today I checked out a 442 with a lock.and man was it light and it was for +p.now I bet that it will hurt a little shooting that thing. but I like the light weight of it.I have never had a light weight S&W do they hold up well? seems like they will wear out fast.and if they are the good kind of gun can I find one without a lock fairly easy?

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God save the SOUTH

today I checked out a 442 with a lock.and man was it light and it was for +p.now I bet that it will hurt a little shooting that thing. but I like the light weight of it.I have never had a light weight S&W do they hold up well? seems like they will wear out fast.and if they are the good kind of gun can I find one without a lock fairly easy?

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God save the SOUTH

It's funny but it used to be common knowledge that S&W considered 2000 rounds to be the service life, or something like that, of airweight J-frame 38s. I read it years ago, somewhere, as a teenager, and people used to discuss it now and then. These days, it seems like I am the only one in the world who recalls such a thing.

In truth, I think the guns may do better than that, if used with a little care and discretion. FWIW, I have never seen a worn out airweight that did not appear to have been a victim of owner abuse.

man 2000 isnt much thats not to good.

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God save the SOUTH

If the lightweights are made to be carried alot, and shot little.....then I would avoid them. Give me an all steel M-36 2" that can handle +P for carry!

While I don't shoot it that much, I'd rather a more controllable,all steel small revolver. My M-36 (1981) gives a rather sharp kick, using +P. Nothing that I can't handle.....but it is snappy!

I've never tried a lightweight, but I don't think it would be an improvement. I don't mind the weight, as long as you use a good holster and belt, that will support it well. Bob

yeah bobk I agree ive always had all steel guns.I traded my 36 months ago and kinda want another J frame.I want a model with a shrouded hammer. what about the titaninum guns S&W made?

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God save the SOUTH

I've been running a Titanium/Aluminum 342PD for 8 years now with about an 80/20 mix of standard and +P .38 Special stuff. The gun looks like Hell from being carried daily, but it's had about twice the 2K number through it. Don't get me wrong, the brutal recoil of the Airlite's aren't for everyone. And no alloy gun will outlast a carbon or stainless one. But for pocket carry they sure are comfortable.

No-lock 442's aren't easy to find today, but it looks like lots of them will be available soon:

No Lock 442s seem to be on the way!

I currently have a 342, 442, and 642 in my carry rotation. I agree with Spotteddog--nothing beats the AirLite 342 for pocket carry. But the Airweight 442 and 642 are a lot nicer to shoot, and you can buy two of them for less than one NIB pre-lock 342 is going for these days.

this 442 is $429

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God save the SOUTH

My 442, bought in '94, has about 800 rounds through it. Carry load is SWCHP +P, practice load is std. velocity SWC handloads. My practice routine is to shoot ball & dummy, with fired cases in the "empty" chambers to absorb hammer falls.

Lots of finish wear--it looks like the Chevy pickups of ten years ago with the bad factory paint jobs that had the mange--but otherwise it is mechanically as new.

Some recoil, but not all that bad. good compromise between ridiculously light guns that hurt like hell and little guns that weigh too much for what they deliver.

J frames are like Burger King--you can pretty well have it "your way". I just happen to think that the 442 got it right.

thanks for the info

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God save the SOUTH

I've never heard of a service life of 2000 rounds for any modern S&W revolver.
The original Airweight guns that had an aluminum cylinder may have been shot out after 2000 rounds, but I would suspect a 442/642/342/etc. to last at least 10,000.

Hopefully someong will chime in with some accurate statistics, but let's not start another Internet rumor, OK.

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I've shot approx. 6-700 rounds through the 642 that I carry the most. The great majority of that being +P with no ill effects.

I too have heard the 2000 round number but suspect it's more myth than reality.

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Centennial Every Day

If I knew any gun I purchased was only going to last 2000 rounds, I wouldn't be buying it.
Then again, will S&W give me a new gun, lifetime warranty and all? If so, who cares? Shoot 2000 rounds each year and get a new gun.

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Sure you did

yeah a new gun every year thats a great idea.

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God save the SOUTH

I have heard the same in Hawaii,, I guess in the late 80's or early 90's and I actually was honestly impressed(little did I know)...I also suspect it's a myth

They used to same the same thing about Colt Lightweight Commanders. And remember the stigma that Glock had for being "plastic" in the 80's?

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NRA Certified Instructor

The 2000 round figure was probably an across-the-board figure, taking into account typical usage that might not be as easy on the gun as what an enthusiast might subject his gun to. We all probably take better care of our guns - keep them cleaner, use cleaner ammunition, handle them more carefully, etc., which is bound to help.

I don't think S&W ever said the gun would be destroyed, fall apart, or anything even close to that. Their thought "probably" was that at about the 2000 round mark, the gun might need some attention. Seemed pretty reasonable to me. Again, this is all just recollection.

Talking of Commanders, I do HAVE a Commander that failed (cracked frame) and can say positively it didn't have 2000 rounds through it. I purchased the gun new in June/July, 1969. It cracked some time in the 90s - around the dustcover area - not through the slide stop hole. The gun was always a lousy shooter (it is a 38 Super) and Bar-Sto had installed a barrel and bushing to help solve the problem. (Which it did.) The gun was returned to Cxxx, who declared that because it had a non-factory barrel, non-factory sights, non-factory magazine, AND because it was SO OLD, they just couldn't help me.

The gun is still serviceable and the crack seems to have de-stressed itself sufficiently that it so far has not gotten much bigger, if any.

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone shooting a Airweight To Death..
Your Hand would wear out way before the revolver IMO..
I have seen the cracked frames on the Aluminum frames but would guess that more of those have came from when the barrel was installed & not from Shooting..
Gary/Hk

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

Aluminum has strength, but tends to weaken with repeated stress or flexing. That might account for the shorter life of Aluminum framed guns.

It's like when you repeatedly bend a strip of aluiminum, and finally, it will snap in two. The force of shooting the bullet, stresses the frame, each time the gun is fired.

If you want a gun to last, even with alot of shooting....you HAVE to buy steel!!!! Bob

If anyone is interested I have a 442 I bought a few months ago I am going to sell.

Len

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Len

I guess I will pass and wait for the all steel one.I like how light weight it was though.if I do get a 442 it may just be a house gun which I dont shoot much.

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God save the SOUTH