640 vs 642

[Suzie Homemaker]

640 or 642 & ? re recoil

Try to go to a range that rents various handguns and actually shoot them.

That is really good advice. I have been trying to decide which to go with, 640 or 642, and didn't know how to go about deciding.

I want to carry it every day and am concerned about the extra weight of the 640. I plan to carry it in a holster and not in my purse. I'm hoping that the extra weight will be neglible in a holster. Now, I have a plan for testing my theory.

Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Dumb question: Does recoil throw off the first shot or only the subsequent shots?

Thanks, y'all.
Suzie

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

thank you

Walk around your house and measure the longest possible shot you might need to take and practice at that distance or less. If you can make those shots well with the 640, then no worries. If not, consider a different gun.

Smaaaartt! Thanks! Even tho the primary purpose of my purchase is to carry every day, being able to also use it for home defense is a wise consideration.

Thank you,
Suzie

 

[Frizzman]

There is nothing wrong with a 640. My 640-1 is what I usually leave for my wife when I am away. She likes that it can fit into a pocket when she goes outside and its not a burden to keep with her instead of in a drawer or table. She shoots it pretty well at house distances. A snub can be tougher to take away from a person that a revolver with a longer barrel and is useful for getting somebody off you at grappling distance. You made a better choice than the 642. There is also a Winchester 97 12ga with a 18 inch barrel loaded with #4 buckshot available to her too. As others have said, learning to use the tool well is more important than the exact type of tool.

 

[Hapworth]

That is really good advice. I have been trying to decide which to go with, 640 or 642, and didn't know how to go about deciding.

I want to carry it every day and am concerned about the extra weight of the 640. I plan to carry it in a holster and not in my purse. I'm hoping that the extra weight will be neglible in a holster. Now, I have a plan for testing my theory.

Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Dumb question: Does recoil throw off the first shot or only the subsequent shots?

Thanks, y'all.
Suzie

A quality holster goes a long way to making a heavier revolver or pistol manageable for carry -- particularly one that holds the piece snug against you -- and as far as the 640 or 642 go, neither is very heavy. A quality, thick hide belt is important, too.

Recoil can throw off the first shot if your grip and technique isn't solid, but technique problems will do a lot more to undermine a first shot than recoil will. Second shots can also be affected by recoil, but again, technique is the greatest issue. Selecting your gun and ammo well and practicing consistently with both is the best remedy.

Since you plan to carry for self defense purposes, consider the 640 Pro or the 642's brother, the 442 Moon Clip; both are cut for moon clips which are outstanding for fast, reliable ejection and reloading.

 

[JoeGun]

That is really good advice. I have been trying to decide which to go with, 640 or 642, and didn't know how to go about deciding.

I want to carry it every day and am concerned about the extra weight of the 640. I plan to carry it in a holster and not in my purse. I'm hoping that the extra weight will be neglible in a holster. Now, I have a plan for testing my theory.

Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Dumb question: Does recoil throw off the first shot or only the subsequent shots?

Thanks, y'all.
Suzie

Smit & Wesson 642 38 Special NO LOCK : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

Joe

 

[roger b]

sw 638-3

Hornady critacal defense 110 gr ftx, lets hear about ammo and kick ? This maybe the best designed round. lots of comment on guns and kick, what are you putting in them?

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

.... A quality, thick hide belt is important, too......
Since you plan to carry for self defense purposes, consider the 640 Pro or the 642's brother, the 442 Moon Clip; both are cut for moon clips which are outstanding for fast, reliable ejection and reloading.

Thank you for the advice. From the context, I'm guessing that "moon clip" is a reloader? I'll definitely look into that.

Sorry, I'm just an X-housewife and do not know all the lingo.

Thank you for your advice,
Suzie

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

Hornady critacal defense 110 gr ftx, lets hear about ammo and kick ? This maybe the best designed round. lots of comment on guns and kick, what are you putting in them?

Nothing yet. I was going to ask for advice on that whenever I make the purchase. I'm going to try to find a shooting range in Shreveport that lets you rent a firearm. I want to try the 640 and 642 before I make my final decision. However, I am heavily leaning toward the 640 due to its stainless steel frame. Aluminum just sounds cheap to me tho I can see why someone with more experience who would know if there is any metal fatigue might choose it due to its lighter weight.

I'm thinking that I want to use 38 plus P in the 640. I believe 357 would be too much for me. But, truthfully, I'm just parroting the words. I truly have no clue what I'm talking about. Another reason to go to the range and try before I buy.

 

[18DAI]

Another vote for the 640-1. The only J-frame I own. The only one I need too.

Durable and accurate. Heavy enough to practice with regularly. Load it with mild to wild with no worries.

I stoke mine with Speer Gold Dot 135 grain 38+P short barrel ammunition. Great round thats easy to shoot and accurate too.

Grips make a difference when shooting these J-frames. I have Pachmayr grippers on mine. Much more comfortable than the factory grips.

My G/F has no problem running 50 rounds of 38+P through the 640-1. She wasn't able to get through 5 rounds with the 642 range rental.

Good luck with your selection! Regards 18DAI

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

There is nothing wrong with a 640. ... A snub can be tougher to take away from a person that a revolver with a longer barrel and is useful for getting somebody off you at grappling distance. ....QUOTE]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, too, that it would be harder to take away from me because there is less barrel to grab.

