My S&W Model 642 is wearing out! Possible fixes?

[sgt127]

I carried that for about 25 years as a back up on duty. I don’t think I’ve fired 400 hundred rounds through. It’s miserable to shoot.

It’s the only gun I figured I might wear out from the outside, in.

You have my respect for shooting that many rounds through one.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think I read somewhere that 4k to 5k is pushing the limits of the aluminum alloy airweight revolver. If it were steel it would be a different story.

I have a M442 which is the same gun but in black. I think I have maybe 500/600 rounds and its still tight as a drum but that is nowhere near 5k rounds.

Like said above, send it back to S&W for repairs, it's covered.

 

[trackskippy]

I know the 642s arent pleasant to shoot with full power loads, but if its what you choose to use for a carry gun, and that's what you load it with, then you really need to practice with what you use, and on a regular basis. How else are you going to be competent with it?

I still have a 642 and shoot it once a month or so these days. I no longer carry it, as I found something else that fills that role better, and can be shot enough in practice to be effective, but I like to stay familiar with it. 50 rounds at an outing are about all I can take anymore, and my hand isnt very happy about it afterward.

I had my 642 and a 2" Model 10 out yesterday. The 100 rounds through the 10 was nothing, the 50 through the 642 had its usual effect. Screw that!

 

[trackskippy]

This is mine. Dont know how many rounds are through it, but its got a few. The finish is starting to go in a number of places as is common with this finish.




I gave my back up to my son when I quit carrying mine, and he carried it for about a year in a pocket while at work. The finish on it is about gone and really rough now. My one buddy used to carry a 442, and had a similar experience, although his looked a LOT uglier, as the contrast between the black and underlying alloy is stark.

Not anything that affected function though, but they arent what you normally see posted when people post up picks.

 

[wcwhitey]

I read somewhere where Colt used to recommend sending back to the factory their alloy guns at a certain interval for evaluation of 500/1000 rounds. With your round count I would not be surprised that any gun alloy or not to show signs of wear. Your damage is as much handling and cycling as it is from shooting. It would probably be impossible to figure but try to figure how many times it was dry fired as well as opened and closed. I actually think that that wear would be kind of expected from and Airweight shot and handled so much. Not bad really for a $400 revolver.

 

[blue32]

When the hammer stud on my first 642 broke at around 4,300 S&W replaced it for free. The replacement now has about 4,400 and I have no doubt S&W will eventually replace it too. Considering the free replacement, its the cheapest gun I've ever bought and one of the best deals out there. If I could go back and get something else I would have bought a 640 pro but mostly because the clearcoat on the 642 yellows and peels over time.

 

[buck460XVR]

Smith and Wesson won't cover their life time warranty. I had the same problem.

Be interesting to know why. The lifetime warranty for their handguns didn't come out til February 1989 and is to the original owner only. That is generally the only criteria. Even if they determine that it is still within specs as for safety and function, they will still send a prepaid shipping label to inspect it. It would cost nuttin' to contact S&W and at least see what they have to say. Their answer is what counts.

If the OP is shooting factory ammo, he has about 6 times the value of the gun itself in ammo. Even if he reloads, IMHO, he has still well gotten his monies worth outta the little .38. If the gun is not covered by warranty, and still works well, I see no reason not to keep shooting it. If the OP does not trust it as a viable SD weapon, then maybe buy another just like it and use the old gun as his practice weapon. I too believe the Alloy frame is the culprit, but in all reality, there is a tradeoff is durability, for it being lightweight. My Airweight 637 is several decades old and cost me just over $300 when bought new and is covered under the lifetime warranty. While I do not have 5000 rounds thru it yet, it has performed flawlessly. Pretty cheap investment for the feeling of security it gives me. Wish I had more examples of this in my firearm collection.

 

[wcwhitey]

Be interesting to know why. The lifetime warranty for their handguns didn't come out til February 1989 and is to the original owner only. That is generally the only criteria. Even if they determine that it is still within specs as for safety and function, they will still send a prepaid shipping label to inspect it. It would cost nuttin' to contact S&W and at least see what they have to say. Their answer is what counts.

