Smith and Wesson 442?

iamjustifyd · February 28, 2011, 03:04 PM

Hello, new here and going to get a gun for carry. I'm thinking about a S&W 442. I have a guy at work telling me that it won't stop someone from coming at me. I've read a lot of reviews on this gun and all were pretty good. I shot a couple of 45's over the weekend but very little experience. Would the 442 be stopping and/or dropping someone? Thanks

Sherry

Driftless45 · February 28, 2011, 03:42 PM

The S&W 442 is a perfectly fine choice for self-defense and carry. No handgun is a death ray that will automatically end any violent confrontation, only in the movies does that happen. Your work friend is quite frankly mistaken. The .38 special ammunition choices these days for self-defense are quite capable. The snubnose .38 special loaded with proper +p self defense ammunition is the choice of many concealed carry defensive shooters.

The more important aspect rather than what caliber handgun you carry, is where you can put your shots. 8 shots of .45acp that miss are useless compared to shots of .38 that hit. Get some proper training, and practice with the handgun of your choice. I would keep trying a few different calibers and handgun styles until you find the one you love, and want to carry and shoot. Then get the proper training from a qualified and experienced source, and plenty of practice.

DiscoRacing · February 28, 2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

I have a guy at work telling me that it won't stop someone from coming at me.

Hmmm....

And what caliber does this guy suggest that you get??!!

.38 would do the job Im sure.

DiscoRacing · February 28, 2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

No handgun is a death ray that will automatically end any violent confrontation

This one may

Txpitdog · February 28, 2011, 03:53 PM

I carry a 442 daily. It is a fantastic choice for a carry weapon, because it is light, simple, reliable, and with Buffalo Bore 158gr +P ammo, it will lay the smacketh down.

...on Earth, as it is in Texas

Driftless45 · February 28, 2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

This one may

We have yet to see the ballistics of the .500 S&W against alien invaders.

brabham78 · February 28, 2011, 04:35 PM

iamjustifyd, ignore the guy at work. .38 Special is a very good self defense round, and the 442 you're think of is one of the best concealed carry guns on the market. It's light weight, comfortable to carry, reliable........and since Smith & Wesson has has lowered their prices dramatically .... the 442 is priced great too.

RichC · February 28, 2011, 04:40 PM

The 442 often sits in my pocket in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster filled with +P ammo.

I actually do not like shooting it, as it does sting a bit in the web of my hand with the +P ammo. But this is not a "for pleasure" shooter. It conceals very well and will be more than adequate for self defense purposes.

Idahoser · February 28, 2011, 07:46 PM

I'd say it's wrong to recommend a lightweight to anybody who can't shoot it first and decide for themselves. If you're normal you will be happier with a steel gun overall. If it's to be your only gun especially. Not saying a lightweight won't be good for you, but it might not. You are highly likely to teach yourself very bad habits if this is your only gun.

And if you have to mail order special extra strength Buffalo Bore ammo you shouldn't be using .38 in the first place, you really wanted a .357 Magnum.

1goodshot · February 28, 2011, 10:29 PM

You might want to shoot 1 first, they have a little bit if a kick. An all steel 1 will be easier to shoot for a new shooter.
The finish on my 442 is pretty bad,it rusted with just a little bit of sweat on it. They make a stainless an aluminum model that you might like(642).

motorhead0922 · February 28, 2011, 10:32 PM

Hi, iamjustifyd. Welcome to TFL.

I like the looks and feel of a 442, but for whatever reason I can't hit the broad side of a barn with one. Just doesn't suit me for some reason. For this reason I too recommend you shoot one before buying.

With standard ammo, recoil is no problem. I haven't tried +P.

Manco · March 1, 2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1goodshot

The finish on my 442 is pretty bad,it rusted with just a little bit of sweat on it.

The finish on the 442's cylinder is blued steel, so what you're implying is that bluing in general is a pretty bad finish because it doesn't protect against sweat. Maybe that's what you want to say or maybe not, but I'm just pointing it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1goodshot

They make a stainless an aluminum model that you might like(642).

