need advice quickly

[taters]

i was gonna buy a s&w 340 but i got talkedi nto buying a s&w 442. it's about $350 cheaper. and less recoil, a lot less. but now i am gtting a lot of flack saying i should get the 340 and paractice with .38s and conceal carry with 357 magnum. what to do. what to do. would you feel comfortable in a tight spot with the 442? think i should cancel theorder and go with the 340? thanks taters

[Snafu]

I have a 642 and a 442. Does that tell you anything? Use the money you have now saved to practice with the 442 and you'll be better off than with a gun you haven't shot as much. If you put the rounds where they need to go, it won't matter if it's a .38 special plus P or a .357 magnum.

[Buckaroo]

You done fine! Enjoy the 442 and use the $350 for practice ammo and a set of CT grips.

[G33]

M442!
:supergrin:

[Coach22]

I have a 442 (nickel pre lock) and a 340 PD.
I got the 340 PD for the lower weight,
not for shooting 357's in it.
I tried a few different 357's,
GDSB's, DPX's, Federal Low Recoil (which they are not)
and follow up shots were too slow for my liking.
I load the 442 with Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158's
and the 340 PD with Double Tap 125 +P's.
If weight isn't a factor for you,
buy two 442's. One for each pocket.
For me, nothing carries better than the 340.
The Bantam Grips grab fabric, so I use Uncle Mike's Boot Grips.

[fastbolt]

Federal Low Recoil (which they are not)

Same exact thought that came to mind when I touched off a cylinder load of them. ;)

Controllability, recoil management, felt recoil, accuracy of follow-up shots ... shooting one of the Airlites with Magnum loads requires a lot of the shooter/user.

Personally, I held off on buying a lightweight Magnum J-frame until the introduction of the M&P with the heavier stainless (blackened) cylinder ... and even though I include Magnum loads in with my practice & qualification sessions, I carry .38 Spl +P loads from day to day.

My favorite daily J-frame is my 642-1, with my secondary choice generally a toss-up between an older 649 Bodyguard (.38 Spl) and the M&P 340 Centennial.

Try and find a range who rents one, or friend who owns a Magnum Airlite J-frame. Shoot it with Magnum and then +P loads and answer your own question.

The 642 & 442 are pretty much ordinarily considered to be bargains in the art of J-frame compromise.

[taters]

thanks for all the help and feedback. i appreciate your time. thanks tates

[mitchshrader]

shoot .38 FBI loads and settle. they work good. i have only posted this link about 20 times..

http://www.brassfetcher.com/158%20grain%20+P%20lead%20HP%20(test%202).html

now.. i ain't gonna tell you what to do with any expectation you'll DO it..

but the gun laying by my head at night has those rounds in it. i picked on purpose.

[deadday]

You done fine! Enjoy the 442 and use the $350 for practice ammo and a set of CT grips.

What he said...The only other Smith I would own in lieu of the 442 would be a 327....I NEEEEED a 327..






drew

[Laserlips]

You done fine! Enjoy the 442 and use the $350 for practice ammo and a set of CT grips.


+1 :yourock::yourock::yourock:

A set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips (I recommend the newer 405 models) will make your J-frame a tack driver at any reasonable self defense distance....

Jesse


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_9436.jpg

[bluelineman]

Good idea getting the 442. That's what I ended up with. Before I left the gun show, I got a set of Crimson Trace laser grips (LG 405) installed.

I chose to load it with Speer Gold Dot short barrel 135+p ammo. It was made specifically for the short barrel snubby 38's.

See attached article below for info.

[bluelineman]

OK. Maybe this will work after all.

Speer Gold Dot short barrel 135+p ammo. The meat of the subject is towards the end.

[taters]

wow thanks a lot for all the info....i hadjust bought some cor-bon 38 special+p 110gr jhp 1050 fps energy 269ft/lbs thanks again taters

[deadday]

I use Golden Sabres in mine...I don't recall, and am in way tooo damned much pain to go check, but beleve they are 125gr? Anyway,s as you can see here, the 42 has a very devoted following among GTers, and I for one am quite glad that the J-frame subies are making a comeback to the market. Maybe:upeyes: we will start seeing some GREAT new products! Maybe we will get the 327 remade....Who knows :dunno:









drew