New Toy Today, And More

[CZ93X62]

I have been rolling the idea of a lightweight "pocket rocket" handgun around for a while, and today went out and bought a S&W Model 642, in 38 Special +P. All summer I have been carting around the Glock 23 in a waistband holster, and it was/is a PITA to keep covered up in hot weather. I didn't really own a "pocket carry capable" handgun in the past. Conditions change, and I need to change with them. This example is REALLY finished quite well, action is a little stiff but smooth, and both cylinder rotation and extractor stroke are VERY smooth. It is a NICE little wheelgun. No "Hillary Hole", either.

Buckshot joined me for this adventure, and the shop owner had some neat toys in for a pending estate sale. A couple of them REALLY interested me--a gunsmith-built 222 Rem on an XP-100 action with a truck axle barrel, and a Martini-Henry re-barrel in 218 Bee. Both come with dies and brass, and with 12x Leupolds and bubble balances. Pricing is VERY reasonable. I should know more on Thursday. I know some rats in Nevada will be VERY disappointed if this all goes well.

 

[waco]

Huh. I have an Airlite S&W 642 also. Mine does have the Hillary hole...

 

[S Mac]

So, what's a Hillary hole?

 

[Brad]

Multiple choice test time

A- where Hillary stuffs her pie
B- what Hillary climbed into after the election
C- a hole for a key locking an S&W revolver

 

[Ian]

D- All of the above.

 

[Edward R Southgate]

E = Where Bill stores his cigars .

 

[fiver]

F- I ain't touchin that.

 

[CZ93X62]

Action lock on a revolver--an ingenious and superfluous answer to a non-existent problem that remains in search of a problem to address.

I see a trip to Yuma shortly to secure carry ammo for this little banger and a few of the others whose fodder is getting a mite long in the tooth. We should have stopped at Sprague's last Sunday on our way through from Florida, but Marie was all about some pics and videos at Algodones Dunes, so fuggetaboutit. Talking Marie into a Yuma trip ain't tough. "We need new carry ammo for Lucy, Mija". "Lucy" is Marie's SIG P-228, which she purloined from this writer about 3 minutes after it arrived home with me from the gun shop. The pistol's true full name is "Lucretia Borgia". Don't ask. I suspect a similar outcome when this one comes home, so I am fully prepared to get a 2nd copy for SWMBO if the first one suits her fancy. Retail is right at 4 Benjamins, all told was $460. These are currently all over California at police supply and defensive arms stores. S&W must be running a sale of some kind. Stone bargain, AFAIC.

 

[Bret4207]

Old guys and baggy trousers/shorts make the pocket revolver, or bottom feeder if you must, a viable option. Holsters are okay, but I hate wearing my shirt outside my pants and that becomes almost required unless you dress in a manner I can't think of. A holster, even an IWB, leaves the gun somewhat in sight. "Cool" for the newbie with a CC permit, not so much for the person just wanting to get along without drawing any attn to himself.

I suppose we could go to a "man bag"...or not!

The Martini would be a wicked draw for me.

 

[Winelover]

Own two of the 642's. One in my pocket, in a Mika holster, right now. Carry these, the most. Both have Hillary Holes. One is a Tanfolio edition with the S&W custom shop trigger. Big difference, in triggers, between the two. Only, complaints, are the minuscule sights and the durability of the finish. Over came the sight issue with the installation of CT laser grips. The finish is chipped off in places, worn in others and pitted from body sweat. Ceracote would be the preferred fix.

I would recommend a LCR, over the light weight J- frames. I have one in 357. Better sights, better trigger, more versatile caliber for just 2 ounces more weight. It fits in the same molded holsters, too.

 

[Ian]

Big fan of the LCR here too.

 

[Rick]

Is that XP gonna follow you home? That will ruin the day of varmints at distances that will amaze you.

 

[CZ93X62]

The LCRs are darn nice wheelguns. Glock-ugly, but like Glocks they do the job without much pretense. A small-frame 357 Magnum does not interest me in the least, though. If Marie snags the 642, an LCR might take its place. I debated between the 2 pocket rollers, and was swayed by relative beauty. This time.

