Anyone Here Own the Talo Exclusive 642?

Concerned Citizen

Concerned Citizen

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I was thinking of getting the Talo Exclusive 642 as a CCW. I want the Performance Center tuned action, the cylinder cut for moon-clips and the polished trigger, not to mention the nice fit and finish. At the prices it is selling for I could get these features for less then it would cost to have them done on a standard 642.

Does anyone here own one of these? What is the finish like? The specs says the cylinder flutes, thumbpiece and side plate screws are highly polished but I really tell much of a difference from a standard 642 just going by the photo they've provided.

Also, does this have the internal lock? I see that S&W has gotten into the habit of photographing their revolvers on the opposite sides of the cylinder release to avoid showing the dreaded IL (I wonder why?). That might be a deal breaker for me.

Smith and Wesson 642 38Special 1.875-inch 5Rnd Performance Center
 
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There does not appear to be an IL on this model based on the video here: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W1UXkGhq_U[/ame]

It looks like it's using the same stainless hardware from the 442 Performance Center. Just on a 642 Frame with different grips.
 
Hi, Citizen! Anyone welcome you to the Forum yet? Don't know if this helps, but I've bought 3 PC J-frames in the past year. My most recent, a 637, is a very nice gun but I frankly can't detect any difference from a regular production 637. It has the IL.

Last year, I bought 2 PC 442 "pintos" commissioned by Chattanooga Shooting Supplies, IIRC. No IL. They have many of the extras you list: shiny screws, cylinder latch, trigger, etc. They are merely OK. DA is nothing special. One required the rebound slide to be made smooth as it jammed against the frame and froze the action. Also, the sideplate screws will have to be Loc-tited. Not what I would expect on a PC gun.

I, too, am drawn to the Performance Center logo, but quality seems to depend on the individual gun.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
Well this is odd, I checked Talo's site and they seem to have stock photos of this particular 642 Talo edition that includes the IL. If you're going to order one, I would try to call the vendor first and see if they can confirm from their stock on hand if the gun truly has the lock or not. It may be the only way to be sure based on what I'm finding online.

Here's the link to the Talo site showing the same gun with the IL: Performance Center Model 642 II — TALO Distributors Inc
 
90crvtec said:
Well this is odd, I checked Talo's site and they seem to have stock photos of this particular 642 Talo edition that includes the IL. If you're going to order one, I would try to call the vendor first and see if they can confirm from their stock on hand if the gun truly has the lock or not. It may be the only way to be sure based on what I'm finding online.

Here's the link to the Talo site showing the same gun with the IL: Performance Center Model 642 II — TALO Distributors Inc
Click to expand...

^^^^what he said. Sometimes I wonder if they simply use whatever batch of 442/642 frames comes to hand.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
I've got two of these in no-lock config. Great action, the polished trigger rolls on the finger and the polished thumbpiece doesn't cut my knuckle when it smacks into it during recoil.
I got into the moonclip thing, but it ended up not being worth the hassle. Moonclips would work with a particular brand of ammo, and then stop working with a new box.
 
Just picked one (PC642) up at my local LGS shipped from Davidsons on Wednesday, haven't had the chance to shoot it but its a pretty neat little 38spc.

It did not come with an IL, which is why I bought it over the other PC642 Enhanced Smith is offering.

The trigger pull is definitely not as heavy as my 640pro. Though I doubt that is much of a comparison. Feels pretty good to me. But IIRC from another thread last week its probably just a spring kit and not a hand tuned trigger job.

I like the boot grips with the wood inlay much more than the rubber boot grips that came on my 640pro. They seem to be a little thicker which allows me to get a better grip. Though where the backstrap goes into the frame there seems to be some extra rubber that does not fit flush against the backstrap.

I like the polished cylinder flutes.

EDIT: Added pic
 
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Triggernosis said:
I see moonclips as an advantage only to the competitive shooter. Other than that, they are solution to what?
Click to expand...
I've never owned a revolver using moon-clips but I'd imagine the reason why they would be an advantage in competitive shooting is for speed of reloading.

If that's the case, then why wouldn't that advantage translate over to self defense use? Faster loading is faster loading, right?

I would like to add that I'm not interested in this model strictly for the moon-clips feature but for the entire package.
 
I bought one of the no lock Talo PC enhanced 642s last spring and am quite impressed with its features. The polished trigger, thumb piece and Altamont rubber boot grip make it the most comfortable to shoot Airweight I own. The action feels exactly like a 642 in which I installed a Wolff spring kit and dry fired 1,000 times. Smooth
The real advantage of the Moonclips is to ensure rapid, reliable extraction of all five cases with the short ejector stroke. I carry a speed strip for spare ammo, a moonclipped reload is a bit bulky for discreet pocket carry.

TK Customs makes the moonclips and they are quite ammo brand specific. As a previous poster mentioned, clips which fit today may not fit the new ammo you buy tomorrow unless you have a few of each moonclip type, an expensive proposition. The clips cost much more than .45ACP clips.
 
steamloco76 said:
TK Customs makes the moonclips and they are quite ammo brand specific. As a previous poster mentioned, clips which fit today may not fit the new ammo you buy tomorrow unless you have a few of each moonclip type, an expensive proposition. The clips cost much more than .45ACP clips.
Click to expand...
Hmm... this is a bit of a drawback. How much different can .38spl be among different brands? How do you know which different moon-clips to buy for which ammo brand?

