I received a gift certificate for graduation from the academy for a local gun shop to buy a 442 (or 642) no-lock revolver. I went there yesterday to buy it and they told me that they were no longer in stock, that they were a limited run back in the spring, and they weren’t sure when/if they’d get them in again.
I’ve read on several forums where people don’t seem to trust the smith revolvers with the lock, but I was hoping for your opinion. I’m kind of leaning on getting an aimpoint with my gift certificate for the AR, and holding off until I have the money to find a no-lock version used, or from some other store. Thoughts?
Mine has a lock. I have about 500ish rounds through it so far and no issues. I don’t care for the lock as far as looks go and I understand some have had issues in harder recoiling pistols, but so far so good w/mine. If you can find one w/o a lock go for it, if not I wouldn’t let it sway you from purchasing a new one.
300 rounds plus through my .357 mag with lock no problems yet, something tells me you should get the aimpoint and wait on the S&W just so you will have exactly what you want
“Because there has been so much discussion on the topic on the internet forums, let’s discuss the internal key-lock safety on the new Smith & Wesson revolvers. I do not use them, and would be perfectly happy if the guns did not have them, but they are here to stay, and cause no problems. If you want to use it to secure your gun when it is out of your reach, it is there. If you think that a kid or stranger might touch your gun when you have to leave it at home for some reason, like when flying on commercial aircraft, use it. If you don’t want to use the lock, just ignore it. I always hear of some guy, who knew a guy, whose cousin’s friend had the lock to activate itself, but have never yet heard from anyone with first-hand experience with this. I have several of the S&W revolvers that have the key lock, and have never had a problem. My 342PD that I carry everyday has always fired without fail anytime that I have pulled the trigger. I trust my life daily to the little gun, and do not worry at all about the key lock. If it bothers you, take it out and throw it away, or grind off the cam, but it is crazy to let the key lock stop you from buying the best pocket revolver on the market.”
Your dealer is wrong, the no lock 442 and 642 are still made. Have them contact RSR, they are a gun distributor, and tell him to order you one. They have over 12hundred 642s in stock and about 650 442s as of just before Christmas.
Here’s a link with SKU numbers to give him so he knows what to order… http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/114896-rsr-has-642s-no-internal-lock.html
I’d get the no lock. As a matter of fact I have one of each. If anything for peace of mind.
I have seen even the sainted glock malfunction, but never a j-frame S&W with a lock have a problem, many people shoot them at my range, I am sure you are correct that there has been problems, but I am like Jeff never seen it myself, never seen one after the fact, our meet the owner of one it happened to.
very appropriate word, try some pachmayr decelerator grips makes the J-frame a little bigger but takes away some of the punishment when shooting hot loads
I chuckled when I read the first post because I remember going into withdrawl when I found out that S&W had planned on the locks. My first thought was “just great, something else to mess up”. I didn’t buy a S&W for a number of years until a couple of years ago. I purchased an M&P340 with the internal hammer (Centennial style). After the 7th shot (five of +P 38 and two 38 RNL) the hammer failed to drop on the next 3 rounds. Off to S&W it went and was returned several weeks later with a note saying the extractor and hand had been replaced. The revolver has 225 rounds of 38 RNL and +P mixture with no further problems, not even with the lock. Granted, that is not much in the round department but this is a lightweight frame and stainless cylinder which I have fun with but it sure isn’t like shooting my L frames.
I have had 2 recoil induced lockings with J-Frames. I’ll never buy another one with a lock. There are simply to many lock free guns on the market. I prefer the older models anyway. The ones before the frames were beefed up for .357 Mag.
My current J-Frames collection consist of a 442 no lock, and an Chiefs Special from the '70s. I have never been a gun collector but hunting up the older J’s is fun. It’s neat to have and handle a gun with history. I recommend owning a steel frame gun for training. The light weights are NO FUN.
Punished is right! Mine make me bleed. The cylinder release cuts my thumb. I shot a qualification about five years ago with the gun and was called away to investigate an accident. I did not realize my hand was shaking until I went to fill in the report. Not good for carpal tunnel.
I have two. One is fine, the other locked up on the second cylinder. It’s gone. I will not buy another revolver with the lock. I spoke with a Smith rep at SHOT08 and was told that they are aware that failures occur.
My prediction is that Smith and Wesson is headed for a world of pain.
My lock has never give me a problem. I don’t carry the 340PD much any more. I made a note to remove the lock. I did not know it was so easy. The lock has always made me nervous. I always carried the key with me just in case. The only issues I’ve had with the scandium gun is forgetting the inscription on the side of the bbl. I think it read shoot no less than 125 grain. Well twice I’ve forgotten and shot lighter bullets. The rounds dislodge themselves during recoil and LOCK UP YOUR GUN. embarassing on the rande deadly in the real world. It takes. Tools, ie a pen to get things up and running again. Or the ole Monadnock “De-Jammer” to get back in the game.