Airweight Confession

[pharmer]

After shooting 40 years, I shot an airweight J frame for the first time ever. I bought the gun for my wife who found my SS model 60 unpleasant. That extra 1/4 lb makes a world of difference recoil wise. I shot 100 rds of WW Olin AF surplus Ball from '91, some Silvertip 110 gr non +P and the Federal 110 or 115 Hydrashok also non+P. Loud and snappy, difficult to keep a 6" group @ 15 ft. I guess I'm a wimp but I can shoot a .44mag better. My wife ain't a "gun gal", doing it at my insistence, so this gift might get a negative response. I'm going to get some wadcutters at the next show. Joe

 

[tripledipper]

I have shot my 642-1 only time since purchasing it new and that was with standard pressure target ammo. It is was not a pleasant experience. It is light, great for pocket carry, have it loaded with 125gr Federal HP low recoil non+p ammo, but it is meant to be carried a lot and shot very little. If you really want to punish yourself shoot a 340PD using .357 ammo. Boy did that hurt! Steel and stainless j-frames are much more comfortable to shoot and k-frame snubs an actual pleasure. Guess I am a wimp too.

 

[srgvaz]

Invest in some rubber grips that cover the black-strap. Uncle mike's combat grips are a good choice but there no longer made, but you can find them used. Pachmayr makes some good ones for practice but they don't pocket carry very well.

 

[pharmer]

I have a pair of the Uncle Mikes (Like the model 60 in the middle) on it now. Doesn't help much. Joe

 

[Old cop]

I agree that shooting an airweight J frame is difficult. Mine has the wood S&W oversize grip (pictured above on the nickel model), but monthly practice really helps. I shoot 50 rounds of non +P @ 7 yards at a paper plate. If I keep all the rounds inside the paper plate I'm satisfied.

 

[TACC1]

Two suggestions; 1) get C-T laser grips for the 60, or
2) get C-T laser grips for the airweight.
They are easier on the hand than stock rubber grips. I noticed
the difference after going back to factory grips.
TACC1

 

[SAFireman]

If you really want to punish yourself shoot a 340PD using .357 ammo. Boy did that hurt!

C'mon now....I shoot my 340 regularly with 357 mag ammo...once I switched to Golden Saber instead of Federal Hydra-Shok 125gr, I can take 10 rounds per session without any real discomfort....I will usually shoot 25-50 rounds of 130gr WWB first, then I finish up with the magnum rounds.

I just wish that the trigger in the 340 would smooth out as well as my 640-1, then I would be really happy

 

[Ole Coot]

I've only shot an Airweight J a couple of times and was thinking about getting one. I use the old LSWCHP 158gr standard load in my Mod. 60 and 36. Sounds like I best borrow one before buying and give one a workout. Thanks for the info.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Oversize grips make no sense, to me at least. What's the point of buying a 11 or 15oz revolver and adding 4oz grips that make it harder to conceal? I'm not a recoil fan, but shoot either my 340PD or 360PD with factory grips 25-50rds a week with handloads midway between +P's and SB 357's. It didn't take long to learn how to grip and point the guns to avoid damage to the shooter, and actually make the experience fun. There are days, however, when nothing works and it hurts. I stop at 10rds, and wait for a better day. Next range trip I'll do 50rds with a grin on my face. Just a matter of practice and familiarity.

 

[oldtexan]

After shooting 40 years, I shot an airweight J frame for the first time ever. I bought the gun for my wife who found my SS model 60 unpleasant. That extra 1/4 lb makes a world of difference recoil wise. I shot 100 rds of WW Olin AF surplus Ball from '91, some Silvertip 110 gr non +P and the Federal 110 or 115 Hydrashok also non+P. Loud and snappy, difficult to keep a 6" group @ 15 ft. I guess I'm a wimp but I can shoot a .44mag better. My wife ain't a "gun gal", doing it at my insistence, so this gift might get a negative response. I'm going to get some wadcutters at the next show. Joe

Ok, I'm confused. As I understand what I read in your post, your wife had a problem with the recoil of an all steel Model 60, so you got her the lighter 642? Huh? Assuming the same .38 ammo in both guns and similar grips on both guns, the 642 will recoil more (actual and felt recoil)than the 60. Am I misreading your post?

If I've not misread your post, I strongly recommend that you never ask/allow your wife to shoot the 642. Trust me, I speak from experience.


By the way, I carry one or two 642-2 as backups in my front pockets. I've put Crimson Trace LG-305 lasergrips on both of them. The LG-305 does three good things: the grip is longer and better cushioned (the backstrap is covered) than the OEM boot grip on the 642, thus reducing discomfort and enhancing control of the piece. Additionally, under any kind of limited visibility, that laser is a whale of a lot easier for my 56 YO eyes to see than the astoundingly miserable factory sights on the 642, allowing faster more accurate sighting. Having said that, one must practice with the laser to gain proficiency.

