S&W 642Airweight

[rockquarry]

Thanks for all of the replies. Going to run about 200 rounds through it today.

Good luck- your a heartier soul than I am. About fifty rounds during one range trip would be at maximum endurance level for me with any J-frame gun and I shoot them fairly often.

 

[gnystrom]

I replace the rebound slide spring with a 14# and leave everything else alone. Never had a problem.
I understand people nervous about removing any internals so the snap cap dry fire version will accomplish two things,
1. smooth the action
2. strengthen your trigger finger.

After you have shot at images on your TV screen for a few hours, consider removing the grips and spraying the inside workings with a dry lube followed by a bit of compressed air. I have been amazed at what comes running out of factory fresh S&W actions.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I'd shoot a couple of boxes of ammo through it first. Then take 5 spent rounds and use them as snap caps. Sit around the house dry firing it until your wife starte screaming at you to stop. If it hasn't slicked up by then to your satiscaction, THEN look for a gunsmith

 

[Badman6135]

Good luck- your a heartier soul than I am. About fifty rounds during one range trip would be at maximum endurance level for me with any J-frame gun and I should them fairly often.

I regularly shoot a Model 29, about 50 rds.per session.
I know the pain.

 

[Rubone]

Good luck- your a heartier soul than I am. About fifty rounds during one range trip would be at maximum endurance level for me with any J-frame gun and I shoot them fairly often.

A few years back my wife and I took a Defensive Handgun course offered by the Whittington Center, it was a birthday present to her but she wanted me there too. I used a XD40 for the course, but since her everyday carry is a Model 637 she chose to use my model 60 for the training. We took the Bianchi Lawman grips off and used the stock rubber off her 37 to mimic the feel. She shot 535 rounds in less than 24 hours, all double action. She was the only revolver shooter in the training and out shot all of the rest of us. She shot more than anyone else due to the revolver. We were doing drill with 8 rounds and a 5 round reload. She shot 15 for every 13 the rest of us did. I supplied her with Winchester "train" ammo, and her only complaint at the end of the training was a blister forming on her finger tip from all the double action trigger pulls. She is 5'4" and about 128-130 #s. Did I mention she is a total badass!

 

[dandyrandy]

Here is a great video about the S&W J frame and its internal parts. He also explains some things about upgrading things and springs on the j frame. What to do and what not to do. My 2 cents is dont mess with the springs. I have a kel Tec P-11 with the same horrendous trigger pull but the gun is 100% reliable and I use the gun in a self defense role so I dont mess with springs even though they do make spring kits for them. Same thing with my S&W 642 I dont mess with the springs or anything at all. The P-11 and 642 is a close distance no messing around but pull the trigger self defense gun and works in that role very well.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgLoiuTLHZw[/ame]

 

[pasound]

Rubone, polish the trigger face for her. Smoother, no blisters.

 

[vintage40s]

... I recently put an Apex spring kit in my new to me 442, and it made a huge difference...
I watched the Apex YouTube video and did the installation myself. ...

When I got my first gun a year ago, a 642 with laser, pulling the trigger was painfully hard. It hurt my finger and shook the gun.
Right away, I ordered the Apex kit:
Duty/Carry Spring Kit for J-Frame Revolvers
I had watched their install video but did not trust myself, so had a gunsmith do it in one day for $60.
The spring kit made the trigger pull as smooth and easy as I had expected it to be from the factory.
Since then, after about a thousand dry fires with snap caps, and 250 rounds fired, the trigger is very pleasant and satisfying to pull. It allows staging shots almost like double action, by pausing the pull after the barrel rotates but just before the hammer is released

 

[diyj98]

I agree with the others about not replacing springs. I've never had the need to do any trigger work on any of my j frames. They're just fine to me as it for their intended purpose.

 

[geekeye]

i put the wilson combat springs in my 442-2. noticeably lighter than stock, but also still noticeably heavier my 686-6. no FTFs whatsoever. i think they struck a good balance that is still very reliable.

 

[eb07]

Send it to Nelson Ford in Phoenix. He has done both my j frames, a k, an n, and an l. I'm a happy camper

 

[Dragon 1]

Send it to Teddy Jacobson from Actions By T in Sugar Land Texas he's semi retired but he still takes in action work.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Wait at the Custom Shop is about 4-6 months... If you are LUCKY!

They really ought to consider making appointments...?

Cheers!

 

[Cotis]

Can you dry fire without using snap caps? What does one risk damaging without them?

 

[haywood]

From what I have been told, you could damage the firing pin and the Chanel around it. Especially the firing pin on the hammer. My 37 and 36 have the pin mounted on the hammer so I use the snap caps. I didn't want to take the chance. My Two 442's have the other style pin and I didn't use caps with them and they have survived. I think the owners manual said it was ok. The manuals are all put away and I'm to lazy to dig them out.