I'm new gun owner and I want a gun to shoot once a week and for concealed carry. I heard mix oppions that model 642 hurt your wrist too shoot a lot. Is this true or myth??

I have limited experience with that particular model. I have shot one and would consider it for a daily carry piece. However it is a lightweight and will kick harder than an all steel. If I knew that I was going to be shooting it on a regular basis, like weekly, I would be looking at maybe a model 60.
You can always shoot milder .38's, and the recoil effect is relative to your experience and tolerance. Some people don't mind some people do. But all other things being equal, the lighter gun will be more snappy and in turn will probably eventually wear out sooner.
Welcome to the forum.


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A much more experienced member of this forum was generous enough to give me a set of grips for my 442. It made a huge difference in my desire to take it out to the range.

Dump the factory grips if still mounted and get yourself a set of Crimson Trace 405's. The 405's have an air bladder along the back of the grip significantly reducing felt recoil. I use them on my 442, 642, 640 and model 60. Not as concealable as some other grips, but WELL worth the price.


Class III

I’ve been carrying a lightweight J frame since 1968, shooting regularly to keep up my skills, and suggest oversized rubber grips that cover the backstrap for extended range sessions, 100 + rounds. Near the end of my range session I replace the smaller wood boot grips and shoot ten rounds combat style. Saves my hands and wrists.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I second the Crimson trace grips, the laser on my set was dead on at 7 yds.

I have a S&W Bodyguard 38 spl. I replaced the factory grips with a Hogue Tamer grip and it made a big difference. I'm sure there are other grips that would also help.

Airweights for carrying, all steel for shooting
several years ago I qualified with a M642 (60 rds) shortly afterwards I purchased a M649.

A few days ago I saw a 642 on this forum with gorgeous smooth wood grips, and I lusted.

But, I got over it, and will stick to my rubber CT-305 grips. It shoots so much better with them.

The 642 definitely isn't a range gun, but I agree, a good set a grips will go a long way at the range. Practice, practice, practice! A 642 has been in my rotation for years and it's a wonderful carry gun. Enjoy it!

shoot plus P in it again. My S&W 629 3" has less felt recoil with Magnum loads than the 642 with plus P.

As a new gun owner, the 642 is a poor choice as a gun to take to the range weekly to shoot.

Air weight J frames are the most difficult guns to learn to shoot well.

You will be much happier, and learn to shoot much more easily, with another gun.

A 4” M10 or M15 would be a much better choice as a first gun to learn to shoot. These K frames will be pleasant to shoot and are great platforms to use to develop good shooting skills.

A 642 is much more pleasant to carry, but is not a good choice for a beginner to learn shooting.

642 is a "got it just in case" kind of gun. Hand smacker for sure but an easy to carry revolver. Not a range toy but nice to have if the need arises.

I've had this one 21 years and carry it often.

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C & L

If you're set on a J-frame I would definitely recommend one that's all steel. The weight difference is only a few ounces, and the steel gun will be more comfortable and controllable to shoot.

A K-frame is also a great choice for a range and carry gun. A four-inch barrel balances nicely.

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Oh well, what the hell.

It depends on the shooter. Some people are more sensitive to recoil than others. I don't particularly care for recoil, but I've done weekly shooting sessions with my 642. I generally limit my sessions to 50-75 rounds or so. More than that and I pretty much have to ice my hand when I get home. I also do most of my shooting with easier-to-shoot standard pressure loads, but will usually put a couple of cylinder-fulls of +P ammo through the gun as that's what I typically carry.

While I would disagree with the common notion that airweight snubs are guns for "experts," I would agree that it's probably not the best choice for a new shooter just starting out. It can be done, but competence won't be easy to achieve.

The best solution is for you to actually shoot one, either borrowing one from someone you know that has one, or finding a rental range with one. Only then can you really make an informed decision. Even better would be to take an introductory handgun course that gives you the opportunity to try a variety of different guns. You may end up finding something that you like and works for you. Snubs are great self defense guns, but they're not for everybody.

I've been carrying my 642 for some time now. Ditch the factory grips. They're great for concealment but painful to shoot. I chose Pachmayr presentation compac grips. They are perfect for the J frame revolvers and now I can shoot all afternoon without any discomfort.

Pachmayr Compac Grips S&W J-Frame Round Butt Rubber Black - MPN: 03252

I bought one a while back. The day I bought it I put 100 rounds of white box ammo thru it and 20 rounds of +P.

No worries at all.

I like the factory grips.

Newer shooter... get a 9mm plastic gun. Seriously.

Or youre talking about 2 revolvers. Small airweights are not for fun range plinking and the larger group sizes can make you doubt your accuracy and skills. . Range guns are harder for conceal but soak up recoil and help you practice more confidently and help with consistency.

Maybe a 317 in 22- would be a decent compromise. No joke.
2 hits with a 22 is better than 5 misses in 38.
I assume you will be shooting at paper targets at 10- 25yds.
Good luck.
Oh. To answer your question, you wont know if a 642 hurts your wrists unless YOU try it out. Everyones a bit different. But proper technique is most important and that comes with practice. Reread the above

I would suggest, at the small end a model 60, a 2.75" 66 for mid, or a 2.5 or 3" 686 plus at the larger end. Depending on how big of a gun you're comfortable with carrying. But any of the three will serve much better at the range and for mitigating some of the recoil.

