S&W 642-2/Cylinder & Slide Work

[GaryS]

I replaced the OEM rebound and main springs on my 642 and it lightened the action quite a bit. Easy to do if you are even minimally handy and not all that expensive.

Other than that and a set of Ergo Delta Grips, there isn't a lot of reason to spend money on improving a close range personal defense revolver. At least I don't think so.

 

[kaaskop49]

Here I go, raining on parades. If you're going to have work done anywhere on this 642, remove the Uncle Mike's boot grip. No matter how reputable the shop, it is 99% guaranteed to vanish. Same with T-grips. Ask me how I know.

Kaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[ContinentalOp]

Here I go, raining on parades. If you're going to have work done anywhere on this 642, remove the Uncle Mike's boot grip. No matter how reputable the shop, it is 99% guaranteed to vanish. Same with T-grips. Ask me how I know.

Kaskop49
Shield #5103

One of the reasons I keep the current production S&W boot grips even though I don't actually use them.

 

[Bklyn_Irish]

Very much appreciate the input.

I'm going with the following, and they understand that this is an off-duty/back-up. Buy once, cry once.

#SR022 Chamfer cylinder mouths
#SR057 Action job, J-frame, new style
#SR006 Radius and polish trigger face
#SR104 XS standard dot dovetail tritium front sight

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

For the price, you could buy an additional 642and practice the work yourself.
I dont know if you will get every dollar out of your investment but its your money

 

[Bklyn_Irish]

I am a Glock Armorer. Glock and my boss let me work on their guns. The same can't be said for S&W.

I'll let the pros handle this one.

 

[robvious]

C&S has performed work for both my late father and myself... only on semi-autos for me, not sure what he all accomplished for my father... I used to pickup brass for Bill when I was a kid and he shot IPSC with my dad... he, and all his employees are top notch...

 

[vintage40s]

Airweight trigger

I bought a new 642 Airweight with laser grips a few weeks ago. The trigger was so hard to pull that it hurt my finger and made the gun shake.
I ordered a trigger spring kit for $26:
Duty/Carry Spring Kit for J-Frame Revolvers
And a gun smith installed it for $65 in less than a day.
Now the trigger feels perfect.

 

[M29since14]

Very much appreciate the input.

I'm going with the following, and they understand that this is an off-duty/back-up. Buy once, cry once...

I agree with that philosophy. That's the way it usually works for me! Good luck with your 642. C&S has a good reputation and I can't imagine you won't be happy with the work.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a tuned 640 (not by C&S) that was definitely worth it.
If I hadn't gone over to plastic automatics for pocket carry, I would definitely be thinking about better sights.

 

[Bklyn_Irish]

Standard dot and the machined half ghostring provide a nice clear sight picture.

The rounded and polished trigger with their trigger job make for a VERY smooth trigger, 10# trigger pull.

Range report to follow.

 

[mikerjf]

Thanks for the interesting pix. I've heard the standard XS dot works pretty well with the stock rear, do you like it opened up like that?

Nice NICE looking trigger!

 

[ContinentalOp]

Standard dot and the machined half ghostring provide a nice clear sight picture.

The rounded and polished trigger with their trigger job make for a VERY smooth trigger, 10# trigger pull.

The work looks good. I wasn't sure a dovetailed front sight would work on the 642 because of the low "rib". And I've thought about having the rear sight notch widened on mine for more daylight, but wasn't sure it would be feasible given the alloy frame.

 

[HamHands]

Anyone have any experiences?

I bought my wife an M642 sans the lock last year for her birthday... The trigger was 8 pounds out of the box. I bought a nice set of India Stones/Files and "Stone-Polished" the Trigger/Hammer mating sear surfaces to a bright almost mirror polish..., Then I polished the rebound slide surfaces (especially the bottom and the sides) of the rebound slide surfaces to a bright hue. Then finally I replaced the hammer strut/spring to an 8lb one, and installed a 13# rebound spring with a Wolff "Shooters-PacK" kit...

The end result is a Double Action trigger that is 5lbs with a nice clean break and a predictable "Staging Point" if desired for that Single Action feel/break. I've tried all kinds of ammo from Hornady ammo with notable soft primers all the way down to Steel Cased "Wolf" branded ammo with super hard primers. All of it touches off without a fail. She carries Buffalo Bore 150gr Hard Cast Full-Wads with Hornady XTP's for an easy reload.


To finish her up I installed some vintage "Magna" grips and a Tyler-T grip for a grip that fits even my large hands (pinky too) fully on the grip! It's the perfect handgun for my wife and we couldn't be happier. I just asked her what she thought about it again for this thread. She replied: "I love it... My M642 and our 1911 are my favorite handguns to shoot!" It's because of the triggers and handling even though they are on the opposite sides of the spectrum in regards to a SA trigger with the 1911 and super smooth DA trigger of her M642.

In summation, with a bit of "Polishing" (removing zero metal, just polishing" with the India stones, Jerry Miculek's "YouTube" how-to, and about $20 in the aforementioned hammer spring replacement "Shooters Pak" from Wolff make for a wonderful M642 pictured below that both me and the wife love and depend upon as her everyday CCW pictured below.

Edited for Syntax:

 

[hyena]

Bklyn Irish

Very nice! Looking forward to the range report.