Smith model 442 no lock
- Thread starter meatballs
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edmo01
Member
How are they to shoot??
They have heavy triggers, a short sight radius, small almost inadequate sights, and snappy recoil...
I own a 642-1 (no lock) which is basically the same gun, just with stainless instead of blued parts.
These guns do have advantages... They are light, small, and easy to carry in the pocket. They can be loaded with light practice rounds or stout +P ammo with no concerns of function like you might have with an auto pistol. Additionally, revolvers are close to 100% reliable.
S&W backs them with a 100% warranty. They will fix any problems and pay shipping both ways.
Edmo
They have heavy triggers, a short sight radius, small almost inadequate sights, and snappy recoil...
I own a 642-1 (no lock) which is basically the same gun, just with stainless instead of blued parts.
These guns do have advantages... They are light, small, and easy to carry in the pocket. They can be loaded with light practice rounds or stout +P ammo with no concerns of function like you might have with an auto pistol. Additionally, revolvers are close to 100% reliable.
S&W backs them with a 100% warranty. They will fix any problems and pay shipping both ways.
Edmo
Panzerschwein
member
It depends on how "done got brokded" your gun is.How are they to shoot??
They have heavy triggers, a short sight radius, small almost inadequate sights, and snappy recoil...
I own a 642-1 (no lock) which is basically the same gun, just with stainless instead of blued parts.
These guns do have advantages... They are light, small, and easy to carry in the pocket. They can be loaded with light practice rounds or stout +P ammo with no concerns of function like you might have with an auto pistol. Additionally, revolvers are close to 100% reliable.
S&W backs them with a 100% warranty. They will fix any problems and pay shipping both ways.
Edmo
Damage it too much, and they won't do anything for you. Ask me how I know.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Care to elaborate on that in finer detail??
Inquiring minds want to know.
rc
Inquiring minds want to know.
rc
HB
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For me it is the best personal defense weapon. I don't like carrying a bigger gun.
That being said, they are an experts gun to shoot well. The trigger sucks, sights suck, and recoil is heavy.
I took up reloading pistol to feed mine and usually shoot wadcutter or a semi wadcutters loaded fairly light. After a year I can do 75 round sessions and feel like I'm productive in becoming a better shot.
They take a lot of practice to shoot well. If you are not planning on 2x a month id go with an lcp for a pocket gun or Kahr for a belt gun.
If you want the best weapon you can fit in a pocket it's great short of a grenade. I suck at fighting and it easily beats a knife. It's better than no gun and with plenty of practice you can outshoot most people at the range with a full size gun. Even though it's 1 7/8" it's still a smith barrel.
HB
That being said, they are an experts gun to shoot well. The trigger sucks, sights suck, and recoil is heavy.
I took up reloading pistol to feed mine and usually shoot wadcutter or a semi wadcutters loaded fairly light. After a year I can do 75 round sessions and feel like I'm productive in becoming a better shot.
They take a lot of practice to shoot well. If you are not planning on 2x a month id go with an lcp for a pocket gun or Kahr for a belt gun.
If you want the best weapon you can fit in a pocket it's great short of a grenade. I suck at fighting and it easily beats a knife. It's better than no gun and with plenty of practice you can outshoot most people at the range with a full size gun. Even though it's 1 7/8" it's still a smith barrel.
HB
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I have been carrying a M442 without the lock since it was released, it replaced a no lock M642. I think it's a great carry revolver and is no less accurate that larger revolvers if you do your part. Practice and trigger control is key to shooting any gun well.
Carried one, a 642, for 15+ years as a BUG, before it was replaced by a Kahr CW9meatballs said:
They are certainly not a beginner's gun, but if you are willing to put the time in to learn how to shoot it, you can make some pretty decent shots at 25 yards and even reach out to 50 yards if you use a bag for a rest.
It does help if you have the action tuned. The greatest thing is that there is no hammer spur to tempt you to shoot it in SA
ThomasT
Member
Yes how do you know. I would like to hear it too.
I've been carrying 442s for some time now. I dry fire the snot out of them until the action is smooth. I paint the front sight with white paint. After sighting in my carry rounds I paint the end or top of the sight Brite Green so when I line up the sights the Green part is even with top of the rear sight. Easy to see and line up. I can shoot groupes on paper plates out to Fifty Feet. Good ? Bad ? I feel comfy. I have the 442 in my pocket and a 36 AIWB. J-Frames are my favorite so I swop grips sometimes and rotate Two at a time for carry.
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toivo
Member
Hogue Tamer grips will help make it more shootable, at the expense of some concealability.
ACP
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I have two. 20 minutes ago, I took them out of my pockets and put them back in the safe after dropping my daughter off at basketball practice on the city line.
They are so small and light, you never have an excuse not to carry a gun. I literally carry one while wearing soccer shorts and a t-shirt in the summer time -- in an Uncle Mike's soft, clip-on IWB holster. I think Gold Dot 135's work best in these guns.
The triggers are heavy and the sights essentially non-existent. Practice point shooting out to 25 feet and you should be good to go.
I carry two so I don't have to reload after 5 shots.
Mine have never, ever failed in any way, shape or form. They ALWAYS go bang.
They are so small and light, you never have an excuse not to carry a gun. I literally carry one while wearing soccer shorts and a t-shirt in the summer time -- in an Uncle Mike's soft, clip-on IWB holster. I think Gold Dot 135's work best in these guns.
The triggers are heavy and the sights essentially non-existent. Practice point shooting out to 25 feet and you should be good to go.
I carry two so I don't have to reload after 5 shots.
Mine have never, ever failed in any way, shape or form. They ALWAYS go bang.
