The 642 club

[DAdams]

Won't be long Now

5000.

fiVe, you have your inspirational words of wisdom ready? I was hoping this would happen Monday? Perhaps some good posts to push things for Saturday night??

I could talk about unrelated topics for awhile.

Let me tell you about my.....new....Lightening Rod Stun Pen.

 

[ardito40]

I haven't tried to adjust the CT on my 642 yet. I'd be interested to know if there are any "tricks" that might help. Is it difficult?

The fixed sight is quite accurate. When I sight on-center with it, the laser is a couple inches to the left.

Suggestions?

fiVe - DAdams' post reminded me that I haven't heard from you concerning any help you might need with that speech. Figure you must have it well under control.

Thanks!

Another T. Jefferson quote:

Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases.

 

[jamz]

Holy amazing, 5k posts.

My 340pd is still at my side though, even after all this time!

 

[308win]

You have to decide whether you want the laser to be sighted parallel to the bore or to shoot to a specific point at a specific distance.

 

[MassMark]

You have to decide whether you want the laser to be sighted parallel to the bore or to shoot to a specific point at a specific distance.

Exactly.

Ardito40: My suggestion is to define your realistic purpose combined with your realistic intended range and decide how you want to sight your laser. I left mine alone because I indend to use this gun within 0-15 feet. As is, the gun puts all rounds into center mass with the laser on. I'm not trying to shoot for target accuracy, I'm trying to point-shoot for center mass accuracy. It takes the onus off me trying to get X-ring accurate with a 2" barrel in a gun that I intend solely for close-in self defense. I use my bigger pistols for target shooting.

If you decide or need to adjust your CT's, it's important to fire a few rounds and tweak the adjustment screw very slightly. Reload and retry. If you turn the adjustment to far to fast, you put the aim of the laser in the stratosphere, (embellishment), but you get the idea....

 

[DAdams]

CT

This is from the FAQ Crimson Trace Site.

How do I sight them in?
Lasergrips are factory-sighted to approximate point-of-impact at 50-feet. Unlike most other laser sights, you can adjust them if needed by turning the tiny windage (side) and elevation (top) screws with the small hex wrenches provided with your Lasergrips.


A good starting point is to establish your normal sight picture and line up the laser dot with the iron sights — this may be all the adjustment needed. (“Sight picture” simply means evenly aligning the notch in your back sights with the post in your front sight in a level, straight line.)


For further tuning on the range, fire a few rounds at the target. After seeing where the bullets are hitting, you can adjust the laser to the actual point of impact. For example, if the laser is pointing at the center of the target, but the bullets are impacting low and right, move the laser down and to the right.

=======================================================

It's too bad that on 2-3 inch designed barrel handguns they don't sight them in for about 25-30 feet. At the range I'm all over a 3 inch area with nothing moving. I can imagine that in a real life situation I'm going to be lucky to hit a COM. Particularly when I'm moving, the target is moving, the scene is in flux. I would range them in at a reasonable distance and call it good. If you can get in a sitting position on a table with some sand bags that would be best for sighting.

 

[MassMark]

It's too bad that on 2-3 inch designed barrel handguns they don't sight them in for about 25-30 feet. At the range I'm all over a 3 inch area with nothing moving. I can imagine that in a real life situation I'm going to be lucky to hit a COM. Particularly when I'm moving, the target is moving, the scene is in flux. I would range them in at a reasonable distance and call it good. If you can get in a sitting position on a table with some sand bags that would be best for sighting.

Agreed. I think CT would do well to sight J-frame lasergrips for optimum realistic defensive ranges. I have mine set like I said for 15-feet max. At that range, shooting laser dot dead center on a slowfire pistol target, I hit low-right center mass. With irons or point shooting I fare better. At 0-5 feet, I'm dead center. I have no illusions that I will be fighting with this gun at any further ranges. I have drilled at extended ranges with the 642 for "Just In Case", but it makes little sense to me personally to focus too much attention to ranges I'll likely never engage in with this gun.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Well, I went and shot the "little beast" for the first time since I put old school S&W wood grips and a Tyler T-grip on it. I really like the feel of this set-up and it isn't any more "painful" to shoot than with the boot grips that came on it. I also tried some Gold Dot 135gr +P ammo. It has a little more kick to it, but it's not bad. I was carrying Federal 110gr Hydra Shok before.

_________________

"Phydeaux, bad dog....no biscuit!"

 

[ultralightbackpacker]

Repair of NIB 642

Hi guys,

Not certain if you recall a few weeks ago I picked up a new in box 642, which to my surprise had a nasty peeling frame near the barrel inside frame wheel, dent/grind/etch under the firing pin on the frame, and I 'think' the barrel was weakly rifled too.

