My first airweight 642-1

[JimBianchi]

I've owned a lot of S&W revolvers over the years and I finally bought a gun in 2022 and it was a new 642-1.

It was the only no-lock 38SPCL in the gun case and I really liked the price and the way it feels in then hand.

Hoping to get out this week and shoot it.

I bet it shoot like a Smith.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Just gifted mine to a Co. Police officer as a backup piece.
Long time friend and now neighbor. While we were at the
state police barracks doing the paperwork I had some
Serious remorse. Great gun and super light to carry
compared to the 649 stainless steel I'm currently
wearing. I found the 38 spl plus ammunition too
harsh and opted for wad cutters for that lightweight.

Enjoy.

 

[blues7]

Great gun. Love mine. Enjoy yours.

 

[haywood]

The lightweight J-Frame always has a place in my pocket. I've had to add a more comfortable grip for Range shooting since my old hands are beat up. They still fit most pockets.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Great Gun!
It is a light gun!
You'll need to match the grips and ammo with your recoil tolerance.

 

[hyena]

Love my 642-1, and carry it often. It will be in my coat pocket in a few minutes when I take my daily three mile walk. I put the titanium cylinder on mine, to shave a couple of ounces. No regrets about doing that, but not sure I'd bother doing it again.

I also have a 640 Pro that I really like (big .357 Magnum fan), but every time I carry the 640, even in my coat pocket, I go back to the 642 for the lighter weight. I have often thought of a 340PD so I could benefit from the light weight and still shoot .357 Magnum, but I suspect the recoil would be intolerable for me.

 

[jughed440]

Great gun to have. I like mine much better than the heavier 640 for carrying, and the recoil of both models is not much different.

 

[JimBianchi]

Just gifted mine to a Co. Police officer as a backup piece.
Long time friend and now neighbor. While we were at the
state police barracks doing the paperwork I had some
Serious remorse. Great gun and super light to carry
compared to the 649 stainless steel I'm currently
wearing. I found the 38 spl plus ammunition too
harsh and opted for wad cutters for that lightweight.

Enjoy.

I've still got a few hundred reloads, lead 160grn @850FPS, from my competition days. Should be fine for practice. I'm heading out today to look for a variety of carry ammo to see what I like.

I don't reload these days, so I've got to buy retail. Luckily I have $150 gift card from Sportsman Warehouse, so that's nice!

 

[JimBianchi]

Love my 642-1, and carry it often. It will be in my coat pocket in a few minutes when I take my daily three mile walk. I put the titanium cylinder on mine, to shave a couple of ounces. No regrets about doing that, but not sure I'd bother doing it again.

I also have a 640 Pro that I really like (big .357 Magnum fan), but every time I carry the 640, even in my coat pocket, I go back to the 642 for the lighter weight. I have often thought of a 340PD so I could benefit from the light weight and still shoot .357 Magnum, but I suspect the recoil would be intolerable for me.

I've shot the 340PD and it's a handful even for experienced shooters. 38+P is manageable, usually.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I've still got a few hundred reloads, lead 160grn @850FPS, from my competition days. Should be fine for practice. I'm heading out today to look for a variety of carry ammo to see what I like.

I don't reload these days, so I've got to buy retail. Luckily I have $150 gift card from Sportsman Warehouse, so that's nice!

Let us know how those 160gr loads work out in the new Airweight.
They may be doable but I am betting that a little less fps or a lighter bullet
for target practice, might be, what the Dr. orders.

Enjoy the new S&W.

 

[toad67]

I had one, sold it and bought another one, then sold that one. No matter how tight I held it, the back of the trigger guard always wrapped my middle finger....

 

[TheTinMan]

I've shot the 340PD and it's a handful even for experienced shooters. 38+P is manageable, usually.

I've had a 624-1 for over 20 years and carried it a lot. Bought an M&P 340 a few years back for the "better" front sight. I shot 2 cylinders of full house 357 Magnum out of the 340 and haven't loaded it with anything other than 38 Special +P since.

 

[rubiranch]

Just gifted mine to a Co. Police officer as a backup piece.
Long time friend and now neighbor. While we were at the
state police barracks doing the paperwork I had some
Serious remorse. Great gun and super light to carry
compared to the 649 stainless steel I'm currently
wearing. I found the 38 spl plus ammunition too
harsh and opted for wad cutters for that lightweight.

Enjoy.

My 642-1 was my brothers BUG.




I find my 640-1 loaded with 125 gr .357 Mag loads fun to shoot.

 

[otis24]

Great Gun!
It is a light gun!
You'll need to match the grips and ammo with your recoil tolerance.

Those Pachmayr Compacs are my favorite J frame grips. I still have a set that I am keeping just in case I ever get another J frame.

 

[mod57]

Those Pachmayr Compacs are my favorite J frame grips. I still have a set that I am keeping just in case I ever get another J frame.

When I first got my 442, I began looking for some nice stocks to replace the less than adequate originals. I found a set of Compacs in the bargain box at the local surplus store @ $10. They were new in package so I picked them up, put them on and was amazed by how good they felt. They just work for me. Not the look I was going for but they do the job I was looking for so the stay. Mine don't have medallions though.

 

[Valmet]

They're fantastic little revolvers. Be careful, they tend to multiply. At least at my house...

 

[Pointblank2U]

My first Airweight, (I still have it), is a no lock 642. What is distinctive about it is that the serial number is not on the butt, but rather on the side, just above the trigger guard.

 

[Baxter6551]

Pointblank - you most likely have a police gun there. I think I read here that NYPD had the serial numbers marked there?
My early 642 no dash went back to factory for frame crack and they replaced under warranty with a 442 as I requested.

 

[max503]

My 638 is out for repair. When it comes back it will be my carry gun and something steel will be my shooter. Neither lightweight gun nor old man's hand can tolerate a lot of recoil.

I still think the revolver is the best CC weapon and a lot of the semi-auto madness is the result of marketing.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I bought my oldest daughter a 442-? for her birthday this past summer. It's actually a pretty nice and comfortable shooter, and she does well with it. I think I used 132gr factory cartridges. The one I bought for my youngest girl for this Christmas I think is just called M&P Bodyguard 38; it's the one with the cylinder release where the hammer would be. Nice little guns. After the holidays I think I may get a 442 for myself. I like simple!