If the OP is shooting factory ammo, he has about 6 times the value of the gun itself in ammo. Even if he reloads, IMHO, he has still well gotten his monies worth outta the little .38. If the gun is not covered by warranty, and still works well, I see no reason not to keep shooting it. If the OP does not trust it as a viable SD weapon, then maybe buy another just like it and use the old gun as his practice weapon. I too believe the Alloy frame is the culprit, but in all reality, there is a tradeoff is durability, for it being lightweight. My Airweight 637 is several decades old and cost me just over $300 when bought new and is covered under the lifetime warranty. While I do not have 5000 rounds thru it yet, it has performed flawlessly. Pretty cheap investment for the feeling of security it gives me. Wish I had more examples of this in my firearm collection.

Really good points. I also wonder what the life expectancy or round count is on a good Airweight. I have a few guns around that number or exceeding it by a good margin. None of them are Airweight or alloy frames. As with anything else, everything wears out eventually. 5000 rounds ain’t that bad, I honestly would expect less.

 

[earplug]

I sent my S&W 642 to the factory and they sent it back with a note that it was worn out and not covered, Fair were and tear.

Charter Arms revolvers have some nifty design differences compared to a S&W, but the fact that the cylinder center pin sweeps across the slot for the hand/pawl . . . well, I think that's a design flaw.

If this steel frame Charter Arms is showing wear at the slot from the center pin, imagine how quickly that wear happens on alloy framed Charter Arms revolvers. Notice the round shaped chamfer forming across the hand/pawl slot, which causes the centerpin to want to stop in that slot.

Due to this, I open the cylinder by pulling the ejector rod from the front to reduce further wear. Can't do that with more modern CA revolvers with a shrouded ejector rod.

View attachment 1074354

Charter has a alloy grip frame. Steel recoil shield.

Be interesting to know why. The lifetime warranty for their handguns didn't come out til February 1989 and is to the original owner only. That is generally the only criteria. Even if they determine that it is still within specs as for safety and function, they will still send a prepaid shipping label to inspect it. It would cost nuttin' to contact S&W and at least see what they have to say. Their answer is what counts.

If the OP is shooting factory ammo, he has about 6 times the value of the gun itself in ammo. Even if he reloads, IMHO, he has still well gotten his monies worth outta the little .38. If the gun is not covered by warranty, and still works well, I see no reason not to keep shooting it. If the OP does not trust it as a viable SD weapon, then maybe buy another just like it and use the old gun as his practice weapon. I too believe the Alloy frame is the culprit, but in all reality, there is a tradeoff is durability, for it being lightweight. My Airweight 637 is several decades old and cost me just over $300 when bought new and is covered under the lifetime warranty. While I do not have 5000 rounds thru it yet, it has performed flawlessly. Pretty cheap investment for the feeling of security it gives me. Wish I had more examples of this in my firearm collection.

 

[Ethan Verity]

It makes sense to me that S&W wouldn't replace a gun for standard wear and tear issues, at least not for free. I can see if something outright breaks though, like the hammer stud.

I'm tempted to eventually replace this with a pre-lock Model 640, instead of another 642. I don't mind the extra weight for a gun that I can shoot to my heart's content. I pocket carry a Walther PPK on occasion, which is in the same weight class as the 640, and don't find it uncomfortable.

 

[sgt127]

Somehow hoping to get warranty to cover that is, to me, disingenuous. It worked perfectly for as long as it did. There is absolutely no manufacturing defect. It was, quite literally, worn out.

This is why gun companies are foolish to offer life time warranties on things that will, if used, accumulate wear until they fail.

Like a lifetime warranty on tennis shoes.

 

[trackskippy]

Then again, you have companies like Glock, that give you a 1 year warranty, and 9 years out, with a worn out gun, must figure if you're willing to stick by them and wear it out, they will fix it up for you.

