I am the proud new owner of a S&W 442-1 no-lock and seeing as how it's my first J-frame I could use a few tips from people with experience. I'm particularly wondering about holsters and grips. I'd like to use it for concealed carry and just want to know how other people have set theirs up. So far it's a sweet shooter but I noticed a lot of pinching in my trigger finger between the trigger and the triggerguard. I think it's because of the grips being so small. I've seen pictures of revolvers with spacers before, I'm not sure what they are called but maybe something like that would help things out? Obviously I don't want to put on a full size set of target grips because that would defeat the purpose of concealment, but maybe something a little wider than the rubber grips it came with would be helpful. The gentleman who I bought it from also included a few speed strips so I'm getting the hang of using them but I'm not sure how long they will last. Are they considered a fairly disposable item?

Also wondering if anyone knows the ammunition the factory zeros these with? I tried a few different loads at the range and was all over the place. The one that shot closest to POA at 7 yards was Hornady 110gr Critical Defense. It had the largest groupings but was pretty much dead center vertically and horizontally. The Remington 130gr FMJ was a bit off to the right and high. I also used various handloads and found 158gr coated lead projectiles over 4gr of HP-38 to be dead center but 6" high but they grouped very tightly. I also ran 125gr coated lead projectiles over 4.5gr of HP-38 and that was coming in about 1" high and 3" to the right. I'm having a hard time finding the 148gr target wadcutters locally and can't order ammunition online because of unconstitutional illegal restrictions here in the state of Kommiefornia but it's my understanding that those are a tried and true self defense load as well as comfortable practice round.

Grips are like shoes - everyone has different needs so it's best to try them out first, if at all possible. Generally speaking, because the frame is so small, a rubber grip will be more comfortable when shooting because of it's ability to absorb recoil rather than pass it on to your hand. As for ammo, the factory doesn't test for accuracy, only to make sure it goes boom. Fiocchi (sp?) makes 148 wad cutter ammo but I've had mixed results with it.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

If you can find some of the now discontinued Uncle Mikes boot grips that were designed by Craig Spegel, those may be the ticket if you want rubber.

If you want Craig's wooden grips you can either call him and get on his waiting list, about 3 years, or pay a king's ransom for them from somebody selling them. Spegel Grips is the way to find him on the internet.

Those have been my go to. If you want to use some form of grip adapter you have two options but you would have to buy the old school J Frame wooden grips to use one. The two options would be:

-- Tyler T-Grip, the original. Made of metal and sometimes can take forever to get in the mail.

-- Or you might want to check out a vendor who is a member here on the Forum who makes BK Grip Adapters (I think that is the website). They are made of polymer, I think, work like the T-Grip, have great reviews, arrive quick and are not as expensive. I do not own any of the BK models but several here say they are top notch.

I almost forgot the Pachmayr Compac models which work well for larger hands. Short but thicker. Might be the ticket.

I will post a few pics of the grips you would need and what the T-Grip looks like. The BK is the same looks wise as stated is made of different material.

In regard to holster it depends on how you are looking to carry.

If looking for a pocket holster I am a big fan of Bob Mika at Mika holsters. Former LAPD guy with years of experience in making a quality product with a great price. Not many places get your order on the internet and the Big Dog himself calls you on the phone to make sure you are getting what you need/want.

If looking for a belt rig (either inside or outside the waistband) there are lots of quality makers out there and remember quality is the way to go. Ken Null, Lobo Gun Leather, Mitch Rosen, Ryan Grizzle at R. Grizzle Leather, Kramer Leather, etc. Main thing to remember is that when you need something to work correctly there is no point in looking for bargain basement prices.

If looking for an ankle rig I would go with Ritchie Holsters. He worked with/for Lou Alessi (may he RIP) back in the 80s and having owned two of Alessi's holsters I would have no other for the ankle.

Also make sure you are using a quality, properly sized, belt to support your gear.

Your factory J frame grips may give certain speed loaders difficulty in seating the rounds. If I remember correctly the stock rubber ones will not work well with speed loaders.

I am uncertain because I stocked up on the Uncle Mikes and they all work with the loaders, as do the stock grips with an adapter.

Speed Strips last a long time. They can be disposable if you drop them in a self defense situation, but they should last for years. I would recommend, if that is the route you are going, picking up pairs for practice and pairs to carry. Then only test the carry ones at times so they don't wear as quickly and cause issues when needed. Just watch for the rubber deterioration after time and exposure to different things.

As for ammo I am a big fan of the Speer Gold Dot 135 Grain load that was developed for the NYPD. It is made for the short barrel revolver and is said to give better expansion from the J Frames.

I used to carry a J Frame all the time as a back up and off duty but have recently transitioned to a 9MM subcompact. Just keep in mind it is not an easy revolver to master and I recently found out if you don't practice the skills with it diminish.

I have added 4 pictures to look at. Two are with grip adapters, the 442 is with UM's Combat Grips and the 940 is with the Pachmayr grips.

Good Luck and have fun trying things out.

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There are other kinds of speed strips.

One has holes for 6 rounds, but in two rows, offset so you can load 3 and then 2.

