Hammerless 38

[Amite]

About 14 years ago I was given for christmass a 38 hammerless snub nose pistol - It has a lazer lite in the handle and I was told ??? it was a titanium build ??
Well any way have never fired it - Anyway We have pumas in the neighborhood and the old lady wants to start packing when she runs (everyday)
Was looking around for something like the little Beratta 22lr auto.
but after I semi weighed the S&W can it be possable that it weighs 6 oz - ( bought some silver coins lately and compared)
I guess I am asking has S&W ever made any 38 hammeless 5 shot pistols around 6 or 7 ounces.

PS you should see these Paw prints

Amite

 

[colt_saa]

Welcome to the Forum

No such animal exists as you describe. I will bet that your method of weighing is very inaccurate.

S&W did produce the model 342. This is a Aluminium frame, titanium cylinder revolver with an internal hammer. It was about 12 ounces with the factory supplied grips.

Crimson Trace laser grips would make it heavier by a few ounces.

If your revolver says S&W on the outside of it, open the cylinder and you will see the model number on the frame where the crane swings away.

 

[DCWilson]

A light .38 Special will have a pronounced kick to it when you fire it. Both of you should practice with the revolver at a local range before you trust your lives to it.

A threatening puma will be coming toward you and presenting a fairly small target area. Practice, practice, practice.

Fortunately puma attacks on humans are fairly uncommon, though they are certainly known.

Good luck, stay safe.

 

[shawn mccarver]

About 14 years ago I was given for christmass a 38 hammerless snub nose pistol - It has a lazer lite in the handle and I was told ??? it was a titanium build ??
Well any way have never fired it - Anyway We have pumas in the neighborhood and the old lady wants to start packing when she runs (everyday)
Was looking around for something like the little Beratta 22lr auto.
but after I semi weighed the S&W can it be possable that it weighs 6 oz - ( bought some silver coins lately and compared)
I guess I am asking has S&W ever made any 38 hammeless 5 shot pistols around 6 or 7 ounces.

PS you should see these Paw prints

Amite

The "old lady." ?????

Forget the pumas, if I called my wife that, I would need the titanium revolver to defend myself from her.

 

[radar1972]

if I called my wife that, I would need the titanium revolver to defend myself from her.

Ditto!!

Amite, if your wife/girlfriend is not familiar with firearms, please don't let her carry that one (or any one) without proper familiarization and practice.

 

[A10]

It would certainly help to post some pictures! My guess is that it is one of the titanium models as well. They are easy to pack and carry substantial power for their weight. .38 +Ps should certainly work for moutain lions. Shot placement is key, if there is one around you will certainly be nervous, and that significantly impacts a persons ability to hit their target. Practice with the gun, and if you don't like it, sell it and buy something heavier that will have less recoil. My own personal choice in mountain lion country would be something in .357 or larger, carried in a good hip holster. I know folks who have taken cougar with .357s. It works.

 

[snubbyfan]

Welcome from the panhandle of West Virginia.
The others covered the subject rather well. I agree, make sure to get some training and lotsa practice both dryfire and live fire. When you need it, you need it right now and you need to hit what you aiming at.

 

[Stainz]

Cats of all sizes like to sprint to catch their prey from behind - by the neck, if possible, if the prey is large. Alone, you likely wouldn't hear them unless they hit some dry leaves. They are solitary hunters - and won't bother a couple or more together, either. Run with her! Besides, if she really is an 'old lady', just how fast could she run, anyway?

A puma is thin skinned - built for speed. Their digestive system and metabolism are designed for bursts of speed. Like a barracuda, they have no molars - they rip and swallow. Even 'just' a 148gr full wadcutter, a relatively mild 'target round', to their chest will halt the attack - and likely leave the animal mortally wounded. Any .38-ish revolver, from an AirLite-Ti 340 @ <11oz to a 15oz 642 should be shootable by all sizes of shooters with such ammo. By all means, get her some firearms training first!

