With summer here my 642 will be getting the nod a few times a month when the 19 or 26 won’t cut it. As I can now find 38 in stores, decided to freshen up my shooting and took it to the range today.
Haven’t carried it or shot it since last summer and damn, I forgot how much it kicks and how poor I am with it past 15 feet.
I consider myself a good shot and rather tolerant of harsh loads, but man. Woof.
I have a love hate relationship with this pistol like none other.
I can’t believe it gets recommended for chicks or first time carriers.
A revolver is a good recommendation for someone with little experience and little desire to train regularly, because of simplicity. A Model 642 would be a good recommendation for someone with more experience and who is willing to train regularly. If it is not a carry piece and used for home defense, in my opinion bigger is better. A K Frame or L Frame with 4"-6" barrel would be a better choice. I would never recommend a small revolver for concealed carry to a person who is small of stature without letting them shoot one of mine first.
My wife has 2 J Frames and she is very accurate with both revolvers. They do have a bit of recoil and some people don’t tolerate it well. She can fire 100-150 rounds of standard velocity lead cartridges and a few defensive rounds during a range session without complaining. She only shoots 4 or 5 times a year though.
Rubber grips that cover the back strap make a noticeable difference on a J Frame. Anyone who shoots a J Frame regularly should try a set.
OP- What are your intentions for this thread, and how can we help you?
The J’s are “always guns” for their portability, but aren’t always a good fit for for shooter. Certain techniques and support gear are helpful. You might take a look at these threads for the experiences of other members running Js and see what might help you out as well.
I shot mine quite a bit. It has been a long time since I have thought much about the recoil. I think it mainly comes from not gripping the gun correctly. Unfortunately, the correct grip seems to come more from practice more than any particular technique. Or I may just have killed off my nerves with my Scandium J-frame.
Thank you for that. I feel like I’ve been enabling mine. I’ve tried, even tried to have her exercise, but she just can’t consistently rack the slide of certain automatics.
Before anyone says practice, she can’t drive well either, and she’s been doing that for 20 years.
I’ve seen women slighter than my wife work a Sig 226 in .357sig without complaining. I’m convinced that it also takes a “can do” mindset to perform well at any task.
The airweight J frame is a conundrum for me. They are seductively easy to carry. Sadly, I do not shoot them well either. This is coming from someone who won a national championship with a 4" S&W Model 19, so don’t feel bad that they don’t seem to be a good fit for you either.
My guess is that a 642 will likely be used within 15 feet in most defensive situations. More practice can help or you could sell it and commit to another platform. Just be sure to carry.
Mine gets carried a lot more in this hot humid weather here this time of year. When cooler weather comes I will be carrying one of my semi autos.
Had it for about 3 years and I cannot deny how awesome of a bug it is - it carries, draws and points so perfectly and is an absolutely perfect bug/get off me gun.
I just hate the pull and recoil w the loads I have confidence in.
I only carry it as a primary maybe 10 times a year so I’m not too worried as it isn’t my main platform (Glock 26 or 19) and I would never sell it.
Might try an apex kit to at least fix up the pull - don’t want to change out grips as they are perfect for ease of draw and pocket carry. All the others seem a bit too big or too sticky.
I think I just need to love it for what it is and it shoot more.
Apex kit worth it?
If anyone has any recs for grips that don’t add bulk, please advise.
Try the Hornady Critical Defense 110gr (standard pressure), the Gold Dot 125 (standard pressure), or a 148 wadcutter. They are not optimal choices, but decent alternatives when recoil is a concern.
Might try an apex kit to at least fix up the pull - don’t want to change out grips as they are perfect for ease of draw and pocket carry. All the others seem a bit too big or too sticky.
I think I just need to love it for what it is and it shoot more.
Apex kit worth it?
If anyone has any recs for grips that don’t add bulk, please advise.
If Michael de Bethencourt or Claude Werner are within reach, their snub specific training would be a big help to you in getting the most out of the gun.
I like the CT laser grips. There are several options in single and combined materials. Make sure they work with your speed loaders.
The Apex duty/carry J frame kits lighten and smooth out the trigger pull. I have them in a couple of guns. As with all such kits double check ignition reliability, particularly with Winchester and CCI primers.
My casual wear pocket gun is a S&W 640 and has been for something like 20 years. This is the standard weight J frame and I have no issues with it. The J-Frame’s grip makes it easier to grab from a pocket holster and its profile makes it more snag free than some smaller automatics with sharp, angular slides.
I keep it loaded with Gold Dot 135 grain JHP +P. If I was running a lighter J frame I would run a standard velocity load, probably wadcutters. At this point I am not looking for expansion as much as something that will make a true .357 hole and be controllable. I consider the J-frame to be a 21 foot and in gun for upper body hits and 10 feet and in for head shots.
The 642, is in my opinion, an out dated gun. Where others carry semiautos in larger caliber with more capacity, some stick to their revolvers. Shoot with what you are comfortable with, I guess.
I would like to point out that the application potential of a revolver in a cqb contact distance is greatly unappreciated.
I have been carrying a J Frame for over 25 years and have fired thousands of rounds through them. A full size high capacity pistol would be better to have in an armed engagement, but much less convenient to carry.
If you train with them regularly a J Frame is a viable concealed carry firearm.
Agreed - I do not carry my 642 as a primary - it is a pure bug/get off me/bad breath/carry in coat pocket gun. That is why I am not considering selling and put up with the harsh recoil - under 15 feet I can shoot it fast and well enough. Past that it just falls apart.
