how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

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Roland the Headless
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how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:20 pm

I never liked to putting my blued taurus .327 fed mag snubbie in my front pocket.
So hot weather carry was tough but not impossible.
Usually light button up shirt to cover my holster and gun.

Early this summer I decided to find a pocket gun, so money got squirreled away, research on derangers and other pocket guns... done.
I never looked at the 642 out of hand cause I thought it would be cost prohibitive.
I found one for a good price and I knew it needed me as much as I needed it. In short it was beat "finish wise ", but the bore and cylinder is great dirty but great
I got a thing for an underdog and I like to tinker
So I took it home started to clean it and the finish was flaking off in my hands so I removed the paint ? or whatever they use on these guns, started polishing , and polishing , and more polishing some dry lube protectant and good to go temporarily
Now it is good and shiny, when I am done I will give it a past wax coat, throw in my front pocket and forget about it (for the most part ) and go about my day
so no more worries :cool:
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by bladebum » Mon Sep 18, 2017 5:28 am

These are great little pocket carry guns and .38 is certainly enough umph at bad breath range. I carry a S & W 442 (same as the 642 but in black) with C T grips, riding in a Blackhawk #8 floppy holster. This has been my go to EDC all summer... :)
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by hatchdog » Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:31 am

Great choice Roland. Here is a link to an old post with great info on pocket carry. See page three for a picture of my Ruger LCR pocket holster which is my daily carry to this day. A pocket holster that completely covers the trigger is a smart safe carry option.

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=17760

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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Mon Sep 18, 2017 11:13 am

thanks hatch you always have good info
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Torakan » Tue Sep 19, 2017 2:46 pm

Roland the Headless wrote:I never looked at the 642 out of hand cause I thought it would be cost prohibitive.
Why did you think the 642 would be cost prohibitive? S&W 642's are quite inexpensive and run new under $400.
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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:15 pm

Well torakon, I thought anything that has S&W on it, has to be expensive. Kinda like Harley Davidson or gold wing.

Hay Hatchdog I got a pocket holster. I love it ...keeps the pistol in place and stays in the pocket when I draw
If ya remember I kinda had a weird look when you showed me your pocket holster and 101, I didnt think I would like it, but I do
The only thing I dont like, is my left pocket is stuffed with all the stuff I kept in the right one, along with all the stuff already in there
I will adapt ..I learned that trait as a Navy brat!
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Sat Dec 23, 2017 12:23 pm

update:
I love this lil gun
it is invisible in my pocket
I cant seem to go back to my .327 ...too heavy too carry in my pocket and even on my belt now ...this 642 has spoiled me
now I am not getting rid of my .327 but I don't carry it as often
also my kid has put dibs the 642 she has been looking at purple grips so I probably will lose it soon
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Schwartzman » Fri Jan 05, 2018 9:44 am

Roland the Headless wrote:update:
I love these bonus codes for Buzz Bingo and this lil gun
it is invisible in my pocket
I cant seem to go back to my .327 ...too heavy too carry in my pocket and even on my belt now ...this 642 has spoiled me
now I am not getting rid of my .327 but I don't carry it as often
also my kid has put dibs the 642 she has been looking at purple grips so I probably will lose it soon
You've convinced me to try it out, Roland. I was a bit sceptical the first time I've seen how small it is. By the way, do post some pics of the 642 with the purple grip. I wanna see how that looks like!
Last edited by Schwartzman on Wed Feb 02, 2022 2:23 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Mon Mar 19, 2018 12:56 pm

well Schwarezman I didn't get the purpul grips
I did pick up a Houge grip that covers the back strap and all
big enough to get your pinky on but not too big for my pocket
PIX to come ...AS usual

I love this grip ... It fits my hand better now(witch is always a good thing) and looks bigger (also a good thing )
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Roland the Headless
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wrote this for a a comment on you tube

Post by Roland the Headless » Mon Oct 29, 2018 7:34 am

I own this revolver in a 642 I picked it up for summer cary ,but I can't go back to anything heavier. I got some tips on this gun after wearing it for over 5 years.
First: grips : Get a better set for this lil shooter. I put hogue mono-grip on and love it but any grip that covers the back strap and lets you use a speed loader EZer would work just as well.
Next finish : The paint or whatever S&W uses on the 642 can flake off ..You can cerakote it, but I polished mine. It is perty now. If you do polish yours black out the rear sight.
Be careful about making your guns look real nice....Your kids will steal them. my daughter has put dibbys on this one. I said for when? after I die...she said yea.
Rounds : I pack hornady crit def non +P in this j frame. I like them cause of the lighter recoil and less muzzle flash.
That being said I am not recoil sensitive but the recoil is wild on these
To finish, carry : A gat this light you don't carry, you wear it. I like a pocket holster but I could see hip carry and it disappearing just as ez
Last edited by Roland the Headless on Sun Dec 03, 2023 2:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Mon Oct 29, 2018 7:52 am

here is some pix
Attachments
IMGP0006.JPG
IMGP0007.JPG
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Oldford93 » Mon Oct 29, 2018 5:12 pm

Have a 637-2 performance center wyatt deep cover. Nice little pistol, really smooth action & perfect pocket piece. Surprisingly accurate. Still has the factory grips, haven't decided if I like them or not.