You can release the cylinder and look on the then uncovered frame for the model number - that will tell us which revolver you have. Welcome to the forum!

Stainz

PS All cats - house cats to lions & tigers are similar. 98% of the time they rest - 2% of the time they chase dinner - or inhale what you put in their food bowls. As house cats age, they sleep less, spending the remaining time following you around the house whining and begging for more food. We have seven inside-only cats.

 

[stu1ritter]

The 342Ti at 10.8 oz. is the lightest 38+P S&W ever built. It is not easy to shoot with full power loads. It's not even easy to shoot with mild handloads but it sure carries easy in the pocket. I have one and it is a pure love/hate affair. I love it when I carry it and hate it when I shoot it. What ya gonna do?

Stu

 

[kudzu3]

You owned a revolver for 14 years and never fired it? Now, your "old lady" wants to carry it ("start packing") for protection against big cats? Sounds like you both need to seek some serious training. Good luck.

 

[photoman]

I guess I am asking has S&W ever made any 38 hammeless 5 shot pistols around 6 or 7 ounces.

To answer your question, no.

Welcome to the Forum!

 

[Amite]

Hey glad to be on the forum
First let me get this out the way she is my lady - and fine to boot - 6 10 min miles 5 times a week but anyway.
Ok found the model #
DAF0639
642-2
The reason we never fired it is I had one before I got this one a regular Alum one. I was told it was some special ?? We both know when you are shooting at something inportant the kick is something you think about when you have a chance to think about it.
Me I started hunting at 8 - real hunting - Louisiana hunting.

Ok just did the weighing thing agian 9 oz maybe tops ??

Just heard they killed a brown puma 3 weeks ago about 3 miles away. The last one I saw was black
I think they are on the baby hogs out here -

Amite

 

[photoman]

The 642-2 is a standard Airweight Centennial. Should weigh about 15oz empty. Excellent carry gun.

 

[colt_saa]

You have a fine revolver. One of the best choices for pocket or purse carry.

The 642-2 is a standard Airweight Centennial. Should weigh about 15oz empty. Excellent carry gun.

With the factory original grips. The Laser Grips will up that weight a few ounces.

 

[AZretired]

You need to check your scale. A 642 weighs in at 15 oz and its safe to shoot +p ammo. Get some practice.
Where do you live? Around here we call em Mountain Lions ans over the years there have been several attacks of humans.

 

[kaaskop49]

A10 has a great post, but I would never sell a 2" lightweight 'pocket-able' revolver. My age is showing, but I remember the 1970s when the anti-gunners pushed 2" Colts and Smiths as "Saturday Night Specials," and LEOs in the Northeast had difficulty obtaining such guns for their work and protection. This may happen again, if we are not vigilant.

 

[mc5aw]

Centennials are not hammerless. They have concealed/internal hammers.

Plastic water guns weigh ~9oz filled. S&W Airweights/Airlites will weigh in ~15oz or a bit less.

If a puma/mountain lion/cougar has a bead on you for a meal, you probably won't know it until the cat's teeth are in your neck, unless you're an experienced tracker/hunter. Nature's stealth is a characteristic of wild carnivores that is very difficult to defense by mere mortals.

A good can of bear guard spray might be a better option for personal defense while jogging.

 

[A10]

My every day carry is the blued version of yours, a 442. I shoot +Ps in it. It is not pleasant, but it is accurate, and it carries very easily.

The bear spray is a good idea as well.

 

[Stainz]

My 642-2, bought new from a large locally owned gunstore with a good turnover of stock, has a DAK s/n and was bought new 1/07. Your 642-2, s/n DAFxxxx, likely hails from the latter part of 2006. With the CT grips, it's weight is reported to be 15.3 oz - with the regular boot grips it's 15 oz. Add 2-2.5 oz for ammo. The 340PD is the current light weight .38/.357M 5-shot enclosed hammer J-frame champ at 11.3 oz. It has a black Al/Sc alloy frame with a black SS barrel and dull grey Titanium cylinder. Your 642-2 will have a bright SS barrel and cylinder and a dull-finished Al frame. It has held the well deserved position of being S&W's best selling revolver for some years. It is a perfect pocket protector - and I feel naked without mine. Please seek proper instruction.

