Smith and Wesson 642 vs. Ruger SP101

[Kevin]

One gun I was thinking about buying was a Smith and Wesson J-Frame. That was when I started that thread about the annoying gun reviewers. I did finally decide upon the Model 642. One review that helped me decide was an older video with Jeff Quinn. He really liked the gun. I figured that was good enough for me. I wish I could have met Jeff Quinn.

Anyway, I picked it up this morning. It's the Performance Center version. One thing that made me decide between this and an LCR was the Performance Center's better trigger. Supposedly, they say on their website, the Performance Center trigger is 20% better than the standard trigger of this 642 model. Gunblast said the same thing, he liked the trigger a lot.

I do have to say, this trigger is much nicer than the double action trigger on my SP101. The 642 is also half the weight of the SP101. It is about the same size though.

I haven't shot it yet, I just literally picked it up this morning. It really seems like a nice gun though. I mainly got it because when I'm gone, my wife likes to have a gun in the nightstand. She really likes this one too. The trigger is pretty nice.

And no hammer to snag on anything. I had thought about another model with the exposed hammer. But I'm glad I got this one. It should shoot nice. I can actually shoot my SP101 pretty well. For me that is.

 

[turd]

Nice

 

[ronto]

I have to cock my SP101 because of arthritis in my fingers. What is the trigger pull weight on your 642?

 

[Cholo]

642's and Bodyguards are my favorite configurations in a 2" or less S&W J Frame. The aluminum J Frames will bark if you shoot +P ammo!

 

[eveled]

I have 2 black centenials, they are perfect for my needs. One is a 442 (Airweight) with Barami hip grips. The other is a 340PD (Airlight) even lighter than the 442 and its a .357 it has crimson trace grips. The ones with the gel pad.

By far my 2 most carried guns.

I have an SP101, love it but its a tank.

 

[Kevin]

I have to cock my SP101 because of arthritis in my fingers. What is the trigger pull weight on your 642?

I can't say for sure, as I don't have a trigger pull gauge. But, one reviewer I watched claimed it was 9 pounds. It does feel "light-ish" so I would guess that isn't far off.

 

[ronto]

I can't say for sure, as I don't have a trigger pull gauge. But, one reviewer I watched claimed it was 9 pounds. It does feel "light-ish" so I would guess that isn't far off.

The trigger pull on my SP101 cocked is just about a hair trigger, just a slight bit of pressure and BANG!

 

[gunzo]

I have 2 black centenials, they are perfect for my needs. One is a 442 (Airweight) with Barami hip grips. The other is a 340PD (Airlight) even lighter than the 442 and its a .357 it has crimson trace grips. The ones with the gel pad.

By far my 2 most carried guns.

I have an SP101, love it but its a tank.View attachment 16734

Other than the color, I have the same pair. They do carry nicely. I too have an SP. It should be sturdy for sure, quite a bit heavier.

Kevin, your new Smith looks nice, thinking you'll appreciate the radiused & polished trigger face.

 

[ProfessorWes]

I opted for the humpbacked 638 Airweight with the shrouded hammer. Easier to pocket carry than the SP-101, although I'd like to have one of those too.

I like Hornady's .38 SPL 158-grain XTP or Buffalo Bore's standard velocity 158-grain LSWCHP in the Airweight. I save the Plus-P stuff for my .357.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I hope I’m not getting too far off the topic, but years ago my edc was a 642. I carried it for about 3 years. I always thought the trigger was a little stiff. When the LCR came out I decided to check it out. No comparison. After that my edc was my LCR 357 mag. It’s a handful to empty a full cylinder of mags, but in an emergency it’s doable. Although I mostly carrry +P’s. I still have a 642, but it’s rare to get the call. But then everybody needs an SP for certain instances. I’m mostly a 3” guy but I decided in case of emergency I could also use a short barrel. A guy always needs to cover all the contingencies. That’s what I specialize in.

 

[WanderLust]

Kevin,
Love the grips on that one. Couple of questions while I'm admiring this one:
1. Did you have to order and wait a bit to get a Performance Center model?
2. Any idea if they offer it with a 2.5" barrel, or a 3" ?
3. I'm a medium/barely a large hand size. How well do you think that would fit me?
Thanks for showing this one off! I saw a 642 at a show Saturday and got to thinking about one.

 

[BROKENBEAR]

Well I really like my 642 in that with very little practice you can feel the trigger come to the "break" (where cylinder has rotated and bolt locked) and at that point the trigger is firm but really requires no additional travel to fire ..just a bit of pressure ..therefore it is NOT a type of required finger movent that will trash your sight picture ..

Bear

 

[vito]

I have a 642 and I admit that I don't enjoy shooting it, even with normal 38 special ammo. The gun is so light that the recoil is unpleasant to say the least, at least it is for me. But this gun is so light and easy to just grab and put in my right front pocket (in a Desantis pocket holster) when I am leaving the house that I often take it rather than going through the effort of using an OWB holster threaded through by my belt, for the Glock 26. I consider the 642 to be about the most trustworthy gun around, knowing it will go bang when I need it to, but I consider it mainly for self defense at bad breath distance only. My accuracy with this gun is terrible, but I can live with that.

