New 642
- Thread starter cola490
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
riverrat38
US Veteran
I have a M 442, which is basically the same gun.
It is probably capable of shooting 3" groups at 25 yards, but I am not!
It is a difficult gun to master, but some have.
I am currently carrying Speer 135gr Gold Dot Plus P Short Barrel ammo.
It was developed for these guns. It has about as much recoil as I can handle with in a 14 oz revolver.
rat
It is probably capable of shooting 3" groups at 25 yards, but I am not!
It is a difficult gun to master, but some have.
I am currently carrying Speer 135gr Gold Dot Plus P Short Barrel ammo.
It was developed for these guns. It has about as much recoil as I can handle with in a 14 oz revolver.
rat
ContinentalOp
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2009
- Messages
- 6,315
- Reaction score
- 12,813
If this is your first time with an airweight J-frame snub I'd suggest Federal 125gr Nyclads for carry and 130gr FMJ (any of the major manufacturers will do, though I like PMC brand) for practice. Nyclads have a good track record and are relatively low recoil. Nyclads and 130gr FMJ loads shoot with similar ballistics and felt recoil so I think they make a good combination.
When I first started carrying my 642 I loaded it with Nyclads. Once I got used to shooting an airweight snub I switched to Speer 135gr Short-Barrel GDHP +P, which is an excellent round with a very good track record. It does have a little more kick, though. I still use 130gr FMJ for the bulk of my practice shooting.
I'd also suggest doing a lot of dry fire practice before going to the range. It'll help your performance.
As far as the maximum range, that has much more to do with the shooter's skill than the gun itself. A 642 is very accurate. Highly skilled shooters have made hits as far as 100 or even 200 yards away with a J-frame. The farthest I'm comfortable shooting my 642 is 30 feet, but I do nearly all of my shooting inside 15 feet. For your first range session, though, do yourself a favor and set the target close, maybe 5 or 6 feet. Work your way up to longer distance shooting.
When I first started carrying my 642 I loaded it with Nyclads. Once I got used to shooting an airweight snub I switched to Speer 135gr Short-Barrel GDHP +P, which is an excellent round with a very good track record. It does have a little more kick, though. I still use 130gr FMJ for the bulk of my practice shooting.
I'd also suggest doing a lot of dry fire practice before going to the range. It'll help your performance.
As far as the maximum range, that has much more to do with the shooter's skill than the gun itself. A 642 is very accurate. Highly skilled shooters have made hits as far as 100 or even 200 yards away with a J-frame. The farthest I'm comfortable shooting my 642 is 30 feet, but I do nearly all of my shooting inside 15 feet. For your first range session, though, do yourself a favor and set the target close, maybe 5 or 6 feet. Work your way up to longer distance shooting.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The range of the gun is entirely up to you. Jerry Miculek can hit a balloon with a J frame at 200 yards holding the gun upside down. Now, none of us are Jerry Miculek but my point is it's a .38 Special and it's as accurate as you are. They are slightly harder to shoot well because of the very short sight radius but J frames are no less accurate than any other .38 Special is.
Don't listen to anyone who tells you a short barrel revolver isn't accurate. Practice good trigger control and shoot a lot and you will do very well...
Don't listen to anyone who tells you a short barrel revolver isn't accurate. Practice good trigger control and shoot a lot and you will do very well...
Ralph G. Briscoe
Member
- Joined
- May 2, 2010
- Messages
- 156
- Reaction score
- 84
I've carried a 642 for a couple of years with a handload--4.7 gr. Unique/ 158 gr Speer lead semi wadcutter hollow-point. I get 815 fps out of that load which isn't bad if you can put it in the right place. Snubby practical accuracy is being able to keep your shots in the center mass of a silhouette target out to 15 yards max--a target the size of a very large watermelon. Snub tactics are all about speed and surprise. If self-defense is your purpose I think it's a good thing to practice hip-shooting at 3,5 and 7 yards...2-handed combat stance at 10 and 15. Practice using a speedloader--you've have to shave or sand down the left grip so they won't hang up--and speed strips. On of the great defensive advantages of the 642 is that, if necessary, it can be fired from inside a jacket pocket though most of us don't have a wardrobe to sacrifice to the practice of this skill. Dry-fire a lot...you won't hurt the gun. You might also consider Speer plastic practice rounds...great for when you can't get to a range. Congratulations on a great revolver. Enjoy.
The little S&W snubs can be effective for me out to 15 yards. I can hit on target most of the time. At 25 yards about 3 of the five on target, at 50 yards I can throw dirt all over the target. I don't claim to be a great shot but the snubs will perform if you do.
