New 642-1

[rusty4269]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum. Been nosing around for a while and decided it's time to join in. I've always been a S&W fan. I'm turned 45 Friday and got myself a new 642-1 and I started wondering, is there anything you guys do to a new gun right out of the box? Cleaning, lubing, etcetera...? I also own a new m&p shield 9 that I trade for a few days ago and an old 32 hand ejector that I've had for years and never fired. I own a ton of others but that's all the smiths I own at the moment. Thanks for your replies.



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[David R]

Every day you own a new gun and don't shoot it, its a sin.

Enjoy, Show us some targets.
David

 

[rusty4269]

Haha. I agree. Just been working a lot and turkey hunting. Now that turkey season is out it'll free up a little shooting time.


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[M&P Freak]

Congrats on the new gun, good choice with the 642.

 

[TucsonMTB]

Mr. David R may have nailed it.

Unlike semi-autos where the rounds slide over internal parts and friction, thus lubrication, is an issue, your revolver is pretty much ready to go right out of the box.

It was test fired at the factory and not cleaned before being put in the box you received it in.

As personal preparation for firing, you might want to do some dry firing. Make sure you have not loaded it, of course.

Dry firing will make you first range session more fun because the familiarity you gain with the trigger will most likely translate into better accuracy when you shoot it.

In addition to the personal benefits, dry firing begins the process of smoothing the parts of the revolver that do rub together. Eventually, this leads to a smoother trigger.

Oh, and you might want to look for some ammo. I have noticed it is a little hard to find. If you stick with rounds that feature lighter, jacketed bullets, it will be easier to clean (no leading) and will have a little less recoil.

Here's hoping you enjoy your new revolver, sir.

Good choice, by the way. Here's mine:

 

[rusty4269]

Thanks for the input guys, I've been wanting and airweight for a long time now. They went into extinction around here for about a year or so. I'd really kinda just forgot about it until I got an email from a waiting list I was on the other day that said they had one in stock. Had any of you guys had any experience with crossbreed holsters? Seen them on fb the other day and they kinda caught my eye. Any input on a holster for the 642 would be appreciated also.


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[rusty4269]

Btw TucsonMTB, cool gun!! I like the grips.


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[TucsonMTB]

Btw TucsonMTB, cool gun!! I like the grips.

Thanks for the kind words!

I ordered directly from the Altamont website and was very pleased with the service.

Google "Altamont smith" to get started.

 

[snubbyfan]

I clean it, dryfire it and wipe it down.
I make my own holsters and I carry my 442 in a pancake holster. I've also stitched a few of these up for forum members.

 

[kaaskop49]

Jim Mernickle in Northern Nevada makes a great OWB scabbard for the J-frame that clears easily yet will hold the gun securely, even upside down.

Concealment Specialties makes a good pocket job for the J at around $15. The Uncle Mike's (now Blackhawk) #3 size pocket job for $10 also works well. Your 642 is a fine pocket gun.

 

[rusty4269]

Thanks for the replies guys!! That's a good looking holster snubbyfan!! That give me an idea, I have a friend that had a tack shop. She makes saddles and reigns and what not. She also does belts and cell phone holsters. She could probably make a really cool looking holster. I also checked out altamont. Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions.


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[Kilibreaux]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum. Been nosing around for a while and decided it's time to join in. I've always been a S&W fan. I'm turned 45 Friday and got myself a new 642-1 and I started wondering, is there anything you guys do to a new gun right out of the box? Cleaning, lubing, etcetera...? I also own a new m&p shield 9 that I trade for a few days ago and an old 32 hand ejector that I've had for years and never fired. I own a ton of others but that's all the smiths I own at the moment. Thanks for your replies.
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I own the 642-1 PRO model with Moon clips. It's a fabulous little revolver!
The only thing you really need to do is oil it up and work the parts to start smoothing things out. Since its DAO you might want to load up some snap caps and run the cylinder around a few hundred times, plus go through the open and close cycle because this nocks off all those tiny burrs and gives you a glass-smooth pocket revolver!
One of my FAVORITE lubricants for guns meant to be pocket carried is VASOLINE! Why? Because it doesn't "run"! You smear it on the contact, rotational surfaces and it sticks there...and it works. A revolver does not require a lot of lubricant anyway, but you want something that doesn't leak out and contaminate the world - meaning your pocket or purse.

