442 or 642

[Kilibreaux]

I am seriously considering purchasing a 442 or 642 for pocket carry in the summer. My everyday carry is a Ruger SP101. I love the gun but it is too heavy and bulky for pocket carry. I normally carry inside the waistband. With hot weather naturally I dress in lighter clothes and my holster won't work very well without a belt.

I usually prefer stainless but the aluminum frame of the 642 doesn't look as good to me as the all black 442. How well does the finish hold up on the 442? I sweat puddles here in the hot humid south and my sweat is toxic to blued guns which is why I avoid them. I know the frame on the 442 is aluminum but I am concerned about the steel parts. I will be using a pocket holster which should help and I will keep it as clean as I can but if the 642 will hold up better I will get it. My local gun store has both in stock and neither have the lock and the price is the same.

Stainless steel is better than carbon steel when it comes to resisting corrosion due to human perspiration. For body-contact concealment the 642 will always be the better choice. This is not to say one cannot make the 442 work....it just won't be as seamless.

As long as you give the gun a good wipedown and oiling after carry, a 442 will probably do fine.

And YES you are RIGHT to doff your massively overbuilt Ruger for the much lighter, more compact Smith!

My 642-1 PRO weights 14.5 ounces, takes a 5-shot "en-bloc" clip of rounds, and fits EASILY in my front jeans pocket!

 

[palmetto99]

442, I like basic black.

 

[slabside2]

Number 1. 340pd $$$$
2. 438 $$
3. 642 $$
All have stainless steel cylinders
Oh yea. 340M&P $$$$

 

[TucsonMTB]

This 642-1 is my current favorite and most frequent carry piece.

But, my wife's 638 is also fun to shoot.

Still, if you prefer black . . . go for it.

 

[kaaskop49]

attn Tucson MTB

Hey MTB, you can shoot! That's the same size target that the late Stephen A. Camp, a REAL J-hound, recommended in his book on J-snubs. What's your preferred carry style and rig, if you don't mind? I like the old Bianchi suede clip pouch for IWB and Mernickle scabbard for OWB. Concealment Specialties LLC for pocket carry. See you at El Con.

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire

____________________
Best $1.80 I ever spent!

 

[TucsonMTB]

What's your preferred carry style and rig, if you don't mind?

Hey there, Mr. Kaaskop!

Thank you for the kind words! It's always fun when you have "one of those good days" at the range.

No doubt you have had your fair share of those days when you just can't miss too.

I mostly pocket carry in an inexpensive Uncle Mike's size 4 fabric holster.

But, the holster drawer does contain one nice Safariland 568 "Molded Custom Fit Pistol Holster" with a paddle that is pictured below.

This holster is mostly used when riding my mountain bike over to the range. The semi-transparent sweat shield is just a piece of plastic cut from a polypropylene CD case and sandwiched between the paddle and holster using the original paddle mounting screws.

 

[Duelist]

642. Rust is no longer a concern. Holster wear happens. If it is a concern, buy two, carry one, safe queen the second.

 

[willydd]

642 no lock is a great gun.

 

[S&W1006]

642. Rust is no longer a concern. Holster wear happens. If it is a concern, buy two, carry one, safe queen the second.

Holster wear isn't huge concern it's more of a concern of what happens when the finish wears off. Mainly rust. I usually gravitate toward stainless for this reason but in this case the 442 looks better to me. I just wondered how long the finish will hold up. I know the frame is aluminum but the barrel and cylinder are what concerns me.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

 

[psjoe]

Product: Model 442 Moon Clip

Stainless Bbl and Cylinder - on a 442

 

[haywood]

My 442 is carried in a uncle mikes pocket holster and shows no wear. I carried it as one of two back ups for years.

 

[Edmo]

I've got two 642s and the first has been flawless while the second (on the bottom) is back at the mothership being replaced with a 640 Pro Series 357. It was starting to experience misfires.

Edmo