S&W 637 vs 642 Airweight for Women's SD

[IJ1981]

My oldest daughter has decided to buy a self defense handgun. After a lot of research she has settled on one of these S&W models
.
Can THR help us out? What are the Pros and Cons between these 2 fine guns for a 50 year old single woman?

 

[hms365]

I have a 637 and really like it now. I did not like it at first because i have big hands and that little grip was not cutting it. The little thing was bucking all over because it was so light and the grips were so small for me. I would just keep replacement grips in mind if it does seem to fit right or the recoil seems harsh.

 

[Hookeye]

My advice............have her try a rental model at a range.
My gal just had to have a 642.........and after purchase says its too much.
But she isn't driven to practice with it either.

Also, indoor ranges make things more blasty.

If you can, have her try a M60 Pro.

 

[Mizar]

Did she shot any of them? Because a lightweight .38 Spl is not the most pleasant thing to fire, especially for a woman with limited experience. I would suggest for you to take a look at the S&W 640, loaded with "Specials" - the extra weight has it's benefits and it's still quite compact and lightweight revolver, despite being all steel and with slightly bigger frame. To the topic - out of those two I would pick a 642 and then send it for a trigger job. For an SD revolver DA shooting is a must and the concealed hammer is snug free, which is something important, but quite often overlooked.

 

[Slamfire]

The M637 has an exposed hammer




Main issue I have with concealed carry exposed hammers is they snag on everything. Might be an issue if your Daughter carries the thing in her purse. Not that I have a purse, but I prefer the M642 because it is snag free




But, your Daughter may not have the hand strength to double action a M642, and this can only be verified by test. I thought the "Lady Smith" version had different leverage for a lighter pull, but after looking at this article where the Lady Smith M642 had a 13 lb pull, maybe not.

I will offer another Airweight, the M638



Now the thing is with the M638, the hammer is shrouded. The spur can be cocked with the thumb.





When you get down to it, the choice needs to be made by your Daughter after she has handled these things and determined she can manipulate the action.

 

[L-2]

There's also a Model 638, which has the single-action hammer cocking capability, but the hammer is shrouded which prevents snagging as the 642 would provide.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/j-frame-163070

For me, these J-frames are a compromise with low capacity (only 5 rounds); I don't shoot any of them too well; but allows me to carry a firearm when any of my other handguns just are too big.

I probably shoot the 642 the worst, but a Pachmayr "Compac" grip makes me a bit more accurate, but makes for a larger-to-carry gun:
https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/pachmayr/handgun-grips/revolver-grips/compac-grips
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/j-frame-103810

I don't have a 637, but I do have a similar, now discontinued .38 Special Mod. 60 (a .357 version is still current). With the weight and single-action capability I am more accurate with it. I can more easily hit at 15 yards with its single-action capability vs. my 642's double-action-only (DAO) capability. The OP's sister may not even be interested in shooting at 15 yards, however (another limitation). I suspect I could tighten my groups better with more practice but that .38 Special ammo pricing is up there in .45ACP cost.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-60
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-637

I also have a Mod. 640 Pro in .357 Magnum, but usually only carry and shoot .38 Special out of it. With its sights, the larger Pachmayr Compac grip I put on it, and its weight, it probably ties with my Mod. 60, but it makes for a larger & heavier gun.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/performance-center-pro-series-model-640

The answer is for the OP's sister to make a choice, knowing the differences between the two. The other choice is, of course, to buy both. Then the sister can come back here and tell us which one she likes better.

 

[fxvr5]

Some 637 and 642 models offer an enhanced action which reduces the trigger pull to about 10 pounds. Those would be the models to look at if a heavy trigger pull is an issue.

 

[Riomouse911]

Please try to get her to shoot a few different guns before she buys. Ol’ Sir Issac’s motion laws really come back to bite new shooters with the majority of .38 Special ammo in airweight guns.

