Is it me or the frame?

[oneounceload]

Have a new 642, took it out, expecting a learning curve from the small gun. I have K frames but this is the first J frame.

Everything shoots high and right. As a LH shooter, the chart says I am "anticipating". I have had 4 different shooters shoot this gun - both RH and LH, mild target reloads, regular reloads, factory 148 WC, and a a variety of the $1/shot JHP +Ps. EVERY shooter has the same result - the guns shoots high and right.

Emailing S&W resulted in no reply.

Tried stacking the trigger, still didn't help

Any ideas folks? is it me and my friends, or is it the gun?

 

[Ashlander]

I have seen a lot of leftward shots due to small grips -- the gun twisting in the hand on recoil, but not high and right. So it does not seem to be a grip issue. And since the result is consistent for different shooters and different loads -- it seems more safe to blame the gun.

Perhaps giving customer service a call would get some better response.

 

[Dragon88]

As for shooting high, did you try any 125gr loads? My 642 is regulated for 125gr, 158s shoot about an inch or two high at self defense ranges.

As to windage, how far right are we talking about? Many fixed sight guns shoot a little right or left. A picture of a target, or inch measurements of POI along with load used would help us provide better advice.

 

[riverrat38]

I have a 442-2 and it consistently shoots high and right. I am talking about 10 inches at one o'clock, at 25 yards. This was with slow, 158 gr plated bullets. Lighter, faster bullets give better results. The groups aren't too bad, considering its a snubby. This is shooting from a hand rest, and slowly squeezing after "staging" the trigger carefully. I did not know when the gun would fire, so I don't think I was pulling the gun off target at the last instant. I have switched from 158 gr to 125 gr because of this. This decreases the error to about 6 inches. Looks like this gun is regulated to 110gr plus P. I have trouble shooting plus P due to old age, so I have settled on 125 gr JHP non plus P.

Rick

 

[oneounceload]

Thanks for the replies so far. I am shooting at 7 paces - about 7 yards. Take a typical 9x12 piece of cardboard - shoot at the lower left corner to keep it on paper in the upper right
Some I attribute to the HEAVY trigger pull I need to become accustomed to - but right now, I do now feel it is ready for CCW

If it was JUST me, I can see that, but when other shooters , who shoot opposite me are also having the same results? Got me wondering.........

And yes we were shooting everything from 158 lead SWC at slow velocities to the $1/shot 125 +P loads from Remington, Hornady, Federal, and Speer

 

[tbury]

Have you tried dry-fire practice? I find that dry firing at a spot on the wall across the room shows how much sight alignment changes when shooting DA J-frames. I have a 642 that (for me) did not shoot as well as my model 36. After putting a wolf mainspring in and adding CT laser grips I shoots it acceptably, but not as well as the heavier M36. Laser sights show you just how much wiggle you have as you pull the trigger. As long as I can hit minute of bad guy at 10' to 20' I am satisfied.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I can add to this that my 36 will only shoot to point of aim a 10 yards if I use 158gr SWC’s plated or lubed lead. However, both my original 637 lead very badly with soft lead like that found in LSWCHP’s and plated don’t shoot very accurate at all no matter what I have tried. The 637 prefers 110gr to 135gr jacketed bullets and will shoot them all fairly well. It will shoot 158gr jacketed bullets, but the point of aim isn’t the same as the 36’s. The difference in the two (IMHO) is the new EDM rifling in the 637 vs. the 36’s older style of cut rifling. EDM rifling has always favored jacketed bullets, but I find it interesting that light for caliber loads seem to shoot better in these J’s so far in my experience. The deviation in this is that my newer model 640 still has the cut rifling. Point of aim changes like you think it would with the different weight bullets, but it shoots either jacketed or lead bullets like it doesn’t care what you feed it.

So is it you or the gun? I would point my finger at the gun. Also, I don't care one bit for the newest rubber grip they put on them. I thought at first look it was a clone of the ond Uncle Mike's that is in turn a clone of a Spegel grip. IT IS NOT...

 

[tbury]

As Max-bob pointed out the new small grips are not to my taste either. I bought the slightly larger Crimson Trace LT305 grips. You may not want to spend half the price of the gun on grips but slightly larger non-laser grips may help your problem.

 

[diamonback68]

I would also check the crown. Anything wrong there, burr or nick an such, can throw off POI. If all else fails, I would call Smith at 1-800-331-0852 and talk to C.S., they may want you to send it back on their dime.

 

[oneounceload]

Thanks again!

 

[valkyriekl]

The front sight of the barrel may not be aligned perfectly vertically with the rear sight notch; the front sight might be canted to the left compared with the rear sight (when looking down the sights), meaning the barrel is 'clocked' in too much. This will throw shots high and right. In a 'belly gun' meant for extremely short distances, it may not matter so much...but once distances start getting longer, then the misalignment will affect POA vs. POI.

I'm sure S&W can fix it if it really bothers you (under warranty, even...)

 

[oneounceload]

Just got off the phone and they said to ship it back - on them since it is only 3 weeks old. Hopefully they will be able to ascertain and correct whatever the issue is - even if I am a part of it!

Thanks again for the help

 

[thibaultfelix40]

J Frames

I have an assortment of J frames. I have noticed that they shoot to different spots when shot SA rather than DA. The older ones seem to like 158 grain slugs the newer like lighter ones. I like to have a decent close in grouper for small targets. I set up my 22's for simgle action.

 

[bassoneer]

I have a 640-1 and a 642 and they are both dead on accurate. So, I know that it is not typical for the 642 to shoot high and to the right. S&W will fix it or send you a gun that shoots right...you have enough things to be thinking about without having a gun shoot somewhere other than where you're aiming...accuracy in your gun should be a given. Good luck and let us know how this turns out. B