New Ultimate Carry Lipsey's Model 442 - First Impressions

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UC 442 - Follow Up

Thought that I'd follow up on my "dead" front sight my new Lipsey's Ultimate Carry Model 442.

I have heard back from S&W, and they have asked me to return the front sight for replacement.

I have test fired it with 30 rounds of 130 gr. Ball and 130 Gr. Ranger HP+P. 7 yards into an oak stump on the side of the house.
The action is smoother than my old Model 642, really liking the VZ Grips and the sight picture.

I'm really looking forward to the new XS front sight.

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[MetalMan]

Carry one M649 every day/all the time - everything you need, nothing you don't.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Exactly how I feel about my 640-1 Pro!

 

[Well Armed]

I have the 640 Pro and a Ruger LCR. Both does everything the new Ultra Carry does.

 

[psp7304]

I contacted Smith & Wesson via email. They got back to me and offered to ship me a replacement night sight or a shipping label to send the 642 UC back to the factory. In addition to the dead night sight, I also noticed the barrel shroud had some movement so I opted to ship the 642 UC back to the factory. I replied to the email advising S&W I wanted to ship the revolver back on 03/05 and still have not received a shipping label.

In the mean time, I stumbled onto a thread on pistol-forum.com about the dead night sights on the UC revolvers. Someone from Lipsey's was active in the thread and provided his phone number and email telling everyone who had a dead night sight to contact him. He provided three options, 1-ship a replacement night sight, 2-expedite a shipping label back to S&W, 3-Lipsey's would ship a replacement gun.

I sent an email and a few hours later I received a reply from Jason Cloessner, Senior Vice President & Product Development Manager at Lipsey's. Jason advised he could expedite a shipping label back to S&W or replace my 642 UC. I opted for a replacement gun. Jason contacted my local dealer where I purchased the UC and explained the situation. He asked that I return the original gun back to the dealer and he would overnight me a replacement gun which should be at my dealer tomorrow. Jason assured me that he personally inspected the replacement 642 UC and said the night sight is bright, there is no movement in the barrel shroud, and the trigger is smooth. He asked me to call if I had any questions and provided his office number and his personal cell number if it was after hours.

I can not express how impressed and appreciative I am of the level of customer service Jason has provided. The is the first Lipsey's firearm I have purchased but it definitely won't be the last.

 

[toroflow1]

Is this it?
Slick looking Gun!

Does anyone but me think these types of front sights are all wrong for potential pocket carry? Looks like you could gut a deer with that front sight! I would imagine that front site would catch my Levis back pocket much more than the front site of me '70s vintage airweight model 38. YMMV.

 

[Rick Sanborn]

I see a couple of the .32 cal versions showing up on Gunbroker. Going for well over MSRP right now. I might be a buyer at MSRP but definitely not over it.

 

[toroflow1]

Eh, us cranky old guys will just keep our old fragile airweight .38 J frames loaded with 1970s Super Vel 110 grain hollow-points! And hope they don't crack!

 

[catcus-jack]

Does anyone but me think these types of front sights are all wrong for potential pocket carry? Looks like you could gut a deer with that front sight! I would imagine that front site would catch my Levis back pocket much more than the front site of me '70s vintage airweight model 38. YMMV.

No they are perfect.And no you can not gut a deer with them a small mouse maybe.

 

[stykshooter]

I picked up a new 442 UC Saturday. As others have said, the tritium insert in the front sight was dead. Didn't glow at all in a dark room. I emailed Smith this morning early and about two hours later got a reply that a replacement front sight had already been shipped to my address. Should arrive in 5 business days. It's a shame that a gun like this was shipped with issues, but you dang sure can't complain about the customer service.

 

[Marshal Tom]

One of my friends just ordered the 442UC from a local shop and told me the price was going to be $669. I will be ordering one from them as well. That's about the best price I have seen mentioned so far. I decided on the 432UC after all.

 

[Eagle1*]

holy moly, I just saw a 432 on GB with 10 bids at over a thousand bucks. Crazy man. I would definitely have to see one of these in hand before I spent that kind of money on one.