I've got a 642 with crimson trace that yore welcome to try out. I traded away my LCR in favor of the J frame. Christine greatly preferred the 642 over the LCR as well.

Just shoot me a PM and you can borrow it for a while.


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I've got a 642 with crimson trace that yore welcome to try out. I traded away my LCR in favor of the J frame. Christine greatly preferred the 642 over the LCR as well.

Just shoot me a PM and you can borrow it for a while.

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Whats the laser configuration on the 642? The bodyguard had a thumb switch that was cumbersome for me. I just showed Jo the LCR w/laser and she liked the grip switch (which I assume is a momentary switch).

 

Whats the laser configuration on the 642? The bodyguard had a thumb switch that was cumbersome for me. I just showed Jo the LCR w/laser and she liked the grip switch (which I assume is a momentary switch).

It's a "grip" switch, laser stays on while you have it gripped. Been on the same battery, turned on, for about 4 years.

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Yher bodyguard is a good to go revolver. It is much more comfortable to shoot than the 442/642 versions.

 

With crimson trace it has a touch more recoil than with a hogue or Pachmayr. Wife preferred her 642 with Pachmayr.

 

I didn't like the bodyguard. Felt cheap to me.

 

I've never been to capital pawn. Is it in Asheville, I need to check it out.

 

I've never been to capital pawn. Is it in Asheville, I need to check it out.

It's close to Patton Ave., on the laft after you turn onto Leicester Hwy..

Decent prices...LCR .38 $395 ($385 each if we buy 2)....642/442 $375...Bodyguard w/laser $435

 

It's a "grip" switch, laser stays on while you have it gripped. Been on the same battery, turned on, for about 4 years.

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You have a PM

 

Thanks for the tip. I'm over in Waynesville, next time I'm in the Patton area I will check it out. Got to love a new toy store to check out!

 

..most of our sales have been with the LCR... compared to the 642 its everyone choice.. those that have the LCR come back braggin' on it...

 

..most of our sales have been with the LCR... compared to the 642 its everyone choice.. those that have the LCR come back braggin' on it...

Well, not everybody. I have a fair share of both S&W's and Ruger's in the stable. I've had 2 LCRs, a .38 and a .357. I honestly don't know what all the hype is about the trigger, my NIB, 2012 production j-frame (438) along with the several other older j-frames I've had or still have, are just as good if not better.

I sold the LCR's and have settled on the 438 for my pocket.

 

I'm with seabee on this one....
I have gone through boatloads of Rugers and currently have about 20, but my airweight 637 is my fave mini-wheelgun.... I have shot the LCR's and I like them, but I guess I just haven't found a sweet enough deal....
It still boils down to one thing....

Personal preference and comfort for the shooter. If it isn't comfortable, the shooter won't carry it.

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..most of our sales have been with the LCR... compared to the 642 its everyone choice.. those that have the LCR come back braggin' on it...

We went to the range this evening, didn't have time to stop by Seabee's to borrow his 642 but the range had them for rent. She had a hard time with the recoil in such a light gun, and the grip as too small for her liking. Still she managed nearly a box through it. Then she rented one in .22 that had an aftermarket set of taller grips that made for a much better fit. She's still gonna try the LCR. She then tried my Service Six and Security Six...night and day for recoil of course (with .38's) but too big for her to carry. She also tried my newest SR9 and really liked it, so she's gonna try my SR9c next time.
I'm gonna pick up some reduced recoil rounds for her to try again.
We dry fired an LCR in class, and it seemed to have a much better trigger than the 642.
BTW...this was the first time I had the Sixes to the range....oh they are sooo sweet! Crap for sights...but sweet shooters!

 

Well, not everybody. I have a fair share of both S&W's and Ruger's in the stable. I've had 2 LCRs, a .38 and a .357. I honestly don't know what all the hype is about the trigger, my NIB, 2012 production j-frame (438) along with the several other older j-frames I've had or still have, are just as good if not better.

I sold the LCR's and have settled on the 438 for my pocket.

