S&W 642 Durability

[Emerson]

Just bought a S&W 642. It's my first snubbie and I am really liking it. My question is "How much can I shoot it?" I know the frame is aluminum and I was just wondering if there was a "life expectancy" for the little guy. I tend to be a high volume shooter and would like to put a lot of rounds down range with it, but I don't want to wear it out.

Thanks

Emerson

 

[Emerson]

Just bought a S&W 642. It's my first snubbie and I am really liking it. My question is "How much can I shoot it?" I know the frame is aluminum and I was just wondering if there was a "life expectancy" for the little guy. I tend to be a high volume shooter and would like to put a lot of rounds down range with it, but I don't want to wear it out.

Thanks

Emerson

 

[ladder13]

Doubt if you'll ever "wear it out"...but if you do, send it back to Smith as it has a lifetime warranty.

 

[notsobigal]

I don't shoot my 642 a lot for the same reasons you mentioned. Mine is five years old with about 500 rounds through it with no signs of wear. Its so easy to carry, I love it.

 

[BUFF]

It will depend on the ammunition you choose to shoot in it. Mid-range wadcutters will make the gun last longer than +P+ will.

That said, I bought one new in 1991. It replaced a M-60 as my on-duty backup/warm weather off-duty gun. I have shot more than 1,500 rounds of factory loaded Plus-P ammo through it, that many more handloads that are also probably Plus-P and a bucket full of wadcutters, and it is still tight.

These are strong little guns. The current version is probably stronger than my 1991 edition. You will find that they kick hard with full power ammunition and harder with Plus-P. It is likely that, at each range session, you will tire of the hot loads before your Centennial does.

 

[Farmer17]

I think the newer 642s are a lot more durable than the old guns. I would shoot it all you want and not worry about it because your hand will probabbly wear out before the gun does.

 

[Norton 750]

I carry a 637 which is not as strong as the hammerless, and shoot about 50 full power rounds month, and have since I bought it four years ago. Still in spec.

 

[HappyHunter]

AS SUGGESTED ABOVE, SHOOT A WADCUTTER LOAD OR OTHER LOW POWER GALLERY LOAD FOR MOST OF YOUR PRACTICE. LOAD UP WITH PLUS P's FOR CARRY.

THIS GUN IS RELIABLE CARRY. POSSIBLY AS GOOD AS CAN BE HAD.

GREAT CHOICE.