S & W 642 Deal

[kcofohio]

Fin, Fur, & Feathers opened a store about 4 mos. ago near Toledo. Their flyer showed the 642 & 442 on sale for $319, regularly $399. I have been keeping an eye out for a j-frame, because I bought a too small CT laser grip for a M-60 by mistake. Small grip and 357 don't usually mix too well. I'm amazed at the price drop on many handguns.
I got the 642 this past Thursday. The trigger pull weight isn't as bad as I had read on the net. But the feel is lacking in smoothness. I know, what do you expect from a gun that is priced near Charter Arms lightweights. Still, my LCR triggers are better than my 642 sample.
I'll pop the side plate off and have a look over for smoothness and lube.
Overall, nice little snubby and hard to pass on Fin's sale price.

 

[camsdaddy]

I understand your predicament. I once bought a glock 19 mag and didn't own a glock. A few weeks later I felt bad with it just sitting there so I bought a gun to use it in. I thought it the only logical solution.

I have purchased several j frames in the past few years. My most recent was a performance center 642 no lock. I got it for $3?? This summer and it was smooth out if the box. I think it's the only one I have not taken apart. The remainders I took apart cleaned and inspected for rough marks. Being a tinkerer I smoothed out anything that may need it and lubed and enjoyed. At $3?? For any of them I didn't mind and even if I added an Alex kit or single springs it was still a great deal. Of course a few hundred dry fires works wonders.

 

[sota]

I was going to say... I haven't found a single un-worked-over handgun that hasn't benefited from a couple hundred to a thousand pulls of the trigger in dry fire. Just load up snap cap(s) and do a hundred reps a day for a little over a week, then give it a good cleaning and lubing.

 

[bannockburn]

kcofohio

That's a great price on a Model 642! I paid slightly more than that quite a few years ago for my Model 638. I don't usually buy the display case model but this one was so well built and had such a great trigger pull on it that I went with it!

 

[kcofohio]

I understand your predicament. I once bought a glock 19 mag and didn't own a glock. A few weeks later I felt bad with it just sitting there so I bought a gun to use it in. I thought it the only logical solution.

I have purchased several j frames in the past few years. My most recent was a performance center 642 no lock. I got it for $3?? This summer and it was smooth out if the box. I think it's the only one I have not taken apart. The remainders I took apart cleaned and inspected for rough marks. Being a tinkerer I smoothed out anything that may need it and lubed and enjoyed. At $3?? For any of them I didn't mind and even if I added an Alex kit or single springs it was still a great deal. Of course a few hundred dry fires works wonders.

Yeah, I like taking them down, checking out the mechanics, smooth what I can, and lube. I ordered a Wilson Tact spring kit just to check out. For $9 + shipping, figure it is worth a look.

 

[kcofohio]

kcofohio

That's a great price on a Model 642! I paid slightly more than that quite a few years ago for my Model 638. I don't usually buy the display case model but this one was so well built and had such a great trigger pull on it that I went with it!

View attachment 815382

I half expected them to be out of stock with this price. I saw the display model and and thought if decent, and for the price, I would get it. But they had at least one in the back.

 

[Sour Kraut]

The Apex Trigger Kit is your friend to improve the trigger on the 642/442....

 

[gotboostvr]

I picked up a 642 with crimson trace grips for a good bit under 400 after shipping and transfer fees off a gunbroker store that had a number of them just a few weeks ago.

Edited to add: looks like they still have some in stock

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/793606983

 

[kcofohio]

I picked up a 642 with crimson trace grips for a good bit under 400 after shipping and transfer fees off a gunbroker store that had a number of them just a few weeks ago.

Edited to add: looks like they still have some in stock

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/793606983

The store had the same at $399 with laser. But I already have the laser just sitting in a box.
I came across Wilson 1st. I have used Apex in a couple M&P semis. They are a good name too.

 

[340PD]

You can save your finger pulling the trigger thousands of times. Wolf or Apex can be your friend. All I have ever needed is a couple of minutes smoothing the rebound slide and changing springs. I have used the #12 springs and have no failures with any snubbie I own.

 

[gotboostvr]

The store had the same at $399 with laser. But I already have the laser just sitting in a box.

You said you've got a "too small CT grip", if you've got the boot grip version I'd be happy to swap the fuller grip!

 

[kcofohio]

You said you've got a "too small CT grip", if you've got the boot grip version I'd be happy to swap the fuller grip!

Thanks for the offer!
If I hadn't of gotten this 642, your offer would be tempting. I'll pass at this time.
After realizing my screw up, I put a front night sight on the Model 60.

 

[Buckeye63]

A 642 or 638 is on my short list ...

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Picked up the 642 last month for $299.00. Trigger was nice out of the box, but put a trigger kit in and really improved it. Shot some ARX out of it on Sunday, and my gosh that was light shooting.

