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I finally yielded to temptation and came home with a new family member!! It is a S&W 642. It is my first revolver.

I have some questions for you revolver people. I need your input.

What is the best practice ammo?

What is the best self protection ammo?

For CCW, what IWB holster do you use?

What pocket holster do you recommend?

Thanks in advance.


Joe

Nice purchase and very good weapon for CC. I use a Don Hume pocket holster, Very easy to conceal as for practice ammo I use the Winchester red/white box, although I recommend a larger grip if you are to fire more than 5 rounds thru it! I keep a larger grip for the range and switch back to the original afterwards(rough on the hand). You will be happy with it I am.

Good pick on the S&W 642! I can't recommend practice ammo as I reload all my practice ammo. For carry ammo I use either WWB 125 grain semi-jacketed HP or Remington 158 grain LSWCHP +P...my first pick is always the Remington load. I have no documentation to share to show why I like the Remington load, I just prefer the ol' FBI load. I hear many praises about the Speer .38 +P Gold Dot rounds for short barrells though, they might be worth a try.

Holsters, well, can't help you much there either. I carry the 642 in either a Kangaroo holster (on Sunday) or an OWB pancake holster from Ray's Holsters. I find little to no concealment issues carrying the 642 IWB or OWB either way, so I carry OWB for comfort.

Pocket holsters, well I'm about ready to search for one myself. I plan on purchasing some relaxed fit pants and giving pocket carry a try. I'll keep looking at this thread to see what's recommended here.

+1 on the larger grip, I found myself much more accurate with them and quicker also, so the larger grip stayed on the gun. However I'm not sure the larger grip will work too well with pocket carry. Buy a larger grip anyway, you'll be glad you did!!!

JLaw

PS - I recently had a bad experience with a weak mainspring at the range, but my problem is the exception, not the rule. The 642 is a very reliable weapon!

PPS - Where's the pictures, man??

Where would I get a larger grip?

Joe

I found mine at Gander Mountain, but here's two quick links to suppliers. Midway USA has 7 pages of grips for S&W J frame round butt guns, this is a link to page 7 that has the rubber grips on it. The other 6 pages are beautiful (and more expensive) wood grips...

Edit: the midway link didn't work, check the bottom of this post...

Here's a link to CDNN, I have made a parts order from them and had a good buying experience, parts were delivered quickly. Any grip on this page that is for a S&W J frame round butt gun should fit your 642...

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/smithwesson1.html

JLaw

http://www.midwayusa.com/......Link to page failed twice, but here's the link to the main site, just look under Grips, Holsters, and Magazines and find your way there......

I also use the Rays OWB pancake holster - excellent for the price. I also use the Don Hume IWB - these are both greatleather holsters and really inexpensive. I wear both ab around 3:30.

Congrats of the 642!

Thanks guys on the congrats. I think I'm really going to like this gun. Thanks also for the links to the grips.

I am about an hour away from the nearest Gander Mountain. But am only about 10 minutes from Outdoor World/Bass Pro. I may wander over there today and see if they have anything.

Joe

What is the best practice ammo? I use Winchester White Box (WWB) FMJ value pack (100) from WalMart or buy a case (1000) at the local gun shows.

What is the best self protection ammo? That question starts lots of arguments on gun forums. I use CorBon +P JHP - don't remember bullet weight.

For CCW, what IWB holster do you use? Don't carry IWB

What pocket holster do you recommend? Mika's round cut pocket holster.
http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/index.html

I also painted the front sight ramp a florescent green hobby paint from WalMart. I painted the rear sight notch black. It helps my old eyes see better. The 642 is my everyday gun and I really enjoy my range time with it. Hope you like yours equally well.

Whoa!!! I just went to the Firing Line forum where I saw this thread on ammo costs. You may want to look for a practice round other than Winchester White Box. Here's the discussion link:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/sho ... p?t=250780

Get a set of Barami Hip Grips for it.

http://www.baramihipgrip.com/