aryfrosty

I have decided that these little Centennial style S&W revolvers are like the potato chip ad that says you "can't eat just one." I gave my dad one some years ago. I gave my son 2 of them and I still have 3, 4 if you count the 642-2 I bought on the way home today. I was concerned that S&W's QC was slipping a little in the finish department until I got the newest today...It is very well finished and a joy to carry. I have been retired from LEO status for 12 years and I usually carried a Bodyguard in my pants pocket on the job and off for those 25 years. When I moved north and went to work for the NH Dept of Safety I still carried one. During the silly season I changed to a .45acp on my hip and a .45acp AMT DAO Backup in my pocket but am back to the front pocket with my little Centennials. Anybody else carzy about these revolvers.

one eye joe

I CERTAINLY AM ! ! ! The Airweight Centennials are arguably the finest CCWs on the planet. More 642s are sold than any other S&W model. My personal EDC, either as a primary in t-shirt weather or as a BUG, is a 642-1 (NO LOCK) wearin' a set of Crimson Trace LG-405 Laser Grips. It resides in an Active ProGear pocket holster in my pants' front pocket. I hardly know that it's there...

aryfrosty

I have liked these for a long time and probably always will. Seems as if you can forget they're there until your hand brushes by them and you get the feeling that you are ready for whatever happens. I know .38spl isn't much compared to a lot of the modern day loadings but they work well with the right loads.

one eye joe

You're right Al, ammo choice is critical in order to wring the most out of the .38Spl when fired through a 1 7/8" barrel. After careful consideration and trial, this Speer Gold Dot seemed to be the best to me....

aryfrosty

Thanks, Joe. I have used those and have liked the recoil and operation. I have also used WW 147gr +p+ subsonics in .38 spl. They are marked "Police use only" but I could still find them up until about 5 years ago. I have a box stashed for a rainy day but looks like they might be extinct. The round I'm using in my .38s lately is a Remington "HD" (Home Defense) load. They are +p and 125 gr., brass jacketed HP. I usually stay away from Remington ammo for short barrels because the powder they load with has a habit of setting the grass on fire for about 5 yards in front of the line but these are mild compared to the 125gr .357 mags. I know the jury is out on "Powerball" and "Glaser Safety Slugs" made by Cor-Bon but have you ever tried them? I have carried Glasers in my old Python on duty for many moons. I also keep an AMT DAO Backup in .45acp loaded with 6 Glasers in my go-to-hell bag. The silvers are good for penetrating winter clothing and the blues are decent warm weather rounds since they don't have to go through clothing. The rounds in my Python are blues and they are 80 grains at 1600fps and 455 ft.lbs. These things were developed for the old "Air Marshal" program since they won't over penetrate. I think of them as my Wal*Mart rounds. God help that I never have to use them.

one eye joe

Al, I used to carry a pair of 629s both at the same time (an 8 3/8" in a shoulder rig, and a 2 1/2" on the hip) on serious social occasions in my younger days--mostly for visual effect (you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression). I carried the silver Glasers in them both. I have carried PowRball in my 1911. Fortunately, I never had to use either of these three weapons in self defense, so I cannot speak to the efficiency of that ammo against two legged targets. I pissed my pants at your grass fire comment ! ! I never liked Remington ammo. It always seemed dirty shooting, and not particularly accurate...

Mustachio

My 642 is my EDC. It shoots POA and is fun to shoot. I carry IWB and it disappears. Here is a pic with Hogue grips and Wolff spring kit to lower trigger pull to about 9 lbs.