Model 642 trigger
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MichiganScott
Member
Take the gun and your wife to the best stocked gun shop you can find. Let her find a pistol she likes. Trade the 642 in on it. You'll both be happier in the long run and it will cost you less.
Not an attack on you, but a statement of fact.
Not an attack on you, but a statement of fact.
MichiganScott has a point. It's probably best if she picks what she likes.
With that said, unless she plans to train to the point of mastering a SA pistol, I would recommend staying with a revolver due to simplicity and reliability. But, even though I prefer revolvers for the "non-gun" person, J frames aren't the easiest thing to learn to shoot well. Depending on its intended purpose, it may or may not be the best choice. If it's for home protection I'd recommend a K or L frame since they typically have better triggers and being larger, heavier, and having a longer sight radius, they are both easier to shoot accurately and have less recoil. If she plans to carry it then size becomes more of a consideration, so the J frame is not a bad choice. You've also picked a very light weight gun with a fairly heavy trigger pull out of the box. You have a couple of options if you want to stick with the small J fame though. One would be to look at an all steel model such as the 640, 649, etc. Still the same size, but being all steel (SS in this case) they are a little heavier, making them a good bit more comfortable to shoot. If you prefer to stick with the light weight small guns you can easily and affordably change out the grips to something that fits her hand better. A couple of inexpensive options that I find makes the J frames much more comfortable to shoot is the Pachmayr Compac, and the Hogue full size grip for J frames, but there are many options and is a personal matter to find what one likes. A grip that fills the hand better than the factory boot grips will go a long way to making the gun have less perceived recoil.
I can't really recommend a pistol smith because I do all my own, but a good trigger job can significantly improve the quality of the trigger on the J frames, making it both smoother and a little lighter.
Good luck on making your wife happy.
With that said, unless she plans to train to the point of mastering a SA pistol, I would recommend staying with a revolver due to simplicity and reliability. But, even though I prefer revolvers for the "non-gun" person, J frames aren't the easiest thing to learn to shoot well. Depending on its intended purpose, it may or may not be the best choice. If it's for home protection I'd recommend a K or L frame since they typically have better triggers and being larger, heavier, and having a longer sight radius, they are both easier to shoot accurately and have less recoil. If she plans to carry it then size becomes more of a consideration, so the J frame is not a bad choice. You've also picked a very light weight gun with a fairly heavy trigger pull out of the box. You have a couple of options if you want to stick with the small J fame though. One would be to look at an all steel model such as the 640, 649, etc. Still the same size, but being all steel (SS in this case) they are a little heavier, making them a good bit more comfortable to shoot. If you prefer to stick with the light weight small guns you can easily and affordably change out the grips to something that fits her hand better. A couple of inexpensive options that I find makes the J frames much more comfortable to shoot is the Pachmayr Compac, and the Hogue full size grip for J frames, but there are many options and is a personal matter to find what one likes. A grip that fills the hand better than the factory boot grips will go a long way to making the gun have less perceived recoil.
I can't really recommend a pistol smith because I do all my own, but a good trigger job can significantly improve the quality of the trigger on the J frames, making it both smoother and a little lighter.
Good luck on making your wife happy.
andyo5
Member
I have a 642. My suggestions are:
1. Use 38 +P ammo
2. Order replacement springs from Wolff springs. I use a reduced power rebound spring and a reduced power mainspring. Good trigger feel and good accuracy as well.
One other option is to switch to the Ruger version of the J frema (I forget the name).
1. Use 38 +P ammo
2. Order replacement springs from Wolff springs. I use a reduced power rebound spring and a reduced power mainspring. Good trigger feel and good accuracy as well.
One other option is to switch to the Ruger version of the J frema (I forget the name).
Reduced power mainsprings or hit and miss. On a good number of guns they can cause an issue with misfires. If you do change to a lighter spring make sure that you thoroughly function test the gun afterward to insure 100% ignition reliability. Personally, I keep the factory mainspring, address a good number of friction points in the action, and use either a 13 or 14# rebound spring depending on how the trigger return is on the individual gun with the lighter spring.
