Anyone CCW a 642 on a daily basis?

[Mike SC Hunter]

I carry a 642 daily.....Since 1996....With 5 "spares" in a pouch....It lives in my right front pocket.

 

[TexasArmed]

Thinking of getting a 642 to use as my daily carry. Id like to hear pros and cons from people who have or currently carry them. Obviously a big con is only holding 5 rounds.

Thanks,
Mike

I carry a Smith & Wesson 642-1 stainless steel hammerless revolver as a 2nd gun, with along with a SF Glock 30 (45 Caliber).If it were me i would recommend the stainless steel 642. Neither require much cleaning. I used to carry the
Revolver in a pocket holster, but currently use two holsters
on my belt for both. I like the reliable Revolver for backup
just in case the Glock jammed. I still carry four speed loaders
in a pocket for the revolver. The Glock holster has an extra
magazine with 10 rounds mounted on the holster. Before
the Glock i carried another Revolver as primary, but upgraded
when the Refugees kept coming and the criminal illegals.
I can't fix problems with what comes into Texas but I can sure
enough prepare for it.

 

[Squarebutt]

Yep. In a Galco horsehide or Uncle Mike's pocket holster. The only issue is in shallower pockets the top of the frame can be visible, but I stuff a white handkerchief on top, and it pops right out on the draw.

 

[spdguns]

I don't go ANYWHERE without my 642. I wear Tru-Spec BDU or BDU shorts and the 642 fits down in the cargo pocket inside a small pouch in the pocket.

 

[JK-linux]

I carry a 442 90% of the time. It's just so unobtrusive and easy to do, there's really not much in the way of compelling reasons to ever go unarmed unless your destination precludes it. I prefer an IWB at 5 o'clock as that's where I carry any of my pistols these days. Makes it easier to get to without having to think about where it is, of so I've found. Some Speer GD 135gr +P completes the package, and I throw a speed strip in a front pocket when I remember to. I have been going with a model 65-5 3" more often recently, though I'm not sure why that started exactly.

 

[deputydon]

edc in summer. 135g Speer +PHP 642.

-don

 

[shouldazagged]

Not a 642, but the all-steel 640 in a DeSantis Nemesis or Uncle Mike's #3 pocket holster. Carried it every day for years. It's just part of my wardrobe.

I find the steel gun easier to shoot with sore arthritic hands.

 

[Jingles]

I carried a 642 for years until I got a Sig P238. I like the 642 and still use it from time to time. I carry it in a Don Hume h-715 IWB holster. It is a very nice fit and comfortable carry (about a 3:30 position). I think the holster you are thinking is the Galco Ultra Deep Cover. The IWB clip is mounted higher so the revolver sits very low, almost to the point it is difficult to grip, but it is definitely deep cover.

 

[Penquin]

BigMike76, the M642-1 has been my EDC for about 6 months with various +P ammo. It is hard not to really like this revolver. It rides nicely in the $15 Uncle Mikes IWB holster. Then for evening walks around the neighborhood or working in the garage I drop it in the Uncle Mike's pocket holster. For the upcoming cooler weather I plan to carry my M60-9 probably 30% of the time. That one is less comfortable IWB, so I just ordered a enhanced pancake OWB holster from LOBO Gun Leather. PEN

 

[crazyphil]

It is not my EDC but when I do carry it it is quite comforting.
642-1 pre-lock, Delfatti ASP-DD Shark trim IWB, Kershaw Junk Yard II
knife, Corbon 110-Gr. JHP, and Bianchi speed strip for 5 extra shots.
The Spegel designed boot grips came on the gun way back when.

 

[BUFF]

I have carried a M-642 since they were introduced in 1991. Back-up gun when I was working, warm weather gun now. Gave up on ankle holsters, but use several different holsters depending on the clothes I am going to wear on any given day. Pocket holster is most common, a Bianchi #3 IWB or a Galco sort of very stiff pancake belt holster that stays snug against my body with a decent belt.

I feel the holsters that use a metal clip so you can take it off/put it on without having to undo your belt, aren't a good idea. I have seen the holster stay on the gun when drawn. It's funny on the range. It is not funny on a felony stop or any other street encounter.

 

[LenS]

I carried a 642 daily in a Mika pocket holster for ~5 years. That worked out great. The real issue is reloading under pressure, speedloaders are too bulky to carry in a pocket and speedstrips clunky to reload from. I ended up replacing the 642 such that if I'm pocket carrying it is a PM9 in a Mika pocket holster. I have a Sig 938 on order and that might also end up a pocket gun, we'll see. Otherwise I carry a M&P 9c in a Milt Sparks VMII IWB.

 

[crazyphil]

BUFF I have also witnessed the gun coming out with the holster wrapped
around it. No laughing matter if getting the gun out to defend oneself.
Consequently I have tested many, many, IWB holsters. I have only
found a few that will always stay put. Only 4 in fact. They will also
cling to only the waistband fabric. Good for those who do not wear
belts. I found out early in my instructor career that many women and
some men do not wear belts, so I tried diligently to find the IWBs that
would hang on. I probably should not name the ones that will stay on
because it might be taken as an advertisement, but if anyone wants to
know, they know what to do. I have no argument with all the IWBs
that did not pass my little test, because they never claimed that they
would.

 

[AZretired]

A 642 w/ 5 extra rounds has been my daily carry gun since I retired 10 years ago. Mostly front pocket in an Uncle Mikes, no problems.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I feel the holsters that use a metal clip so you can take it off/put it on without having to undo your belt, aren't a good idea. I have seen the holster stay on the gun when drawn. It's funny on the range. It is not funny on a felony stop or any other street encounter.

Well, yeah, if you get one that's poorly designed. In 5 years of regularly practicing drawing, including from awkward positions, my holster has NEVER come off the belt unless I deliberately remove it from the belt. Clip holsters are fine...just get one that's well designed.

 

[imakmst]

Evrbody has covered it, but I'll pipe in. Carry a 642 in a sticky holster in right front pocket, in a sport bag when I bike and kayak. Don't leave home without out it.

 

[destrukto]

I pocket carry a 442, and for the purpose of pocket carry I can't think of a better handgun, it's drop dead reliable, conceals easily, and I feel a lot more comfortable with a 38 than I would with a pocket 380

 

[Gary1911A1]

Great revolver. Might be the perfect 5 shot snub nose revolver. Carry in my front pocket with a Bianchi Speed Strip as backup to my Dan Wesson CCO or Sig 220, both in .45ACP.

 

[Ziggy2525]

Lots of 642 love in this thread with lots of great recommendations.

I like my 642's too, but here's two things I don't care for...

1) For me, with pocket carry, the 642 prints too much in a pair of Dockers or dress slacks. Jeans and cargo shorts are made of thicker material and not a problem, but with slacks the printing on the 642 is a lot more obvious than with the flat pocketable semi-autos.

2) For me, the 642 is an intuitive, accurate, one-handed point shooter out to about 3 yards. The way the the grip is, you just push your fist to the target and you're right on the money. Somewhere between 3 and 5 yards point shooting accuracy starts to drop off. Because of the short sight radius, for targets past 5 yards, I have to practice quite a bit more to maintain my accuracy with a 642 (using the sights) than I do with the small semi-autos.

YMMV.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I carry a 642-2 in my off-side cargo pocket at work, and off-duty it rides in my left jeans pocket or in a Don Hume JIT Belt Slide. It's my "always" gun, backing up my duty 4" S&W 686 and 2" S&W 12-2 off duty.

None better.