It's not like the moon-clips are required for use in the Talo 642 so that's not a deal breaker, but it's nice to have the option.
 
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Concerned Citizen said:
Hmm... this is a bit of a drawback. How much different can .38spl be among different brands? How do you know which different moon-clips to buy for which ammo brand?

It's not like the moon-clips are required for use in the Talo 642 so that's not a deal breaker, but it's nice to have the option.
Click to expand...

Here is the scoop. The factory black steel clips which come with the gun supposedly fit Federal, Remington, Starline and most brands except Winchester, Hornady and Speer. (I can load Winchester Ranger in mine) are $39.95 for ten plus shipping from TK Custom. Clips for other ammo are in their "Match" line and cost $32.50 for five plus shipping. They separate clip models for Speer Gold Dot, Winchester, Starline and Federal/Remington.
S&W does not sell any clips for these revolvers and the three clips you get with the gun are TK Custom.
 
Concerned Citizen said:
I've never owned a revolver using moon-clips but I'd imagine the reason why they would be an advantage in competitive shooting is for speed of reloading.

If that's the case, then why wouldn't that advantage translate over to self defense use? Faster loading is faster loading, right?

I would like to add that I'm not interested in this model strictly for the moon-clips feature but for the entire package.
Click to expand...
Because moon clips are notoriously "fragile" (bend easily) and are persnickety about ammo and aren't really good for continuous carry as a reload option for self-defense. They just don't seem to be robust enough for that purpose.
A muck-up during a shooting competition costs you time - a muck-up in a self-defense situation may cost you your life.
 
A photo of mine with Winchester Ranger LE 135 Grain .38 Special in the moonclip, and my EDC Kershaw Leek. Yes, there is Gorilla tape on the backstrap of the 642. I put it there to help hide the gun better during pocket carry. I would definitely buy this gun again if I had the do-over opportunity, as it is a very good combination of features.
EDC642_Kershaw_zpsimzkzkd9.jpg
 
That's the thing about these clips... you get the set for Speer ammunition and they work. Then you buy a new box of Speer - different lot number - and they all of a sudden don't work. Same tool, same unbent clips.
I suppose since that little crease at the bottom of the case adjacent to the rim isn't used for anything in a revolver unlike in a pistol, revolver cartridges aren't held to tight dimensions in that area.
 
Find some ammo that will work with the clips and use them as your first carry load. Moonclips insure a complete and total ejection of the first cylinder full. They are, for the most part, not all they are cracked up to be when attempting a speedload due to the thin clips and long cartridges.They also prevent the lost art of "topping off" a cylinder which may be very necessary in some situations.
 
steamloco76 said:
Here is the scoop. The factory black steel clips which come with the gun supposedly fit Federal, Remington, Starline and most brands except Winchester, Hornady and Speer. (I can load Winchester Ranger in mine) are $39.95 for ten plus shipping from TK Custom. Clips for other ammo are in their "Match" line and cost $32.50 for five plus shipping. They separate clip models for Speer Gold Dot, Winchester, Starline and Federal/Remington.
S&W does not sell any clips for these revolvers and the three clips you get with the gun are TK Custom.
Click to expand...

"You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay..." :)

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." Say this 3X quickly. :D

Appreciate the heads-up. Only hope this accident-waiting-to-happen DOESN'T happen with .45ACP moon clips. That will be a problem for us ACP revolver fans!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
Concerned Citizen said:
I was thinking of getting the Talo Exclusive 642 as a CCW. I want the Performance Center tuned action, the cylinder cut for moon-clips and the polished trigger, not to mention the nice fit and finish. At the prices it is selling for I could get these features for less then it would cost to have them done on a standard 642.

Does anyone here own one of these? What is the finish like? The specs says the cylinder flutes, thumbpiece and side plate screws are highly polished but I really tell much of a difference from a standard 642 just going by the photo they've provided.

Also, does this have the internal lock? I see that S&W has gotten into the habit of photographing their revolvers on the opposite sides of the cylinder release to avoid showing the dreaded IL (I wonder why?). That might be a deal breaker for me.

Smith and Wesson 642 38Special 1.875-inch 5Rnd Performance Center
Click to expand...

I am a happy owner of one. Love it! The finish is a matt SS barrel and cylinder (with polished flutes), polished cylinder release, polished trigger, polished screws(3). The main body aluminum is a light grey almost like a cerakote finish. There is NO internal lock. 3 moon clips come with gun. Action is super smooth!! To wrap it all up, for the extra 60 I paid for this from a regular 642 or 442, you get...
the smooth PC action, nice grips, cool two-tone finish, moon clips, and it being milled to accept clips, no brainer.
 
Wapner said:
I am a happy owner of one. Love it! The finish is a matt SS barrel and cylinder (with polished flutes), polished cylinder release, polished trigger, polished screws(3). The main body aluminum is a light grey almost like a cerakote finish. There is NO internal lock. 3 moon clips come with gun. Action is super smooth!! To wrap it all up, for the extra 60 I paid for this from a regular 642 or 442, you get...
the smooth PC action, nice grips, cool two-tone finish, moon clips, and it being milled to accept clips, no brainer.
Click to expand...
Sounds and looks great. One more question... this gun doesn't require the moon-clips to function properly as would a 9mm or .45acp revolver does it? What I mean is can I still load up using a speed strip or speed loader and easily eject without the moon-clips?
 
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