S&W 442

[Snowwolfe]

Local BX is having a 10% off sale on any firearm in stock and they have a 442 on the shelf which would end up costing me about $360 out the door. Wife told me to find her a nice revolver to carry in her purse after we move and get carry permits. She isn't picky and likes whatever I hand her.
Good revolver? I noticed it is pretty light so how will the recoil be with .38 loads when she practices?

 

[Chrisj357]

Local BX is having a 10% off sale on any firearm in stock and they have a 442 on the shelf which would end up costing me about $360 out the door. Wife told me to find her a nice revolver to carry in her purse after we move and get carry permits. She isn't picky and likes whatever I hand her.
Good revolver? I noticed it is pretty light so how will the recoil be with .38 loads when she practices?

Buy it. She will love it. Some have a harder trigger than others though so you might test that before you drop yer dime

 

[Ashlander]

I have a airweight 360J (.38 Special). It is nasty unpleasant to shoot with short boot grips. I use the longer factory grips that S&W puts on some of their J-frames. The trade off for a light gun (13 ounces) is a lot of discomfort shooting.

$360 is a good price though.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

I carry it's "silver" cousin the 642 in my pocket everyday. They are great guns but not for people who don't shoot much or are new to shooting.

Recoil can be a bit much after awhile but it's not bad, although recoil is highly subjective. I'm not a big fan of off body carry (understand that sometimes it's that or nothing though.) but since it will be in her purse an all steel version like the 640 would be better as it helps with recoil or even a snub K frame like a model 64 or 10. If nothing else a set of Pachmayr Compac's would help a good bit with recoil.

 

[riverrat38]

The recoil with plus P is sharp.
I used to carry target wad cutters with my 442, but they hit high, so I switched to 135 gr Speer SB. This is plus P, but I could manage it with practice. I think the wad cutters are good for carry other than the point of impact. I now use a M640 Pro in stainless. About 10 ounces heavier, but much easier to shoot.

Best,
Rick

 

[K-framer]

As others have said already, recoil with the light j-frames will be sharp - and can be literally painful, depending on the load. The triggers, though smooth in operation, are usually over 10 lbs in pull weight. Whether your wife will find this acceptable is an open question.

I might perhaps suggest an all-steel j-frame, as a first SD revolver for her, instead of a light alloy model. Examples would be the Model 36 and the Model 60. The extra ounces they weigh makes a world of difference to those who are recoil sensitive.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Thanks guys, think we will look for something a little heavier. I want her to shoot it a lot until it becomes second nature if she is carrying it in her purse.

 

[Pawatch]

I have a 442 and it has some decent recoil. Find some reduced recoil ammo for target practice. Your wife will thank you.
It's a nice little gun.

 

[OKFC05]

Thanks guys, think we will look for something a little heavier. I want her to shoot it a lot until it becomes second nature if she is carrying it in her purse.

Several of my students wind up carrying a 442/642, but most also have a K frame .38 or a .22 for extended practice. For one who claimed she could only afford one gun, but could not stand to shoot more than one cylinder of +P carry loads, I devised this practice routine:
25 rounds low-power WC ammunition.
5 rounds carry ammunition.
Should shoot weekly until she learns, then at least monthly. Carrying a gun that is only shot once or twice a year is....well, not wise. Practice of only 30 rounds, done frequently, is much better than rarely shooting at all.

It worked for this student. Learning on an aluminum J frame is asking a lot for a new shooter and requires continued instruction and practice.

 

[old bear]

Snowwolfe, is there a range, nearby, where you and your wife could rent a 442? Let your wife shoot one and see how it feels to her.

 

[Snowwolfe]

When we move our range will be the back porch And I do reload so can adjust the loads. But I still think at approximately 1 pound the 442 just might be to light.

 

[Otreb]

The 442 is an excellent carry gun....but probably close to the worst choice for anyone but a dedicated shooter.

 

[Edknn123]

Love my 442 but it does have a kick that many don't want to deal with. For me, it's fine. I agree about the model 36..I have a 3 inch 36 from the late 70's and the weight difference is 5 1/2 Oz with the 3 inch barrel, but it has almost no recoil at all, especially when compared to the 442- 642 airweights.

 

[rock_castle]

Great gun. Relatively easy to shoot lighter regular pressure ammo. Good choice.

 

[Kifaru]

Well, for $360 OTD for a NIB S&W, and one of their most popular models at that, you almost can't lose. If she hates it, you can easily get your money back out of it. Or you can just keep it. As others have mentioned, recoil is extremely subjective. Other than the noticeably louder report, I can't tell too much difference between +P and standard pressure in an Airweight. My girlfriend had no problem with standard 130g FMJ putting 5 rounds in 5" at 5 yards the first time she shot my 642, and that's with Spegel Boot Grips. At 5'9" and 130 pounds, she's not exactly petite, but she's not huge either. I think the Airweight revolvers are about the perfect compromise weight between ease of carry and shootability. To me, the scandium frame and the scandium frame/titanium cylinder models are much snappier. It's funny how 2-3 ounces can make such a big difference.

 

[shil]

Several of my students wind up carrying a 442/642, but most also have a K frame .38 or a .22 for extended practice. For one who claimed she could only afford one gun, but could not stand to shoot more than one cylinder of +P carry loads, I devised this practice routine:
25 rounds low-power WC ammunition.
5 rounds carry ammunition.
Should shoot weekly until she learns, then at least monthly. Carrying a gun that is only shot once or twice a year is....well, not wise. Practice of only 30 rounds, done frequently, is much better than rarely shooting at all.

It worked for this student. Learning on an aluminum J frame is asking a lot for a new shooter and requires continued instruction and practice.

Good advice. My most frequent "carrier" is a 442. Yes, recoil is snappy but I don't have an issue with it. When it begins to sting, I stop! If a Smith and Wesson snubby is a must and mode of carry permits it, a steel-frame 36, 40, or 49 (or contemporary variants) may be viable.

 

[M3Stuart]

+1 on "...shoot one first...". That's what I did and ended up buying a 642. With standard ammo the recoil is between a .380 and a 9mm. So it all depends on what she's used to.

A range gun it is not...

That's a good price - if it matters.

 

[tguil]

+1 on "...shoot one first...". That's what I did and ended up buying a 642. With standard ammo the recoil is between a .380 and a 9mm. So it all depends on what she's used to.

A range gun it is not...

That's a good price - if it matters.

I agree with all of above. My 442 is in my pocket when I go to the range. I usually "pop off" fifteen rounds of standard 158 grain regular loads and then switch over to my "tank"...a 2 3/4 inch Ruger Speed Six.

 

[haywood]

I put Houge's New Tamer Grip for J-Frames on my Wife's 442. Not much bigger than the Stock Grip. Has the soft back strap.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Will try to swing by tomorrow and take a lookie lou at the 442 and give the trigger pull a try. If the trigger is decent and the sale is still on think I'll buy it.