Another looks like a speedloader with all 5 in a circle.

I like both better than the 5-in-line.

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

I’ve been carrying J Frames for over 50 years and use a TGrip/grip adapter with Herritts Shooting Aces to help w/my XLG hands. Try to find something that covers the backstrap. Mine is carried in a Blue Force Gear pocket holster w/a speedstrip in the watch pocket of my jeans.

You’ll likely wind up w/a drawer full of unused grips & holsters until you settle on what works best for you.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

My choices:



Jetloaders or SL Variant speedloaders


Tuff Strip 8 round holders with 6 spaced for quick loading of 2

Altamont Boot or Uncle Mike old Spegel boot grips


Glow on paint green on front sight sealed with clear nail polish


GT-500 grip strip on backstrap for grip and cushion

Brand name: "Zeta6"

After trying some wooden grips on my J-frames, I bought some of the rubber grips sold by S&W. Fit my hand well and made them more comfortable to shoot.

Revolver Ammuntion Strip Brands:

Bianchi - Speed Strips
DeSantis - Swift Strips
Safariland - Speed Strips (Bianchi)
Super Vel - Super Strips
Tuff Products - Quick Strips
Zeta6 - Sym Strips & Various Configurations

As for my favorite Revolver Ammunition Strip Brand ...

I like the Tuff Product Brand, because they make it in a 5-Shot Configuration. I like to keep my set up light weight and simple to use. Nothing fancy for me.

My 442-1 is sportin a set of Crimson Trace 105s,
I carry it in a Kramer pocket holster.

I like the Bianchi 6 round speed strips,

I carry my 442 stoked with Remington 158 grain LSWHP +P
It shoots a little high with this load,My 148 grain DEWC at 750 fps handloads shoot to the sights pretty much

I always do a cost versus performance on everything I do...This is my daily carry. It is an airweight S&W 637 .38 Special. Like you, the grips were too small for my hand even though I loved the gun. I got these grips on Ebay and put the originals away. These grips were around $35 on Ebay. They are laminated walnut with satin finish and checkering. They fit my hand well without spending a fortune on a fancy pricey grip or having to install an ugly spacer. I can't remember the vendor, but just search Ebay and I'm sure they are still on there. I remember the vendor had sold hundreds of sets of these based on the stats of the ad. I am not sure who makes it, (maybe Altamonte?), but you can spend a little more on the same style grip and get an S&W emblemed grip if you prefer. I didn't want to spend the extra $30 on an emblem because nobody sees the gun but me.

Florida is not an open carry state per se'...I personally don't think a legal carrier would run into too much trouble here, but I like it concealed. Again, I searched Ebay for this holster until I found it... It is a Don Hume H721 OT No. 3-2...This was an older holster but in like new condition that I got for $35 on Ebay as well. It is a pancake style and it hugs my beltline and I hardly know that it's there. In Florida, there are many months that I will be in Tshirt and shorts....I can leave my shirt untucked and nobody knows it's there and I am 6'3" and over 200lbs.

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I used to hit soda cans at 20 feet with my 643 and crimson Trace laser grips.

I carry a 442, or a 638 or a bobbed 37 every day in my off hand pocket. I like Hogue Tamers and Pachmayr Compact grips for carry and shooting. I practice with standard 130gr. 38 special and carry 135 gr. Speer Gold Dot 38+P. Both seem to hit about the same pretty much point of aim. I use Bianchi speed strips because they have lasted for a lot of years. My Tuff Strips dried out and broke. I also use HKS Speed loaders in the car our house. I normally carry in a cheep Uncle Mike’s Pocket holster. If I carry Two, I put one in the waist or my other front pocket. In cooler weather I sometimes move one to a jacket pocket. I also paint my sights with red mail polish and the tip with glow in the dark paint. The deciding line between red and white helps me aim for Precise shots.

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Two Handguns every day

I put Pachmayr Compac grips on my 442.

I trimmed them for speedloaders.

I carry it in this.


Hanging on this.


Right about here.


Sometimes I just stick it in my pocket with this.

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Keep on Chooglin'

My man!.....Extra points for the basketweave....It never goes out of style~!

I pocket carry a 649-2 with Crimson Trace grips in a variety of holsters depending on the pants I am wearing. I have carried daily since 1963---good habits are hard to break.

Congrats on your 442 purchase. Certainly, your accessory options are limitless. As for suggestions, professional training is always tops. Secondly, do as much as research as you can and learn the in's and out's of the snubnose J frame. Third, enjoy the process of enlightenment. I have learned much from the latter, but I still consider myself a life long student. Never stop learning and have fun with it!

Congratulations! A J frame is a bit of a challenge as it lacks the size to make it easy to shoot. That same lack of size makes it a great revolver for carrying. The spacers are called grip adapters. They have been marketed by S&W, Pachmyar, Mershon, Tyler’s and BK Grips. The last two are still available and the BKs are by a forum member, (BK Grips | 2-Clip Grip Adapters for Revolvers)

Holsters, like grips are also about as individual as your shoes. I am very set in my ways. Here is an image of my set up for carrying a J frame. Those who know me will see it is very similar to how I carry my edc N frame.