I like the 642 a lot. Easy to carry. Light weight, smooth shooter, but still prefer my LCR9mm.

 

[kcofohio]

Picked up the 642 last month for $299.00. Trigger was nice out of the box, but put a trigger kit in and really improved it. Shot some ARX out of it on Sunday, and my gosh that was light shooting.

I like the 642 a lot. Easy to carry. Light weight, smooth shooter, but still prefer my LCR9mm.

View attachment 815700

I should get the Wilson spring kit this Thursday. While replacing the factory springs, the 642 will meet with some stones.
Just by design, and my hand size, I think the LCR will still be my go to snubby. BTW Jeb, I have the same LCRs as you, and my wife has one in 38 Spl. I think the 9mm handles well.

 

[Catpop]

I bought a 642 for my wife as she has a weak hand to rack the slide on her LCP. Those little suckers are tough to rack!
So now I’ve had the chance to carry both! Of the two, the LCP is far more pocket carry friendly to me.
But I like the 38 more and I reload 38!
And I ain’t gonna start reloading those tiny little 380s. I ain’t gonna do it, I just ain’t gonna do it! I ain’t!
But I love them both!
Life is too short not to own both!

 

[cfullgraf]

I like the M642/M442 series of handguns, at least over an SP101. I do not have experience with a Ruger LCR or a Charter Arms.

I like my SP101, but my model in particular is not designed for concealed carry.

My M442 came cut for mood clips and I have become smitten with them. I had the M643 cut for moon clips as well.

A BMT Equipped mooner/demooner tool is an excellent investment. A bit pricey but once you use one, you will be converted.

Enjoy your new M642

 

[Buckeye63]

Picked up the 642 last month for $299.00. Trigger was nice out of the box, but put a trigger kit in and really improved it. Shot some ARX out of it on Sunday, and my gosh that was light shooting.

I like the 642 a lot. Easy to carry. Light weight, smooth shooter, but still prefer my LCR9mm.

View attachment 815700

You have some great snubbies!!
I have a question,,,,
I own a LCR357 ... I really like it ... I have been considering installing the ,
boot grip .... like your LCR9 is wearing.
Have you noticed the difference in control and follow up shots vs the regular gtips

 

[Jeb Stuart]

You have some great snubbies!!
I have a question,,,,
I own a LCR357 ... I really like it ... I have been considering installing the ,
boot grip .... like your LCR9 is wearing.
Have you noticed the difference in control and follow up shots vs the regular gtips
View attachment 816237

I went through a number of grips when first received the LCR. OEM, then Pro diamond etc. When reading on a blog, about the LCR9, the author had switched to the Batam Boot grip. At first I did not think I would like them and thought they would not handle as well. But I liked the concealment feature. I was really surprised that for me, these shot much easier and I had better control. I wear a xtra long glove and have long fingers. So yes, I love this grip but not saying you will also. I took a chance and found happiness

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/search?q=lcr+9mm

 

[Monac]

OK, so now I know what an S&W Model 642 is. What model number is this S&W?

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/793180176

(I am not the seller, and have no connection with him.)

Picture 7 is of the box label, but it leaves me none the wiser. And isn't it redundant with the 642? Is S&W currently making both of them? I am confused. Thanks in advance.

 

[gotboostvr]

@Monac

That would be a S&W Bodyguard.

Not a J frame at all. It's S&W's poly framed snubby.

 

[Monac]

Thanks! So, non-metallic frames don't get a model number? Huh. Maybe S&W model numbers will become a thing of the past, like the model names.

 

[SwampWolf]

I always liked names for models better than numbers: Chiefs Special vs Model 36; Highway Patrolman vs Model 28; Combat Masterpiece vs Model 15, etc. Same case for Colt: What number would be better than the names Cobra or Python?

 

[gotboostvr]

Thanks! So, non-metallic frames don't get a model number? Huh. Maybe S&W model numbers will become a thing of the past, like the model names.

Oddly enough the model 38 is also known as Bodyguard.

Smith likes to recycle names and they sometimes make even less sense than Glock.

 

[flightsimmer]

Just as a benchmark to expect with the Wolff spring kit I was able to get the DA pull weight down to 10 lbs. and as smooth as you could ever expect.

The big problem I had with mine was an interference fit of the lifting hand where it contacted the cylinder star during rotation.
I had to very carefully remove small amounts of metal from the star with a jewelers file until there was no more pressure on the lifting hand as it came up to rotate the cylinder.

You shouldn't have to file or stone the lock work at all but if you do be very, very careful, you cannot put the metal back on.
I used a sharpie ink pen to keep checking my progress until the pull was smooth and consistent on all cylinders. Very rewarding.