Posted on 12/05/2010 3:15:54 PM PST by iceskater
I finally did it! I bought my first gun. I think of it as the start of a collection. :D
It's a S&W .38. I think it's a good beginning. Next up, my CCP.
“What made you go with a DA only?”
You can fire the 642 in SA.
Mrs. panax has one with the Crimson Laser grips. She carries it in her CCW purse and loves it!
Good choice, iceskater.
Just remember, you can never have enough guns. And reloading is a lot of fun. Get several powders for each caliber, and load different bullet weights. It’s a very rewarding hobby. If you stock up on components and save your (and everyone else’s) brass, you don’t have to worry about shortages. Be sure not to overcharge or undercharge. Squibs can be deadly.
That's what multi-tools are for. ;-)
Really? How do you pull the hammer back?
“The surprising thing is my wife is a damn crack shot. She usually beats the dog out of us boys.”
Dont be ashamed, one of my favorite movie scenes of all times is in the movie Tremors where Reba is in the basement firing off rounds and screaming....for another clip!
Kinda sexy!
2.) never pick up a gun without checking to see if it is loaded and that definitely includes a chamber check for semi-autos.
Never point your weapon at something you don't want to destroy.
Be aware of what's behind your target. Over penetration happens.
Resist the urge to pistol whip idiots. You'll mar the finish.
If you are going to carry, you won’t need a collection, the S&W 38 is a GREAT carry gun. But as the folks here are saying, get to “gun school” right away. You will find it is fun, you will learn a great deal about your gun, your ability will improve ... and you’ll be SAFE. Enjoy the new gun, I love mine and it goes everywhere I go.
Thanks! I know I have a lot to learn but FR has certainly helped me.
Ooops, I was thinking of the Bodyguard model #438. Been fighting the cold wind all day and my brain is still frozen. Won’t happen again.....panax
Great choice, its a keeper. No need to trade up.
I’ve been looking for a pre model 38 exc to anib for a while now.
A ‘642’ isn’t a bad choice at all! Sure, 6 rounds (check out your choices of speedloaders, too!), but you can get yourself out of a jam, with practice, good classes, and also catching a YouTube video, or two.
Ammunition ... Plus P or NON-Plus P. that depends on how you accept the recoil. There is a round that has been re-released by Federal, that was the police snubby ammunition-of-choice, called Nyclad. They look weird, being a blue bullet, but they work! They are 125-grain weight, and Non-Plus-P. They are self-defense rounds, so they are not that cheap.
I use .38 Special Non-Plus-P, because, if it does NOT say so on the side of the barrel, there will be “that Murphy day”, and usually at a point in time, that would NOT make my day.
The other most used Non-Plus-P ammunition, is one that the fized sights are manufactured to be ‘on target’ with, 158-grain Semi-WadCutter, or, Lead Semi-WadCutter Hollow Point cartridges. They were used by the FBI for many years. Neither one is like the Nyclad. Semi-Wadcutters are an all-around useful cartridge. Yes, it is NOT a hollow point, but they do flatten, and they hit harder, than a hollow-point bullet. Yes, the LSWCHP -is- the best of both worlds, but all of this, is something that each of us has to find a combination ‘our-firearm-of-choice’ performs well.
All of this did come to me right away, and did some searches on various firearm forums, including ‘S and W forum’. Oh, what do I own? An SW Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece, a Taurus Model 82 (version of Sw Model 10 HB), a Taurus Model 905 9mm snubby - with moonclips, a Browning BHP in blue MkII, a Browning BHP MkIII in digi-camo finish, and an EAA Compact Witness, all-steel, 9mm. Which do I carry? Let’s see ... hmm, 7 days a week ... HEY I’M SHORT A DAY! Reason to buy one more!
Good luck with your 642! Front sight! Front sight! Front sight!
I’ve known you can’t have too many guns for 50 years, I’ve been reloading for 35 years.
Maybe one in each Caliber, but not just one. LOL
After that, they implanted the thought in my mind that I had to buy one. Those sneaky Gunsmiths...
ping
S&W 642 — great choice...light, small, concealable, simple, effective for close range. Negatives are hard to shoot accurately at further distances, takes practice with the double action trigger pull, and low ammo capacity.
You can however make full contact body shots as there is no slide to catch on an opponent’s body, preventing you to shoot.
Modern defensive ammo by Gold Dot, Winchester, Federal, Cor Bon, Remington, etc is fine. I have mine loaded with +P Gold Dot 135 grain hollowpoints, with the first and last rounds being Buffalo Bore +P LSWHP, or the FBI load, semi hollow point wadcutters, which have big recoil.
I’ll go running with the 642 clipped with an Uncle Mikes holster inside waistband appendix carry, or in a coat pocket, along with another top concealable carry gun, the Glock 26, or baby Glock. 10 rounds 9mm... which you can supplement with any 15, 17, or 33 magazine.
Congrats! I have a couple S&W revolvers myself and have used them as a professional carry option off and on going back 30 years. You can't beat them.
If possible, take a class or two with a good instructor. There's also a ton of good video training sources out there if you're inclined to seek that out. IMO, the Ralph Mroz Armed Response video series gives you the best bang for the buck. Others' mileage may vary.
Shoot well and be safe!
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