On the fence for a 442

ajgunner said:
Once you get yourself one, the next decision will be which grips to put on it. Why limit yourself---just get another with different grips. After awhile you will probably want one with a different finish---again, why limit yourself. Before you know it you will have all your pocket carry needs filled and be ready too move on to a different model or barrel length or caliber.

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Very nice collection you have there. Can you tell me what small grip you are using on #6? (L>R, T>B)
 
I have a bunch of J-frame holsters and never pass up any that I like the looks of. The only thing you need to remember is with a 442 you have no hammer so it either needs to be a correct fit, or the retention strap needs too work with hammerless.


My particular favorites are a pair I ordered custom made by Horseshoe Leather back in the late 80's or early 90's. He used to make them one at a time in his little cobblestone shop in England. Even way back then I remember it took over a year to get them. Unfortunately he was forced to change with the times and quit making revolver holsters at least 10 years ago. Even worse is that due to his age and failing health, I believe he is no longer making holsters. Hard to tell by these pics, but there is no retention strap. The nice snug fit with any j-frame is enough to keep them in place with no worries even if a guy took it jogging.



Holsters-J-frame-Horseshoe-2.jpg
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Patton1970 said:
Very nice collection you have there. Can you tell me what small grip you are using on #6? (L>R, T>B)
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That is a Crimson Trace and is rubber. I don't think they make that model any more. Same with #8 bottom right---Crimson Trace but hard plastic---real small but also hard on the hand. Several of the others are also CT in the longer version. Not necessarily the laser I was after, but these are a great feeling grip in the hand.
 
rockquarry said:
I guess it's a subjective thing; I shoot an alloy framed gun and several steel-framed J-frame .38s regularly and I can't tell much, if any difference in recoil. "Stiff trigger" is also a subjective term. Have you fired it enough to get accustomed to it? As for recoil, I think they are all hard kickers but again it's worth the time and effort to get used to it.

I've never had a 442. Why would it be different than other lightweight J-frame as far as recoil?
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As they say different strokes for different folks. I can really tell the difference between the recoil of my 49 and my 442. The weight difference is about 7-8 onces but the recoil difference feels huge.

Both wear hogue grips so the difference is the gun
 
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mscampbell2734 said:
As they say different strokes for different folks. I can really tell the difference between the recoil of my 49 and my 442. The weight difference is about 7-8 onces but the recoil difference feels huge.

Both wear hogue grips so the difference is the gun
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I say the same about the difference in weight between my 342 Ti and my Model 60. Both wear Hogues and the 60 is much easier on the hands!
 
I have a M360J. Carries great.

On my first range trip, after a couple cylinders of .38sp, I loaded a cylinder of .357. I only shot one round and unloaded the rest.

I always finish each range trip with a scored quick reaction drill with my carry and HD guns I brought. Surprised that I actually scored a little better with the 360 (DA) than I did with my usual G43.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk
 
I've carried a 442 since 1995 both on and off the job.Its still a big part of my edc and although it looks like hell from honest carry wear it still shoots great . In 28 years all that I've needed to fix was a firing pin and firing pin spring.
 
B_Still said:
I have a M360J. Carries great.

On my first range trip, after a couple cylinders of .38sp, I loaded a cylinder of .357. I only shot one round and unloaded the rest.

I always finish each range trip with a scored quick reaction drill with my carry and HD guns I brought. Surprised that I actually scored a little better with the 360 (DA) than I did with my usual G43.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk
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You're shooting 357 out of a 38 special rated pistol, or is the M360J rated for 357?
 
I love my 442-1 I don't know what The engineers at Smith and Wesson was smoking when they came up with that Tupperware M-38. I rented one at the shooting range one time it was a total piece of **** I couldn't get through a cylinder without a jamming.
 
This is what I carried for a long times. It is a S&W 342 Ti, and weighs approx. 11 ounces. Wicked recoil with +P ammo, not the gun for someone with arthritis in there hands
 

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442-1

The 442-1 is a great carry gun. I have a few hundred rounds through this one. With the Hogue Tamer grip, I can practice with 50 rounds and not have to take ibuprofen for my hand swelling, haha. Can shoot it one-handed pretty well too.
 

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AJ said:
This is what I carried for a long times. It is a S&W 342 Ti, and weighs approx. 11 ounces. Wicked recoil with +P ammo, not the gun for someone with arthritis in there hands
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Nice! I bet you may still be less than a pound fully loaded.
 
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Patton1970 said:
Nice! I bet you may still be less than a pound fully loaded.
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The advertised weight of the S&W 342 Ti was 10.8 ounces. Five .38 Special should only weigh about 3.5 ounces. I never weighed it and I imagine the Hogue grips probably brought it up to about 16 ounces.

I have a S&W 351C in .22 Magnum. It is 0.2 ounces heavier than the 342 Ti.
 
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billj47 said:
The 442-1 is a great carry gun. I have a few hundred rounds through this one. With the Hogue Tamer grip, I can practice with 50 rounds and not have to take ibuprofen for my hand swelling, haha. Can shoot it one-handed pretty well too.
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Very nice. Who is the holster maker you have there?
 
It took awhile to get hold of a 442, and then get the grips I wanted. As promised I am posting a pic of the new 442 along with my older BG38.

What do you think of the grips?
 

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Nice

Your 442 looks good, especially since you scored a no lock model.
Mine has the lock, made a truce...as long as it doesn't bother me I won't bother it.
No picture handy, but I dressed mine up with Altamont Rosewood Basketweave grips.
 
shovelmike said:
Your 442 looks good, especially since you scored a no lock model.
Mine has the lock, made a truce...as long as it doesn't bother me I won't bother it.
No picture handy, but I dressed mine up with Altamont Rosewood Basketweave grips.
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Those Altamont grips were definitely calling me as well. They have a great selection.
 
I carry a 442 with grips from cocobolo grips from Esmeralda and my wife carries a 642 with factory S&W pink grips. Neither is anything you want to frequently put 50 rounds through but we'll each fire off 25 once in a while doing CHL ranges. I carry with +P, she uses standard.
 
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