I just went through this with a friends MIL, she settled on buying a heavier-slightly larger Colt Cobra .38 as it didn’t sting her hands like my S&W 442 did. (If a gun is unpleasant for a beginner to shoot, odds are it wont be shot much again for needed practice or training. )

I don’t want to wet on your charcoal, but this scenario has played out tens of thousands of times over the decades. I would hate for your daughter to spend a bunch of $$ to buy a gun she can’t stand.

Good luck!

Stay safe.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have both a 642 and a 437 (black version of the 637). I shoot only 38 Special ammunition in them because even +P is objectionable in it.

The 642 is better for carry due the shrouded hammer. But, you can only shoot double action. Not a big issue but you have to practice alot to become proficient with. It took me a while to get proficient with the da trigger.

Consider the 638 and 60.

Plan to buy new stocks like somebody else is paying for them. It will take a while for the young lady to find what is comfortable to use. Don’t assume.

If you can borrow or rent some examples before buying, you can rule out some options without buying.

 

[lee n. field]

My oldest daughter has decided to buy a self defense handgun. After a lot of research she has settled on one of these S&W models
.
Can THR help us out? What are the Pros and Cons between these 2 fine guns for a 50 year old single woman?

Is she going to put in the work to get competent?

Pick one. Don't hardly matter.

Grip and holster choice are going to matter, too.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

A Ruger LCR in .327 Magnum is a much better choice. Load it with Federal .32 H&R Magnum or Underwood .327 Magnum 95gr Xtreme Defender. Recoil is less than Underwood .38 Special 150gr LWC in a 442.

 

[edwardware]

After a lot of research. . .

If that research didn't include shooting both, toss it all in the trash and go rent them.

I carry a 642. Only one person I have ever handed it to in 15 years has run a full five rounds through it before realizing it wasn't worth the bite. It's a very unpleasant gun to shoot if you don't have above average (male) hand strength. Your daughter doesn't.

Tell your daughter to get off the internet and go shoot.

 

[IJ1981]

Thank you all for the advice. We will take it to heart.

 

[berettaprofessor]

None of the above. I had a 637. Kicked like a mule and with the 2 inch barrel I couldn't hit anything from more than 5 feet away. Find a nice 4 inch barreled steel gun so the recoil is tamed and she will practice with it.

 

[sixgunner455]

Someone sold my MIL a 637 without consulting or shooting or borrowing any of my guns. While she was super excited about it, when she actually shot it, she found that it was no fun to shoot with the 125gr +P JHP ammunition they sold her.

I sent her a care package for her new gun, including some hand loaded light recoiling practice rounds and some FGMM wadcutters to use for carry, a holster, and some snap caps for dry fire. Those all work better for her, but she ended up buying a .22 as well and enjoying it more.

I also suggest that your daughter spend some time shooting to find out what she likes before she buys something.

 

[Lt Shaffer]

I, too, like the 638 but it seems more people go for the 642. I don't like the exposed hammer on the 637.

 

[cfullgraf]

If that research didn't include shooting both, toss it all in the trash and go rent them.

I carry a 642. Only one person I have ever handed it to in 15 years has run a full five rounds through it before realizing it wasn't worth the bite. It's a very unpleasant gun to shoot if you don't have above average (male) hand strength. Your daughter doesn't.

Tell your daughter to get off the internet and go shoot.

I'll agree if you do choose your ammunition correctly.

Remember, a hit with a 38 Special trumps a miss with anything else.

I do not like shooting my Airweights with anything stronger than standard 38 Special. What do you think a young lady with limited shooting experience will accept?

 

[Old Dog]

Of the two choices, my personal opinion is that for concealed carry, the 642 with its shrouded hammer (you're gonna shoot a J-frame in a self-defense situation in DA anyway and its no-snag draw from a holster, pocket or purse) is a much better option than the 637, but my preference would be the 442 (black finish over whatever S&W puts on the 642 that chips and peels off). Someone mentioned the Bodyguards, which does provide the option of cocking the hammer.

