Estimated studying time: 12 minutes
The Smith and Wesson J-Body has lengthy been the usual for a hid carry revolver. Because the Fifties, law enforcement officials and armed civilians have carried the small 5 -shot revolver to guard themselves and those they love. Lipseys partnered with Smith and Wesson to create an enhanced J-Body mannequin within the centennial (inner hammer) line. This introduced the revolver again into the cutting-edge with their 642 UC.
Intro
To be clear…I’m a revolver fan. I began out with my first revolver in 1991 after I purchased one of many newly launched 640 centennial revolvers to hold as an off-duty and backup weapon as a newly employed police officer in Southern California. I carried that gun all over the place off responsibility, and on an ankle for years in uniform. These 5-shot revolvers have been a mainstay for me over time after I wanted a small, discrete, and easy-to-carry defensive firearm. Through the years, I’ve acquired a number of of the J-Body revolvers since my first 640.
The J-Body
The J-frame was synonymous with most detectives within the Eighties. Nonetheless, as soon as the surprise 9 pistols hit (after which the “micro 9’s” after…), many thought the period of the J-frame revolver was over. They had been useless unsuitable. Furthermore, S&W continues to put money into the J-Body with many, many choices obtainable. As soon as I retired, I purchased and carried a S&W 442 for fairly some time. Even right now, many officers nonetheless carry these as backup weapons, and armed civilians select them for discreet carry.
I want revolvers for carry in lots of conditions. First off, attributable to its measurement and irregular form, the fashions just like the S&W Airweight body of the 442, the J-Body is the gun I carry after I want a discreet carry possibility. As a retired LEO, my carry is way more geared in the direction of self-defense over intervening in against the law. Subsequently, the J-Body has ample firepower with 5 potent rounds of .38 +P on board.
The longer and heavier set off pull provides a component of security. It might shoot reliably in these less-than-optimal taking pictures positions. As an example, from a coat pocket, with a less-than-perfect grip, and might’t be pushed out of battery in a contact shot. If I get a misfire after I pull the set off, I simply preserve pulling the set off to go to the subsequent spherical. Lastly, within the deep-blue state I dwell in, a five-shot revolver raises fewer eyebrows than a semiauto. (A tragic however true actuality right here.)
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Greatest Use of J-Frames
That every one being stated, the J-Body shouldn’t be for everybody, and is finest for individuals who have some expertise as a shooter when utilizing it for defensive carry. It’s not a gun I carry right into a high-threat space except as a backup. Reloading is sluggish to say the least, and plenty of have solely rudimentary sights, which makes accuracy a problem. These are actually up-close weapons, or as some name them, “get off me” weapons. Lastly, recoil will be punishing in a light-weight J-Body. If these should not obstacles to you, then the J-Body could be a nice possibility that may do some issues a semi-auto can’t.
The Final Carry Collection
Recognizing that there have been some areas the place present J-Body fashions may very well be improved to convey them to the subsequent degree, Lipseys partnered with S&W to create the Final Carry collection. That is what I can solely describe as an enhanced J-Body for right now’s hid service. Thus far, 4 fashions have been launched. Two are in .38 Particular +P, and two are the 6-shot model in .32 H&R Magnum. (I perceive extra fashions on the best way, incorporating titanium cylinders.) They arrive within the 600 collection (642 UC and 632 UC for stainless) and 400 collection (442 UC and 432 UC for blued).
I noticed this and waited for it to be obtainable right here in California. As soon as they had been accepted on the market right here, I ordered my first Final Carry Revolver. Being as I’ve a good quantity of .38 Particular ammo and might reload for it, I opted for the 642 UC. For carry, I exploit the Gold Dot 135 gr .38 +P quick barrel spherical, which I carry in different revolvers is a confirmed performer.
Opening the 642 UC Field
So, first off, it is a inventory mannequin ordered from my native gun retailer…Smith doesn’t know me, and this gun wasn’t hand-picked for a overview. So, what I noticed after I opened the field was as unbiased/uninfluenced as potential.
The field itself is a slight departure from different Smith and Wesson bins. My 442 and 686 I purchased final yr, got here within the conventional blue plastic circumstances most Smith revolvers do. The 642 UC got here in a blue and white cardboard field, paying homage to the old-style bins within the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties. The revolver is packed in its blue plastic protecting sleeve with the same old gun lock and handbook included. Readers will probably be relieved to listen to there have been no keys for the dreaded inner lock…as a result of it doesn’t have one.
642 UC Match and End
The matte end of the aluminum body and stainless cylinder are properly accented by black accents on the ejector rod, cylinder latch, set off, and the sights. This distinction makes the looks stand out. Match and end had been nice, with solely the slightest hole between the cylinder crane and the body of the gun. This has confirmed to be a merely beauty challenge, with zero impression on the operate or reliability of the gun.
What Separates the Final Carry Collection
The 442 and 642 are well-known light-weight revolvers which were out for the reason that early Nineteen Nineties. So, how is the last word carry collection completely different from these customary fashions? First off, the looks of the gun is extra akin to the early 342 scandium revolvers. The barrel is chrome steel with a matte aluminum coloured shroud round it. The chrome steel cylinder blends proper in. The cylinder chambers are chamfered to permit for faster reloads, and the entrance of the cylinder is beveled for simpler re-holstering. On prime of the body is the largest distinction you’ll discover – a set of actual sights. A tritium XS entrance sight is pinned in, and a rear U-notch plain black rear sight is dovetailed into the highest strap.
