are airweights really that hard to handle ??

These little, ultra light weight, guns, especially the .357 magnums, may be popular among the novice crowd but I don't believe them to be a good choice. They can be painful to shoot, not much fun, and that doesn't lead to a desire for practice. In the hands of an expert, one who is dedicated enough to shoot fairly often, these guns are useful. Others would be better served by something a bit heavier.
 
When I bought my 642 the little grips just didn't work, flopped around in my hand no matter what I shot, +P or not. I ordered the S&W 3 finger grips and that made all the difference. With my big hands it is easy to control now and doesn't bother me to put 50 rounds thru it at the range.

I carry it every day.

J frame 3 finger grip
 
As a range gun, 442/642 probably aren't the best choice but that's not the intention. I carry a 442 every day. At the range, I'll put 25 through it about once a month, occaisionally 50 but then my hand says enough. My wife carries the 642 but will rarely put more than 10 through it before her hands have had enough. In real life use with the adrenaline pumping, we'll probably only have to fire 5.
 
I've owned a Model 642 since about 1998 and I'm glad to have made the acquaintance. After the years of shooting it though, the steel J-Frames get the nod from me. The lightweights are way overrated for easy carry and don't behave as well when actually shot. I'm weary of the whole class of shrunken, flea-weight guns that are so popular on the market. It appears that they cannot ever be made light enough or small enough to suit some.
 
Recoil with the lightweight snubbies is a matter of perception. Some can tolerate +P loadings in extended range sessions, and some can't. I can just barely tolerate a cylinderful in my 442 and 642. BUT these are my carry guns for the simple reason that they are easier to pack around than the all-steel models. Both the aluminum-frames and the steel-frames will give the same result on a human target, and in a pucker situation, I doubt that I would ever even notice the heavier recoil with the lightweights.

My wife would quit shooting forever if she had to shoot even one +P load in her 442. She doesn't practice as much as I do, so when she does, I load her up with wadcutter target loads. It gives her confidence to get hits on the target, so that's also the self-defense load she carries daily. There's a lot to be said for wadcutters in spite of their lower velocity. The sharp corners cut well-defined holes in both paper and flesh, and as often been said here, placement is everything. She can place her shots with these loads, and that's more than half the battle. I'm fully confident she can do the job if necessary.

Lightweight guns are a compromise. The big advantage is carryability. The gun you carry beats the powerhouse heavyweight you left behind every time. The disadvantage is recoil and to some, lessened control. I can live with that; I might not live without it. The choice of .38 special loads is almost infinite. Choose the one you prefer for your carry gun and be happy that you live where you can defend yourself adequately (not valid in some states).

John
 
Haven't read through the whole thread, someone may have already mentioned this. I don't mind the recoil from the Airweight Centennials at all, in fact they're easier to keep on target than the steel frame exposed hammer J-frames, IMO. You can get a much higher grip on a 642 than a Model 60, so the recoil is more inline with the forearm. The outside hammer guns have more leverage & more muzzle climb making additional shots slower. My opinion only, of course. If recoil bothers you a small 9MM, such as a Kahr, is about the same size & weight (thinner too), is easier to shoot well, more capacity, & similar in effectiveness.
 
bmcgilvray said:
I've owned a Model 642 since about 1998 and I'm glad to have made the acquaintance. After the years of shooting it though, the steel J-Frames get the nod from me. The lightweights are way overrated for easy carry and don't behave as well when actually shot. I'm weary of the whole class of shrunken, flea-weight guns that are so popular on the market. It appears that they cannot ever be made light enough or small enough to suit some.
Click to expand...

The 642 is as light as I will go. With +P ammo, they are a challenge with the smaller grips but I find them easy to handle with the three finger rubber grips and standard pressure ammo.

