are airweights really that hard to handle ??

[rschlos]

Hey all,
Ive really been doing some research on the 642/442 and just hit a site that had lots of bad remarks on how these things rattle your bones.
I currently own and shoot three rugers, a gp100 in 357, sr9 and sr40, so im not new to the handgun world, but never owned a light weight.
Any words of wisdom, do any of you regret buying one ?
Thanks for any info

 

[kenjen]

i have the 642 and shoot +p ammo and i don't think it's that bad at all, but that's just me, someone else might not like it.

 

[TNDave]

A 642 with top loads can be a little peppy but it shouldn't rattle your teeth. The cylinder release latch can start biting at your thumb if you keep your thumbs locked down. I shoot them thumbs up like a govt model and it saves my thumbs. Practicing with with lighter loads is not a bad idea.

 

[W.E.G.]

I had one.

Every time I fired it, it felt like the nerve in web of my hand was being struck with a ball-peen hammer. Sent a lightning bolt straight to my elbow. I traded mine for a bass guitar amplifier. I get about as much use out of the amplifier as I got out of the nerve-hammer.

I only ever had one handgun that felt like that: a T/C Contender in 30-30 caliber.

 

[Nevadadvx]

I love shooting my 637 with standard loads because it amazes me how accurate it is. I shot a few +P's in it and it was rough on the hand. I won't be doing that again. I'll leave those for my K frames.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Everything depends on which grips you use and how they fit YOUR hand. I find the 642 usable with standard J-frame Magnas, using a VERY firm grip. I know a police chief who is a very accomplished shooter who used to carry one and liked it just fine with a Tyler. Although I generally like Tylers, using one on a 642 causes my middle-finger knuckle to get rapped. I'm sure that some of the larger Goodyears would work fine, but I'm not interested.

I think something can almost always be worked out, but I have no idea what it would be, for you.

 

[W.E.G.]

I'm sticking with these three.

 

[Ursoboostd]

It doesn't bother me. I shoot the **** out of my 442. I do have friends that don't like to shoot it, but I really enjoy it.

 

[white cloud]

i shoot my 642 a fair amount. yes it does have some snappy recoil but i don't think it is all that bad. i forgive it a lot when i take into account how handy it is. i would not be without a 642.

 

[Pef]

I have a 637. The 637 with +p loads does have a recoil, but I don't have a problem with comfort. I use a tight grip and I've experienced no biting.

A few weeks ago I shot about 130 rounds at the range, using the stock grips. The only problem was my trigger finger got a bit sore. The triggers on these J's are tight when coming over from the 686. I made some snap caps and have dry fired my 637 about 500+ times and it has helped.

Bottom line is I enjoy shooting the gun. It's accurate and a fun little gun. Also, I like a different experience with different weapons, and shooting from a light snubby is a very different expereince from shooting a big wheel gun. I have the light snubby, a 686 Plus 4-inch, and a Model 29 6.5 inch. Each one is a very different experience.

But I can see how it is not for everyone. On the other hand, if you are looking for a carry weapon, and not a weapon for weekly recreational shooting, it fits the role perfectly.

(if you belong to a range, see if they have one for rent and try it out. )

 

[ContinentalOp]

Short answer: It's subjective. Everybody's different when it comes to things like felt recoil and controllabililty. Some can shoot +Ps in airweight snubs all day long, others can barely tolerate 5 rounds of standard pressure loads.

The key is to find the right balance. I carry a 642 pretty regularly. I once tried shooting 5 rounds of Buffalo Bore's .38 Special 158gr LSWCHP +P. I will not be doing that again! My hand was sore for 3 days and I had to ice it a couple times a day. However, I did eventually find an ammo combination that worked for me. I carry my 642 loaded with 125gr Federal Nyclads, practice with 130gr FMJ, and carry Speer 135gr Short-Barrel GDHP +P for reloads, occasionally shooting them.