The 642 UC makes use of new VZ grips which are a boot-style grip with a a lot wider profile to raised mitigate recoil over a bigger space alongside the net of your hand, in addition to to present a fuller feeling grip. (I’ve heard it prompt that this tries to imitate the set off attain of a Okay Body revolver, which many think about to be the gold customary for set off attain. This permits a greater set off finger attain, and Lipsey’s says the set off geometry was improved for a greater set off press. For longevity, they used titanium pins body for the revolver’s inner shifting elements. Weight is listed as 16.3 ounces for this little man.
This gun additionally is available in a 6-shot 32 H&R Magnum model. This offers you 20% extra rounds, and in an simply controllable and potent bundle. These will shoot 32 Lengthy, 32 Quick, and 32 H&R Magnum for ammo versatility. And sure, I really need one. I’ll see what occurs…
At The Vary
The 642 UC is regulated/calibrated per Lipsey’s for the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. +P load and 148 wadcutters at 15 yards. I had each, and determined to check this out.
On my first vary journey, I discovered the Gold Dot printed considerably excessive (between 1”-2”) at 5 yards and about 8” at 15 yards. My 148 gr wadcutters had been a lot nearer to the purpose of intention however nonetheless excessive.
The brand new sights had been the star on this present. The tritium is vibrant, and the inexperienced fiber optic ring round it pops in even low mild. No extra struggling to see the rear edges of the gutter like on all my different J-Frames, this Final Carry’s superb rear U-notch sight makes for a clear sight image.
Recoil
Recoil was stout with Gold Dot, however not outrageous. I did really feel it in my palm, and the grips felt somewhat too thick for me. (I do know…sacrilege…). The wadcutters weren’t practically as punchy. General recoil was manageable for such a tiny gun.
Grips
I changed the VZ grips with a set of Pachmayr Compac grips. It made a world of distinction for me. This was as a result of I usually want these rubber-style grips on my J-Frames. I hear Hamre Forge is making a grip for these weapons that’s each light-weight and properly textured. It additionally provides comparable geometry to the gun as the unique VZs. In accordance with S&W, these will probably be used on the light-weight titanium UC fashions.
The subsequent taking pictures expertise was worlds higher. As soon as I finished utilizing a relaxation to get higher teams and targeting my set off press/sight image, my outcomes vastly improved. The Pachmayr shares felt a lot better to me as properly. First off, my wadcutters had been matching up nearly completely with the purpose of intention. I additionally tried Hornady American Gunner 125 gr (customary load) with the Gold Dots for defensive ammunition. The Gold Dots initially nonetheless ended up increased than I would really like. Nonetheless, after I received my set off press down, I printed completely respectable teams proper the place I put the sights. The American Gunner additionally appeared to shoot to level of intention.
Set off
The set off press was barely smoother than most J-Frames out of the gate, however not too mild. I additionally discovered it was simple to stage the set off. I got here to what I can solely describe as a plateau on the finish of the set off press, simply earlier than the break, the place you may pause to confirm your sights earlier than that final little press. This, nonetheless, was after I had my solely misfire. I don’t know if the pause within the press brought about the hammer to not have sufficient momentum, or if it was a tough primer.
By the top of this take a look at, I’m properly north of 200 rounds downrange. No points apart from the one talked about above.
Carrying the 642 UC
So I’ve been carrying the 642 UC for a number of weeks now, when my menace setting permits for it (which is more often than not…). The gun carries very properly in my Harry’s Holsters Icon 2. The metal hooks of the DCC Monoblock clip preserve it very safe, whereas the small claw brings the grip in, making the non-linear form of a revolver conceal properly within the appendix place. For a reload, I carry a Zeta-6 J-Pak, which holds a reload in an nearly flat setup that disappears in a pocket.
Mine weighed in at 19.47 ounces loaded, a contact greater than my 442, which is at 16.9 ounces. The extra materials on the 642 UC, 5 Rounds of Gold Dot, and the Pachmayr grips is perhaps the explanation for this. Regardless, you actually gained’t discover the extra weight, particularly when you think about the options you get within the snub nostril revolver.
READ MORE HERE: Double-Motion vs. Single-Motion Revolver Information
General Ideas…Is that this for You?
So is the Final Carry revolver for you? The improved sights alone did it for me, together with the higher set off. Nonetheless, I now warning new shooters to not get a snubbie like an Airweight J-Body as their first gun. The longer/heavier set off, recoil, and difficult sights could make this a gun for extra established shooters. Why torture your self till you get your fundamentals mastered, or at the very least established?
In case you are prepared for a small revolver to hold when it’s the very best software for the job, then this J-Body is greater than value a glance. Typically we’d like a gun for locations we don’t suppose we’ll want a gun, or the place reliability is paramount. Smith and Wesson’s 642 Final Carry offers you a light-weight revolver that conceals simply and has the enhancements we have now all wished for years. The sights, set off, grips, and a spotlight to element geared to CCW set this revolver aside. If recoil is a matter, have a look at the 632 / 432. UC fashions. Get six photographs of a caliber nonetheless capable of handle a menace. Smith has raised the bar on this one.
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Brian Jensen has been a shooter for over 45 years, and served in legislation enforcement for over 30 years in Southern California. Throughout that point he served for over 27 years on the Division Vary Employees. Brian has written for Weapons America and Harris Publications, and at present trains legislation enforcement trainees in an area police academy in addition to civilians for CCW programs.
Away from writing Brian does pictures and exploring the southern California backcountry.
Expertise:
-45+ years as a shooter
-Prior Legislation Enforcement for over 30 years
-27+ years instructing firearms for peace officers
-Civilian CCW Teacher
