A new 442

[Haldir]

Just bought today along with a Galco Ankle Glove.

After reading the other active thread, I am a little concerned. But it looks really nice. I dry fired it a few times and I like the trigger pull on mine. It seems light and smooth for a double action revolver. I guess I will wait to see how a couple boxes of ammo change my opinion.

 

[TucsonMTB]

If you like the trigger dry firing, you will be even happier when it goes "bang" instead of "click" at the end of the pull.

In addition to your usual range gear, take along at least one band-aide suitable for padding the first knuckle of your trigger finger. Once the recoil bangs the trigger guard into the side of the finger, you will know exactly where to place it.

In the meantime, Congratulations!

 

[Rpg]

I suspect you will rapidly grow tired of your ankle holster.

Took me about two hours years ago.

Just my conjecture, of course.

 

[Haldir]

I suspect you will rapidly grow tired of your ankle holster.

Took me about two hours years ago.

Just my conjecture, of course.

I wore it for an hour or so tonight. It is quite warm, I noticed pretty quick. And it just felt kind of odd. I got it mostly for summer church wear. So I am sure I will get some use out of it.

 

[eveled]

I highly recommend you order a Mika's pocket holster for your new wheel gun. The 442 excels in the pocket, and Mika's holsters are the best, imho. Ed

 

[guskody]

Haldir,

there are countless Forum members who are happy with their 442/642 models. Hopefully you'll be happy with yours too.

if you don't like the factory grips after shooting, go to your LGS and slip on some Hogues or Pachs. I'll bet you find the 442 more comfortable to shoot. Before purchasing them, see if the 442 will still conceal well and not get hung up while accessing from your preferred method of conceal carry.

the ankle holster can be a good spot for a BUG and it can also be good for someone who spends a lot of time seated, including traveling in the car. Otherwise, ankle carry is usually more difficult to access quickly than pocket, IWB or OWB.

enjoy.

 

[David R]

My chiefs special in an ankle holster makes me walk funny. With the 637 its like wearing a watch.
Sometimes its an LCP in an ankle holster.

I buy my pants a little long.

Enjoy your gun, show us some targets.


David

 

[snubbyfan]

Live fire confirmed what I felt in dry fire. My 442's a nice shootin' little gun. I did have to change to a pair of Pachmayr Compact grips and I carry it either in my pocket or on my hip everyday in one of my homemade leather holsters.

 

[jrod]

I put the same Pacmayr's on my 442. It's really nice to shoot with them.

 

[Jim1392]

When I was younger it really didn't bother me for short periods of time on my ankle. It does take some time to get used to it. Now I wear my 642 IWB in a Remora. It stays nice and tight against my side with no printing with no matter what I'm wearing. But IWB, OWB, or pocket the 442 is a great choice.

 

[Haldir]

I have pocket carried my Shield a few times. Pocket carry is okay, but I have my knife clipped in that pocket. I also usually carry an extra mag in the pocket. So I would rather go IWB with my primary carry, during summer, if I can wear an untucked shirt. The 442 will be almost strictly a BUG, or when other carry options are just impossible.

 

[guskody]

442

"The 442 will be almost strictly a BUG, or when other carry options are just impossible."


And this is where the truly 442 excels.

Good luck in your pursuit of what works for you. Sounds like the process is already fun.

 

[kaaskop49]

As an earlier poster indicated, the ankle rig makes sense when driving. Modern seatbelts make it virtually impossible to reach a holstered handgun. Even a shirtpocket-carried NAA mini-revolver is masked by the cross-chest belt.

 

[Haldir]

I got to put a box through it this weekend. My accuracy was a bit embarrassing. I can see it is going to take some practice with it.

I had one issue that came up one time. The trigger stuck in the back position. I had to hit the cylinder release and then then trigger popped back forward. Hopefully that doesn't continue. I am assuming it just needs some breaking in.

 

[Hapworth]

I got to put a box through it this weekend. My accuracy was a bit embarrassing. I can see it is going to take some practice with it.

I had one issue that came up one time. The trigger stuck in the back position. I had to hit the cylinder release and then then trigger popped back forward. Hopefully that doesn't continue. I am assuming it just needs some breaking in.

Shooting J-frames accurately tends to take a little extra practice but is entirely doable -- and fun. Also, as the action smooths with use -- or if you have the action gently smoothed by a qualified revolversmith -- you'll note a natural increase in accuracy.

However, the trigger should not be hanging on rebound, provided you're squeezing all the way back then releasing.

Might mean the internals need a cleaning and lubing; might be a bur or metal shaving (not uncommon when factory new) that needs addressing; or there might be a problem in the lockwork.

But it should not be happening and isn't related to break-in. See that it's attended to, calling in the warranty if necessary, before betting your life on that particular revolver.

Hope it isn't your original concerns realized, but also don't place too much in active complaint threads; they're in abundance on the Internet, while active "I'm happy and have no problems with my revolver" threads -- common though that experience is in the world -- are at minimum online.

For what it's worth, despite a happy abundance of various S&W revolvers, it's a common 442 that does virtually all my heavy lifting and has for years, with zero issues to date.