The 642 is a great rendering by S&W and probably the ideal CC revolver due to having a fully enclosed hammer system...when you're life is on the line you're going to "stroke it through" so you don't need an exposed hammer...that's "range stuff."''

You bought a great gun, the only "upgrade" you might want is the have it adapted to accept Moon clips...or simply carry speedloaders.

 

[rusty4269]

Is there any issues with speed loaders with these guns? I've read that a few people say they don't work real smooth because the grip gets in the way. I've read where people actually shaved their grip down to make it work. Also I wasn't aware that I could have it adapted to accept moon clips. Or I guess I should say I just never thought about it. That's something I will definitely be looking into.


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[Jim1392]

Is there any issues with speed loaders with these guns? I've read that a few people say they don't work real smooth because the grip gets in the way. I've read where people actually shaved their grip down to make it work. Also I wasn't aware that I could have it adapted to accept moon clips. Or I guess I should say I just never thought about it. That's something I will definitely be looking into.


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As far as speed loaders are concerned I bought the Safariland Comp 1 speedloader and I can tell you it does not work in my 642. I also tried it with my model 60 with the same results. Without changing the grip or shaving it down. I bought speed strips and I'm working on getting familiar with them. They do fit nice in my front pocket. If you are thinking about IWB carry I would consider the Remora standard holster. It cost me $23.53 to my door and they threw in a free magazine holder even though I don't own an automatic. Sticks in your pants where you put it and it doesn't move. It rides nice and tight against my body and doesn't print. The biggest problem I have with it is ME since years of wearing OWB I have a hard time thinking it won't fall out of my pants.

 

[TucsonMTB]

One of the reasons Altamont grips work so well for me is that you can sand off some "wood" and then polish that area back to the original gloss with fine sandpaper followed by buffing with a felt wheel and rouge. In fact, that's Altamont's recommendation if you ask them via email as I did.

However, . . . no worries! Even with the handsome, original soft grips that S&W supplies on the revolver, the "Jet-Loader" brand speedloaders fit in nicely and work really well. Even my wife can use them, despite "not being very mechanical".

Here's a picture of my wife's 638-3 with a Jet-Loader set to inject 5 rounds at high speed.

Note the original grips, since replaced by Hogue Tamer grips and it still works just fine for her.

 

[KevinCH]

Hello & welcome from NE Ohio!

 

[Edmo]

Congrats on your 642!!

As you know, the 642 is a very light and easy to carry J frame. I generally will slip mine into a pocket holster and don't have to worry about my shorts being pulled down by the weight.

Below are my two 642-1s. The top one was a replacement gun for a S&W BG38 which died a month or so after I purchased it. This 642 has been flawless. I picked up the bottom one for cheap after it spent a year as a range rental gun and soon found it would misfire on occasion. It is currently back at S&W where they determined it was unrepairable. They will be sending me a 640 Pro Series as a replacement when they get the time to build some more.

My impression of the 642 is good. However, based on my experience and contrary to gun shop wisdom, revolvers can be less than 100% reliable. The way you can verify you have a good one is to go out and shoot it and shoot it often.

Again congrats on your 642. Time to post some pics of it in action at the range!

Edmo

 

[rusty4269]

Thanks again on all the info. Anyone tried the SL Variant loaders? Watched a video on them. The guy made it look easy. But then again he had no trouble with the HKS. The SL Variant is similar to the jet loader I think just smaller.


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[kaaskop49]

Hi rusty. The S&W knock-offs of the Uncle Mike boot grips have to be relieved slightly with an X-acto knife to allow the HKS speedloaders to feed. The original UMs work with HKS's without trimming.

Speedstrips work with any grip and fit flat in your pocket for daily carry.

 

[slabside2]

One of the reasons Altamont grips work so well for me is that you can sand off some "wood" and then polish that area back to the original gloss with fine sandpaper followed by buffing with a felt wheel and rouge. In fact, that's Altamont's recommendation if you ask them via email as I did.

