Does anyone carry wheelguns as primary anymore? - Page 5

Trebla · February 26th, 2006, 10:54 PM

Maclean3: Your not afraid of the internal locking mechanism locking up on you in the heat of the battle, or does your 642 have one on it?

DDGator · February 27th, 2006, 12:30 AM

I often carry a S&W 642 as my primary carry gun, complete with CT lasergrips. I don't feel at all underarmed.

I took a 3 day tactical handgun course with a 5 shot snubby and kept up just fine with the Glocks and 1911s. In fact, I beat a gun with a 1911 in a plate clearing drill that required a mandatory reload.

General Geoff · February 27th, 2006, 01:14 PM

I have a S&W model 19, I have yet to carry it because my normal carry weapon is an SW99 .40cal. But one of these days I'll mix it up and see how carrying the model 19 goes. Interestingly enough, the 19 came with a holster when I bought it.

Tubby45 · February 28th, 2006, 02:12 AM

See my sig line. Only handgun I have til my 1911 10mm gets here. Then I will carry it and the snubbie with CTs gets to be a truck gun.

Trebla · March 15th, 2006, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kastiron

Another primary 642 carrier here. I have found it going with me nearly all the time because of how easily it slips into a pocket.

Reload strips seem to be very hard to come by though, and I refuse to buy a round speedloader, so I am limited to 5 shots. So far, that is 5 more than I have needed thank goodness.

If anyone can PM me a source for speed strips, I would appreciate it dearly.

The best reload is the New York reload, that means having two of the same gun on your person at once so instead of looking for a speedloader or speedstrip just grab your second gun!

maclean3 · March 15th, 2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trebla

Maclean3: Your not afraid of the internal locking mechanism locking up on you in the heat of the battle, or does your 642 have one on it?

Yes, my 642 has the lock. No, I don't worry about it freezing up on me. I used this gun for my CCW qualifying course and it ran perfectly fine, as it has for every range trip I've taken it on. I scored a 96% or 98% (forget which), it would've been higher but I rushed a few shots at the furthest target.

There's so many things that could malfunction with any given firearm that any choice at all is a compromise of sorts - my 642 could freeze up the next time I pull the trigger but I'll never have to worry about ftf/fte malfunctions or a mag baseplate flying off. The exact opposite is true of my 1911. If the internal lock bothers you it's possible to remove those parts, same as Springfield's 1911 ILS MSH.
Jack

Trebla · March 15th, 2006, 10:59 AM

Maclean3: I got lucky the other day and bought a 642 (excellent LNIB condition) and a NIB 37(bobbed hammer) from the ValleyForge gun show this past weekend. Both Airweights are without the locks. I am absolutely astonished on how accurate they are. Good luck with your 642 and take care of her cause she is definitely a keeper!!

maclean3 · March 15th, 2006, 11:28 AM

Great score Trebla! I've been carrying mine since I got my permit last October. Can't beat the weight and size for a go anywhere type of gun - whether I carry IWB, in the pocket or on the ankle it's with me. I'm using 125gr. +P Rem. GS and well pleased and Speer has a new 135gr +P Gold Dot that they developed specifically for the snubbies, I'm going to try those on my next range trip.
Jack

Trebla · March 16th, 2006, 12:52 AM

Thanks Maclean3! I ran some Federal Premium Personal Defense 135gr. JHP rounds through both of them and got some great groups at 25yds. I also ran some of those +P Golden Sabers that you spoke of through my 642, didn't put them through the 37 because S&W says its not +P rated. When your at the range do your practice with +P ammo or is that only for CCW? I want to try the Speer Gold Dot ammo as well because like you said it was designed for short barrel snubbies.

maclean3 · March 16th, 2006, 01:16 AM

I use std. pressure for most of my practice shooting (50 to 100 rounds fmj). When I'm done with that I'll fire off the current cylinder of carry ammo, use what's in my speedloader to replace it and refill the loader with fresh rounds - if I'm feeling particularly froggie I'll fire off both cylinders and use fresh ammo all around. The forcing cone is pretty thin and the lightweight frame doesn't get stressed as much by limiting the high pressure stuff - I plan on making this gun last as long as possible.
Jack

February 27th, 2006, 12:30 AM	#42
DDGator Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida Posts: 144	I often carry a S&W 642 as my primary carry gun, complete with CT lasergrips. I don't feel at all underarmed. I took a 3 day tactical handgun course with a 5 shot snubby and kept up just fine with the Glocks and 1911s. In fact, I beat a gun with a 1911 in a plate clearing drill that required a mandatory reload. __________________ DDGator (Duane) www.RealWorldCarryGear.com

February 28th, 2006, 02:12 AM	#44
Tubby45 Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: In the reloading room Posts: 1,988	See my sig line. Only handgun I have til my 1911 10mm gets here. Then I will carry it and the snubbie with CTs gets to be a truck gun. __________________ Freakshow Manufacturing LLC "You can kill it. We can help." 07 FFL/ 02 SOT

March 15th, 2006, 11:28 AM	#48
maclean3 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,876	Great score Trebla! I've been carrying mine since I got my permit last October. Can't beat the weight and size for a go anywhere type of gun - whether I carry IWB, in the pocket or on the ankle it's with me. I'm using 125gr. +P Rem. GS and well pleased and Speer has a new 135gr +P Gold Dot that they developed specifically for the snubbies, I'm going to try those on my next range trip. Jack __________________ "The sheep are everywhere. We are raising up a nation of cannon fodder types and we are screwed." HotGuns

March 16th, 2006, 01:16 AM	#50
maclean3 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,876	I use std. pressure for most of my practice shooting (50 to 100 rounds fmj). When I'm done with that I'll fire off the current cylinder of carry ammo, use what's in my speedloader to replace it and refill the loader with fresh rounds - if I'm feeling particularly froggie I'll fire off both cylinders and use fresh ammo all around. The forcing cone is pretty thin and the lightweight frame doesn't get stressed as much by limiting the high pressure stuff - I plan on making this gun last as long as possible. Jack __________________ "The sheep are everywhere. We are raising up a nation of cannon fodder types and we are screwed." HotGuns

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February 26th, 2006, 10:54 PM	#41
Trebla Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 152	Maclean3: Your not afraid of the internal locking mechanism locking up on you in the heat of the battle, or does your 642 have one on it?

February 27th, 2006, 01:14 PM	#43
General Geoff Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Posts: 354	I have a S&W model 19, I have yet to carry it because my normal carry weapon is an SW99 .40cal. But one of these days I'll mix it up and see how carrying the model 19 goes. Interestingly enough, the 19 came with a holster when I bought it.

March 15th, 2006, 10:59 AM	#47
Trebla Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 152	Maclean3: I got lucky the other day and bought a 642 (excellent LNIB condition) and a NIB 37(bobbed hammer) from the ValleyForge gun show this past weekend. Both Airweights are without the locks. I am absolutely astonished on how accurate they are. Good luck with your 642 and take care of her cause she is definitely a keeper!!

March 16th, 2006, 12:52 AM	#49
Trebla Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 152	Thanks Maclean3! I ran some Federal Premium Personal Defense 135gr. JHP rounds through both of them and got some great groups at 25yds. I also ran some of those +P Golden Sabers that you spoke of through my 642, didn't put them through the 37 because S&W says its not +P rated. When your at the range do your practice with +P ammo or is that only for CCW? I want to try the Speer Gold Dot ammo as well because like you said it was designed for short barrel snubbies.