Stainz

 

[shawn mccarver]

We have seven inside-only cats.

But, how many "old ladies?" LOL

 

[Amite]

Thanks agian for the help - what scale a hand full of coins in one hand and the pistol in the other - then switch
Nice to find out all the info on my little S&Ws.
I attached a pic of my other S&Ws just for fun. Look forward to my next question - Thax all

K22
Model 10

 

[Pilgrim]

here's the full specs from S&W:

Product: Model 642

 

[Chrisj357]

My every day carry is the blued version of yours, a 442. I shoot +Ps in it. It is not pleasant, but it is accurate, and it carries very easily.

The bear spray is a good idea as well.

I recently purchased a 642 no lock with the standard hard plastic stocks for CC. I am well experienced with full sized revolvers but never had a snubbie. I have shot a little over 100 rounds through this thing, all+P and I cannot fathome any part of the shooting experience as "not pleasant" I like that little guy a lot and find the recoil to be way less than my .357 which I can shoot all day with full power .357 loads.

What is un pleasant for you?

 

[UDR2]

Stopping a puma with a 38 Spl.+P out of a 1.875" barrel? I hope you're not serious.

With regards to a previous post, the .357 mag. has been a successful hunting round but not out of a snub nose.

 

[Chrisj357]

Stopping a puma with a 38 Spl.+P out of a 1.875" barrel? I hope you're not serious.

With regards to a previous post, the .357 mag. has been a successful hunting round but not out of a snub nose.

My .357 revolvers are 4"bbl, one is a M19-3 and the other is a 686-6. Was merely comparing felt recoil between .357 full size gun to 38+P airweight snubby and the .357 is comfortable to shoot and the snubbie is less felt recoil (to me) so I was asking what part of shooting +P rounds from an airweight is uncomfortable.

 

[Amite]

As far as the pumas and such go - I live in the swamp between NO and BR Louisiana- I am not sure if I have ever heard of a actual attack on someone. They are here for sure. I have a theory there is so much food for them down here wild and domestic for the taking - I can't name a animal that not here - yeah La. lol
As far as the attack on a jogger - headphones on - for sure you would never see it comming if and when - its just what happens for the next 10 seconds - you are on the ground - and me thinks I can't think of a more handy - quick - no hammer - gut buster - Perish the thought

Boy wonder what S&W is in my future - Good luck all
Amite

 

[photoman]

Stopping a puma with a 38 Spl.+P out of a 1.875" barrel? I hope you're not serious.

Why not? A thin skinned cat is no harder to stop than a thin skinned human killer and a whole lot of those have been stopped with a .38 snub with no problem at all.

 

[Larry from Bend]

Stopping a puma with a 38 Spl.+P out of a 1.875" barrel? I hope you're not serious.

With regards to a previous post, the .357 mag. has been a successful hunting round but not out of a snub nose.

Although they are usually in a tree at the time; 40 grain 22 Magnums out of 5 1/2" Single Sixes account for many Mountain Lion around here. A friend, however, shot one with a 22 LR that did NOT do the job. A big one, 160 lbs+, conversely, was killed with a folding pocket knife.

My brother killed a giant, 180 lbs.+, but used a 30-30 to save on dog damage.

We've had several people attacked (a bad one on a 16 year old in a developed camp ground) -- but especially hikers -- and carrying a snubbie makes good sense. Usually, there will be several seconds of rolling around in the dirt (with the Cat trying to eviserate you), when a 38 Special could be a big help. Most people survive the attacks, but keeping the attack of short duration is important. It'd be nice to shoo one away with a big hole in it.