Posted: 10/15/2009 7:17:28 AM EDT
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I am thinking about purchasing a S&W 442, anyone have one? If so, what do you like or dislike about it.
(I have a chance to pick one up for just over 300 ) Thanks, Mac |
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Quoted:
I have a 642. Basically the same but lighter. Works great, accurate. However, I thought I was going to carry this and ended up settling on my Colt Lightning 380. 3 more shots and it just carries better, being slimmer. Do you carry it in your pocket? OP, I find that my 442 is an exceptional little firearm that permits me to carry a gun in clothing or situations that would otherwise mitigate against being armed. I recommend that you get the 642 (if you can), and that you purchase a Kramer pocket holster. The only real, functional improvement you can make to a 442/642 is to have a tritium dot front sight installed or to put on a set of CT laser grips. This is all said with the understanding that this gun is only truly useful w/in 7 yards. |
| From some quite extensive research I've done on the internets, I've found no complaints against this pistol. The only reason I don't have one is because I don't have the $$$ to buy a new gun right now. The older ones without the crazy integral gun lock will be in high demand soon. I believe all the new ones have the integral gun lock, which is not a desirable feature. |
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Quoted:
From some quite extensive research I've done on the internets, I've found no complaints against this pistol. The only reason I don't have one is because I don't have the $$$ to buy a new gun right now. The older ones without the crazy integral gun lock will be in high demand soon. I believe all the new ones have the integral gun lock, which is not a desirable feature. S&W offers a "non-lock" 442. It's on their site: S&W Model 442 - No Internal Lock This is one of the guns on "the list" for me. I have shot the 642 a few times and it is everything I'd expect from a compact revolver. Plenty accurate at short distances (~ 7 yards), decent trigger pull, and fairly reasonable recoil with +P loads. |
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RSR has about 100 no lock 442's and 642's in stock. I just ordrered one. I'm not sure if they are a special run, or will be offered from now on. I'm guessing that since it is on the S&W website, that it may be a permanent offering.
Either way, get them before the price goes up another $60.00. Wholesale jumped from $330 to $390 over the past year or two. |
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I was given a 442 as a graduation gift from an academy. Through the years it has been a great gun. They are hard as hell to shoot really well. The Crimson Trace grips are a massive improvement in low light and I consider them essential for a snubby. Really the little J frames take a substantial amount of training to maximize their potential. I bought my wife one as well and she carries it everywhere with her.
To be honest, neither of us practice with our snubbies as much as we should. No excuses, that is just the way it is. Overall, the 442 is a "must have" backup gun for anyone who carries a gun for a living. I do not consider it a primary gun, though in some social situations that would not lend themselves to carrying a more effective gun, my 442 in a pocket or an ankle rig is comforting. |
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I have a 642 that I have had for 8-9 years. I have been thinking about getting a second snub either a no lock 642, no lock 442 or ruger LCR.
Does anybody have rust develope on your 442s? My 642 has alot of alum. frame finish wear. I have saw reported somewhere that 442 wear better? I guess cylinder is where rust could form, as it is blued steel. RRA15 |
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That's a good price, I carried one in my right front pocket for a years. The cylinder rubs the leg and so does the speed loader in the left pocket.
The 442 is very easy to hit with in fast point shooting at self defense distances. It is an excellent defense weapon. I pocket carry an LCP now with an extra magazine on the other side. The LCP draws much, much faster and more positively than the 442. It's a big difference. The LCP hits just as good as the 442 after you get used to the different grip angle and narrower width. The LCP is easier to hit with at distance. The LCP reloads more positively and faster than the 442. Both work well with reloads, I use a 105 gr SWC cast from a Lee mold and 231 powder in both the .38 Spl and .380. If I found a no-lock 442 for 300 bux I'd probably buy it. |
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Quoted:
That's a good price, I carried one in my right front pocket for a years. The cylinder rubs the leg and so does the speed loader in the left pocket. The 442 is very easy to hit with in fast point shooting at self defense distances. It is an excellent defense weapon. I pocket carry an LCP now with an extra magazine on the other side. The LCP draws much, much faster and more positively than the 442. It's a big difference. The LCP hits just as good as the 442 after you get used to the different grip angle and narrower width. The LCP is easier to hit with at distance. The LCP reloads more positively and faster than the 442. Both work well with reloads, I use a 105 gr SWC cast from a Lee mold and 231 powder in both the .38 Spl and .380. If I found a no-lock 442 for 300 bux I'd probably buy it. I'd buy it in a heartbeat. |
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With some difficulty, I passed yesterday at the gun show on a 4" with adjustable sights and 3 NIB 12rd mags in addition to the 10rd mag it came with, for $300. That's like $225 for the gun and $25/mag. I'm feeling worse by the minute, but I already have 2 6" 422s and a 6" 2206. HotRod 9MM makes an adapter that replaces the barrel nut for mounting a suppressor.
Great gun. |
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Quoted:
With some difficulty, I passed yesterday at the gun show on a 4" with adjustable sights and 3 NIB 12rd mags in addition to the 10rd mag it came with, for $300. That's like $225 for the gun and $25/mag. I'm feeling worse by the minute, but I already have 2 6" 422s and a 6" 2206. HotRod 9MM makes an adapter that replaces the barrel nut for mounting a suppressor. Great gun. I think you are talking about the wrong gun. |
| I bought the wife a 442 last Dec. for a graduation present. She carries it daily in her purse and loves the weight compared to her Glock 26. It has a bit of a stiff pull but for about $8 Wolfe springs make it quite decent. She actually preferred the heavy pull for some reason, so I get to put the stock springs back in. She is a great shot with it. She was hitting 18" x 24" steel at 50 yards consistanly 3 out of 5 rounds with home loaded wad cutters. I would love to have one myslef for CC but the Ruger LCR sure is sexier. I gave $430 from Academy then had a S&W $30 rebate. $400 was a fair price in my opinion. It has the lock, but I see no reason to wory about it. Oh yeah. The distance from cylinder to frame makes it a tight fit for speed loaders. The load strip that someone had in their pic above looks like a good idea. |
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I bought a no lock 442 back in June of this year as I have faith that one day I will be legally able to carry it, here or in another state.
I paid $440 for it. ILS models were a bit cheaper. Nice little gun. I would have never even considered purchasing it if it had the drilled in Klinton lock. There are many no lock versions of the 442/642 out there. One just has to maintain the motivation to look for them. I like the fact that it is lightweight, ability to shoot +Ps and is has an internal hammer. This is a far cry from the beautiful 1957 manufactured S&W Md. 36 my Dad gave me when I turned 21. |
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The 442/642 are great little revolvers, but get someone to show you how to clip the rebound slide spring. This can turn a 28 pound "lawyer-proof" trigger pull in to a reasonable 10-12 pound pull.
Light, powerful, dependable, affordable.....hard to beat for a carry gun. 
BTW, the Desantis "Nemesis" is a great little pocket holster. ALWAYS use a pocket holster when pocket carrying...to cover the trigger guard, stabilize the gun for a consistent presentation, and to keep crap out of the gun. |
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I love my 442. I just bought another one for my daughter in Grad school. The long drives home worried us with her having not having a way to protect herself other than a cell phone.
She loves it and is taking the CCW training with my wife next weekend. I also have a Ruger LCR and also love it but it kicks a little more compared to the 442. I suppose due to it's configuration. |