Their main use is up close and personal but if you put in the time, they the can reach on out there.
Their main use is up close and personal but if you put in the time, they the can reach on out there.
CatnPhx
Member
Me too ... great ammo.
indiandave
Member
Change grips to ones that cover the backstrap. Something like the old Uncle Mike's Combat Grips. This makes a 642 fun to shoot.
If you can find them, try shooting 148gr wadcutters at first. They give little recoil and they let you work on your shooting techique.
For carry I use Buffalo Bore Std Pressure 158gr LSWCHP's or my own hand loads.
If you can find them, try shooting 148gr wadcutters at first. They give little recoil and they let you work on your shooting techique.
For carry I use Buffalo Bore Std Pressure 158gr LSWCHP's or my own hand loads.
sps282
Member
I have a model 642 which I carry and practice with weekly and have found it to be more accurate than I am....shooting from a two handed rest I can keep them in the black at 25 yards......not quite so good off hand! I shoot 158 gr. lead swc handloads over Unique for practice and 158 gr. swchp w/gas check over a little more Unique for carry. Past 25 yards don't know haven't tried it with the 642, usually go for the carbine over 25 yards.
I carry a 442, the wife a 642. We've found we're both most accurate with Hornaday Critical Defense non+p; the +p's extra recoil throws off all but our first shot if we're practicing in short burst of two or three rounds like would be needed in a self defense situation. With time, we may move up to +p as we get better. Most of our practice is at 3 and 7 yards; when we go out to 15 yards, it's more misses than hits.
TNFrank
Member
I pretty much have always used Federal Premium 129gr +P(HydroShok) in all my 38spl and 357Mag carry guns. Never had to use it but it shoots well as far as targets go. For practice I plan on loading up some 158gr SWC home cast bullets over Unique, not sure if I'll so 4.5grs or 5.0grs yet, probably 4.5grs to keep it semi-mild for my wife to shoot.
I'm really lovin' my little 642, here's a pic of my first 5 shots out of the gun using Remington UMC, 158gr LRN ammo. Off hand at 3 yards, I put the 1st round into the bulleye but pulled the next two rounds low then got back on track for 4 and 5. First time out, first 5 shots and this little gun shoots like this after I'd not shot a snub nose DAO revolver in years, I'd say it'll be plenty accurate once I get some practice in.
I'm really lovin' my little 642, here's a pic of my first 5 shots out of the gun using Remington UMC, 158gr LRN ammo. Off hand at 3 yards, I put the 1st round into the bulleye but pulled the next two rounds low then got back on track for 4 and 5. First time out, first 5 shots and this little gun shoots like this after I'd not shot a snub nose DAO revolver in years, I'd say it'll be plenty accurate once I get some practice in.
StatesRightist
Member
Here's my opinion as well. After researching it and reviewing Gel and Street Results, there are only 3 .38 special loads that work when fired from a snub into heavy clothing.
The Corbon +P DPX load---great tests, few street results.
Speer GD 135 gr SB +P --great street and test results.
The "FBI Load"--- 158 gr LSWCHP +P--lots of guys in cemeteries from this one.
The Nyclad 125's have good street results as well, but are harder to find, otherwise I would have listed 4 potentials. I'd feel OK carrying any of those rounds, including the Nyclads.
The Corbon +P DPX load---great tests, few street results.
Speer GD 135 gr SB +P --great street and test results.
The "FBI Load"--- 158 gr LSWCHP +P--lots of guys in cemeteries from this one.
The Nyclad 125's have good street results as well, but are harder to find, otherwise I would have listed 4 potentials. I'd feel OK carrying any of those rounds, including the Nyclads.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I carry the Speer Short Barrel 135gr round or the FBI Load in my snub nose revolvers and Federal Nyclad ammo in my M36. (because the Nyclad ammo is so accurate in that M36)
MichiganScott
Member
I carry mine with 158gr. LSWCHP because it shoots to point of aim in my pistol. It bites, and after two cylinders the knuckle on my thumb bleeds from contact with the cylinder latch. However, my wife shoots it with no problem.
I use cheap WW 130gr. white box FMJ from Wal-Mart for practice.
With practice, you can achieve good results at distances that surprise most people.
I use cheap WW 130gr. white box FMJ from Wal-Mart for practice.
With practice, you can achieve good results at distances that surprise most people.
StatesRightist
Member
Have you changed grips? The wraparounds that cover the backstrap fully help with this, they are larger. Just a suggestion....
MichiganScott
Member
Thanks. I'll try changing if they aren't too big for pocket carry. I've used a Mika pocket holster for the past seven years and see no reason to change carry methods.
