotate backwards on 2 chambers without touching the trigger so some light filing and stoning of the adjustment area on the cylinder stop got that back into good solid lockup.

Aside from a scratch or three on the aluminum I'm quite happy. It's going to be a carry gun so cosmetics come second.

I'm happy to have something that chucks a projectile of twice the weight of the .380, at the same velocity.

Ive ordered new grips to replace the hogue bantams because I dislike the sticky rubber.

More to come.

[DumpStick]

Good looking piece you got there.

I joined the J-frame club in a similar fashion. I purchased one of the Centerfire Systems 640-1's a few months ago.

There has been a lot going on here, and I have yet to even clean it, much less fire it, but I'll get there.

[petepeterson]

Congrats. I, too, prefer my 442 over my micro-.380 when possible, even giving up the two rounds.
That could quickly become your "boon companion."

[629shooter]

Congratulations on your 642. The good old 642 was my first J-frame too. Be careful, they multiply.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[white cloud]

I think you made a good choice. I tried a micro 9mm. It was a reliable gun but I could never achieve the same smooth draw I always seem to with my 649. I figure with my some what less than ninja reflexes that might be a big deal. I also did a re-read of Ed Lovette's snubbie book. IMHO opinion, he makes some compelling points in favor of the snubbie.

You might want to start looking for holsters that allow you to wear your revolver with different clothing choices. For example, I appendix carry almost all the time because I usually wear jeans/shorts with an untucked shirt. However I have a very thin tuckable horse hide holster that I wear with a suit. If it really hot and I don't want to sweat all over my gun and holster, I go with pocket carry.

One point of caution though. Many of us find J Frames to be addictive. At last count I have seven.

[Dr. Marneaus]

Originally Posted by white cloud

I think you made a good choice. I tried a micro 9mm. It was a reliable gun but I could never achieve the same smooth draw I always seem to with my 649. I figure with my some what less than ninja reflexes that might be a big deal. I also did a re-read of Ed Lovette's snubbie book. IMHO opinion, he makes some compelling points in favor of the snubbie.

You might want to start looking for holsters that allow you to wear your revolver with different clothing choices. For example, I appendix carry almost all the time because I usually wear jeans/shorts with an untucked shirt. However I have a very thin tuckable horse hide holster that I wear with a suit. If it really hot and I don't want to sweat all over my gun and holster, I go with pocket carry.

One point of caution though. Many of us find J Frames to be addictive. At last count I have seven.

I know that feeling that feeling. I was carrying a Sig P238 which in my opinion isn't super micro but it was the only tiny .380 I have handled that feels like a real gun, more so than the LCP and P3at type stuff. It was reliable and shot really nice but it had a right handed safety and was a auto carrier cocked and locked so I didn't care for pocket carry etc.

This should do better in many situations :-)

[cptdco]

Agree it's a nice gun. I bought an earlier model 38 bodyguard when I first got my license to carry. Like yours: lightweight, goes anywhere, and as has been suggested, I ended up with a variety of holsters for different circumstances. But my big question: what kind of watch is it?

[sdb321]

I bought a Lady Smith when I started carrying. Last February I traded it for a 640-1 Pro Series and I love it!

[shotguntom]

Hard to beat a J frame for personal protection, in my opinion.
I carry an older 36 with a bobbed hammer in my jacket pocket. Its my out for a walk gun. Lol.
If I need to carry all day concealed, I go with my Shield in 9MM

[Dr. Marneaus]

Originally Posted by cptdco

Agree it's a nice gun. I bought an earlier model 38 bodyguard when I first got my license to carry. Like yours: lightweight, goes anywhere, and as has been suggested, I ended up with a variety of holsters for different circumstances. But my big question: what kind of watch is it?

Nothing fancy fancy. Maratac Mid Pilot, by CountyComm Government Products Group. It's a tank.

Mid Original Pilot Automatic Watch by Maratac ™ | CountyComm – CountyComm

[AJ]

Congrats on your 442, I think you'll be happy with it. I had one for a while as a back up to my 342. A friend want it so I sold it to him. But never fear, I picked up another J Frame....a Model 36.

[Old cop]

I've carried a J frame for well over 40 years, current EDC is the M&P 340. I do own an LCP which is carried when I cannot hide my J adequately but my comfort level is w/the small revolver.

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations!

[MCorps0311]

Originally Posted by sdb321

I bought a Lady Smith when I started carrying. Last February I traded it for a 640-1 Pro Series and I love it!

