Pros and Cons to carrying a 642/442?
- Thread starter 62caster
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This is the other side of my 642-1 after years of being carried.
Yep, my 642-2 shows a little finish wear/flaking too. However, I don't care...it still works exactly like it should, and no one sees it in my pocket anyway! To the best of my knowledge, it'll never be a family heirloom like my vintage S&W revolvers.
Coyote56
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Hogue Tamers and Pachmayr Compacts are a must for my beat up old hands. When I buy clothes I make sure they fit in my pockets first.
walkin' trails
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I don't own a 642 at the moment but that or a 442 are two revolvers I have favorable opinions of and will probably acquire one in the next year or so. I used to have a Model 37, which I traded for a 640, which is significantly enough heavier in the pocket. I wish I'd acquired one several years ago when they were cheaper, but other things kept getting in the way, like having to have a Shield or Glock 43 (currently a Sig 365 is on the list ahead of the revolver), or new rifle....
The are only two real cons for carrying a 642: 1) you're parachuting into a hot drop zone to be immediately overwhelmed and that's the best you have, or 2) you carry it without training with it and understanding its strong points and shortcomings.
Recoil is not pleasant with anything more potent than wad cutters and since velocity seems to be a key ingredient to making hollow points perform consistently from a two inch barrel. I found on J-frames, the best grip for me in terms of concealment and recoil mitigation are the Bantams by Hogue. They aren't perfect, but they also don't add a lot of bulk to the gun making it harder to conceal and don't cost an arm and a leg to find out you don't shoot well with them. That said, Hogue makes quality products. I like them better than Uncle Mikes or any of the wood boot grips available. I am generally a proponent of leaving the action and trigger pull of a gun alone - the grit will usually smooth itself out to a degree through dry and live fire, but having a shop round the face of the trigger, edge to edge may make the trigger press pinch the finger less. And some orange paint or nail polish is probably going to be necessary to make the front sight stand out. Still, the airweight Centennial is one of the best all round concealed carry guns out there.
The are only two real cons for carrying a 642: 1) you're parachuting into a hot drop zone to be immediately overwhelmed and that's the best you have, or 2) you carry it without training with it and understanding its strong points and shortcomings.
Recoil is not pleasant with anything more potent than wad cutters and since velocity seems to be a key ingredient to making hollow points perform consistently from a two inch barrel. I found on J-frames, the best grip for me in terms of concealment and recoil mitigation are the Bantams by Hogue. They aren't perfect, but they also don't add a lot of bulk to the gun making it harder to conceal and don't cost an arm and a leg to find out you don't shoot well with them. That said, Hogue makes quality products. I like them better than Uncle Mikes or any of the wood boot grips available. I am generally a proponent of leaving the action and trigger pull of a gun alone - the grit will usually smooth itself out to a degree through dry and live fire, but having a shop round the face of the trigger, edge to edge may make the trigger press pinch the finger less. And some orange paint or nail polish is probably going to be necessary to make the front sight stand out. Still, the airweight Centennial is one of the best all round concealed carry guns out there.
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ddm
Member
Really like the hip grips. Going to have to check in to getting a pair. Currently use a in-pocket holster but not really comfortable sitting down but that is more due to the oversized grips I have on it than the holster. Just can't get a comfortable grip on the standard sized grips.
newtonguitars
Member
The gun is made for close contact defense. Practice running away, not long range shooting.
I love how the 442 trigger "stages". After trying quite a few different 38 special loads, I believe the old 148g wadcutter is best in the 442.
I love how the 442 trigger "stages". After trying quite a few different 38 special loads, I believe the old 148g wadcutter is best in the 442.
heeter3
Member
I've carried a 442 since the mid 90s both on and off the job. Now that I'm retired I rotate it through my edc and really have no negatives.It carries well and can be carried in numerous variations,its very compact,it shoots point of aim,it loads easily with a speed loader or speed strip and some practice and it really does everything I need it to do.
smoothshooter
Member
One thing I learned quickly is that you need more than one pocket holster.
The usual suspects Desantis, Uncle Mikes, Mika, are all different in size and profile. Thus they fit you and your pockets differently depending on what you are wearing.
I keep 3 different holsters on my stand and am always surprised how 1 will fit better than the others depending upon what pants or shorts I'm wearing.
The usual suspects Desantis, Uncle Mikes, Mika, are all different in size and profile. Thus they fit you and your pockets differently depending on what you are wearing.
I keep 3 different holsters on my stand and am always surprised how 1 will fit better than the others depending upon what pants or shorts I'm wearing.
Funny you mention the P365. I'm cross shopping that with the 442 at the moment!
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I think you nailed it. The only thing I'd add is the revolver is slower to reload and with only five shots, having to reload is a real possibility.
3rdgeargrndrr
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Nothing better to carry in a front jacket pocket while picking up medicine for your sick family member at 1am at the 24hr pharmacy. Nothing.
scruffy
Member
Pros: Light weight, conceals easily in a number of positions, pocketable, dead reliable, deadly accurate (if you do your part), choice of .38 special or .38+P ammo, smooth trigger, easy to deploy with no safety, easy to clean and lube and it's a classic revolver.
Cons: 5 shot capacity, requires lots of practice as it's difficult to master and shoot well due to the long heavy trigger, sights suck, long range accuracy (20 yds + for me), recoil depending on your sensitivity to it.
To me the pros far outweigh the cons. I can shoot them well enough for their intended purpose as a close range SD gun and the recoil doesn't bother me at all. Capacity is the only real issue I see, but with handguns, everything is a compromise.
Cons: 5 shot capacity, requires lots of practice as it's difficult to master and shoot well due to the long heavy trigger, sights suck, long range accuracy (20 yds + for me), recoil depending on your sensitivity to it.
To me the pros far outweigh the cons. I can shoot them well enough for their intended purpose as a close range SD gun and the recoil doesn't bother me at all. Capacity is the only real issue I see, but with handguns, everything is a compromise.
scruffy
Member
I have both. My 642PC for general and pocket carry. It's with me better than 80% of the time. My P365X if I'm going to be someplace where having the additional capacity (12 +1) would make sense and I'm looking for a little more piece of mind. The P365 is an awesome pistol and I highly recommend it. Accuracy is unreal and shooting is a pleasure. Like the 642/442 it has it's own pros and cons.
I have my 365XL's as my first to grab, at home. But in the 3-season jacket/coat months in my area, it's pocket carry. One of my j's in a UTG pocket holster, with 158gr Remington +P LSWCHP in the 60, 637, and 60-15, and recently aquired PPU 158gr LSWC in the 38 Airweight and 36. 36 with no +P just because it's been babied all it's life.
In regards to ammo. For snubs , the simple truth:
If it penetrates adequately it won't expand
If it expands it won't penetrate adequately
Gel test I personally witnessed and the opinion of some very skilled and experienced snub carriers the best load for a snub is 148 wadcutters.
Light recoil print close to point of aim and the sharp bullet cuts tissue instead of pushing it out of the way
Plus P Or HP ammo is of no value in a snub.
Using an HP as reload as full wadcutters are hard to speed reload from a speed strip or speed loader is ok, but the first five should be wadcutters
If it penetrates adequately it won't expand
If it expands it won't penetrate adequately
Gel test I personally witnessed and the opinion of some very skilled and experienced snub carriers the best load for a snub is 148 wadcutters.
Light recoil print close to point of aim and the sharp bullet cuts tissue instead of pushing it out of the way
Plus P Or HP ammo is of no value in a snub.
Using an HP as reload as full wadcutters are hard to speed reload from a speed strip or speed loader is ok, but the first five should be wadcutters
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