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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by hatchdog » Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:53 am

Hey Roland, check this out. I was able to combine two of your passions into one gun.

Ruger LCR pocket revolver chambered in 327 Federal Magnum. How sweet is that? :D
C43590FA-12CE-44DB-9E9B-9702E98A87EC.jpeg
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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:26 am

wow hatch that is cool. do you run fed mags in it or .32 H&R
I have a taurus 2.2 inch 327 I have shot .32 S&W longs thru this shooter not too bad but I like .32 H&R... just enough punch without too much recoil
I want a 4in with adjustable sights no one makes a gun like that other than the ruger gp100
I haven't seen one of those IRL
so I probably will wind up with a single 7
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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hatchdog
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by hatchdog » Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:27 am

Roland the Headless wrote:
Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:26 am
wow hatch that is cool. do you run fed mags in it or .32 H&R
I have a taurus 2.2 inch 327 I have shot .32 S&W longs thru this shooter not too bad but I like .32 H&R... just enough punch without too much recoil
I want a 4in with adjustable sights no one makes a gun like that other than the ruger gp100
I haven't seen one of those IRL
so I probably will wind up with a single 7
The only ammo I have fed thru it so far is those nasty hand bruising Federal 100 gr full velocity mothers. It has taken a while but I finally found some of the Federal 85’s and have picked up both some H&R and a few 32 longs. Next time I get out to the range I will be running these for some more pleasant shooting.

I hear you on the GP100, there was one for sale here on SGT a year or longer ago. I really wanted to pick it up but the timing was not good. Of course it was gone in a day or less. Seems like I saw a piece in a magazine that said the Henry is building a lever rifle in the 32. Nice!

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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:55 am

yea I fondled a herny at double eagle they are a nice rifle but too expensive some company should make a single shot like a rolling block or break open in .327
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Roland the Headless
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Roland the Headless » Wed Apr 22, 2020 3:43 pm

I pulled the trigger today
I purchased a Henry .327 lever action rifle
of course I got delayed but I am sure it will get figgerd out as soon as all the rest ( ok maybe a lil longer with all that is going on )

I got the blued no big loop lever
cant wait too see how it shoots
pix soon
paddle or pan see ya on the creek
.22 Henry .22 Wrangler .22 mkII
.357 Taurus old style m66 4in
.327 Taurus m 327 2in .327 Henry .327 Single 7
.38 spl S&W 642 CCW

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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by KLRKeith » Wed Apr 22, 2020 8:29 pm

Love my 642. I have a Mika pocket holster, a small kydex IWB holster that works good with my gym shorts, a Galco OWB pancake style holster and a small fanny pack holster. So I carry the thing all during my waking hours and 90% of the time it's in the Mika Pocket holster when wearing jeans and the Galco OWB holster when it's a little cooler and I have a cover shirt or jacket on.
I'm loading with Federal HST .38+P micro 130 grainers and Remington Golden Sabre LE 130gr in the speed strips for backup.
I find it to be one of the few all the time defensive firearms I've had.
Have a good week,
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by hatchdog » Thu Apr 23, 2020 5:51 am

Hey Rowland, us .327 guys think alike. I traded into a Henry myself a few months ago. Only had it out to the range once before everything shut down but it is a great shooter. I put a Leopold Rimfire 2-7x33 scope on it because the parallax on the Rimfire scope is set at 60 yards which I feel is a good mid point for this rifle/caliber. The first target is from sighting in the scope with the last three shots in the bull. The next target is a 10 shot magazine dump mostly testing feed reliability and not absolute accuracy run, but acceptable just the same. All shots at 50 yards from a bench. The Federal 100 grain that are so brutal in my revolver are like shooting a 22 in the Henry. :D

Hope you can get your hands on your new rifle soon and hopefully you have a place you can shoot it. There’s a Henry forum I have been active on you might want to check out. There is another SGT member on the Henry forum that you will recognize if you get there.
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Torakan
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Re: how I stopped worrying and learned to love my 642-1

Post by Torakan » Thu Apr 23, 2020 6:23 am

Well, since Hatchdog and Roland resurrected this thread, I’ll add my 2 cents. I’m also a 642 fan and have 3 of them. 2 regular no lock models and a Performance Center ported Pro model. Great simple self defense guns and pretty in-expensive overall. I carry mine with Hornady 110 gr Critical Defense. I’m also carrying in a Kydex AIWB rig that seems to be working quite well. Very fast on the draw and easy to reholster. The newer of the 2 is cut for moon clips but I’ve been carrying the reload in a Bianchi speed strip equipped with a NeoMag RASC pocket clip.

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