That a nice looking 640-1.

[haywood]

J-Frames are about all I carry and shoot these days. I like 442s for my pocket and a 36 for AIWB. I just shot the 36 a couple weeks ago. What a sweet shooter. A lot of people don't consider a J-Frame a Range Gun but, I love shooting these things.

[Dr. Marneaus]

I'm still loving it

[les.b]

Welcome to the J Frame Club!! I have a bunch, and carry one almost every day, sometimes I carry something different, but mostly a J frame. I also admire the watch...very nice clean look, and you can actually tell what time it is showing!! Some of the newer watches have such busy faces that you can't tell what they are saying!!

Best Regards, Les

[DevilDog72]

welcome to the J world. The more I use my 640 ND the more I like it. It has replaced my EDC 19-4 snub for weekend and church duty....

[sdb321]

Great pic DevilDog72.

[off road]

The 642 gives you more bang for your buck, than any gun I can think of. ~$400 for a new one, around here.

For years I avoided the J-Frames. I was an SP101 guy, but found the Ruger to be a bit large and far to heavy for pocket carry. My wife now has my 642, and I upgraded to a M&P340.

While we have tons of black bears in the local mountains, they don't come down into the foothills, so I can carry something light and compact while mountain bike training. But, there are mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, etc., so I load the little gun with Buffalo Bore 158 gr. Keith, 38+P Outdoorsman. It chronos at 1031 fps. from the little short barrel, and penetrates forever!

38 SPL +P OUTDOORSMAN

[ABPOS]

642 is a great choice OP!!! I bought a 442 from my Mom that my Step Dad had bought and carried a little bit before he passed away. Fortunately it was no lock model.

I have tried to, and have carried other guns, but I keep coming back to the 442 for some reason. I do wish it held more rounds, but I think it has a chance to solve a lot of problems without reloading. And I do carry more rounds on me.

But for you J frame experts, have you guys done anything other than dry firing and shooting to your triggers? Mine is still a bit heavier than I want and I'm debating on an apex kit. It supposedly lightens it up about 3 pounds. Mine is about 13 now. I did drop a little oil (clp) down the trigger to help smooth it out some and it did have that affect. A little bit. But it's still pretty heavy.

I'm also wanting more J frames. I've so wanted a Model 36 for as long as I've been carrying and shooting revolvers. Or some kind of steel framed one. I don't pocket carry. So the heavier frame would help soak up some recoil.

Last couple weeks I went to AIWB and really like it.

I've pretty much settled I'd like to trade my G26 for another J frame.....

[haywood]

Originally Posted by ABPOS

642 is a great choice OP!!! I bought a 442 from my Mom that my Step Dad had bought and carried a little bit before he passed away. Fortunately it was no lock model.

I have tried to, and have carried other guns, but I keep coming back to the 442 for some reason. I do wish it held more rounds, but I think it has a chance to solve a lot of problems without reloading. And I do carry more rounds on me.

But for you J frame experts, have you guys done anything other than dry firing and shooting to your triggers? Mine is still a bit heavier than I want and I'm debating on an apex kit. It supposedly lightens it up about 3 pounds. Mine is about 13 now. I did drop a little oil (clp) down the trigger to help smooth it out some and it did have that affect. A little bit. But it's still pretty heavy.

I'm also wanting more J frames. I've so wanted a Model 36 for as long as I've been carrying and shooting revolvers. Or some kind of steel framed one. I don't pocket carry. So the heavier frame would help soak up some recoil.

Last couple weeks I went to AIWB and really like it.

I've pretty much settled I'd like to trade my G26 for another J frame.....

Reading this I thought it was something I wrote. The 442 is my favorite pocket gun. I carry a second with the same Hogue Grip as yours AIWB. I also have a 36 that does AIWB carry. I haven't had my Glock 26 out in years. My 37 with bobbed hammer started my J-Frame addiction when I traded my Glock 19 for it.

[sdb321]

ABPOS, to reduce the trigger pull I suggest to have a action job done on it. I'm having it done on my 640 Pro Series by Dennis Reichard. He is regarded as one of the best. The price is $120. You can contact him @ Sand Burr Gun Ranch He comes highly recommended.

[off road]

My one criticism of the 642/442 is the front sight. It is narrow and impossible to pick up in low light. And, being fixed it is not replaceable. Once I saw that beautiful XS night sight on the M&P340, I had to make the upgrade!

