Advice on my shot-out 442

[TX357]

Howdy all, long time lurker, now with a question for the group.

I've got a 442 airweight from the early-mid nineties, I think I got it new in 1993. I have put some hard miles on it, plenty of +P, guessing it's seen 3,000 normal rounds and 500 +P.

The lockup is purty loose, not spitting yet, but loose.

I can tell the gun has fair mechanical accuracy but the sights are terrible. Yes, some don't care, but I do. I like ringing steel plates at 100 yards with my handguns. If you are that type of guy, you know where I am coming from.

So I'd like to get some of the high profile cylinder and slide sights (or something like them) installed so I can actually run the gun a little harder.

And also I'd like to get the lockup tightened and the timing checked and prob a trigger polish. Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision rebuilt my old shot-out Model 66, blueprinted it, basically, so I'd probably sent it to him.

The issue:
With the new sights at $300 and the action work and trigger at prob $300, I am then at $600 for well-shot 442. Which will then be tight again, but....

I know it used to be said you couldn't run these guns very hard, and that the newer ones were much stronger. Is that true? Any advice? What should I do?

Thanks much and sorry for the long first post.

 

[snubbiefan]

I DO NOT think the newer ones (lightweights) are any stronger. If anything....weaker in some areas.

I'll just echo the thoughts of others...the lightweights should be carried often and fired little. If you want a gun that will hold-up to past 5,000 rounds...don't bother with a 642 or a 442...get a steel gun with decent sights already installed...... JMHO.

 

[Dragon88]

I don't think you need to refit your gun, I think you need a different gun. Nearly anything in the S&W catalog would be a better choice for a high-volume 100 yard steel ringer than a 442. Light weight J-frames are meant to be CCW pieces, not target pistols.

 

[snubbiefan]

My sentiments exactly. Either brain-dead....a troll....or really....really needs help. If it be the latter....he has all the help he needs...GET ANOTHER GUN!

 

[TX357]

I'm going to stay friendly.

You don't need a target pistol to ring steel at 100 yards. Nearly any out of the box Glock or Springer or Sig will do it, as will of course any nice wheelgun. And 3,500 rounds over 15 years is not exactly high-volume, except maybe for this gun. So that is why I am asking the question. I shoot 10,000 rounds a year, ISPC and IDPA, and have for 20 years.


So, seriously. Rebuild or buy new one?

I'm not sure I even own any target guns, other than precision rifles.



Edit--I have a steel N-frame, thanks. And a Super Redhawk when I want something beefier.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Buy new....
and shoot it like you have been shooting the old one

 

[41 fan]

TX357,
I would buy a new 442 and have some sights installed on it. I did put a red ramp on my first 442 but it did not help a great deal. I have a second one I would like to have some sights on. I had some white dot sights installed on my PPK, and it made all the difference in the world.

To the other responders, do we have to be so quick to critisize? If you think the guy is not legit, you certainly do not have to respond. Some of you sound like you just came from Sigforum. Dean

 

[Maximumbob54]

No way I'm ever going to believe that an alloy frame can last through that kind of punishment. But I can find a strange understanding of not "needing" a target setup for target shooting. I take perverse joy in seeing how far out I can hit a target with my AK with junk steel case ammo. And I have taken my 10/22 to the 500 yard range. So maybe a fixed sight short barreled revolver that kicks a little hard could make for a real challenge at long range. So my thought is if you already know of a gunsmith that has done good work then I would stick with him if he will do it.

 

[Dragon88]

I'm going to stay friendly.

You don't need a target pistol to ring steel at 100 yards. Nearly any out of the box Glock or Springer or Sig will do it, as will of course any nice wheelgun. And 3,500 rounds over 15 years is not exactly high-volume, except maybe for this gun. So that is why I am asking the question. I shoot 10,000 rounds a year, ISPC and IDPA, and have for 20 years.


So, seriously. Rebuild or buy new one?