Bula
Member
The trigger smooths out considerably after many,many live fire or dry fire drills. The triggers stack nicely for accurate range shooting. But they are great for what they are intended for. Lightweight and accurate for defensive ranges. Disappears in a pocket holster and cargo shorts.
JohnhenrySTL
Member
I carry mine often. It has held up well after thousands and thousands of rounds. With practice, and concentration I can hold a six inch group at 75 feet.
When I was first shooting it, or when I am away from it I tend to hit high, about 4 inches at 15 yards.
I need to make sure to just barely raise the front post to where I only see the tip of it, I use more finger on that gun than I do my others, I have to hold the gun lower on the back strap. If I do all these thing's I can hold a tiny group. If I just raise and shoot, I hit high.
Mine has the lock, it has never bothered me. Overall I love the gun. I can carry it under any circumstances.
When I was first shooting it, or when I am away from it I tend to hit high, about 4 inches at 15 yards.
I need to make sure to just barely raise the front post to where I only see the tip of it, I use more finger on that gun than I do my others, I have to hold the gun lower on the back strap. If I do all these thing's I can hold a tiny group. If I just raise and shoot, I hit high.
Mine has the lock, it has never bothered me. Overall I love the gun. I can carry it under any circumstances.
AlfonsDeWolf
Member
Cooldill, please spill.....or do we need to get a poll going to get it out of you?!
Great small SD gun. Simple operation, easy to make safe, manual of operation: pull trigger until it stops going bang, reload and repeat. A set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips will make it one of the best concealable handguns available.
The trigger is heavy by intent because it is a SD gun and not a range gun. Recoil is sharp but who cares, it is a SD gun. Buy some low power wadcutters to practice.
If you want a lighter trigger, kits are available and easy to install with the help of many YouTube videos.
I have one that is 2oz lighter (340PD) and I will never part with it.
The trigger is heavy by intent because it is a SD gun and not a range gun. Recoil is sharp but who cares, it is a SD gun. Buy some low power wadcutters to practice.
If you want a lighter trigger, kits are available and easy to install with the help of many YouTube videos.
I have one that is 2oz lighter (340PD) and I will never part with it.
W.E.G.
Member
I had one.
Its a quality gun.
Recoil hit a nerve near my thumb-bone such that it was very unpleasant to shoot for more than a few shots.
It only holds 5.
Other guns, which conceal equally well for me, and that didn't have the recoil issue, and which hold more rounds came along.
Its a quality gun.
Recoil hit a nerve near my thumb-bone such that it was very unpleasant to shoot for more than a few shots.
It only holds 5.
Other guns, which conceal equally well for me, and that didn't have the recoil issue, and which hold more rounds came along.
gbran
Member
il.bill
Member
It depends on how "done got brokded" your gun is.
Damage it too much, and they won't do anything for you. Ask me how I know.
Interesting - multiple people have complied with the request to Ask me how I know. and no response yet from Cooldill, yet he/she has posted over 30 times since the "Damage it too much, and they won't do anything for you. Ask me how I know" apparent swipe at S&W.
Something fishy?
guyfromohio
Member
Interested too ^^^.
I found the "not a behinner's gun" comment odd until I thought About it. I would agree. The trigger is heavy, but very predictable. A newb in the range would be all over the paper, but I find it very accurate once you have mastered the trigger. Mine is one scratched, shot, ugly revolver, but I do like it.
I found the "not a behinner's gun" comment odd until I thought About it. I would agree. The trigger is heavy, but very predictable. A newb in the range would be all over the paper, but I find it very accurate once you have mastered the trigger. Mine is one scratched, shot, ugly revolver, but I do like it.
It isn't so much that the trigger is heavy, but it's travel is too short.guyfromohio said:
When they downsized the K-frame action for the J-frame, they had to shorten the arc of the hammer's travel...and hence the trigger's travel. That change in geometry means they the J-frame trigger can never be a fine tuned as the K-frames.
While many prefer the K-frame's shorter trigger travel to the longer one of the Colt I-frame, when comparing the smaller guns, the Colt D-frame is usually easier to shoot...and learn on.
Of the current "small" revolvers, I think the Ruger LCR has the trigger which allows the easiest manipulation for best accuracy
Hoppes Love Potion
Member
I went with the 351c for lower recoil and more capacity (7!). It's also 4-oz lighter than the 442 at just over 11-oz. The trigger is a monster, but I can practice with my carry ammo and shoot 100 rounds without pain.
toivo
Member
Just me 2¢ in the "not a beginner's gun" opinion on the S&W 642/442. I think it's half true. The manual of arms is very simple and logical: easy for a beginner to grasp and master. Shooting it accurately is another story altogether.
OTOH, as I was explaining the manual of arms of a DA/SA semi-auto (Bersa Thunder .22) to a new shooter -- decocking, safety on, safety off, slide lock vs. slingshotting, etc. -- I could see her eyes glazing over: too much information to digest all at once. However, she nailed the bullseye several times with the first magazine.
OTOH, as I was explaining the manual of arms of a DA/SA semi-auto (Bersa Thunder .22) to a new shooter -- decocking, safety on, safety off, slide lock vs. slingshotting, etc. -- I could see her eyes glazing over: too much information to digest all at once. However, she nailed the bullseye several times with the first magazine.
Old Dog
Member
I've had a no-lock 442 for some time. Was my back-up gun, since replaced by a SIG P-938 (8 rounds, slimmer, SA with better sights and far easier to shoot). The 442 is a knock-around piece, gets put in pockets for yard or garage work, but not any fun to shoot, and by no means easy to master.
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