Emailed SW, couple days later, received a response. They said give us a call, will send you a UPS next day pickup. I call. Sure as heck, a few days roll by, and I get a letter with the prepaid shipping via ups NEXT day air back to SW. Send her off. About 8 working days I get her back.

Invoice/Repair says "complaint, Indication frame replacement, complaint barrel replacement." Bottom line reads "REPAIRED: Replace gun w/same S/N."

Yeah baby! Nice new baby wheelie. Perfect now. In fact, the wheel cylinder to barrel clearance is much tighter. I didn't measure but I would say 50% tighter. Excellent. Trigger excellent.

A shout and cheer out to S&W for making a major dissapointment into a minor waiting game to receive the sweetest prize.

Thanks JT1 for helping me make the "decision" to send her back.

 

[DAdams]

Ultralight

Glad you were taken care of.
That is all the reason you ever need to have in purchasing a wheel gun other than a S&W. Well let's not get carried away, other perhaps than a Colt DS.
People mess around with other brands and I don't care if it has MIM parts or a lock or peeling finish or costs $50 dollars more, S&W has made a customer service committment to cover the product, basically for life.
They crank them out knowing full well they will miss a few and then take care of the situation on an "as needed" basis.
When mine crapped at 75 rounds for a sear failure I got the same treatment. No shipping charges either way and back in week.
I'm in the manufacturing business and that IS customer service, period. Total cost of ownership is the name of the game. A big thumbs up to S&W.

Thanks JT1 for helping me make the "decision" to send her back.

jt1 is the man. A 642 Heads, Head.

 

[glockman19]

Ultralight, Great to hear another wounderful S&W Customer Service/Repair story. This is one of the major reasond I buy from S&W and specific other manufacturers.

G19

 

[sixgunner455]

My father shot my 642 when we were having our family reunion shooting outing this summer. "That's a beautiful gun," he said after he was done.

Not sure what brought that to mind. My brother and bil shot it, too. Dad liked it more than they did. Just reloaded up a box of 158 gr lead the other day. May do another box tonight and go out tomorrow morning w/ the Colt and the brothers Smith and get'em dirty.

 

[MassMark]

Congrats UB! Smith and Wesson rivals Springfield Armory in customer service. My CT's were shorth an elevation screw. I called S&W, same story - shipping label, back to S&W and I had new CT's in a few days.

P-642: Speer 135's are the bomb...I love em....

 

[jt1]

Bottom line reads "REPAIRED: Replace gun w/same S/N."

ultralightbackpacker - It gets no better than that. If you still want the Ruger you might be able to talk me into taking that "used" 642 off your hands at a "$light" discount .

...A 642 Heads, Head.

Aw, come on, I just call em like I see em.


S&W a bargin at any price.

 

[AStone]

Hello,

I am new to this forum.
This is my first post today.

While seeking advice on a handgun for self-defense,
I googled "best SD handgun", and found this thread.

Can you please tell me more about this "642"?

Is 642 a good handgun for SD?

What pros and cons can you offer about it?

What rnds do you recommend to shoot in it?

Any advice about grips?

How about a holster?
OWB, IWB, pocket, ankle ... ?

Speedloaders?

Thanks for your advice.

Regards,

Nem A. Tocyst

<snickers>

 

[Harvster]

Why do I get the feeling that there is some thread "fluffing" occurring to get to 5K?

 

[AStone]

642 = good: Yes.
Pros: See #4950.
Cons: NA
Rnds: Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P or 158 gr BB et al
Grips: Hogue Monogrips
Holster: OWB: any well-made high ride; pocket: Mika (square)
Speedloaders: Bianchi speedstrips w/ 5 in a 2_3 config.
Fluffing: NA

 

[Harvster]

My contribution- First range report

Took my 642 to the range last night for the first time. My first thought after shooting it for the first time was that it didn't kick nearly as much as I had come to expect. I thought the recoil was quite manageable, even one-handed. The target pictured represents the first five shots from seven yards using Ultramax 125 grain JHP. I did notice at fifteen yards I had more difficulty acquiring the front sight of my gun. I don't know if this was due to target color and lighting or what. I guess I'll have to go back to the range for more experiments. I also shot some Speer gold dot 135grain HP. Didn't really notice anything very different with the +Ps. But, again, very little experience with the gun so far. It also didn't help that we sneaked in for the last twenty minutes the place was open so we were hurrying along. The final thing I discovered is that at longer distances with two hands or one-handed I tend to shoot a little to the left. Once again, more range time required.