I will say that over the past couple of years I've encountered several women ranging from twenty-somethings to AARP-eligible who say they prefer revolvers due to the simplicity of operation. Yet, as others note -- a lightweight J-frame is not super-fun to shoot. A bit easier, though, with standard-pressure 148 gr WCs or 158 gr LSWCs over the lightweight fast movers (125 gr +P JHPs).

Even though I'm turning into a bit of a Colt revolver fan (the new Cobra is excellent as is the 3" King Cobra), maybe the Kimber K6 would be an option. A bit more weight, 6 rounds over 5, excellent sights, and arguably a better trigger than current production J-frames..

Off-topic, the wife has chosen for her current carry piece a SIG P-365 with the frame-mounted safety while one of the daughters goes with a SIG P-228 (she says she shoots bigger handguns better and doesn't mind the size and weight).

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree she should shoot an Airweight revolver before she buys. They are very light and the recoil isn't as easy to manage as some other revolvers. It is not a beginners revolver. If she really wants one I would suggest of a M640 instead. It weighs 23oz instead of 14oz so controlling the recoil is easier and so are accurate followup shots.

Yes I know it's a .357 Magnum but you can still carry .38 Special SD ammo instead.

Of the 2 listed I would buy the M642. I carry the M442 daily while h is the same gun in black.

 

[jdc1244]

With regard to the 642 and variants – it depends on what one considers to be appropriate self-defense, which is both personal and subjective.

For those who consider appropriate self-defense to be where one is in close proximity to, or in contact with, one’s attacker, how ‘comfortable’ it is shooting the revolver is irrelevant – it needs to go off only once, perhaps twice.

 

[nick22]

My son in law and I collaborated together and bought my daughter who is a young 20 something that weighs 120 or so pound a 637 last year. It's the pro model if I recall correctly. She loves shooting that revolver with some mild reloads. As Elmer Keith put it some people are better at taking recoil than others. Stay away from plus P stuff and I think she will be fine. Disclaimer my daughter is in every way a tough little country girl so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Craig_AR]

Is her decision on a light weight 5 shot snubnose revolver based on ease of carry, (size and weight),
or an expectation she may someday have to actually shoot at a miscreant?
If the former, I echo earlier replies that she rent one and actually shoot it before buying anything. It doesn't really matter how easy a gun is to carry concealed if it is such a pain to shoot that she will never train or practice with it. Also, the earlier comment on carrying with standard .38SP JHP rather than +P defensive rounds is relevant. If it is too painful to shoot, and she never practices to stay skilled with it, she might as well just carry a rock to throw at an attacker.

The side issue, assuming she actually is willing to shoot it often enough to train and practice, is the selection of traditional exposed hammer (637), shrouded hammer (638), or hammerless (642).
Either the 642 or 638 should be better for pocket or purse carry to reduce the hammer snag danger on draw.

 

[Tallball]

For home, a Model 36 instead. It's the same revolver as the 637, but made of steel and easier to shoot.

For carry, 642. It's hammerless and snagproof. I carry one often.

I carry the very light 642 or LCR, but I do most of my practice with a $200 used steel Taurus.

 

[edwardware]

What do you think a young lady with limited shooting experience will accept?

The OP stated:

. . . a 50 year old single woman

and that's old enough to start experiencing recoil more acutely than younger hands do.

Additionally, unless you have taught women to shoot (or other similar experience), you might underestimate the magnitude of the difference in grip strength. My older female students have difficulty with weapon manipulations that most men never notice doing. It's really quite significant.

 

[Hookeye]

Interesting.
I find the recoil of a 642 to be no big deal
Rip the X at 21 ft. Nice gun.

But Ive shot for a little while LOL.

Even so, if I had to pack a J frame itd be a M60 pro and Id do a half hammer bob.

In fact, the 642 may be traded in on one this weekend. My oldest is petite like her mom and found the trigger too much, like her mom. Not for me....i love my P365.