Tough day at the range with a 642

[samandglove1]

I took two revolvers to the range today. A new to me 4" 28-2 and a brand new 1 7/8" 642-2. I wrote up how well I did with the N frame in the 1961 - 1980 section, but my performance with the airweight is another story.

I have a bunch of K & N frame S&Ws, and a handful of semi-autos, but I wanted to pick up a good CCW pocket gun. A few of my friends steered me towards the airweights, and I liked the look and the idea of the hammerless 642. When I got out to the range though, I was not feeling great about my choice.

I couldn't hit the side of a barn. I don't know if it was the DAO, the light weight, or the small size of the gun. A 9" diameter steel plate was perfectly safe for 4 out of 5 shots from 25 yards, consistently. I understand that these snub nosed guns are primarily for short range use, but I would think that I could look at least slightly competent at a reasonable distance.

Any advice from you guys would be appreciated.

 

[AZretired]

Spend some time dry firing while maintaining a good sight picture. This will help you get used to the DAO trigger and help smooth it out.

Sent from my Ally using Tapatalk

 

[mc5aw]

You might want to try getting comfortable shooting light flat-top wadcutters. There is minimal recoil, even in the Airweights and Airlites, and it will give you the opportunity to really sit down on each shot and work on steadiness and placement. From there, you can move up to heavier loads and defense rounds. You won't become a long range marksman, but you should develop better control and confidence. Worked well for me with my lightweight J-frames after shooting Ks and Ls for years.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Practice, practice, practice...

The first time I shot a snubbie was a pretty humbling experience. On the plus side, if you can master shooting a j-frame your skills with larger guns will also improve...

 

[ContinentalOp]

Airweight J-frames are not easy guns to shoot. They require quite a bit of practice. Dry fire practice is critical, imo. 10-15 minutes/day of focused practice (i.e., clicking away while watching TV is not focused practice to me) is a good regimen to get into, and one I try to maintain (with varying degrees of success).

It might also be a good idea to keep live fire sessions short when starting out with a 642. The recoil, combined with the DA pull, can become tiring very quickly. When I started with my 642 I kept my sessions to 50 rounds. Now I limit myself to 100 rounds standard pressure or 50 standard/25 +P for each shooting session. I usually incorporate ball-and-dummy drills, too.

 

[turbo38gn]

You're kidding right?... 25yds with an airweight the first time out.. Boss, get it right with a target that you can see where it's hitting at, what the gun was designed for, 7 yards max, find where you are hitting the target, make your adjustments necessary to hit it where you want to, then move out if that's what you want to do. Personally, I would never waste my time shooting that gun more than 20-25ft.. what's the point... First time I shot my 638, I was about a mile high left.. once I figured out how to grip it, I brought it right in to pOA.. The grip is completely different than anything else you may be shooting. Work that grip, but do it at a distance you can find the POI..

 

[ContinentalOp]

You're kidding right?... 25yds with an airweight the first time out.. Boss, get it right with a target that you can see where it's hitting at, what the gun was designed for, 7 yards max, find where you are hitting the target, make your adjustments necessary to hit it where you want to, then move out if that's what you want to do. Personally, I would never waste my time shooting that gun more than 20-25ft.. what's the point... First time I shot my 638, I was about a mile high left.. once I figured out how to grip it, I brought it right in to pOA.. The grip is completely different than anything else you may be shooting. Work that grip, but do it at a distance you can find the POI..

Excellent advice. The farthest I've ever shot my 642 is 10 yards (so far), but I do nearly all my shooting inside 15 feet, and most of that shooting is inside 8 feet.

 

[chp]

Good advise given above. Another consideration is to experiment with different grips. IMO, grips that fit your hand are very important to shooting any gun - but especially a J Frame - well.

Also - as stated above - a J Frame is not much of a 25 yd revo. It can be done, but its mission is fast, up close, center-of-mass shooting. Often while moving, one handed and in non-static shooting positions. Just mho.

 

[PeterCartwright]

You might want to try getting comfortable shooting light flat-top wadcutters. There is minimal recoil, even in the Airweights and Airlites, and it will give you the opportunity to really sit down on each shot and work on steadiness and placement. From there, you can move up to heavier loads and defense rounds. You won't become a long range marksman, but you should develop better control and confidence. Worked well for me with my lightweight J-frames after shooting Ks and Ls for years.

