I had not thought about it but now that you mention wad cutter target loads, they would not be bad in a 642.
I used to use them in a Colt Agent and they were really mild.
148 grain wadcutter and 2.8 grains of Bullseye.Recoil is hardly noticeable.
They used to be commonplace loads that did double duty, and they were - in those days - considered an acceptable HD/SD alternative in the lighter revolvers… which would probably be considered "not so light" by today's standards. While recently helping out a new shooter who is physically not up to stout recoil I was reminded - once again - that while there are certainly better defensive rounds, the target .38 Special match wadcutter remained an acceptable choice.
It was controllable, therefore shot placement was improved; it was accurate at reasonable HD/SD ranges; it was reliable (more so than much of the current .22LR ammunition); it was more effective than a sharp stick in a pair of weakened hands. There is also a revolver selection component that goes with this particular story, but it doesn't cover any ground that C.E. Harris doesn't cover far better in his thoughts on the matter.
Which Is Best As One Handgun for Non-Hobbyist?
Mr. niteowl77