Smith and Wesson 442 - The Firearms Forum

clicker1 · 11-23-2008, 08:35 PM

Hi there, I was just picked up one these Smith and Wesson 442 centennial and really have never had much experience with this type of gun. Just wondering if anyone here has had any experience or owns one, and what you think of it. It seems to fit pretty good in my hand and is still small enough for some concealment. I am not sure what to do about a holster for it yet. I appreciate any comments.

Alpo · 11-23-2008, 09:43 PM

Actually, that's a 642. 442 is a blued steel/black aluminum gun. That's stainless steel and white aluminum.

The 642 is better for a pocket carry. Sweat doesn't hurt the stainless.

I like mine so much, I bought one for my daughter. I use a pocket holster, but if you want a waist holster, I suggest a Fobus. This is kydex, and it grabs the gun at the trigger guard. I have a couple of leather holsters made for Smith J frame guns, but without a hammer, it is kind of difficult to keep it in the holster. Safety strap ain't got nothing to hold on to.

clicker1 · 11-23-2008, 10:02 PM

That is great news, I am glad that you like the gun. How do you like the double action only? Oh I had to show you this, strange isn't it

CTM · 11-23-2008, 10:41 PM

awesome little guns

Alpo · 11-24-2008, 09:25 AM

That is strange. Must be a Friday gun.

Someone wasn't paying attention.

I like it. If you practice, you can stack it. That's where you pull the trigger almost all the way through. You can feel it get to a point and hang there, just a little. Right then you have, for all intents and purposes, cocked the gun. A small amount of pressure and the hammer falls, just like a cocked single action. It's kind of neat, showing people how accurately you can target shoot with a DA-only belly gun. I wouldn't try it while pointing it at someone, though. Occasionally one just slips by.

delta13soultaker · 11-24-2008, 09:44 AM

Yeah S&W codes S/S guns with numbers starting in 6. That S/S with a 442 might be rare some day.

The simple holster answer for that piece would by Uncle Mike for cheap but comfortable IWB, Don Hume IWB for a few dollars more. For pocket carry DESantis hard to beat.

clicker1 · 11-24-2008, 03:48 PM

Thanks a lot guys, this is good stuff too know. I will have to practice with the little guy. I am going to get one of those pocket carry DESantis, that's the 3rd time someone has mentioned them to me.

muddober · 11-24-2008, 07:33 PM

I have one that looks a lot like yours but mine has a an underluged barrel and it is a model 342 AirLite T. It has a built in/hidden lanyard ring that I have attached a leather strap and I carry it naked in my left front pocket though I am right handed. I can get to it fairly quickly by pulling it out of my pocket with my left hand and catching it in my right. The bad thing is that I have scratched the gun badly with keys and the other junk that I stuff my pocket with often forgetting the gun is there because it it so light.

Dirtypacman · 11-25-2008, 11:16 AM

Great gun - I love mine. Some have complained about the trigger pull but I have found it to smooth out after some use. Just practice, practice, practice so you can drop 5 in target without hesitation.

11-23-2008, 08:35 PM	#1
clicker1 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: upstate, ny Posts: 12	Smith and Wesson 442 Hi there, I was just picked up one these Smith and Wesson 442 centennial and really have never had much experience with this type of gun. Just wondering if anyone here has had any experience or owns one, and what you think of it. It seems to fit pretty good in my hand and is still small enough for some concealment. I am not sure what to do about a holster for it yet. I appreciate any comments. Attached Images -->

11-23-2008, 09:43 PM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,771	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 Actually, that's a 642. 442 is a blued steel/black aluminum gun. That's stainless steel and white aluminum. The 642 is better for a pocket carry. Sweat doesn't hurt the stainless. I like mine so much, I bought one for my daughter. I use a pocket holster, but if you want a waist holster, I suggest a Fobus. This is kydex, and it grabs the gun at the trigger guard. I have a couple of leather holsters made for Smith J frame guns, but without a hammer, it is kind of difficult to keep it in the holster. Safety strap ain't got nothing to hold on to.

11-23-2008, 10:02 PM	#3
clicker1 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: upstate, ny Posts: 12	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 That is great news, I am glad that you like the gun. How do you like the double action only? Oh I had to show you this, strange isn't it Attached Images __________________ If you're going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.

11-23-2008, 10:41 PM	#4
CTM V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: middle tennessee Posts: 85	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 awesome little guns

11-24-2008, 09:25 AM	#5
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,771	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 That is strange. Must be a Friday gun. Someone wasn't paying attention. I like it. If you practice, you can stack it. That's where you pull the trigger almost all the way through. You can feel it get to a point and hang there, just a little. Right then you have, for all intents and purposes, cocked the gun. A small amount of pressure and the hammer falls, just like a cocked single action. It's kind of neat, showing people how accurately you can target shoot with a DA-only belly gun. I wouldn't try it while pointing it at someone, though. Occasionally one just slips by.

11-24-2008, 09:44 AM	#6
delta13soultaker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Depends on Uncle Sam's whim every 3 yrs. Posts: 2,948	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 Yeah S&W codes S/S guns with numbers starting in 6. That S/S with a 442 might be rare some day. The simple holster answer for that piece would by Uncle Mike for cheap but comfortable IWB, Don Hume IWB for a few dollars more. For pocket carry DESantis hard to beat. __________________ Never say die! "A nation who forgets its defenders is soon forgotten itself." "A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Theodore Roosevelt Last edited by delta13soultaker; 11-24-2008 at 09:47 AM..

11-24-2008, 03:48 PM	#7
clicker1 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: upstate, ny Posts: 12	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 Thanks a lot guys, this is good stuff too know. I will have to practice with the little guy. I am going to get one of those pocket carry DESantis, that's the 3rd time someone has mentioned them to me. __________________ If you're going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.

11-24-2008, 07:33 PM	#8
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 I have one that looks a lot like yours but mine has a an underluged barrel and it is a model 342 AirLite T. It has a built in/hidden lanyard ring that I have attached a leather strap and I carry it naked in my left front pocket though I am right handed. I can get to it fairly quickly by pulling it out of my pocket with my left hand and catching it in my right. The bad thing is that I have scratched the gun badly with keys and the other junk that I stuff my pocket with often forgetting the gun is there because it it so light.

11-25-2008, 11:16 AM	#9
Dirtypacman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Merrimac Valley, MA Posts: 908	Re: Smith and Wesson 442 Great gun - I love mine. Some have complained about the trigger pull but I have found it to smooth out after some use. Just practice, practice, practice so you can drop 5 in target without hesitation. __________________ Member HHRG and HSC, NRA Life Member, GOAL Member LTC-A