I like this advice. And the recommendation to reduce your range. If you pay your dues at the 7 yard line, I think you may surprise yourself at some longer ranges. But 25 yards is still a bit of a stretch...at least for an 8" plate. My 642 prints Winchester 147 gr. wadcutters very nicely. I'll bet yours does as well.

For what it's worth, I limit my range time with the Airweight to whatever my hands can take. I use a "crush" grip, and after a while, my hands get tired. I've also put a bit of paint on the front sight. It helps out the "old dude" eyes.

PC

 

[mc5aw]

+1 on turbo's comment. I misread the OP as "25 ft" not "25 yds". That's two and a half first downs ... not realistic practice distance for a J.

 

[MWark]

+1 on turbo's comment. I misread the OP as "25 ft" not "25 yds". That's two and a half first downs ... not realistic practice distance for a J.

Man you are expecting WAY TOO MUCH! All the post that pointed that out are correct.
Try your new snub at 21 feet (7yards), that's what it made for. It fits in your pocket or on your ankle and kicks *ars* at arms length.

However after all is said and done I would be a customer for that worthless p o s.

 

[6pack]

+1 on turbo's comment. I misread the OP as "25 ft" not "25 yds". That's two and a half first downs ... not realistic practice distance for a J.

I agree completely.

I think the OP has to recalibrate his expectations with the DAO revolver. 25yds......not going to be happy unless he's shooting single action style....with a sweet trigger and perfect hold.


Those DAO Airweights were simply not designed for such range work. They were intended to carry easy in a small and light package and draw snagfree and function with 100% reliability.


Once you adjust expecations to match the design parameteres of the weapon then I"m sure satisfaction will be achieved.

 

[photoman]

Guys... I'm making good hits on the B-27 all day long at 25 yards with a 642 and I'm not that good of a shot. I think some of you underestimate the Centennial. With some practice, it can be done.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Guys... I'm making good hits on the B-27 all day long at 25 yards with a 642 and I'm not that good of a shot. I think some of you underestimate the Centennial. With some practice, it can be done.

True, but I think it's important to walk before running. First time out with a 642 at 25 yards is probably too much for most shooters, imo. Eventually I'd like to try it out at that distance, but my priority is close-range self-defense shooting, so that's what I focus on.

 

[MWark]

True, but I think it's important to walk before running. First time out with a 642 at 25 yards is probably too much for most shooters, imo. Eventually I'd like to try it out at that distance, but my priority is close-range self-defense shooting, so that's what I focus on.

BINGO!
I shoot ducks on the wing with my snubbie but one needs to realize that it takes time.

 

[681ismyfavorite]

i was surprised how well my wife's crimson trace grips made her model 60 NY-1 shoot.

on a cloudy day that red dot made aiming so much easier at 25 yards.

we dont shoot it that far for practice but i just had to see what it could do.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Years ago I'd plink with a model 60 shooting 12" metal rams at 50 yards. The rams were resting on a sandy berm, so when I hit one it wouldn't fall over.

I was happy when I hit 2 in a cylinder full. Some are great with subbies, I'm average with them.

These guns aren't for target shooting, but with enough time spent are still satisfying to shoot. Heck, any gun is fun to shoot!

Enjoy your time at the range.

 

[samandglove1]

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice. These comments were exactly the input I was looking for. I will reevaluate my training regiment.

 

[JohnK]

The above comment on Crimson Trace Laser Grips, is spot on.

I don't know your age, but I am in my 60's, and I simply cannot see the tiny sights on my 642's. (presbyopia)

The laser will also teach you trigger control very quickly.

I don't have a defensive handgun without them.

 

[What the]

Very good advice given in the previous posts, although these are primarily short range defensive guns with practice one can with good eyes hit consistently at 25 yards. So I don't believe you have to limit shooting to seven to ten yards.

By the by hitting that plate at twenty five yards even once per cylinder full isn't that easy in my book especially when it's your first time shooting it. Wads at shorter ranges with a large cardboard backstop will give you instant feedback when you shoot.

I agree that different grips may help,you will know they are right when you hold it the first time. These short barrel revolvers are natural pointers for me. It just takes time to learn shooting these short guns well.

Once you learn shooting DAO it will pay off in spades in all your handgun shooting. To me it's akin to teaching people to drive stick shift cars...the time spent learning may serve you well one day.