642-2 Airweight .38 recoil

[vintage40s]

I got a new 642-2 Airweight .38 for CC. I immediately felt the trigger was punishment, so had a gunsmith install an Apex spring kit which is nice. After the ammo finally arrived, I fired 25 rounds at a range. The recoil was unpleasant, brutish, painful. I disliked each shot, and felt like the impact impaired my aim. I am wondering if I should get a .22 Model 23 C. Has anybody compared both?

 

[studenygreg]

Is this serious?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Rpg]

I think your gun is a 38 special, not a 32

Try shooting 148 gr wadcutter target ammo in your 642-2 before you buy another gun.

 

[wrangler5]

My most common daily carry is a 632. Available ammo ranges from bunny fart 32 Longs to Buffalo Bore +P 32 H&R Magnums. Some of the 32 Longs are no more punishing than a 22LR, IMHO, while the Buffalo Bores have more energy than Remington's 158g +P 38 Special round - and kick like it. You have a wide range of choices.

 

[vintage40s]

I think your gun is a 38 special, not a 32.
Try shooting 148 gr wadcutter target ammo in your 642-2 before you buy another gun.

Yes, I am a newbie and get the ammo confused.
I have edited the .32 to .38 in the title and the post.
It is hard to buy any ammo here, nothing available locally, all mail order, where even rounds like hollow point and wad cutter and target are not found.
So I will look for rounds with less powder to reduce the recoil.

 

[DeafSmith]

I think your gun is a 38 special, not a 32

Try shooting 148 gr wadcutter target ammo in your 642-2 before you buy another gun.

Wadcutters... yea that is the ticket. Very good groups, light recoil, and according to Luckygunner it gets almost 18 inches penetration. Good enough for CCW! I have a box of Federal WC ammo and my 642 loves it.

 

[MickeyR]

Have a 43C (22lr) and very happy with it.

 

[Jeppo]

Hogue Monogrips.

 

[Farmer17]

You might want to buy some bigger hand filling grips and that will make the gun feel like it kicks less. Also you can buy some Speer plastic Bullets and cases that kick basically zero so you can get used to the gun and shooting it. The more you shoot it and get use to it the less it will kick.

 

[steelslaver]

If you listed your location it might help others understand and help you deal with stuff.

Welcome to the forum

 

[vintage40s]

Have a 43C (22lr) and very happy with it.

I have been looking at reviews of the 43C. It has a hard trigger pull like my 642-2 Lightweight .38 centerfire, which I remedied with an Apex spring kit.
But although the kit says its for J-frames, it also says its for centerfire, whereas the .22 is rimfire. I guess the lighter spring would cause too light a strike for a rimfire.

 

[vintage40s]

If you listed your location it might help others understand and help you deal with stuff...

Good point, now added.

 

[vintage40s]

You might want to buy some bigger hand filling grips and that will make the gun feel like it kicks less...

It has Crimson Trace grips.

 

[vintage40s]

Have a 43C (22lr) and very happy with it.

Do you find the trigger very hard to pull? See Post #11 which I edited.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Was also thinking of advising try some Wadcutters if you can find any.
Was not thinking Buffalo Bore!

 

[ms]

Which ones?

It has Crimson Trace grips.

The hard plastic Crimson Trace grips on my 642 bruise my hand after a few cylinders full. The Crimson Trace grips on my 342 have an open area and then a rubber layer over the backstrap, even though the 342 is lighter than the 642 the 342 is much more comfortable to shoot.

 

[haywood]

I installed Pachmayr Compacts and Hogue Tamers on my 442s. No more pain. The Hogue’s are a bit thinner and may be more comfortable. If you buy the Hogue’s, make sure you buy for the 642 Centennial Frame. Pachmayr’s are on top picture.

 

[Rule3]

The air-weight 38 specials are not a fun gun to shoot. plus they are hard to master as to accuracy. I don't care what anyone says. Yes, 25 rounds in a row would be a pain. They are Self Defense guns. Yes, you have to practice and it will get a little easier.
Get a shooting glove or a golf glove Takes the sting out while practicing. Get some cushy grips and ditch the laxer. (JMHO)



So don't feel bad

 

[mikerjf]

While the .22's are fine guns, they do definitely have a harder trigger pull, and the trigger pull *needs* to be harder to ignite the rimfire. You will also be less accurate because of the harder pull and lighter weight gun, and shooting a wimpy bullet besides!

I have both a 317 (AirLite .22) and a 642. I would suggest staying with the 642 and find the least powerful ammo you can for practicing. The 148g wadcutter suggestion is a good one.

Bigger grips will help but they will also make the gun bigger, so if you are planning on pocket-carry it may be a problem. I have tried a number of different grips and really like the Pachmayr Compac's. They help with recoil and are reasonable in size.

 

[vintage40s]

The air-weight 38 specials are not a fun gun to shoot... 25 rounds in a row would be a pain...
Get a shooting glove or a golf glove Takes the sting out while practicing. Get some cushy grips and ditch the laxer...

That's almost what I did at my first range session the other day -- 5 loads in 20 minutes. Ouch.
I like the Crimson Trace laser for aiming, and its grips are actually sort of soft. I am interested in shooting gloves, but they just look thick, not really padded, and not cushioned at all.
I do have a pair of Stihl gel-cushioned gloves that I used for days while removing patio mortar with an electric impact chisel.
STIHL Anti-Vibration Hand Gloves with Reduced Vibration | STIHL USA
I tried holding the gun with the glove, and it would really tame the recoil, but I would have to cut off the trigger finger to make it usable. I am going to do that for my next range session.