 

[MassMark]

Harvester Man, that's great shooting - right where you want em. To quote Bugs Bunny: "that's the old pepper boyyy".

Nem Excellent walk through memory lane. I too made my very first post right here on The 642 Club. I remember how unsure I was at my decision to rethink 20-years of carrying bottom feeders and how comforted I was after being welcomed here and reading through the threads. I have spent the last 12-years on the information superhighway and never have I come accross such a diverse, intelligent, humorous, dedicated and friendly group of people. I'm proud to call myself a member in good standing here at The 642 Club and prouder still to have had the pleasure of getting to know all of you....

Here's a link to my first post - I'd cut-n-paste the whole thing, but it would fill the page and put folks to sleep, (I tend to ramble)... Mark's First Post

Funny how the first welcome was from fiVe - fitting really. Scrolling through, I can't help but to notice some who have not been around in a while, (i.e: lolpop). Would be nice to have a reunion of sorts following 5,000....

 

[jt1]

Driving/Crossdraw Holster Revisited

ALL - Over the course of the last few weeks I have tried/reviewed several driving/crossdraw holsters including the FIST #42, Ross M23, and the PAG #17. They all had their good and bad points and none was really totally functional for the 642. So as is my usual response to situations in which I am not pleased I have decided to take matters into my own hands. Now is the time to contribute your desires and needs to develop a driving/crossdraw holster designed just for the X42's. I have a fairly good idea of what I need, but I would like to hear from all you 642 heads and get a general feel for what features you want/need and what you don't like. I am ready to cut some leather!

323962[/ATTACH]"]

 

[glockman19]

Why do I get the feeling that there is some thread "fluffing" occurring to get to 5K?

Because it's a great milestone.

Here's my contribution.

 

[DAdams]

Welcome

Harvster-Looks like we have a "natural" on our hands. Nice shooting.

Nem A. Tocyst hmm kinda rings a bell. There used to be some 642 Head Whack Job around here with a name almost like that. Think he a had a penchance for revolvers and rifles that shot the same round and hanging in the wilderness. Phantom of the studio type me thinks. Seems like he was usually right with most of his assessments except he was wrong about the Mika Square cut, everyone knows the Roundcut is best.

jt1 has gone domestic on us. Needles, thread, leather. Next thing you know he will be molding Kydex with an iron. An aspiring RM in our midst specializing in driving holsters. This should be good and worth the price of admission. Sew on.

Now is the time to contribute your desires and needs to develop a driving/crossdraw holster designed just for the X42's. I have a fairly good idea of what I need, but I would like to hear from all you 642 heads and get a general feel for what features you want/need and what you don't like. I am ready to cut some leather!

Sheepskin lining to coddle the little darling.

Loplop, you can find him at the SIG Club Thread. Seems he is a lover of large bottom feeders.

Ahem, is that throat clearing and gargling I hear in the wings? Guess I better get the champagne chilling and find those leftover 4th of July mortars.

 

[AStone]

642 Head Whack Job ... penchance for revolvers and rifles that shot the same round ... in the wilderness ... except he was wrong about the Mika Square cut, everyone knows the Roundcut is best.

LOL!

Oh, thanks, DA. I needed a good laugh to start my day.

Just got to work ... pressing brushfires to put out for a while here ...

But I can see a crowd gathering for some reason ... some new folks like Ardi, Six, ULBP and Harvester (Harv?) - and lots of friends that have been hanging around for some time ... MassMark, JT, 308Win, Phydeaux (your name cracks me up in a good way), E'trode, Mongo, g'man19, B'ref, Brassman ...

I'm betting there's a bunch more wandering around in here too that we haven't heard from in a while.
I agree with Mark: good time for a reunion.

And, I'll betcha' siR fiVe is hanging out some where nearby. He might even have something to say soon. Think?

OK, off to work I am. I'll be nearby, checking in on the party when possible over the next few hours.

Someone please save me a soda and a piece of cake.

Nem T.

PS: I also concur with Mark and many others: it's a great pleasure to hang out in such a fine little piece of cyberspace with such an intelligent, respectful, responsible group of folks, diverse as we are, drawn together around one little piece of SD technology. It's great to be able to contribute something positive that will hopefully help make the world a safer and more peaceful place.

 

[rdrancher]

Gosh...am I a 'tish early to the party?

Oh well.

I'm anxiously awaiting a set of Tyler T-Grips for the 642 wondersnubby. Tyler said over a week ago that they'd be going out within two days, but here I sit...no T-Grips. You know what they say. "A watched pot never boils."

rd

 

[fiVe]

Well shucks, I not above shameless fluff either.