REVIEW: Smith & Wesson 642

I've shot a number of different handguns, among them a few revolvers of varying sizes--.357 Magnums, .38 Specials and a .41 Magnum. All were fun in their own way, but I generally prefer autoloaders. When I had the opportunity to shoot a little snubnose revolver recently, I wasn't expecting much.

It was a Smith & Wesson 642 Airweight in .38 Special. Made of alloy, it only weighs a pound. The barrel is less than 2 inches and the cylinder holds 5 rounds. Sights are very basic, with a blade in front and a groove in the top strap for rear sights. The grip is rubber and short enough to leave your pinky dangling unless you have tiny hands. It's also hammerless (well, the hammer is inaccessible). Everything about this gun is designed for concealed carry and close-range self-defense. Shooting targets with it didn't seem promising.

My initial impressions were kind of what I expected. I kept shooting high, and it took a bit to adjust to the long, double-action trigger. Recoil might be a bit much to a novice, but it was less than expected and not bothersome at all. I was firing Remington UMC 130gr. FMJs and could have shot all afternoon.

After about 10 rounds, I figured out the sight picture and trigger and began nailing targets. I wasn't getting tight groups or anything but hitting smaller targets at greater distances than this gun was really designed for. At 10 yards, I was able to hit a small spinner target (about 5 inches across) 3 times out of 5. For a "belly gun" (push it into the assailant's belly and pull the trigger), this was most impressive.

So, my gut instinct that snubbies are too much of a compromise to be worthwhile was wrong. The 642 is a great little gun. More accurate than it should be or needs to be, it's also completely reliable and a nice size and weight to be carried daily. The capacity is about half what one could get in many small autoloaders, but a 5-round speed strip for reloading wouldn't add much bulk.

One suggestion I would make is to consider the Crimson Trace laser grip. I didn't shoot with one, and it adds another $230 to this $400 gun, but it would also add about a half inch of grip for your pinky and compensate well for the minimal sights, particularly in low-light situations.

This May Sound Alarmist, But...

OK, I'll get right to the point. It's October 22. The election is November 4, and the next President takes office in January. If McCain is elected, your 2nd Amendment rights will likely remain intact, though a super-majority of Democrats in Congress could hamper that. (Not saying one party's always right and one's always wrong, but Dems are usually wrong on the right to bear arms/self-defense. There are some independent-thinking Dems, too.) If Obama is elected, you can expect the sorts of infringements that Clinton pursued and more. His rhetoric is accommodating but his record is very anti-gun.

So, if you've been thinking about buying a gun, now's the time. In Illinois, you need a Firearm Owner's ID (FOID) card. That costs $10 now and lasts 10 year--a bargain. The turnaround time is about a month, so get an application in now. In the meantime, start saving up your pennies. $300-350 should cover a decent 12- or 20-gauge pump shotgun or a semi-auto .22LR rifle with transfer fees and a little ammo. Shotguns are hard to beat for home defense. A .22 rifle is not particularly powerful but is the preferred way to learn to shoot if you're new to shooting sports. There are other options, but those would be my suggestions.

If you've never been shooting, let me know (friends and acquaintances only, please). I'd be glad to introduce you to your first gun and range. Please DON'T buy a gun without getting some thorough training, though. Gun ownership is not for everyone and should only be undertaken by those willing to learn how to safely and responsibly exercise this right.