Does anyone here have experience with the Pachmayr "Guardian" line of grip sets? These have a push-button release on the middle-finger groove that pops out a little shelf for the small finger to wrap around, but folds flat for carry. The idea sounded wonky, but a couple guys from work have them on Chief's Specials and swear by them. These aren't "gun guys" like us, but good people not swayed by nonsense and BS. Lemme know, gents.

 

[CZ93X62]

Is that XP gonna follow you home? That will ruin the day of varmints at distances that will amaze you.

It calls to me as loudly as the 218 does, for sure. It ALSO includes dies and brass. I need two more calibers to ride herd on like a trout needs a mountain bike.....but from the opposite perspective two more calibers is like shaving hair from an elephant. That Deuce can really shoot, and from the appearances of the rifles the former owner knew what he was doing when he assembled them. Nice rigs, for sure. OH--and there is a Finnish Mosin-Nagant in the lot as well, as-issued and about 90% overall with pristine bore. Yer killin' me, Smalls.

I have some homework to do and some items to order near-term, only tangentially-related to the purchase and the Temptations Offered during same. I guess Hornady is making 218 Bee brass these days, and at a decadent price--72 cents each at Graf's. Lapua pricing, and punched primer vents.....at least it isn't Bertram's (expletives deleted) stuff.

 

[Rick]

But Al, what could "need" possibly have to do with it?

 

[fiver]

Hornady is proud of all their brass. [35+$ for 50 cases is common here]
it's sturdy stuff, and the reject rate is pretty much zero, real similar to federal brass but with good primer pockets.

 

[Edward R Southgate]

You really need the Bee , cause I really need to see pictures .

 

[CZ93X62]

But Al, what could "need" possibly have to do with it?

Point well-taken, Rick. I think "need" evaporated sometime early in the Reagan Administration.

 

[CZ93X62]

I need to see just what loads I have laying around to feed this little monster after His Excellency Gavin The Magnificent blesses its acquisition. I DO own other 38 Specials--Colt OMT x 6" from the late 1940s and a S&W Model 10 x 5" from the mid 1960s. I don't load +P for those, #358429 at about 775-800 FPS shoots so well in both that I call it GOOD at 4.0 grains of WW-231.

I still have several hundred of the greasy, nasty Rem 148 HBWCs in need of cases to prevent them from fouling more of my loading area than they already account for. I might get 200 of the Starlines for this purpose.

 

[CZ93X62]

Well, the little 642 came home today, and I haven't had a chance to give it its first bath yet; I'll do that later today while watching a little college football. All of the whining, moaning, and gnashing of teeth over the recent S&W offerings don't carry over to this example--it is nicely-finished. A bit tight, as new S&Ws tend to be. 50-100 rounds of firing civilizes some of that tight/stiff functioning. I will get to that most ricky-tick.

Factory loads for carry, on hand at home.......hmmmm. Kinda old. The only stuff I have on hand is some S&W-brand Nyclad ammo that might be pushing 40 years of age. I don't think so. I asked at the shop about 158 grain LSWC/HP +P (the "FBI Load"), and they are scarce locally--and sell out fast when they land 2-3 times/year. They DID have some of the authorized carry loads for my shop's 38 Special arms (Rem 125 JHP +P), so I bought a 50-round box of those for $35. Obscene, but that's why we have the tools we discuss herein for 98% of our shooting needs.

Not sure about the OEM grips. To grasp the revolver "empty" and work the trigger, all seems well. It is a light little critter, and even loaded it will work WONDERFULLY in the right front pocket of my Carhartt dungarees that make up my retirement all-season uniform. The few round-butt I/J-frame S&Ws I have seem to work best for me with Pachmayr ComPac grip sets, maybe the "switchblade finger-shelf" on the new Pachmayr set spoken of above might be the ticket. The online video reviews give them a kinda lukewarm assessment. Again, the little noisy critter needs to be run with ammo to test its mettle.

So far--I am VERY happy with the little roller.