I'm not sure I even own any target guns, other than precision rifles.



Edit--I havue a steel N-frame, thanks. And a Super Redhawk when I want something beefier.

Then why do you want to put $300 sights on a $300 gun and "run it harder"? What are you "running" with your J-frame that needs anything more than the standard sights?

Anyway, to answer your question, just by a new one. $350 plus tax at most dealers. It will come with a Lifetime warranty, so if it loosens up in the future, S&W will take care of it.

 

[ltxi]

I'm going to stay friendly.

You don't need a target pistol to ring steel at 100 yards. Nearly any out of the box Glock or Springer or Sig will do it, as will of course any nice wheelgun. And 3,500 rounds over 15 years is not exactly high-volume, except maybe for this gun. So that is why I am asking the question. I shoot 10,000 rounds a year, ISPC and IDPA, and have for 20 years.


So, seriously. Rebuild or buy new one?

I'm not sure I even own any target guns, other than precision rifles.



Edit--I have a steel N-frame, thanks. And a Super Redhawk when I want something beefier.

If you really have that kind of experience, background, and expertise you'd no doubt already know the answers.

If you're serious, then I vote for you rebuilding and having custom sights installed for however much it costs and ignoring the quite possibly stretched frame.

 

[TAROMAN]

 

[photoman]

To answer the question...

S&W M640 PRO 357 2 NS MCLP Stainless $685.00 SHIPS FREE

Smith & Wesson 60 .357 Mag 3" Adjustable Sight $601.00 SHIPS FREE

That's what I'd do. Then again, this is the good 'ol US of A and you can do anything to your gun you darn well please so I say go for it. Just be sure to post pics when it comes back!

p.s. I like to think that we here at the Forum are "above" all the troll ugliness...

 

[TX357]

Snubbiefan, wheelyfun66, 41 fan, Photoman44, and Maximumbob54:

Thank you for your respectful answers. Much appreciated. I am a bit baffled by the others. I guess this is the reason I like to avoid the Internet. This was a reasonable question--should I rebuild this gun or not--why there is some weird hostility going on is a little baffling.

I shoot a lot, in fact 10K rounds of centerfire is on the low side per year, and I spent about 30 days hunting per year. I've been shooting my entire life, spent some time working in a machine shop, I'm a competent welder for someone who doesn't get paid to do it. I know guns and mechanical stuff pretty well.

The reason I asked this question is that I was about even between buying a new one and getting this one tightened up. I wanted to get some other opinions. And, it appears you folks are about evenly split. As I was. I will probably just get this one dialed in how I want it.

These guns are much more mechanically accurate than most people give them credit for. Kind of like AK's. The sights are primitive, the triggers are not perfect, but from the purely mechanical perspective, the gun will sling lead in a repeatable manner. That is why I want better sights. Not to mention it's hard to get a 14 oz pistol that shoots a reasonable caliber.


Now, as for the rest of you, yeah I get it. You're the internet know-it-alls who don't shoot near as much as you claim to or hunt that much or run your guns very hard, but you love sitting around polishing them at night and feeling like the experts. I love my guns, too, but I actually use them--and not just at the range.

Also, I treat people with respect. Unless they have shown me reason not to. Which the rest of you have. Again, I'd like to thank snubbiefan, wheelyfun66, 41 fan, Photoman44, and Maximumbob54 for giving their respectful opinions.

Respectfully,
TX

 

[markush]

I normally stay far away from stuff like this but I have to say a little something. *** just happen here!?!? Did this guy really just get jumped on because he shoots a j-frame a lot and at long distances??? REALLY??? I really wish there was an ignore function available. Because all of you guys that piled on...quite blindly I may add..would be on my ignore list!

Someone mentioned sigfourm...while i've never been there I'm pretty sure I know what he meant. Because I have been to and no longer frequent sites that this type of stuff runs rampant on. smith-wessonforum.com was different...up until today anyway!