After getting really good with my Glock 19 over the past couple years I feel very underarmed with a J frame. One of my current training goals is to get my skill with the J frame up to where I feel more confident with it, I am finding the long DA trigger very difficult to master.
Try lots dry fire, and ball and dummy drills in your live fire.
I’ve had a 642 since they first came out; it now has the CT grips and rides in a front pocket in uniform or off-duty. I picked up a spare last year just in case. I also have a Ruger SP101 in .357 but haven’t used it much in a while.
Let me know if you want to shoot one of them, maybe we can get together at the club.
I may take you up on that, you shooting on the 6th?
I agree with Beat Trash. If I sell a pistol, and end up buying another just like it later on, that teaches even someone as dense as myself.
I do have a 642 with a set of CT laser grips. I do front pocket carry without an issue - I’m a big boy.
I did buy a used Model 60 in .357 that I use as a practice gun. I have one of the old Bianchi Lightning grips on it, which mimics a 628. I call it my “pocket rocket”, and it stays in the parka pocket in the winter.
Like others, I like the results from the Speer Short Barrel Gold Dots. Very accurate in both pistols.
A no lock J frame, a Colt Cobra (parts availability and potential repairs a concern), or both will always be a part of my armament.
The S&W 638 is hard to beat.
My thoughts on J-frames? The internal-hammer versions remain a top choice in defense weapons for certain applications.
I generally always carry a G23 or G30, IWB, when I go out.
But there are situations/scenarios where also carrying an internal hammer J-frame revolver, in the coat pocket, offers SUPREME tactical advantage.
Taking a walk on a forest trail, dark city streets, or on a remote strip of beach, for example, especially in the evening. There may be passersby who are friendly and well meaning, or passersby who may not appear threatening at first, but when they are immediately in front of you may stop, feign interest in asking for help, or the time, or ask for a “light” while they check you out.
This is a case where only the assailant knows what is about to happen. And it could be a perfectly innocent encounter, OR the beginning of your worst nightmare.
In such a situation, it may be very unlikely that you could draw a holstered weapon from under your clothing and fire quickly enough to react to a threat initiated by the other. But, with an internal-hammer J-frame in your hand and still in your coat pocket, ready to fire, you could launch a few rounds instantly right through the coat, without even having to pull the revolver out of your pocket.
In such a situation, if you felt even a possible threat from oncoming persons, you could hold the gun in your hand, in your pocket and be able to fire instantly right through the coat, if need be… or not fire at all, if no threat actually presented itself. Even if an assailant got the “jump” on you (as is easy for them to do since only they know what’s about to happen), you could react INSTANTLY, not 2 to 3 precious seconds later. The lack of that time lag could easily tilt the odds in your favor.
The internal hammer J-frame in a coat pocket gives supreme tactical advantage in a variety of potentially dangerous situations because it can be concealed even while it is being fired! And the beauty is that your weapon never need even be visual or presented if the potential threat does not occur.
For this reason, I will always want to have a 640 or 642 in addition to larger, semi-auto defense pistols.
Though many seem to like the ultra light weight snubbies, I don’t like them as while they may be a little more comfortable to carry, they are much less desireable to shoot. And shooting is what they are for!
I like the 640, myself, as it is heavy and absorbs the recoil from the .357 round quite nicely for it’s size, and is especially comfortable to fire with the Pachmayr rubber grips! Chronograph studies show that the .357 caliber really does not lose a lot of effectiveness with the short barrel. My preferred ammo in the 640 is Speer .357 magnum 135 gr. Gold Dot.
The 642 is a reasonable alternative to the 640; lighter in weight, chambered in .38 spl. My choice of ammo in this is the .38 cal version of the Speer 135 gr. Gold Dot loading.
No lock 442 & 642 are available as well as the model 40. I carry a no lock 442 and accuracy is there for a CCW gun. I’d rather carry a 45 ACP and I’m still working on doing that in the heat. Front pocket carry with a pocket holster and a reload in the other pocket.
When I “go Lite” I have a Ruger LCR with CTC grip. Love it, shoots like a dream and disappears in the pocket. YMMV…
Not what you wanted to hear … but I will share my thoughts anyway since my rationale and experience sort of mimics yours.
I previously had a M&P340 as my pocket gun. It was light weight but was still a fairly large package in my pocket. I won’t say folks know what was in my pocket but I never forget it was there either. Even with CT grips I never felt very confident with my accuracy with it. Yes, that’s a training issue … I know that.
