Although they weren't referred to it at the time, they have since become known as I- and K-frames. Initially, Swith and Wesson only had two frames available. The Model 642 is one of the most popular gun models they carry, with plenty of history and experience to back it up. Introduced about 70 years ago, these guns have been on the market for quite some time. J frames have been one of Smith and Wesson's specialties for many years. This light weight revolver is chambered in 38 Special, ensuring that you'll have plenty of firepower at the ready should you need it. This serves the purpose of allowing for simultaneous insertion and extraction. This allows the revolver to hold multiple cartridges together as one unit. What are moon clips, you ask? A moon clip is just a piece of metal that is shaped like a star or ring. Being a 642 Airweight, you're getting a lightweight revolver that is equipped with an aluminum frame and stainless steel cylinder that is cut for moon clips.
But that's not to say that this isn't a worthy contender. The Performance Center Smith & Wesson Model 642 is certainly humble in its features. īefore we delve any deeper, let's explore the specs of this J frame to see what all it is packing. You will also find an updated version of a legendary gun from the same manufacturer in our Smith and Wesson 39-2 review, or their famed budget-friendly handgun here. You will find more great self-defense guns in this post, or you can opt for a similar compact Smith And Wesson Shield 2.0. Factor that into the history of the S & W model 642 and you're looking at a sound investment for self-defense. This five-shot beauty is perfectly sized to be a daily carry gun. There are a lot of reasons why someone might want to own a revolver that only holds five rounds. J frames are still huge sellers among gun owners. Is the S&W 642 a good gun?įirst things first. Moreover, we give you the best revolver selection to choose from in this review. In addition, check out the similar Glock's 43 pistol in this post, or how S&W 642 compares to Ruger LCP II. So sit back and enjoy my insights into Smith and Wesson's legendary 642. But what about for home or personal defense? And for that matter, how does it fare on the range? Everyone usually has a lot of questions about this revolver, and I aim to answer all of them. As a concealed carry, its smaller stature certainly fits the bill. I recently had the chance to spend some time with it so that I could fill you in on the lowdown. In today's modern landscape of bigger and better, you have to wonder if this pint-sized snub-nose is still relevant. Smith and Wesson's Performance Center 642 is a curious entry.