Ruger has the all SS SP101, which is a small frame gun similar to the J frame Smiths. I've had a DAO hammerless one for many years. It is built like a tank and a good gun, but I think the S&W trigger quality is superior. They also make the newer small framed, synthetic LCR. I've never shot one, but from what I understand they have pretty good triggers. Might be an option worth looking at.
Black_Sheep
Member
I went through a similar situation when we purchased a 637 for my wife. Dry firing practice helped, it smoothed the trigger considerably while at the same time strengthening the muscles involved in squeezing the trigger. That being said, she enjoys shooting various K frames more than the J Frames due to less perceived recoil and a longer sight radius.
My wife's gun is the Ruger sp101, a DAO model that is built like a tank. She loves it and shoots it better than I can. My 642 hurts my hand. Won't let her shoot it cause it would end the day on the first shot.
I agree, let her pick the gun she likes. Way better in the long run.
BTW my wife confiscated the Ruger. Small price to pay.
I agree, let her pick the gun she likes. Way better in the long run.
BTW my wife confiscated the Ruger. Small price to pay.
As Black_Sheep noted, dry firing improves both the trigger action and the trigger muscles at the same time. If you add to that a Crimson Trace grip, she can concentrate on strengthening her grip at the same time she strengthens her trigger finger - a stronger grip is going to be necessary to keep that little red dot from bouncing all over the wall as she exercises her trigger finger. It's probably the best training device out there for small revolvers, and it has the added advantage of being continually useful in daily carry. Practice practice practice, and she'll become much more confident of where that bullet is going to end up when she pulls the trigger.
I have the 405 laser grip on my daily carry 638, but if I had it to do over I'd get the larger 305. Both have a padded backstrap, but the 305 has room for all fingers, and seems to be a bit wider as well. Neither will make a J frame much fun to shoot a lot, especially not a lightweight one, but the 305 probably will do a better job of it.
If a laser grip isn't acceptable, the Pachmayr Compac is a terrific, relatively small yet well padded grip that almost makes a lightweight J frame fun to shoot. The full size Pachmayr is even better, but is about as large as the one they make for the K frame. (I'm not familiar with the large Hogue grip for the J frame, but I did NOT like the stirrup attachment system Hogue used on their grip that I had for a Security Six long ago, so I tend to ignore the Hogue line. I did put a Hogue Bantam grip on another lightweight J frame I have, but I knew that it just snapped on and didn't use a stirrup - it's the best boot grip I've used on any of my J frames, but does not add much in the way of comfort to the experience.)
I have the 405 laser grip on my daily carry 638, but if I had it to do over I'd get the larger 305. Both have a padded backstrap, but the 305 has room for all fingers, and seems to be a bit wider as well. Neither will make a J frame much fun to shoot a lot, especially not a lightweight one, but the 305 probably will do a better job of it.
If a laser grip isn't acceptable, the Pachmayr Compac is a terrific, relatively small yet well padded grip that almost makes a lightweight J frame fun to shoot. The full size Pachmayr is even better, but is about as large as the one they make for the K frame. (I'm not familiar with the large Hogue grip for the J frame, but I did NOT like the stirrup attachment system Hogue used on their grip that I had for a Security Six long ago, so I tend to ignore the Hogue line. I did put a Hogue Bantam grip on another lightweight J frame I have, but I knew that it just snapped on and didn't use a stirrup - it's the best boot grip I've used on any of my J frames, but does not add much in the way of comfort to the experience.)
If it's for concealed carry then it's recommended that she has lotsa trigger time, both dry fire and live fire. A trigger job may be recommended but make sure to insure reliable ignition. A grip change can also help by having the gun fit her hand better. A dao J frame snubby is a difficult gun to shoot accurately but accuracy is possible with practice.
If however, the intended end use is for home protection and range fun she would do better with a medium K or L frame revolver. They're a little more forgiving of sloppy trigger technique and the hammer can be cocked for a lighter single action trigger pull making for a more enjoyable range session.