My S&W 638 hurts my hand with the factory grips and stiff loads. Pachmayr grips help for shooting.
I would buy a heavier gun if I planned to shoot for fun every week. My Taurus 605 is much more pleasant to shoot but it is harder to carry.

When I owned a 642 I could shoot a box of 50 and I was done. anymore than 50 and my hand would hurt for days!

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

That is my experience as well. I changed the OEM boot grips on my 637 to Uncle Mike's combat grips and while better, weren't quite what I was looking for. I later installed Pachmayr Compac grips and they are exactly what I was looking for. The Compac grips look nice and I can enjoy shooting my J frame now.

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"In God We Trust"

While I don't currently own a 642, I do have a 637 with a bobbed hammer spur that I carry. As a matter of fact, I've been carrying it more often recently, since the wife and I are out in the RV.

It carries very nicely on long hikes, and because its easily replaceable, I don't have to worry anything that might happen along the way.

I shoot the 637 each time I go to the range, and don't find it painful at all. I usually run 100 rounds or more each session. The key, of course, are finding the right grips. At the moment it is wearing a set of grips that Yoda was kind enough to send me. I'm not even sure what brand they are, but they fit my hand well. I do suggest rubber over wood for the less recoil benefit. Hope this helps!

It depends what your hands and wrists can take. A young strong guy would laugh at me when I tell him I changed grips so I can hang on better and shoot more. My stock 442 gets shot but not as much as the one with Hogue Grips. My 36 with Pachmayr Grips can be shot all day. Stock grips go in the pocket and bigger grips in the belt.

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Two Handguns every day

Had a 642 with laser grips I carried but traded it for a S&W 9mm Shield. It was a sweet piece until I fired 20 or 30 +p rounds and my hands and wrist said NO MORE.
To me it all depends on your threshold of pain. I missed the J frame size revolver so I purchased a Taurus M85 38+p. I can shoot 75-100+ rounds with no discomfort at all. The rubber grips that come on the gun are AWSOME!
It has been said in the above post that getting a good rubber grip that covers the back strap is a good idea and I totally agree. S&W needs to put better grips on their small guns.
I will probably sell the Shield and just carry the Taurus. Also I must say that the 642 had the Apex trigger kit installed and the trigger pull was still the worst I have ever experienced in 50 years of shooting revolvers.
If you have not bought the gun yet PLEASE rent one and try shooting 50 rounds of +p ammo. The choice is yours to make.

P.S. the Shield is a great gun. It is one of the best pistols I have ever owned but my old hands have problems with getting a good grip when racking the slide and because of the heavy recoil spring on this small gun ( no problems with full sized).
At 7 yards all 8 rounds in X ring. JOMO By the way the model 60 had the best factory trigger followed by the model 19 then the 686. All were great guns!



Be SAFE and shoot often

Haywood, Are the Hogues on the left? They look to cover more metal and are no larger than the Pachmayrs.
Look thicker too.
What's your preference?
The reason I ask is that will fit both the 442/642 and the 36?

The 642 is a great carry gun.

Recommendations to get beefier rubber grips make sense, unless you want to keep it original so that it is minimal in size to fit best in your pocket. But then it will be a little harder to shoot, and have a bit more felt recoil.

I'd add, get some 148 grain Lead Hollow Based Wad Cutter (LHBWC) ammo. Several companies make it. 148 grain LHBWC tend to be made of soft lead and don't need a heavy charge to get them going out of the barrel. They generally run a slow 700 fps or less, and tend to be very accurate. They cut nice, distinct holes in paper. They even are somewhat effective for self-defense, although intended for range work. Their real benefit is that they are very mild in recoil. Great for an extended range sessions with a light revolver, e.g., the 642.

You may want to add additional revolvers to your collection. K and L frames are close to ideal, in terms of serious calibers but with good recoil management (from their weight and size). There are various barrel lengths for different tasks. A Model 686 7 shot with a 4" barrel may be the most versatile range, walk-in-the-woods, and house defense gun. Etc.

So I'd recommend thinking of the 642 as a good revolver to start, and one that will always have a role in your arsenal, but not a great range gun for extensive shooting.

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S&W Rover

I installed these grips on my 642 a few years ago ( the factory boot grips were too punishing). I can now shoot a box of range ammo and actually enjoy it. However, an airweight is not intended to be shot a lot. Just enough to keep you competent and confident in the piece for protection. BTW, the 642 is one of the industries most popular and successful carry guns.

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John

The Hogue’s are on the left. They are just a bit slimmer than the Pachmayr on the 36. I can still get them in most pants pockets but, usually have them in the waist and keep the boot griped gun in my pocket. The Hogue’s for the 442 are Frame specific. They don’t will not fit my 36 in the hammer area. I belive the 442 Frame is called sentinel . They cushion Recoil well. They are called Hogue Tamers.

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Two Handguns every day