crankshop1000

Laser grips are a big plus on a 642. They give you a much better idea of the mechanics of shooting the DAO 642.You do not have a target revolver in the 642 but the 642 is very good at what it was designed for, which is a comfortable carry,reliable, close quarters combat piece. 20' is the max I practice with my 642. Chuck.

642 with Lasermax grips.

Crestliner

Here's a picture of the Ruger SP101 I've recently purchased and one of my range targets - all shot at 7 yards. Two handed standing position. Shooting full load .357's; Speer 125 grn. Gold Dots & Cor Bon 125 grn. JHP's. As you can see, the Speers shot a bit better. But I can't do this every time! I shoot the lesser powerpacks (regular .38's & +P's) more often, but with practice you can do well with one of these guns. Just do NOT shoot too much at each session. If you do, your flinching problem be magnified. I shoot once or twice a week, shooting about 20 - 30 rounds at each session. And I do quite a bit of dry fire practice inbetween each session as well. The previously posted link is excellent - read it slowly. Here's the picture:

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Bline

LOL!! reminds me of my first time out with my Taurus 850. After shooting 1911s and N frames since I was a kid, I was downright mad at my inaccuracy with a snubby. But, that's a snub, easy to carry hard to shoot well. Also it helps to keep in mind a snub is not made to shoot Xs but COMs. It's a close quarters defensive weapon and that's it. I was trying to make it somthing it wasn't. I also lost a patch of skin and was quite upset about it until a pal reminded me that snubs weren't really designed to be shot 200+ rounds at a time. With that in mind I trained until I thought I was going to start loosing skin and called it quits. Practice, practice, practice. Dry fire a ton, and shoot it a bunch. Stick to training at 21' is my recommendation but do whatever you want. There is a mastery to be attained with a snub. I found that handling a snubby well is almost an art form in itself.

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Gideon

Try other ammo! I find the winchester white box to be affordable plinking ammo but it's always very very inaccurate for me.

Trigger job would help tremendously on the snub; also, don't put the "pad" of your trigger finger on the trigger, instead, grab the gun up high on the backstrap and put your trigger finger in far enough that the trigger rests in the 1st fold down from the tip of your index finger. Practice dry firing it using this technique. Also, as you push the trigger to the rear slightely push the revolver forward with your arms as if you're poking; only a little. Imagine you're sticking a stick in the chest of the bad guy but only hard enough to poke the spot you want, not hard enough to run'em through.

This is a good point shooting technique that gets the brain working the same way it does when you reach to press an elevator button. No one stoops down to look at the button before pressing. the brain knows how to triangulate. Same works when you push the revo forward as you shoot.

Also, unless you've gotten a trigger job, forget "squeezing" off a round with a J frame. It needs to be a smooth quick pull. the Traditional squeezing will pull the revovler up or down and to the side every time.

Put this together and practice on a large man sized target at 7 yard with something other than winchester white box. Get the lowest grain NON +p and practice. After you fire the first shot; your focus should be to hit that hole again.

Doing these few things improved my j frame shooting alot. Then I went on to practice staging my trigger for more precise shots. I pull the trigger until it stages and then it's like single action from that point but try the other basic techniques first.

The push forward and trigger position helps keep the gun straight as you're pulling the trigger.

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Gideon
Jer 33:3

Steve48

My 642 shoots very well after a trigger job. 15 yards is all you would expect a guns like this will shoot well. I would start out at 3, 7, 10, 12 and 15 yards. Practice makes perfect!! Steve48

dawgfvr

I own rifles, revolvers and pistols...and I own my 642 for one simple reason...close in, last resort, self-defense. Which is a good thing because I can hardly hit the target past 25 feet. I carry the 110 grain Corbon DPX + P and if it hurts the BG half as much as my hand, I'll be satisfied. It is not a target gun. I do not care to spend the time or money to make it a target gun...period. It is not a fun gun to fire. The only saving grace is that it slides so easily into your front pocket and presents so quickly out of a Mika pocket holster.

SIXTO

No, but a picture would!

Like the others have said, a J frame is a tough gun to shoot at a distance. Non existant sights, short sight radius, short barrel, light weight all play a role in this.
I do know a few shooters that are outstanding with a snub, and will put most other shooters shooting whatever to shame; so there is potential in the little guns, you just have to learn how to bring it out.

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JimmyC4

I usually practice "up close n' personal" shooting with my snubby. And fast, as in terrified fast, dumping all five shots into the silhouette as I lean to run away! It works well for me, and that's how it will come into use if it ever does.

While they may be accurate, with that little revo I won't be trying any long-distance head shots, it's just not the tool for that...maybe others see it differently, but I know my limitations (Clint Eastwood warned me about that!).

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firestarplus

I also just recently started shooting a snubbie (model 37-2) and have had some adjustments to make but overall I am quite happy with my initial shooting. I had low expectations so maybe thats why I am happy. A couple of great tips already mentioned here: Once I learned to not try and ''sqeeze" the trigger as Gideon mentioned but be smooth and quick that helped dramatically. Also as David mentioned leaving an empty chamber lurking gives you a great idea of what your doing right or wrong.

Also my S&W came with Uncle Mikes (from the factory) grips and I am very satisfied with them. I shot 150 rounds on saturday with no problems whatsoever (well, ok, maybe my wrist hurt a little later on sunday and monday) but it was a "good" pain.

b52ace

Purchase some 110 gr ammo and practice with that. It will kick less and allow you to practice without being beat to death with heavier ammo. That's what I do w/ my 642. I also use DPX 110 as my defensive ammo. JMO

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