The 642's "stainless" cylinder would probably rust pretty quickly if exposed to sweat, too, unless it's treated (like you have to do with blued steel). In general the types of stainless steel (often 416R, as in the case of S&W handguns) that are useful for making guns out of are not nearly as corrosion-resistant as those used for marine/outdoors applications or cooking/eating utensils, even though they're still called "stainless" (a misnomer, in my opinion).

Personal defense handguns should be protected from sweat preferably by the holster, and then by treating the surface with corrosion inhibitors. Obviously whatever you're currently using isn't getting the job done, so maybe you should consider applying a hard wax such as SC Johnson Paste Wax.

pogo2 · March 1, 2011, 02:53 PM

The S&W 442/642 guns are very popular for concealed carry, probably because of their light weight and small dimensions, which make them easy to conceal. I have a 642 and have carried it frequently. But there is a tradeoff involved, and these guns are difficult to shoot well because of their size and surprising level of recoil. They also have limited capacity (5 rounds), a slow reload and a less potent caliber than some alternatives. I have practiced frequently with mine but I am not satisfied with my accuracy compared to some other guns I use. I view the 642 as a very close range weapon because of this.

If I have the option, I'll tend to use something a little larger in 9mm, .40 or .45, such as a Kahr. But the airweight .38 definitely fills a niche.

Eagle0711 · March 1, 2011, 02:55 PM

I've carried a similiar gun for years and if you put the bullet/ bullets in the cartriges posted above in the right spot they WILL stop your attacker.

You buddies are not well informed shooters or well educated on this subject. You might want to ask them where they got their information? Any facts to back up their statements?

You could ask for volunters to take a couple of rounds and see what they think?

brabham78 · March 1, 2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

You could ask for volunteers to take a couple of rounds and see what they think?

Although not very practical, that is the one test that would certainly settle all of the ridiculous caliber arguments on these forums. Personally, I'm thinking that even a .22lr would have me crying uncle in a hurry - if I were still able.

Sherry, I've had several female friends who found their 442 (or 642) to be the right choice. They don't find the recoil of a 442 to be a problem. I have a revolver that is even lighter than a 442, and with .38 Special ammo in it, the recoil feels rather tame to me. Like any gun, you'll want to practice as much as possible, but if you do, I think you'll find that it's easy to shoot, and you'll become proficient. Practice, practice is the key.

iamjustifyd · March 1, 2011, 04:52 PM

Thanks for all the replies!! My cousin has been on a police force for 9 years and I went shooting with him over the weekend. He had two different 45's he let me shoot with him...Para-Ordanance. Don't know which ones. One had a 6" barrel and the other 4.5? I liked the smaller one and shot pretty well with both. I will have to shoot the S&W first before I buy. I think the guy at work is just going off of what he is reading online and hearing his friends say. He has a Tracker that from what I understand is still in the box. Lots of info on this forum!!

February 28, 2011, 03:04 PM	#1
iamjustifyd Junior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: New Orleans Posts: 9	Smith and Wesson 442? Hello, new here and going to get a gun for carry. I'm thinking about a S&W 442. I have a guy at work telling me that it won't stop someone from coming at me. I've read a lot of reviews on this gun and all were pretty good. I shot a couple of 45's over the weekend but very little experience. Would the 442 be stopping and/or dropping someone? Thanks Sherry

March 1, 2011, 02:53 PM	#13
pogo2 Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Southwest Posts: 879	Tradeoff The S&W 442/642 guns are very popular for concealed carry, probably because of their light weight and small dimensions, which make them easy to conceal. I have a 642 and have carried it frequently. But there is a tradeoff involved, and these guns are difficult to shoot well because of their size and surprising level of recoil. They also have limited capacity (5 rounds), a slow reload and a less potent caliber than some alternatives. I have practiced frequently with mine but I am not satisfied with my accuracy compared to some other guns I use. I view the 642 as a very close range weapon because of this. If I have the option, I'll tend to use something a little larger in 9mm, .40 or .45, such as a Kahr. But the airweight .38 definitely fills a niche.