 

[Rubone]

One of the first things I learned 50 years ago as a young revolver enthusiast and S&W fan was "if you want to shoot it a lot go steel, if you want to carry it an Airweight is fine but if you shoot it a lot you will shoot it apart". That has served me well over the years. I personally would never expect S&W to do anything about it, except perhaps send a textbook on metallurgy.

This also brings to mind the threads on gun cost. Do you really think that companies that replace everything are not making it up on the other end? Corporate thinking is not about doing a "good service" or "good will". They operate just like the government, "We'll give you anything you need, after all it's your money!"

 

[tubeshooter]

I'm tempted to eventually replace this with a pre-lock Model 640, instead of another 642. I don't mind the extra weight for a gun that I can shoot to my heart's content. I pocket carry a Walther PPK on occasion, which is in the same weight class as the 640, and don't find it uncomfortable.

I have and like a model 640, but to be honest I am thinking for what you would spend for premium model (e.g. pre-lock) you might want to consider some other more recently available options.

Similar weight plus an additional shot.
Many report a superior trigger and/or better handling to boot.
Something to consider.

 

[chicharrones]

Charter has a alloy grip frame. Steel recoil shield.

Many are built that way. The modern Lite models have an aluminum cylinder frame and a polymer grip frame. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/charter-arms-undercover.854255/page-2#post-11817468

from https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/charter-arms-undercover.854255/

 

[sgt127]

Then again, you have companies like Glock, that give you a 1 year warranty, and 9 years out, with a worn out gun, must figure if you're willing to stick by them and wear it out, they will fix it up for you.

True. But, let’s be honest. A Glock slide or barrel are damned near indestructible. All the other parts, melt some milk jugs, add black dye and feed them into the injection molding machine.

 

[trackskippy]

I think the companies that do take care of you are just doing good/smart business and its good for everyone.

From our standpoint, we get something fixed or replaced for free, and who doesn't like that?

From their standpoint, the majority of people dont ever shoot their guns to the point of actually wearing them out, so if they have to take care of one here or there, its really no big deal, and its great PR.

I agree with you, if you shoot it enough to wear it out, you got your moneys worth, and its just part of normal use. I wouldn't hold any failures against the maker at that point. But hey, if they offer a "lifetime warranty" on things, then that's something they should honor, or dont offer it.

As I said earlier, Glock only offers a 1 year warranty, but they seem to have a different outlook on things, and I think that goes a long way in the eyes of those of us that buy them.

And who looks better in the long run? The company that offers a lifetime warranty and then says they wont honor it, or the company that offers a limited warranty, and way down the road, takes care of you, no questions asked?

I like S&W and most of their guns Ive owned. Over the years, and considering how many of their guns Ive owned, and how many rounds Ive put through them, Ive only had two dealings with their CS department (both new guns with problems, not shot/worn out), and in the end, they took care of me. They are a bit of a PITA to deal with, and in both cases for me, it took them three trys back and forth to get it right, but they did get it right.

 

[kwb377]

It's got a lifetime warranty. Send it to SW.

A warranty covers manufacturer's defects, not wear from normal use.

Imagine taking your truck with 200k hard-use miles on it to the dealer and expecting them to replace the piston rings under warranty.

 

[Thunderchicken]

I have a 638 which I carry, and like a lot. I like being able to fire single-action if I want. I had an all-steel version—don’t know what number it was, that someone had “improved” so it had probably a one-pound single-action trigger. I found out a few months after I got it used from Cabella’s and got rid of it in favor of a new 638.

So my question is, do they make anything with the form of the 638 in all-steel any more? I can’t find anything on S&W’s web site that matches. Closest thing is the 36, but that has no hammer shroud, which I prefer for pocket carry. I guess I should have kept my original gun and had Smith fix the action, but like they say, “too soon old, too late smart.”

And no, I’ll probably never fire 1000 rounds through my 638, so maybe it makes no difference. Interesting thread.