However, . . . no worries! Even with the handsome, original soft grips that S&W supplies on the revolver, the "Jet-Loader" brand speedloaders fit in nicely and work really well. Even my wife can use them, despite "not being very mechanical".

Here's a picture of my wife's 638-3 with a Jet-Loader set to inject 5 rounds at high speed.

Note the original grips, since replaced by Hogue Tamer grips and it still works just fine for her.

I see your a fan of titanium cylinders too. I had to take mine out of my 340pd since I couldn't find one. Still looking. Midway is out of them. Now I have a 340pd sitting in the box missing it. I could put the 438 one in there is nothing to gain doing it. Here is the brother to yours the 438. The 340pd cylinder dropped right and locks up tight and fires great. You just have to remember to keep 357 mag ammo away from it.

 

[TucsonMTB]

I see you're a fan of titanium cylinders too. I had to take mine out of my 340pd since I couldn't find one. Still looking. Midway is out of them. Now I have a 340pd sitting in the box missing it. I could put the 438 one in there is nothing to gain doing it. Here is the brother to yours the 438. The 340pd cylinder dropped right and locks up tight and fires great. You just have to remember to keep 357 mag ammo away from it.

Yes, sir. Guilty as charged.

And, yours is now an especially nice looking 438-2.

I'll bet that you are loving the way it now weighs less while loaded than it did with an empty steel cylinder.

Thanks for the wise caution/reminder about ammo. Fortunately, I no longer have to worry about my wife using the wrong cartridge in her 638-3 (pictured with the Jet-Loader), because our own Mr. colt_saa was kind enough to sell me his extra Titanium 38 Special cylinder.

Having it installed makes her a little more relaxed as well. Life is good!

 

[wrangler5]

My daily carry holster for a 638 and previously for a 642 is from Kholster. Very similar in design to the Crossbreed, but considerably less expensive. I have 3 of his holsters and consider each to be a good value.

They do come with more leather than you usually want, but after getting the ride height and cant set up the way you want 'em you just cut away the leather you don't want with an Xacto knife or utility blade. They may not be as elegant as some others, but they are equally functional, and for an IWB that's supposed to be invisible most of the time, I'll take the money I save and buy more ammo. Or another holster.

 

[mltndw3]

I too am an new owner of a 642 and my wife and I have taken it to the range twice and love it. I do have a few ammo questions, what is the best type of ammo for practice and for self defense? I have the 9mm stuff down, but don't know about 38 special, e.g., jacketed or not, what grain for practice and CC, what the deal is with "wadcutter" ammo (I've read articles that say it is good for practice and for personal defense as well)? Since I usually buy bulk ammo, I want to get this right. Any suggestions?

 

[Kadonny]

I too am an new owner of a 642 and my wife and I have taken it to the range twice and love it. I do have a few ammo questions, what is the best type of ammo for practice and for self defense? I have the 9mm stuff down, but don't know about 38 special, e.g., jacketed or not, what grain for practice and CC, what the deal is with "wadcutter" ammo (I've read articles that say it is good for practice and for personal defense as well)? Since I usually buy bulk ammo, I want to get this right. Any suggestions?

First off, congrats on getting maybe the single best carry snub revolver out there with the 642.

For carry, I personally use the Speer Gold Dot 135gr .38SP+P short barreled JHP rounds for my 642-1 pro.....when I can find them. If I can't find them (which has happened many times for me) I also use the Hornady Critical Defense +P 110gr JHP which I can get easier. Buffalo Bore also makes good self defense ammo.

Regarding wadcutters, I use them only in my carry Model 37 which is not rated +P. From what I have read, many of the standard pressure JHP loads do not expand well with short barrel snubs (non +P), so the thinking is a flatter nosed wad of lead will penetrate better and rip & crush better and lodge better than a non expanded hollow point or a FMJ round nose. That's the wisdom of the wadcutter.

For range use just buy some FMJ rounds to practice with, but also practice with your carry load. That's very important.

 

[mltndw3]

Ammo advice

Thanks for the ammo advice. I just ordered some FMJ 158 gr 38 Special from Freedom munitions for practice and will be on the look out for some Hornady which seems easier to find for the self defense load.