The grip adapter is an old Pachmyar, no longer made, but the Tyler and BK are similar and very well made. (The BK has two sets of tabs to hold it to the frame). The holster is a well made version of the Mexican Single Loop but the welt is styled after the Brill or Threepersons holster. I would suggest instead of buying a mass produced holster, you seek out one of the holster makers on this forum to build a holster specific to your needs.

Speedloaders, another very personal item. With the exception of my ACP N frames, all of my speedloaders are HKS.

Good luck in your decisions!

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Just a quick note: You absolutely can buy ammo online in California. You just have to have it delivered to an FFL that has agreed to accept it on your behalf (which might be a bit tricky).

My EDC is a 49 no dash with the factory wood "Banana" grips, a Tylor grip adapter and RF Pocket carried in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. I've been using this set up every day for about 14 years. (I'm on my third Nemesis.) I have several loaded HKS Speed loaders in truck consul. On my belt is a 8 round Quick Strip fully loaded in a black leather holder by International Handgun Leather. (The 8/38 pouch also holds 6/44 or 6/45)

The ammo I use is now hard to find: Speer Gold Dot for Short Barrels. 135 grain +P. Comes in 20 round boxes, so I buy 40 rounds every time I see it.

Several leather companies make Speed Loader pouches. Mostly for 2 that stick out from the belt about 1.75". But I have found Galco makes a single pouch that the belt goes through the middle of the loader and only sticks out about 3/4 inch or so.

Speed strips get old and brittle! I haven't tried a conditioner, but I keep back-ups on the ammo storage shelf.

Ivan

I guess I'm a freak, I shoot these the best in a J frame:

As a 1911 shooter, anything else on a J frame points high for me.

Speed strips are Tuff Products... they don't last forever so replace before they crumble to pieces. Speedloaders are HKS. I never carry ammo in a pouch for the J frame, it's a small gun for unobtrusive carry. Ammo pouches are obtrusive. Instead, ammo goes into a front pants pocket or jacket pocket.

Ammo in steel frames is Rem 125 BJHP +P or Winchester 110 STHP (new production). Ammo for airweights is Hornady Critical Defense 95 or 110 +P. Have never had any good accuracy with the Speer 135 GDHP +P load in a 2" barrel.

Holsters: OWB Sideguard Snap; IWB Lobo Offset Belt Clip (blued steel frame) or DeSantis Slim-Tuk (airweights); Pocket DeSantis Nemesis.

Mods: Action job if needed, and carefully paint the front sight orange.

Add ammo and practice. Don't care for any of the newly-ubiquitous 130 FMJRN loads, not accurate. If I didn't reload, I would stock up on factory 158 grain RNL loads for practice. I see PPU on sale lately. Save the brass, you'll eventually want to reload.

Plus one for the Crimson Trace grips. I don't recall the model #, but it does allow for me to put my pinkie on it. They are comfortable, help accuracy and the laser is a great bonus. It is slightly longer than the stock stocks, but worth it IMHO! As a leftie, I had a custom IWB made for my stubby J frames. For carry ammo, I like the Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr. FTX.

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paws for friendship

majordideburns,the 442 is a great gun.I put herrett shooting stars on mine and they work great for me.Speed strips can wear out and I buy a new pack every year or so to keep them refreshed.The j frame specific speedloader also works well depending on the grips you use and how you prefer to carry a reload.As far as rounds its mainly a preference as to what you shoot well and there is specific short barreled ammo offered by many manufacturers.Holsters are again your preference, I prefer owb but also have iwb, ankle and pocket models from various companies.Again this is a great gun and all the suggestions are really spot on but you will find what works best for you as you get comfortable with your 442.Good luck and good shooting.

I carry a 642, in a Don Hume J.I.T. belt slide holster (OWB). You can find them on E-bay for $30.00 bucks or so. I've got two and have owned them for years.



I got no idea who made these grips, but they're branded with the Hornady logo. They sort of look/feel like Hogues. I did a little whittling on the left side so a speed loader would clear and so would the empty cases. I normally use Remington HTP 158 grain P+, LSWCHP ammo in it and it is "snappy" shall we say. I may look for a set of Uncle Mikes boot grips.

Spare ammo I carry in a couple of Bianchi Speed Strips, which I've also had for years. I carry them in an Uncle Mikes nylon belt pouch with a Velcro closure. It was originally sold to carry 22 rimfire ammo, and does that very well, but two speed strips, or even two speed loaders fit just fine and free up room in my pockets.

A little orange nail polish on the front sight is about all else I've done to it.

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John 3:16 .

Look at vz grips too

Congrats on your purchase. Best advice I got was get some snap caps and dry fire away. Great carry gun!

I like the altamont bateleur grips if you want a nice full grip. Also like their boot grips and their combat grips. Also like the hogue g10 boot grips. Had the lew horton combats and my middle finger knuckle hit the trigger guard which I don’t like. As recommended for rubber grips uncle mikes rubber grips are hard to beat. They make them in boot or combat style 3 finger grip. I don’t recommend the hogue bantams boot too tight on the middle finger. I’ll post a few of mine

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