Speaking of practice, what I've found is that as I shoot the 642s more and more, I get much more proficient with them and notice the recoil less. I require frequent training to shoot them well.

Also shooting one of my 642s revealed that it had a light strike issue with certain ammo types. I took it out to Frank Smith at LSG Manufacturing 45 minutes away from me in Comanche, Texas. He does warranty work on S&Ws and other brands. Frank had a new longer firing pin installed and had me on my way in twenty minutes at zero cost to me. If I hadn't shot it much, I'd not know about this issue.



Note to Smith & Wesson: Put dovetail-mounted (front and back) night sights on all your self-defense fixed sight revolvers. Or at least give us an option of having these types of sights from the factory. People actually need serious sights on serious self-defense guns.

 

[madstabber]

I shoot hot rounds through my 642 all the time and have zero complaints on the recoil. It was actually much less than I expected. I've worked with my hands all my life so maybe that has something to do with it I dunno.

 

[amd6547]

I shoot a Model 38 Airweight and also have no problem with recoil.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Recoil is subjective and idiosyncratic, different people will perceive it differently.

The out of production 432 in .32 HR mag is easier for some people to manage. Another option is the old Model 30/31s in .32 SW Long.

I used to have a 337. I'd practice 50rds of +P at a time. After that, yeah, my hand did hurt.

 

[ab4ka]

I put a Pachmayr Compac on my 638 and it made a world of difference, not only in control but comfort. I can still pocket carry it as well.

 

[pharmer]

Ok, I'm confused. As I understand what I read in your post, your wife had a problem with the recoil of an all steel Model 60, so you got her the lighter 642? Huh? Assuming the same .38 ammo in both guns and similar grips on both guns, the 642 will recoil more (actual and felt recoil)than the 60. Am I misreading your post?

If I've not misread your post, I strongly recommend that you never ask/allow your wife to shoot the 642. Trust me, I speak from experience.
.

Speaking of practice, what I've found is that as I shoot the 642s more and more, I get much more proficient with them and notice the recoil less. I require frequent training to shoot them well.

You did not misread. I am a stubborn man, known to double down on a losing bet. I figured I could "grow her into it." Probably not, which means yet another gun (Yay).
And about practice; I'm down to 300rds 4 times a year. Half those are .22's. I'm still using the stash I built up 5 years ago when it was affordable. I can shoot well enough as to not be dangerous but not well enough to lose humility. Joe

 

[6pack]

I was also wondering about your the logic for going with an even lighter gun.

I also don't understand your shooting practices...300 rounds 4 times per year. I don't know what your goals are, but even shooting 150 non-rimfire rounds is enough to make any gun upleasant during a single session.

I've found the 442 to be a peach and have shot numerous 158gr swc handloads as well as 3 boxes of 135+P Gold Dot loads from mine. I've had it since late summer. I'm no great shot by any means but 5 yard head shots and 15 yard center mass shots are no problem at all.

Maybe you should try really determining what your needs are before buying another gun. I'd also shoot more often and less rounds while per session.

 

[oldtexan]

I was also wondering about your the logic for going with an even lighter gun.

I also don't understand your shooting practices...300 rounds 4 times per year. I don't know what your goals are, but even shooting 150 non-rimfire rounds is enough to make any gun upleasant during a single session.

I've found the 442 to be a peach and have shot numerous 158gr swc handloads as well as 3 boxes of 135+P Gold Dot loads from mine. I've had it since late summer. I'm no great shot by any means but 5 yard head shots and 15 yard center mass shots are no problem at all.

Maybe you should try really determining what your needs are before buying another gun. I'd also shoot more often and less rounds while per session.

I don't know what has caused the OP to limit his shooting to only four sessions a year, but I believe that the frequency of shooting session is probably more important than the total number of rds fired.

Shooting more frequently allows faster skill improvement IMO. I think that until skill level gets to the desired level, shooting even as few as ten-twenty rds once or twice a week would be much more beneficial than a three month interval between 300 rd sessions. Even after reaching a desired skill level, I think that going longer than a month between sessions will cause skills to degrade.

And if the shooter has had no formal training from a competent instructor, that is always helpful in IDing bad habits and learning useful techniques. IMO it's money and time well spent if one desires to shoot well.

 

[pharmer]

I don't limit myself to 4 times a year, just seems to work out that way. I would shoot more but May to October I just seem to find something "cooler" to do. I have had a bit of formal training but not in the last 20+ years. Understand, I am not a gunslinger, quasi-lawman-commando. I have carried a sidearm for about 30 years and it's a PITA; I'd rather carry a sammich but it ain't too useful in a gunfight. Joe