first revolver---J Frame

[Louchia]

Just bought my first revolver for CC. Decided on a S&W J frame 442 38 Spc. Pro series with moon clips. Once I put one in my hand for a trial, I had to have one. I have a fairly big hand and find it very comfy with the factory grips. I like the fact that I can use or not use the moon clips. In fact I like every thing about it.

See attached photo

 

[SAFireman]

J frames are great, everyone should own at least one. Congrats on your first (and the ability to CC in IL)

 

[shouldazagged]

Fine little carry gun. A tad snappy with +P ammo, but dead easy to carry.

 

[psjoe]

Excellent choice!

 

[Hapworth]

Congrats on the acquisition -- they're excellent deep-concealment personal defense pieces.

Suggest you pick a BMT Mooner or Moon Clip tool to make life easy.

 

[Macinaw]

Congrats on the acquisition -- they're excellent deep-concealment personal defense pieces.

Suggest you pick a BMT Mooner or Moon Clip tool to make life easy.

+1 Moon clip tools are your friend. And worth every penny.

 

[ginzo]

Congratulations! 638 was my 1st snubbie earlier this year. Great guns, although you might want to send yours back to S&W to check.

It seems the writing is all smudged?

 

[rwsmith]

Wow...

Where can I get mine? That sounds like a great configuration with the moon clips.

 

[JAREDSHS]

Sweet !!!!!

 

[kozmic]

Good call Louchia. I have a 442 with CT grip. It is lightweight, easy to cc and soft shooting. I carry it often and love it at the range.

 

[snubbyfan]

442's make great carry guns, either on your belt.

Or in your pocket.

 

[CatboatWilly]

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THAT LITTLE BEAUTY ! Just wait till you get your hands on a J frame with a 3" inch barrel. You'll be hooked for sure.....
Best of luck with your new gun.....

 

[wrangler5]

A 442 was the first J frame I carried daily. It's as nice a gun as others have said, except . . .. It replaced a Glock, which I simply put on in the morning and took off at night. But when I checked after a week of just carrying the 442, it had rust spots on the yoke surface where it fits against the frame. (I carry IWB - maybe this wouldn't have happened with an OWB holster.)

I found that wiping the yoke down with a silicone cloth every night kept the rust away, but got tired of that and eventually switched to a 638. Haven't seen a speck of rust in several years, and I only clean/wipe the gun down when I've been shooting.

So - enjoy the 442. But keep an eye on it for rust. I never saw spots anywhere except on the inner yoke surface - never a speck on the outside of the yoke or anywhere on the cylinder. But there would be little drops of moisture on the frame and yoke faces when I'd swing the cylinder open at the end of the day.

 

[bananaman]

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THAT LITTLE BEAUTY ! Just wait till you get your hands on a J frame with a 3" inch barrel. You'll be hooked for sure.....
Best of luck with your new gun.....

I did! Got a 36 SB 3" from the gun show last Sat. Numbers match & box. 1957 gun. Shot it Wed. Lots of potential! Bob

 

[bananaman]

Congrats on the 442! My shooting buddy has the standard model. I asked him to bring it to the range. I shot it (wasn't the 1st time) and started to look for my first J. Got my 2" 36 in July, and a 3" 36 in Sept. No more J's..... I don't want my other guns to be jealous! Bob

 

[petepeterson]

Excellent choice. My 442 tends to follow me around like a loyal dog, and provides peace of mind. No bells or whistles, just the comfort of knowing it will go "bang" if you need it to.

 

[petepeterson]

I did! Got a 36 SB 3" from the gun show last Sat. Numbers match & box. 1957 gun. Shot it Wed. Lots of potential! Bob

I bought the same revolver last year, with the same thought. When time allows, I'm hoping to set it up as the "ideal" CCW revolver. It would fit in right between my 442 and my 60-15.

 

[Hapworth]

...But when I checked after a week of just carrying the 442, it had rust spots on the yoke surface where it fits against the frame...So - enjoy the 442. But keep an eye on it for rust...

Definitely a concern for the standard 442, but the 442 Moon Clip (originally called the 442 Pro) has a stainless steel cylinder and barrel rather than the carbon used in the standard 442; the stainless and its coating reduce rust risk to near nil.

 

[Macinaw]

Definitely a concern for the standard 442, but the 442 Moon Clip (originally called the 442 Pro) has a stainless steel cylinder and barrel rather than the carbon used in the standard 442; the stainless and its coating reduce rust risk to near nil.

The 2014 S&W catalog shows the 442 Pro having a carbon cylinder. The 642 Pro and 642 have a stainless cylinder.

 

[Hapworth]

The 2014 S&W catalog shows the 442 Pro having a carbon cylinder. The 642 Pro and 642 have a stainless cylinder.

Website says otherwise:

Product: Model 442 Moon Clip

Who knows? Somebody at S&W misprinted or hasn't updated somewhere. I do know I've encountered several complaints here on the forum about 442s rusting and all were the standard model, none the Moon Clip/Pro; I'm inclined from that to believe S&W's website's correct.