Need guidance - my S&W 442 bites me

[Bruce in WV]

Interesting article about grips for the 442.

http://actionsbyt.blogspot.com/2007/...-revolver.html

Also, suggest you look into "Actions by T" (actionsbyt.com). Teddy Jacobson is in your area (Sugarland) and is one of THE 'go to' gunsmiths for smoothing actions and reliability jobs for small street guns.

[Lucky Strike]

I've had Teddy Jacobson do action work on my 642 and my GP100 and the results were great in both.

[PaulL]

This is a decent picture of the grip I mentioned:



Video of Jerry explaining the grip:

http://www.myoutdoortv.com/shooting/...-revolver-grip'

I modify it slightly by placing my left thumb slightly below the base of my right thumb. This helps ensure clearance when I'm shooting my LCP and helps lock down even further on the 442. This grip is also great for ensuring you can operate the laser button on the Crimson Trace LG-105 grips.

I had seen that picture, but missed the video. I'm going to try that grip and your modification and see how it works. I'm working stupid hours right now, so I can't get to the range, but it seems to be more effective just dry firing. I've been dry firing the crap out of it in hopes to smooth things out a little. It's building up a callous, too.

I think I'm going to set up an appointment with Teddy Jacobson, also. I like the idea of talking to someone face to face about what I'm looking for.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[Dienekes]

My 442 doesn't bother me but then I have a small hand. But my wife's M37 did, and I took the Dremel to the bottom edge.

After all these years and all the miles they're both about as smooth as an old bar of soap. Which is the way they should be...

[PaulL]

Just an update on this...

I tried the grip pictured above, and that made a huge difference. I was able to keep it reined in and it quit biting my thumb. I think it still needs some minor tweaking, but it's completely shootable for me now. I wouldn't call it pleasant, but I have a LOT more confidence at this point. The web of my hand is very upset with me today, though.


A side note - I had the great opportunity to redirect a guy today who wanted to buy this exact gun for his wife "because it looks perfect for a woman to carry". It would be the first handgun she's ever shot. I told him he might want to start her off with a decent auto or a larger frame revolver. Otherwise, it might be the last gun she ever wants to shoot...

Maybe I'm off base, but I'm considering the lightweight J-frames an advanced-level firearm. IMO, you really need to have your crap together to field one effectively.

[John_Wayne777]

There is much wisdom in your post, grasshopper...

The J frame is a no-brainer recommendation for women generally because it's hard to shoot yourself with it and it's simple to use...the thought being that the weaker sex isn't interested in shooting and isn't able to handle a complex mechanical device.

The notion that perhaps she isn't interested in shooting because you've stuck her with a handgun that has painful recoil and that's extremely hard to shoot well seems lost on many.

[LonghunterCO]

I got a 442 from our very own Mr. Grant this past December (to get the S&W rebate). I am really liking it, and echo the accuracy comments. Soon after getting it I was running a bunch of ammo through it to check reliability, pre-carry, and to check some reloads that I was working up for practice ammo. Anyway long story short I pulled up on a milk jug at the base of the backstop (30 yards or so)., and hit it. I loaded it up again and getting about 8-9 of 10 hitting the jug and the misses being so close that the mud comming up from the bullets' impact was moving the jug.

-Thanks JW. I am going to give that grip a try.

[tfltackdriver]

My solution was to swap the boot grip for something that let me get my pinky on the grip. This stopped the revolver from rotating so much in my hand that the cylinder latch ate my thumb knuckle. The added benefits were faster follow-ups due to sight picture coming back in quicker and much better accuracy during rapid shooting.

Some will complain that putting a longer grip on a J-frame decreases its concealability, which is the main design feature of the weapon. If you put a Pachmayr on there -- I'll agree (even if it does make shooting one a dream I made my own grips with some target stock blanks and a dremel tool, but I also like the Hogue monogrip and the "J Synthetic Full Size Grip with S&W Logo" you can find on the S&W website.

Wearing it tight to the body, IWB, I always found it comfortable and just as easy to conceal as with boot grips. YMMV. Good luck!

[NavyDavy55]

I put some Pachmayr grips on my S&W 442.

I now have much better control of the recoil, and I can shoot all day without my hands hurting.

[spdldr]

This may be hard for you to believe with all of the hype and BS we are subjected to, but plenty of bad guys were stopped and killed before there was +P. Jack Ruby showed this to all the world.