[haywood]

I paint my sights to see them better. As for the trigger, I dry fire at least 2000 times with lube. This smooths things up very nicely.

[Blue357]

Congrats, I just joined the club as well with a model 36 "Chiefs Special". Best conceal carry option is a J frame IMO.

[ABPOS]

I bought a paint pen but I'm kind of undecided. For low light I can see it might help a bit. But I'm not sure there is enough there to even make that much of a difference. In normal light I'd rather have it be black. Seems like if I paint the whole thing white, I might lose it if shooting at white paper..... Probably not, but not sure. Or if I paint it orange, I might lose it if there is orange on the target. A lot of my targets have that. I just like black.

But it does get lost in low light some......

I'm thinking the 340 has the lock, although I guess you could take that out. I see the 640 PRO, or whatever the fancy version is called, has nicer sights. That thing is pretty sweeeeeeet.

[gnystrom]

Nice choice doc. Now move the rounds in your speed strip so you have three-space-two. It will allow you to get a finger in that space and you will have better results loading two at a time.

[les.b]

Originally Posted by ABPOS

I bought a paint pen but I'm kind of undecided. For low light I can see it might help a bit. But I'm not sure there is enough there to even make that much of a difference. In normal light I'd rather have it be black. Seems like if I paint the whole thing white, I might lose it if shooting at white paper..... Probably not, but not sure. Or if I paint it orange, I might lose it if there is orange on the target. A lot of my targets have that. I just like black.

But it does get lost in low light some......

I'm thinking the 340 has the lock, although I guess you could take that out. I see the 640 PRO, or whatever the fancy version is called, has nicer sights. That thing is pretty sweeeeeeet.

The 340 series and the 640 series are all available without the lock. Seems that any of the centennial style guns can be found without the lock. I have the 340 PD, M&P 340, 640-1 Pro Series, and a 640-1.....all without the lock. The M&P 340 has the tritium front sight, and the 640-1 Pro has tritium front AND rear sights.

By the way, I was at the dollar store with my girlfriend the other day, and they had some of the brightest "International Orange" fluorescent looking nail polish I've ever seen on sale for like 50 cents. I can see why it might not sell to well for women to paint their nails with, but I'm going to try some on a front sight. After all, if I don't like it, just takes a little nail polish remover (acetone) and it will come right off. I bought a bottle, and the guy behind me in line was looking at me a little funny, so I told him I was getting it to paint sights with!! His eyes lit up, and he ended up getting a bottle too!!

Anyway, here are my modern Centennials...

Top to bottom: 340 PD, M&P 340, 640-1 Pro Series, 640-1. All are chambered in .357 Magnum. None with locks.



Oh, yeah... Apologies to the OP, that is a great revolver you have there, and I would choose it any day over a .380, even though I have a couple of .380s that I like.

Best Regards, Les

[ABPOS]

All of them are really nice. That bottom 640, do they also have a 1 piece barrel like the 442/642?

[les.b]

Originally Posted by ABPOS

All of them are really nice. That bottom 640, do they also have a 1 piece barrel like the 442/642?

Yes, both of the bottom ones have a one piece barrel, and the top two have the two piece barrel. The bottom one is one of the $325 guns that were being sold by Centerfire Systems that John Rippert started a thread on (Police Trade-in 640s at Centerfire) a while back. It is a wonderful little gun, and while mine has the MIM parts, some of the forum embers (luck of the draw) received the earlier ones with forged internals. The 640-1s also have the older four line address stamp on the frame.

Best Regards, Les

[ABPOS]

I saw them for sale on arfcom just yesterday. But he's selling them for 5 bills now..... I'm tempted.

[les.b]

Here is a photo of it by itself. I found the brand new, still in the package Eagle rosewood "Secret Service" stocks on eBay for a great price, and have about $400 in the project. Supposedly Michigan Stae Police surplus. Keep your eye on the Centerfire web site, they still have them listed, just "out of stock".



I'm very happy with this little gun. Whe we got them, most of us took them apart and scrubbed out all the old, dried up lube and relubed with modern products, and they are ready for decades of continued service!!

Best Regards, Les

[ABPOS]

The 340's are aluminum frames, correct?

[ajgunner]

Who can have just one???
One for the car,
one for the truck,
one for the headboard,
one for the desk,
one for the lazy boy,
one for back up,
starting to get the picture.