We're gonna have to get familiar with the J frame offerings. I think she's gonna be ok with any weight if it'll tame the recoil a bit. She did not like the 642 trigger, but that may have been at least partially due to the ill fit of the grip. Plus, as I told her, the trigger thing can be tweaked.
I shot the 642 enough to figure out that I'm gonna need "something" that size, and as light as possible...for a backup gun. The recoil wasn't an issue with me, the only real issue that I had was the fact that I had to use the crease in my finger rather than the pad....using the pad wasn't "ouchless". I thought the trigger was pinching me but now I think it was a recoil thing because my knuckle is all red and sore now.

 

You can throw them all into a bucket and the 642 will always be on top. I had my trigger pull reworked by a gunsmith and its like butter. Would not take two of either the bodyguard or LCR for my 642. Besides a laser is not as beneficial as advertised.

 

637, then 442/642/etc...

I've got a 442 and 637, and have shot the new plasticy-laser .38 S&W Bodyguard quite a bit. I am with 1911gobang here - I am a huge fan of the 637.

I can shoot the bodyguard more accurately than either the 442 or 637 at 10-15 yards, without the laser. I've shocked myself with 5 round groups at 10 and 15 yards with... 4 or 5 holes touching. I can also shoot the bodyguard much more accurately with the laser at almost any range. BUT there are 5 reasons why I wouldn't buy, use or depend on one of the new S&W Bodyguard .38's. (unless every other pistol and revolver that I have was broken/stolen/etc)

1) Although the Bodyguard is much more accurate in slow, deliberate, aimed fire, I can point shoot into a paperplate from 7-10 yards all day with the 442and the 637, and although not the frankly amazing accuracy of the bodyguard 38, I am even more accurate with aimed fire where I acquire a sight picture, think for a bit and concentrate on marksmanship fundamentals. I'd say - at 7 yards, I can shoot minute of ping-pong ball on an exceptional day, and minute of baseball on most days.
2) I cannot point shoot the S&W Bodyguard .38... it just aligns wrong for me. Groups are impossibly large, even at 7 yards.
3) The laser on the .38 bodyguard is a cheap piece of work. It is excessively complex to operate and for me, the silly cheap laser requires concentration and fine motor skills that might not be available in the sort of stressful situation where I am likely to NEED the revolver.
4) The cylinder release is unlike any other small revolver, anywhere. With every Colt, S&W, Taurus, and essentially every other double-action revolver I've ever seen, there is a small latch of some sort on the left hand side of the pistol that either pushes or pulls to open the cylinder. That latch can be opened with 1 thumb, and with the same hand that holds the pistol, so the other hand is free to reload. With every other revolver. To me, the 38 bodyguard requires 2 hands to open the cylinder, meaning reloading is an extra step, and is extra slow.
5) For me - the .38 bodyguard produces noticably more recoil than either the 637 or the 442. What kind of mystery polymer increases recoil? That just makes no sense to me... but it is how it felt.

Based on those things, and the mushy trigger, that I didnt get into, I just don't think the bodyguard is up to S&W's standards of quality. It feels like somebody at S&W said "hey, lets do a revolver in polymer that will cost about $400, with laser" and they just stuck something together without any regard for recoil, quality, reload, trigger, or any functional quality that a small concealable revolver requires to be effective as a small concealable revolver. (except accuracy)

If I wanted a gun to make the smallest possible group, I would be happy to shoot one. For anything else that I might want a small revolver for, the 637 is would be my choice 9 out of 10 times, and the 442 or any other variation (642, etc) would be next. After that, Id get a used Colt Detective Special off gunbroker. If that wasn't an option, I might get an LCR in either 38 or 357, further down the list, I might get a Taurus 856, or an older Taurus 85. If I couldnt do that, Id find a Charter Arms 38... LONG after I had exhausted every other option... I'd make due with a S&W 38 bodyguard. BUT - I'd never consider +P ammo, I'd train really hard with snap caps to figure out a way to reload, and I'd never ever use the laser.

Course, thats entirely my opinion. Opinions vary, and everybody's got one.

 

I like the 442 for carry. It's not a range gun. If you shoot rounds close to your defensive loads you will definitely feel the recoil. My practice loads are just above cowboy. The CT sounds good but will be difficult to practice with on bright days. I also put in a Wolf spring to reduce the trigger pull. That's my opinion. The opinion that counts is hers. Buy what she likes.