I do my own trigger work on my snubby and I've changed the mainspring to an 8 pound Wolff and the rebound spring has been replaced with an 11 pound wolff. I've smoothed the innards and replaced the grip with a Pachmayr Compact. I've shot several hundred rounds through it with no misfires. Your results may vary. The modifications were made to compensate for weakness in my right hand, wrist and arm due to neuropathy. If she doesn't enjoy shooting then she won't spend much time practicing. My wife has a factory stock 4" 66-3 that she carries daily, enjoys shooting and is a very good shot with. Broadsides of barns are safe when she tries to shoot my snubby.
If however, the intended end use is for home protection and range fun she would do better with a medium K or L frame revolver. They're a little more forgiving of sloppy trigger technique and the hammer can be cocked for a lighter single action trigger pull making for a more enjoyable range session.
I do my own trigger work on my snubby and I've changed the mainspring to an 8 pound Wolff and the rebound spring has been replaced with an 11 pound wolff. I've smoothed the innards and replaced the grip with a Pachmayr Compact. I've shot several hundred rounds through it with no misfires. Your results may vary. The modifications were made to compensate for weakness in my right hand, wrist and arm due to neuropathy. If she doesn't enjoy shooting then she won't spend much time practicing. My wife has a factory stock 4" 66-3 that she carries daily, enjoys shooting and is a very good shot with. Broadsides of barns are safe when she tries to shoot my snubby.
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My wife picked out the 642 for CC due to its small size and light weight. She doesn't enjoy range time with it though so what I picked up some of the Speer plastic bullets for practice - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/315781 - $7.99 for 50 and they fire with just a primer. She practices technique with them and follows up with the reduced powder practice hand loads I made for her. It makes the range practice bearable and she feels better about carrying it. If she ever had to use it I seriously doubt she will even feel the recoil due to the adrenalin. That's also why she added the crimson trace grips, a short stubby barrel is hard to sight down when your under duress, heck most all barrels are.
MHO & .02, your mileage may vary...tireless
MHO & .02, your mileage may vary...tireless
For those wanting a turnkey solution to a lighter trigger pull (well, you have to turn the key, but the parts are all there) there is the Apex kit with lighter springs and a (slightly) longer firing pin to insure reliable ignition. Not as cheap as buying the Wolff springs separately, but I gather that you can count on reliability with the Apex parts.
There are youtube videos on disassembly and reassembly with the Apex parts, for those who haven't taken a S&W revolver apart - and even if you have, you probably haven't replaced the firing pin. No fancy tools required, although you SHOULD use a properly fitting screwdriver for the sideplate screws, and I know from experience that the bent pusher for removing and reinstalling the rebound slide spring beats a screwdriver every time.
I'm thinking of putting an Apex kit in my daily carry 638. (I'd remove the lock at the same time, as long as I was in there.)
There are youtube videos on disassembly and reassembly with the Apex parts, for those who haven't taken a S&W revolver apart - and even if you have, you probably haven't replaced the firing pin. No fancy tools required, although you SHOULD use a properly fitting screwdriver for the sideplate screws, and I know from experience that the bent pusher for removing and reinstalling the rebound slide spring beats a screwdriver every time.
I'm thinking of putting an Apex kit in my daily carry 638. (I'd remove the lock at the same time, as long as I was in there.)
To start with, I've got small hands. My 642 is okay to shoot with factory stocks. My 442 required CrimsonTrace grips, 'cause the factory
grips hurt my hands.
That said, I have a 12-2 RoundButt snub, that weighs about the same as a Model 36 or Model 60 steel frame, and it shoots just fine
with factory wooden stocks. It's light enough for easy handling,
the round butt design allows me to get a good grip, and the recoil
doesn't ruin my day.
Just a thought.....TACC1
grips hurt my hands.
That said, I have a 12-2 RoundButt snub, that weighs about the same as a Model 36 or Model 60 steel frame, and it shoots just fine
with factory wooden stocks. It's light enough for easy handling,
the round butt design allows me to get a good grip, and the recoil
doesn't ruin my day.
Just a thought.....TACC1