Once you find the ammo combo that works for you, then it takes practice. I try to go to the range at least every other week. I can shoot up to 100 rounds of the 130gr FMJ per session without a problem. When I shoot +P I try to keep it to 75 rounds total. I supplement this with about 15-20 minutes of dry fire practice 3-4 times per week.

The only way to really find out if an airweight snub is for you is to shoot one. If possible, rent or borrow one and try different types of ammo. You may hate it, or you may find something that works for you.

FWIW, I'm not much of a marksman, but I shot this yesterday. It's 25 rounds of 130gr FMJ fired at 10 yards in a standing two-handed stance, firing as quickly as I could maintain a good sight picture.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Everything depends on which grips you use and how they fit YOUR hand. I find the 642 usable with standard J-frame Magnas, using a VERY firm grip. I know a police chief who is a very accomplished shooter who used to carry one and liked it just fine with a Tyler. Although I generally like Tylers, using one on a 642 causes my middle-finger knuckle to get rapped. I'm sure that some of the larger Goodyears would work fine, but I'm not interested.

I think something can almost always be worked out, but I have no idea what it would be, for you.

Proper grips are very important. But again, everybody's different so you may have to experiment to see what works for you. My favorite are the Spegel boot grips in wood.

 

[luis]

Everything is based on the shape of your hand, grip selection and ammo. Try to rent a gun and shoot it before you buy. A local gun store sold one of the first Scandium 357 mag J frames twice. First LEO fired 5 rounds and took a bath trading it back. Second LEO fired 20 rounds and traded it back. I purchased the gun for a song. Shoot 38spl but carry 357.

 

[jack the toad]

are airweights really that hard to handle ??

not in my opinion unless you're talking the sc/ti models with full house loads.
my factory grip 642 with +P's is unremarkable

 

[BSkerj]

I shoot my own lighter reloads for practice and also run a few factory +P's through it at the end of the day. There is a noticeable difference but in self defense mode you would not even feel recoil. I carry mine everyday almost all day in a pocket holster or one of Lobogunleathers enhanced pancakes. I would not be without one.

 

[photoman]

A 642 with Uncle Mike's Combat grips (or other good three finger rubber grips) and 148gr wadcutters is a real powder puff to shoot. You can ramp it up from there with hotter loads and smaller grips as you get used to the gun.

The people you hear complaining about how "hot" the Airweights are, are the people that go out and buy one, stoke it full of the hottest +P super-d-duper defense loads and the proceed to beat their virgin hand to death. I can't tell you how many good deals on like-new, used 642's I've gotten due to that scenario.

 

[Treeman]

Add another 'it depends' answer to the list. A friend has an airweight .44 magnum.....It is brutal with full power loads-The gun is accurate but one cylinder exhausted my wannatryit. IMO the Mountain gun is as light as a .44 mag should get.
I have an airweight .357 J frame. It is rather ferocious with top loads but not bad with midlevel magnums and just fine with .38s. I also have a Ruger LCR...which is light but heavier than the scandium alloy S&W. The LCR is no fun at all with 158 grain full power .357s. It is tolerable but NOT a joy with mid-level.357s. In my usage it is a .38spl snubby that can chamber .357 mags in an emergency. None of the light snubs seem problematic to me with .38 specials....at least in limited quantities. A Charter Undercover with wood stocks raps my middle finger with the trigger guard with stout loads sufficiently to make me limit myself to only a few cylinderfulls.,... but light loads can go through it in quantity in one session and in reality it is a carry gun not a high volume plinker.

 

[Oldiron]

To me the new airweights are much nicer to shoot than the older ones . Seems the trigger housing is a little larger and does not eat at my trigger finger with my reloads.
Larry

 

[cjcutter1]

Maybe not as easy as a 22 revolver or other heavyer framed revolver but not that bad at all I find that I shoot my 642 better one handed, dominant hand of course. Good luck.

 

[DaTerminat'r]

Mas Ayoobi said guns are not suppose to be comfortable but they are suppose to be comforting.