 

[eveled]

The 340pd is the lightest .357 magnum ever made. I don’t mind the recoil at all with the crimson trace grips with the gel pad.

They would be a great option for the 642 too.

No body wants to shoot my 340pd twice. I have a friend who has a .500 S&W, he wont shoot my 340pd.

 

[Kevin]

Kevin,
Love the grips on that one. Couple of questions while I'm admiring this one:
1. Did you have to order and wait a bit to get a Performance Center model?
2. Any idea if they offer it with a 2.5" barrel, or a 3" ?
3. I'm a medium/barely a large hand size. How well do you think that would fit me?
Thanks for showing this one off! I saw a 642 at a show Saturday and got to thinking about one.

Wanderlust:
I believe it only comes with the 1.8 inch barrel.

I did order this through grab a gun. They are located about 10 miles from my house so it’s free shipping. I don’t have enough time to go to a lot of different gun stores. The one I do frequent has a lot of reloading supplies and mostly black poly guns. (But don’t they all?)

Oh, and my hands are pretty big also. The grip reminds me of a Ruger Blackhawk, with my pinky finger wrapped under the grip frame. Then two fingers in their carved out area for a finger grip of sorts.

Sorry though, I still haven’t shot it.

 

[turd]

Wanderlust:
I did order this through grab a gun. They are located about 10 miles from my house so it’s free shipping.

Kevin, hope you don't mind my asking, but do you have an FFL? Without one they have to ship to a LGS, right?

 

[Kevin]

Nope, I don’t have an FFL. They do the paperwork there if you pick up locally. And it’s just the paperwork, since you pay when ordering. It isn’t a retail store, just a counter with a couple guys working. But every time I’ve been there, someone else is also picking up a gun, so I think they do a pretty good business.

If you don’t live around here, then yes, you have to have it sent to an LGS and do the paperwork there.

 

[welldoya]

Last I checked, the 642 was S&W’s most popular gun.
I’ve got 2 with the CT 305 grips on them and they fill a niche. Mine don’t have the internal lock.
I shoot my steel J frames ( models 36,60,49) better but they are not as convenient to stick in my pocket.
I try to stay away from +P ammo.

 

[Joezilla]

I have a Performance Center 642 that I bought many years ago. It came with full length decorative wood grips. I still carry it on occasion.

Joe

 

[Bigbore5]

The Missus is in love with her 642 Ladysmith. It's pretty accurate, but really bucks with +p loads. I've carried it appendix a few times.

Great little guns, but I prefer the hammer on my 36 and the weight helps tame the recoil of +p loads for quick follow up shots.

 

[NC FNS]

Hope you enjoy it. I had a chance to shoot a 637 airweight once. And once was enough for me. It really whacks your palm! I think I managed 2 cylinders before crying uncle.

 

[vito]

Hope you enjoy it. I had a chance to shoot a 637 airweight once. And once was enough for me. It really whacks your palm! I think I managed 2 cylinders before crying uncle.

Two cylinders! You've got strong hands. I shoot my 642 about once a year, firing five rounds just to make sure the gun still works and that I remember where the trigger is! Five rounds of FMJ is enough for my hands. And I set the target at about 6 feet from me. Beyond that I might end up with no holes in the paper.

 

[jdavis]

I bought a S&W 640 a number of years ago. The thought of an all steel .357 mag in such a small package seemed like a pretty good idea, The price was right so I made it mine. The first range session proved to me just how brutal shooting one of these guns can be. In an up close self defense situation, I think that recoil would be the least thing to worry about.

 

[purebred]

Well since your thread is one versus the other and having both guns I would have to pick the heavier SP 101. Had one in 357, and 9mm and both are with my Grandson now. The Smith long gone.

 

[gunman42782]

I have both, but my 642 is just the standard version, not Performance Center. Between the two, I like shooting the SP101 much more, but the 642 is so much easier to pack.

 

[eveled]

Its really an apples to oranges comparison.

Comparing an Airweight 5 shot .38 to a Heavy weight stainless .357.

Both have their advantages.

 

[sharpblade7777]

Here's 3 of mine. Model 360J, 14.9 ounces, 357. Model 642, 14.6 ounces, 38. Model 43C, 11.4 ounces, 22. I enjoy them all. There's quite a difference in shooting the 22 versus the 357.

 

[Armybrat]

I opted for the humpbacked 638 Airweight with the shrouded hammer. Easier to pocket carry than the SP-101, although I'd like to have one of those too.

I like Hornady's .38 SPL 158-grain XTP or Buffalo Bore's standard velocity 158-grain LSWCHP in the Airweight. I save the Plus-P stuff for my .357.

I like the DA/SA feature of the humpbacks too.

 

[WAYNO]

The hammerless or shrouded J-Frames, actually any J-Frames are nicer and far more svelte than any SP101.

That said, the SP101 is easier to shoot comfortably.

I no longer own any J-Frames. I gravitated back to more robust revolvers. Ironically, I own a couple SP's and never shoot them. They are just too rough and tank-like.

I'm ready to go full circle and acquire another J-Frame Smith.






.

 

[eveled]

This thread makes me wonder if there is another revolver model with more variants than the J-frame?

@sharpblade7777 I really like that 43c I’ve come close to buying one a couple of times. I got a really good deal on a 317 snub, and can’t justify the 43c.