February 28, 2011, 03:42 PM	#2
Driftless45 Junior Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2	The S&W 442 is a perfectly fine choice for self-defense and carry. No handgun is a death ray that will automatically end any violent confrontation, only in the movies does that happen. Your work friend is quite frankly mistaken. The .38 special ammunition choices these days for self-defense are quite capable. The snubnose .38 special loaded with proper +p self defense ammunition is the choice of many concealed carry defensive shooters. The more important aspect rather than what caliber handgun you carry, is where you can put your shots. 8 shots of .45acp that miss are useless compared to shots of .38 that hit. Get some proper training, and practice with the handgun of your choice. I would keep trying a few different calibers and handgun styles until you find the one you love, and want to carry and shoot. Then get the proper training from a qualified and experienced source, and plenty of practice.

February 28, 2011, 03:53 PM	#5
Txpitdog Junior Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Posts: 8	I carry a 442 daily. It is a fantastic choice for a carry weapon, because it is light, simple, reliable, and with Buffalo Bore 158gr +P ammo, it will lay the smacketh down. ...on Earth, as it is in Texas

February 28, 2011, 04:35 PM	#7
brabham78 Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2009 Posts: 177	iamjustifyd, ignore the guy at work. .38 Special is a very good self defense round, and the 442 you're think of is one of the best concealed carry guns on the market. It's light weight, comfortable to carry, reliable........and since Smith & Wesson has has lowered their prices dramatically .... the 442 is priced great too.

February 28, 2011, 04:40 PM	#8
RichC Member Join Date: April 30, 2009 Posts: 88	The 442 often sits in my pocket in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster filled with +P ammo. I actually do not like shooting it, as it does sting a bit in the web of my hand with the +P ammo. But this is not a "for pleasure" shooter. It conceals very well and will be more than adequate for self defense purposes.

February 28, 2011, 07:46 PM	#9
Idahoser Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2005 Location: West TN Posts: 244	I'd say it's wrong to recommend a lightweight to anybody who can't shoot it first and decide for themselves. If you're normal you will be happier with a steel gun overall. If it's to be your only gun especially. Not saying a lightweight won't be good for you, but it might not. You are highly likely to teach yourself very bad habits if this is your only gun. And if you have to mail order special extra strength Buffalo Bore ammo you shouldn't be using .38 in the first place, you really wanted a .357 Magnum.

February 28, 2011, 10:29 PM	#10
1goodshot Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2001 Location: chandler,az Posts: 931	You might want to shoot 1 first, they have a little bit if a kick. An all steel 1 will be easier to shoot for a new shooter. The finish on my 442 is pretty bad,it rusted with just a little bit of sweat on it. They make a stainless an aluminum model that you might like(642).

February 28, 2011, 10:32 PM	#11
motorhead0922 Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 635	Hi, iamjustifyd. Welcome to TFL. I like the looks and feel of a 442, but for whatever reason I can't hit the broad side of a barn with one. Just doesn't suit me for some reason. For this reason I too recommend you shoot one before buying. With standard ammo, recoil is no problem. I haven't tried +P.

March 1, 2011, 02:55 PM	#14
Eagle0711 Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2010 Posts: 782	I've carried a similiar gun for years and if you put the bullet/ bullets in the cartriges posted above in the right spot they WILL stop your attacker. You buddies are not well informed shooters or well educated on this subject. You might want to ask them where they got their information? Any facts to back up their statements? You could ask for volunters to take a couple of rounds and see what they think?

March 1, 2011, 04:52 PM	#16
iamjustifyd Junior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: New Orleans Posts: 9	Thanks for all the replies!! My cousin has been on a police force for 9 years and I went shooting with him over the weekend. He had two different 45's he let me shoot with him...Para-Ordanance. Don't know which ones. One had a 6" barrel and the other 4.5? I liked the smaller one and shot pretty well with both. I will have to shoot the S&W first before I buy. I think the guy at work is just going off of what he is reading online and hearing his friends say. He has a Tracker that from what I understand is still in the box. Lots of info on this forum!!