I don't understand the theory behind the 10-15oz .357 Magnum guns. Ouch!
 
airweights

hi folks,
just picked up the a 642-1, and shot it with standard 158's swc. recoil was no problem, not bad at all. i do not plan to shoot +p's out of it, because the standard 158 will do the job. that 642-1, just sits in your pocket, or where ever you put it, and it carries well.
good shooting......sw dan
 
I have a 642 and a 442. I shoot one or the other each time I go to the range. The key for me is the grip. I have an Uncle Mikes Boot grip on one and a Hogue Bantam on the other.

It requires focus to shoot them well, and purposeful practice. Their accuracy surprises me, it is always good and sometimes outstanding. I carry +Ps as a PD load and usually run a cylinder full through after practicing with a standard 158gr swc load.

At this point in time, in my life, odds are this is the type of weapon that I will have access to if an armed confrontation is sprung upon me or my family. So I practice religiously with my Js and shoot my Ns, Ks or Ls for fun.

I've retired my Colt DS as the J frames are plentiful and economical+ they handle +Ps without straining.
 
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I practice with .38.Specials in my 340PD and shoot about three cylinders of +P's (my carry ammo) every range session. While hunting I carry .357mag ammo and have killed a 205 lb. wild hog with it; believe me, I did NOT notice the recoil at all while shooting the boar. I believe you will not notice any recoil when you are in a hightened state of awareness.
 
No.


Just my opinion. I shoot Grizzly 300 gr. +P LSWC out of a Ruger Vaquero in .45 LC. That is snappy. None of the +P stuff I've tried in my 642 is nearly as uncomfortable. Haven't tried the Buffalo Bore 158 gr +P LSWCHP in this yet, but I may tomorrow just to see how it feels. The Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr +P is quite pleasant and yields groups the size of my fist at 10 yards. Minute-of-mugger is good enough for me.
 
I find shooting an airweight in 38spl to to OK with target ammo and unpleasant with +P or SD loads.
I definitely would not want one in.357 mag.
 
Like Bronco said....

I've got the 642/442 combo, 642 with factory grips, and the 442 with
Bantams. Crimson Trace grips are more comfortable, but I didn't
need/want the laser. I shoot 2-hand, and strong- and weak-side
one hand. I don't shoot a lot of the more powerful rounds at the range, but enough for keeping my skills up. As stated above, these are not "range" guns, but still not a problem with recoil, if you shoot in moderation. The sights are pretty good, so you really don't have
to shoot forever for checking POA.
That said, recoil is present, but not bad. These are great firearms.
TACC1
 
I hate 'em.
I can but don't want to. They bounce and if you need them in a pinch that is just not something you want to deal with.
I shoot guns and I don't shoot something that is not fun to shoot.
As far as carrying---I would taher carry a 5 inch government than a "J" frame any day---just more comfortable. I don't use a holster.
I also don't carry professionaly.
Blessings
 
IMO the correct answer is "it depends".

It depends on how much experience you have with a revolver. Because mastering the trigger on a revolver isn't as easy as mastering the trigger on most semi's. In addition the recoil properties of a revolver are different than that of a semi.

It depends on the status of the health of your hands and wrists. Any handgun this light requires a VERY firm grip to assist in dampening the recoil by adding the mass of the hand and forearm to the mass of the gun. In addition the presence of Arthrytis or Tunnel Carpal can make shooting these guns very uncomfortable and may cause further permanent injury.

Finally there is the matter of fit. Everyones hands are a bit different and it's best to spend the time and money to find a "perfect" fit or choose another platform.

Personally, I have a mild bit of arthrytis at the base of both thumbs in addition to some mild tunnel carpal. So, I've learned to avoid shooting these featherweights but won't fault those that think they are just perfect.
 
I have a 642. It's probably the 6th or 7th one that I've owned. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I dont particularly like shooting them and trade or sell it. But, I always carried it unlike I do with my 'other' CCW guns.

So I own yet another 642 but this time I bought some Pacmayr Compacs and I enjoy shooting it much more now. Also the 642 is the only handgun that I've owned that I carried regularly it's very easy to slide it in my front pocket and it's with me every day now
 
My wife shoots 135gr +P from her 37 just fine. However, we are not talking about a range session of 100's of rounds. Just a box (20) at a time.
 
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