Going to Buy a J-Frame Today - 442 or 642?

Keep a silocone cloth handy and wipe your gun down daily. They all rust sooner or later and the silocone cloth is an inexpensive way to keep you gun rust free.
 
I had never considered that a 442 would rust.

The only place it started to rust was the cylinder release latch thumb piece or whatever it's called. I cleaned it with a brass brush and Ballistol. I keep cleaning and oiling with Ballistol and a Q-Tip now.
 
I've got a 642, and its a sentimental favorite. It has a very smooth trigger.

I keep it in the garage, in a tool cabinet drawer, to help me protect the house (when I have the garage door open and am working there) and when I need a grab-and-go gun for my pocket on a quick trip out.

I've also got a 442 Pro - and I like the moonclip feature. It allows me to carry a second 5 rounds in a rapidly re-loadable format, and is more likely to be carried in a Simply Rugged pancake.

Both are excellent revolvers. I don't think you could have gone wrong with either one. The differences are meaningful but not game changers, and you can easily adapt to the one you bought, the 642. (Who knows, you might get a 442 someday, or a 639, or a 640, or...).
 
I have a no lock 642 and love it. I carried J frames for years in stainless (Model 60s). The 60s are still being carried by my wife and are available in the house or car. I put a Crimson Trace laser on hers. The 642 is so easy to pocket carry or fit in any of my many holster options for J frames. There is no excuse for not carrying it. It is a pleasure to shoot in 38 and I carry +P. All are just as accurate and more accurate than most people think. You cannot go wrong with a S&W J frame. Enjoy! Modify them as you see fit. Plenty of grips, holster and laser options. I paint the front sights with bright orange paint. It is a great option for hot weather carry or for your primary if you want just one concealed carry firearm. Lite and powerful.
 
Keep a silocone cloth handy and wipe your gun down daily. They all rust sooner or later and the silocone cloth is an inexpensive way to keep you gun rust free.

I learned this the hard way. I treated my 442 like a Glock at first - carried it IWB and ignored it. After a couple of weeks I happened to swing the cylinder out and noticed small rust spots on the yoke. But nowhere else. From then on I wiped the yoke down every night with a silicone cloth and never had another rust spot.
 
I had a no-lock 642 and a no-lock 442 Pro (stainless cylinder and barrel). When I had to part with one, I chose to part with the 442. I guess I just like the aluminum look better than the black coating. But they are both identical so it would not make much difference.

I have equipped mine with Hogue grips and shoot Buffalo Bore standard velocity 38's in it. Very controllable and plenty effective. I have been shooting J-frames fro 40+ years so I am accustomed to how to shoot them.
 
I found a no-lock 442 earlier this month and the gun has a new home. The weight issue and the price clinched the deal. A couple of holsters and less than $300.. It will be a seasonal carry, mostly summer. Good Luck you will enjoy whichever you get.

Stinger
 
Thanks for all the replies. This waiting period is already killing me. Going to order some Pachmyr compacs and some speed strips for now. Also looking at tuckable iwb and ankle holsters for the few times here and there pocket carry won't work.
 
I was leaning toward a 442 simply because I figure the dark color will appear as a shadow if the back of the grip were to peek out of the top of a shallow pocket.
 
5 days?

I dont understand that.
I live a bit north of you in Plm Bch Cty and dont wait but maybe 5 MINUTES to take it

Arent you licensed?
 
I dont understand that.
I live a bit north of you in Plm Bch Cty and dont wait but maybe 5 MINUTES to take it

Arent you licensed?

Broward County has a 5 business day waiting period for all guns. I am still waiting for my CWP to show up from Tallahassee, it's been 4 months now. :mad: I called the Dept and they said that it is taking longer because I recently moved here from IL and have a VERY common name.
 
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Went to five shops today and no one had a no-lock 642 or even a 442, and they were out of stock at all the distributors with an uncertain delivery date.

One of them did have a 642 w lock that was on sale for $399! They're around $450 at all the shops here usually. I signed on the dotted line!

I have to wait til nedt Thursday to pick it up.

Not sure how bad you want one but they seem to be available in Fort Myers w/o the lock.
 
I have the 642. It is an excellent carry gun. I use IWB however, my pockets are not big enough to conceal it. I bought the performance center version a few years ago. Mine has a very nice trigger! It is very easy to throw on my waist, in fact I have it on right now.

You will love either version you get.

Joe
 
I Have A S&W 360PD, 38&357Magnum, 12oz Unloaded, 15 oz Loaded With With Buffalo Bore 180grain, Lightweight And Deadly,
 

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