Thank you.
Suzie

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

Smit & Wesson 642 38 Special NO LOCK : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

Joe

Thank you, Joe.

What does "No lock" mean?

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

Practice as much as possible with silhouette targets and index shooting. Get training. Stay proficient. Try many different grips and ammo. The 640 will get the job done if they do their part.

What's index shooting?

Thanks,
Suzie

 

[Hapworth]

Thank you for the advice. From the context, I'm guessing that "moon clip" is a reloader? I'll definitely look into that.

You got it, it's a kind of reloader.

The cylinder is specially cut to accept a moon clip, which, loaded, is slid into the cylinder in its entirety and left there for shooting. Empties or extracted the same way. So basically you're loading all your shots in one easy move, and ditto for ejecting them.

Think of it as like a pistol magazine for a revolver.

A plus is that on the .38 and .357 chambered J-frames, you can shoot with or without the moon clips.

If you get a model that isn't cut for moon clips and decide you want them, you can have it done after the fact.

Alternately, speed loaders are a good second option.

As with everything, practice with the set-up you'll be using.

This is a moon clip:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-be6tS8laLp8/TfPyenYT5FI/AAAAAAAABFQ/fJ-OGF9uMdc/s1600/Moon_Clips_01.jpg

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

...Grips make a difference when shooting these J-frames. I have Pachmayr grippers on mine. Much more comfortable than the factory grips.

My G/F has no problem running 50 rounds of 38+P through the 640-1. She wasn't able to get through 5 rounds with the 642 range rental.

Good luck with your selection! Regards 18DAI

Thank you,
Suzie

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

... So basically you're loading all your shots in one easy move, and ditto for ejecting them.

.

As with everything, practice with the set-up you'll be using.

]

Coooool! I can see the usefulness of this in a crisis situation.

I will practice. I don't want to be trying to figure it all out and trying not to get raped at the same time.

Thank you!
Suzie

 

[Hapworth]

What does "No lock" mean?

A little over a decade ago S&W started building integrated locks into their revolvers. With a key, you could render your revolver live or inert.

It's an extremely sensitive subject around here for both political and mechanical reasons. Threads about "the lock" usually get closed fast.

Many prefer the guns made before the lock, or opt for what few revolvers S&W now makes without it. Some buy and remove the thing. Others don't have an issue with it.

Plenty to read on it here with a little searching, and you can (and probably should) decide for yourself how you feel about it.

 

[Hapworth]

What's index shooting?

Also known as "point shooting". It involves drawing and firing without traditional, one-eye-closed aiming, but instead letting training, instinct and a direct both-eyes-open focus on the target be your "aiming".

One-handed or two, piece at your side or raised, you're shooting by feel -- and like in most fine skill sets, feel emerges after a lot of work, but the idea is that you train for feel rather than traditional, static, target-style shooting.

It's what most naturally occurs in an actual, fast-moving confrontation, and well worth practicing.

 

[Suzie Homemaker]

A little over a decade ago S&W started building integrated locks into their revolvers. With a key, you could render your revolver live or inert.

It's an extremely sensitive subject around here for both political and mechanical reasons. Threads about "the lock" usually get closed fast.

OMG!!! This is definitely NEED TO KNOW information!!!

I'm a little freaked out because had Joe not been kind enuf to provide me a link to "no lock," I never would have known about this. I cannot believe that in my conversations with the dealer that he never mentioned this!!!

I don't know why my opinion would offend anybody; afterall, I'm just a housewife. Nevertheless, in the overabundance of caution, due to the sensitivity of the topic, I won't say what I think of inert devices.

Thank you Joe and Hapworth!!!

P.S. The 640 is no longer under consideration.

 

[Hapworth]

OMG!!! This is definitely NEED TO KNOW information!!!

I'm a little freaked out because had Joe not been kind enuf to provide me a link to "no lock," I never would have known about this. I cannot believe that in my conversations with the dealer that he never mentioned this!!!

I don't know why my opinion would offend anybody; afterall, I'm just a housewife. Nevertheless, in the overabundance of caution, due to the sensitivity of the topic, I won't say what I think of inert devices.

Thank you Joe and Hapworth!!!

P.S. The 640 is no longer under consideration.

Some dealers are terrific and well informed, some less so.

Didn't mean to give you the impression you can't give an opinion on the lock here -- you can -- only that tirades for or against tend to stir things, and if I recall, there's a forum policy about not starting threads specifically on the subject.

Far as opinions go, worry not. Me? I don't like the lock.

What ruled the 640 out?

642 is an excellent piece, and with practice and smart ammo selection, a manageable gun to shoot and get good at. It's brother the 442 is the same gun but with a black finish. Both can be purchased with or without locks for the same price new; the 442 Moon Clip is $20 more and also ships without the lock.

 

[gregintenn]

I have both. The 640 is prettier, and the 642 is lighter and easier to carry. I can't tell all that much difference in recoil. My wife insists on a hammer for whatever reason, and happily carries a model 37. I will tell you that a pair of rubber Hogue grips made a world of difference in her shooting as far as comfort and accuracy.