I had never been a fan of the .380acp but after handling and shooting a LCP I bought one. After proving itself reliable (several hundred rounds of varying ammo types) it became my pocket gun and the J was sold. I found the LCP to be quite accurate at close ranges and it was more pleasant to shoot than the J even with defensive loads. More pleasant means more willing to practice.
Eventually I had the chance to handle a 238. I bought it. Right away I figured out I shot this as well as any of my full sized pistols inside 15yds and was still confident at further distances. I even managed to get just over 50% hits on steel plates @ 50yrds while playing around (a couple of mags fired). Once this gun proved reliable it has become my pocket or discreet AIWB gun when I don’t want to carry full size. I am very confident with this gun. It’s accurate, it has a great SA trigger, it has real NS, and feels great with VZ grips.
The LCP will be sold/traded soon. I don’t need both.
Now, that prob doesn’t convince you of the merits of a .380acp … but to me I am more comfortable carrying a slightly less powered cartridge I KNOW I can make good hits with than a slightly more powered cartridge I’m not confident with.
YMMV.
I carry a 642 or two daily, both on duty as a BUG/s and off duty.
I often carry in a weak side pocket in a Nemesis holster, or ankle carry, depends on dress and what I am up to that day.
I don’t have any issues with pocket carry, nor do I have issues with shootability of the J frame. I find that in these modes of carry that the snubby carries better, for me, than a pistol, and is much easier to draw in a quickly, especially if I need to get a grip on the gun in a hurry.
Also, I much prefer throwing +P .38s downrange as opposed to .380 bullets, maybe I have just seen too many .380 shootings where the shootee was not impressed, I dunno.
I have had several Kel Tecs and an LCP, none of which were even remotely close to as reliable as my snubs.
Currently I’m loading the 135gr Gold Dot, since I found a case in stock during the great ammo drought, but I’m also happy with DPX, 158gr LSWCHP, and the Buffalo Bore wadcutter loading.
Probably not, I’ve got a family function that afternoon, but hit me on email when you know you’ll be at the club.
Up until about 8 months ago, I as carrying a Mod 637 more often than not for CCW. It was either in a holster or front pocket.
After picking up a Kahr PM9 and running it long enough at the range to prove it was reliable, the 637 now spends a lot of time on the top shelf of the safe.
For me, the PM9 shoots better and I could put 2 or 3 boxes through it during a practice session without any issues. After a box or maybe two in the 637, I was done. Practice with the PM9 is much more fun which means I do it more often. The fact that it likes the same range ammo as my XD9 makes for less work at the reloading bench too.
There are several good smiths who specialize in S&W revolvers. Get the action tuned up and the trigger face polished, and you’ll be surprised how much nicer it becomes. A set of LG-405 CT grips is also mandatory (IMHO) on a J-frame.
Well, to follow-up, I am going with the 642, will be picking one up this week. Thanks for the replies.
I regularly carry a 642 with CT LG405 grips as my only CCW. Two quotes come to mind…
“Friends don’t let friends carry mouse-guns” (Ayoob?) :eek:
and…
“The mouse-gun in your hand beats the heck out of the .45 at home in your nightstand.” (Author = unknown) 
Something to consider is a Raven Concealment (or similar ‘thin’ Kydex) IWB holster.
Pocket carry works with the right clothing (Old Navy cargo pants…older style with very deep front pockets), but as others have pointed out, while it’s not obvious ‘what’s’ in your pocket, it’s very obvious that you have ‘something’ substantial in your pocket.
Some might consider an IWB holster to be over-kill for a J-frame, but I’ve found that the 642 pretty much disappears under very lightweight clothing when I use my Raven holster. YMMV.
-Rainman
I already have a Nemisis and this will be my house pocket gun and will not be my primary carry, just a supplement. My P2KSK 9mm is my primary and will remain primary.
I have a 640-1 like the one that DHart posted a pic of. It’s reliable and your ammo options are good too.
I hear you about that long trigger pull. A little practice and you’ll be just fine with it.
cmoore
The S&W 642 only weighs 15oz empty and is an excellent gun for pocket carry or in an ankle holster. Makes for a great BUG with a couple of speed-loaders or speed strips loaded with Speer Gold Dot HP. Some times the pocket gun is the only one you can carry due to clothing attire limitations, etc.
I have seen it on sale at Gander Mountain for $449 a couple of time. I prefer the Smith over the plastic Ruger LCR.