 

[tubeshooter]

I have a 638 which I carry, and like a lot. I like being able to fire single-action if I want. I had an all-steel version—don’t know what number it was, that someone had “improved” so it had probably a one-pound single-action trigger. I found out a few months after I got it used from Cabella’s and got rid of it in favor of a new 638.

So my question is, do they make anything with the form of the 638 in all-steel any more? I can’t find anything on S&W’s web site that matches. Closest thing is the 36, but that has no hammer shroud, which I prefer for pocket carry. I guess I should have kept my original gun and had Smith fix the action, but like they say, “too soon old, too late smart.”

And no, I’ll probably never fire 1000 rounds through my 638, so maybe it makes no difference. Interesting thread.

Hmm - I was going to just simply blurt out "You want a model 649", but I don't see it listed on their website. That being said, they made quite a few of them so as long as you don't mind the lock you should be able to find a used/legacy model without much trouble.


Just goes to show - yesterday's "taken for granted" doesn't always mean today's "good information". Better to double-check with a quick search rather than just parrot something because it was that way for a long time. I had no idea that they had stopped current production; I guess the overall demand simply wasn't there.

 

[welldoya]

I own two 642s, both with CT laser grips and I like them but to me, there’s nothing like a model 36.

 

[Homerboy]

Somehow hoping to get warranty to cover that is, to me, disingenuous. It worked perfectly for as long as it did. There is absolutely no manufacturing defect. It was, quite literally, worn out.

This is why gun companies are foolish to offer life time warranties on things that will, if used, accumulate wear until they fail.

Like a lifetime warranty on tennis shoes.

I sent in a 29 year old Gen 2 Glock 19 to Glock and they replaced virtually every internal part and charged me nothing.

A friend sent in his dad’s Security Six to Ruger when his dad died. At least 25,000-30,000 magnum loads through it. They rebuilt it to like new for free.

I used to send in used S&W pistols and revolvers and S&W would cover it, no questions asked. Their warranty reputation has taken a hit in the last decade or so.

 

[aaaaa]

only 5000 rounds? I already have put nearly 500 through my 642 . Time to lay it aside and shoot something else.

Well I may have to put another 100 or more rounds thought my 642 after all. I returned to the stock grip and today I figured I should shoot it a little at the range. Ran two cylinders full. At first my shots were hitting low and left by perhaps 8 inches at 5 yards. Then I concentrated and tried to hold it more steady while working the DA trigger and managed to hit where I wanted to. But in a SD event, one does not have time to do that. It needs to be muscle memory. I can also get a laser bore sight to throw a dot on the wall and try dry firing while keeping the dot from moving.

 

[.38 Special]

Congratulations! You wore out a revolver, which puts you in elite company - and which must have cost you a pretty penny. Your reward is well-above average shooting skill, and a brand new revolver that you get to pay for out of your own pocket.

 

[lee n. field]

My S&W Model 642 has somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 rounds through it thus far, roughly 1/4 of that being +P. The center pin hole in the frame is starting to oval (egg) in shape, making the lock up a bit sloppy.

I don't think it's from trying to push the cylinder open before fully pushing the latch, because I'm aware not to do that... and the hole is deformed at the bottom (not just to the side). I believe this was caused by recoil force.

I always hear these revolvers should outlast you, but I guess actually shooting them a lot is not normal?

Anyway, I was wondering what reputable gunsmiths would be able to fix something like this, with a metal bushing insert perhaps?

I don't think there's a fix.

Is it even worth fixing?

The 442/642? Probably not. New frame, if S&W would do it under warranty, which I doubt.

Does it need to be fixed?

Does it still shoot OK?

[Since the damage is in the frame, which is the serialized part, it can't just be replaced.

The frame can be replaced. S&W replaced the frame on my 642. All other parts got moved to that. Having a new SN, it did require the full FFL transfer rigmarole.

I'm guessing I have a few thousand more rounds before it's definitely time to fix or retire it. If I have to replace it I've learned my lesson; rarely shoot the next one!

Those aren't expensive, as S&W revolvers go. I would just shoot as you're used to.