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Author Topic: First Handgun!  (Read 1641 times)

Offline bk09

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First Handgun!
« on: March 30, 2012, 05:07:55 PM »
Well after a calculus test this afternoon I rushed home like a little kid excited to watch his favorite after school cartoon. Except I was rushing home to check the mailbox. With a shimmering glow as I opened the box, I saw what was the most beautiful thing in the world, an envelope from the sheriff's office. I thought, "oh what could it be golly gee willikers?" And I was quick to tear open the little white paper and find a big joy that awaited my signature. I quickly signed the permit and got back in my sleigh, then headed to Scheels to where my debit card would...er um take a kick in the nuts  :blank:... I peered in the cabinet at the little .38's, and before my eyes there was a smith 642. After some paperwork and a long drive to the north, I arrived at Thunder Alley where my gun was brought forth. I shot and I shot to my hearts content, but unfortunately now my thumb hurteth.



I'm feeling pretty good with this little guy/gal (reminds me I need to name it). Except I am looking for some pointers on how to hold it to avoid the thumb bite seen here. Was able to have some pretty decent groups shooting 158gr SWC with 3.1 and 3.4gr of bullseye. The point of impact was about 3-4 inches high at around 5-7 yards, so that will take some getting used to. I was surprised at how this little thing kicked. I saved $30 buy getting one with a little wooden croc grip instead of a rubber one because I figured I could buy another grip for less than that if I wanted to upgrade. I think I will keep that little wood grip on it since this is meant to be a pocket carry gun and will have less resistance on the draw. Now I'm excited to start cleaning this beauty of a 642 and think of a name. After a few hundred more rounds I will probably sign up for a ccw class! I could probably pass it now but I would rather be more comfortable with the gun for everybody else's safety.

Offline bkoenig

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2012, 05:38:57 PM »
Excellent choice!  I carry one almost daily, unless I'm wearing clothes that will conceal something bigger.  I run at night and it's a great carry gun for that purpose in a belly band type holster.  It's so light I don't even notice it.  They are surprisingly accurate for such a short sight radius.  The trigger is HEAVY, but that's what you want in a pocket gun.  Dry fire it about a thousand times and it will really smooth out.  The trigger on mine is still heavy and long but smooth as silk.

You'll want to grip as high as you can on the frame.  That helps the recoil a lot, but no matter what these are always going to be nasty little buggers to shoot since there's just not much mass to soak it up.  The first day I got mine I through 50 rounds of +P personal defense ammo and my hand hurt for two days.


Offline wallace11bravo

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2012, 05:40:10 PM »
Congrats!

Sorry I can't be much help with the grip on that particular model and with your particular hands. Would prolly require some hands-on coaching. I know Husker XDM would prolly be more than happy to help you out with that, he is also a CCW instructor. The only thing I could say is maintain a straight thumb grip with your firing hand, just below and clear of the cylinder, and ensure that your support hand is not altering your grip, particularly your thumb placement.

Offline SemperFiGuy

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2012, 05:48:42 PM »
bradkoll

A.    Congratulations on all that's going on wrt your new permit, handgun, etc.    [Christmas in March, already.]

B.    Just wait until you shoot some Buffalo Bore .38SPCL Hollow Point +P Defense Loads in that Little Barker!!!!!

Fact is, all those Little SD Guns do tear your hands up.    My Kahr PM9 sells a lot of band aids.   What I've learned to do---after drawing my own blood from shooting---is to clearly mark where my hands are habitually torn up and put a band aid thereon before ever the trigger is pulled.

[BTW, you'd never notice the hand hurt in an actual SD situation.    Kinda like deer hunting.    What recoil???]


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Offline bk09

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2012, 08:49:53 PM »
I was just looking through the s&w website to see if there was anything special about this gun since it has the different wood crock grip. Turns out it is a Talo edition 642. The only difference I see is the grips though... So it is a customized gun with only 1 change... :-\

Offline NE Bull

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2012, 09:30:55 PM »
Congrats!  She's a beaut! I too am looking to a snubby wheel gun as another option, now you have refueled the idea.
I do have some 125gr Berry's topped .38s handloads, if you wanted to try a few, 'might' be little nicer for practice (They shoot like a .22 in a N Frame ;) ,almost ) 

“It is not an issue of being afraid, It's an issue of not being afraid to protect myself.”
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Offline bk09

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2012, 10:43:46 PM »
Thanks for the offer. I have some loads with 125gr lead flat points moving up in .1gr increments from the minimum load listed on the hodgdon site. One of those should be more tolerable. What I want to develop is a load that lines up with the sites. And down the road I will get a load to mimic a defensive load. Looks like this j frame will replace my AR as my bedside peace keeper.

Offline greg58

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2012, 12:17:56 PM »
The little stainless J frames are a beautiful simple piece.
I have a model 60 357 that I carry alot, I run 38 special +P thru it and it does kick a bit.
It has such nice looking rosewood grips, that I can't bring myself to put on the rubber grips.
I love mine..
Greg58
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Offline skydve76

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2012, 02:47:07 PM »
cool, now go buy a real gun :) Just kidding.

Offline bk09

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2012, 03:36:03 PM »
cool, now go buy a real gun :) Just kidding.

Glock 23 gen 4 and sw 500 are being shipped and expected to arrive tomorrow  :P
I expect to post a video of my first shot with the 500 this weekend. I got me some wimpy loads made where I predict the 275gr bullet to leave the muzzle around 1000fps, don't expect much recoil out of it. Actually used a recoil calculator and the muzzle flip of the 500 loads should be around 9 feet per second while my loads with the 642 produce just over 18 feet per second. However the foot pounds of energy for the 642 was about 5lbs and the 500 should be about 6 pounds. More push and less flip.

I love nerding out on gun loads.  8)

Offline JimP

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2012, 11:34:18 PM »
Quote
I shot and I shot to my hearts content, but unfortunately now my thumb hurteth.

You expected something different?


It's an airweight snubby.  TANSTAAFL, especially in Physics.

Your hands are footing the bill for that gun's lack of mass.

I'd have certainly gone for something different for a first handgun, for sure.
The Right to Keep and BEAR Arms is enshrined explicitly in both our State and Federal Constitutions, yet most of us are afraid to actually excercise that Right, for very good reason: there is a good chance of being arrested........ and  THAT is a damned shame.  III.

Offline bk09

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2012, 08:30:20 AM »
Just how I'm holding it causes it to rub on the cylinder release. Wanted a concealed carry gun right away so I can get comfortable with it and take a ccw class as soon as possible. I may try bracing my thumb above that part next time out and see how that works.

On another note: USPS doesn't update their shipping info so I don't know if my glock is going to be here today or if it is delayed, but the s&w 500 is out for delivery! (yes I know I bought 2 of the most difficult revolvers to shoot for my first guns, better to start big so every other gun seems easy to shoot in comparison)

Offline bullit

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2012, 08:51:20 PM »
Your guns were shipped USPS to an FFL?  That is interesting to hear if indeed that happened.  Did not think they shipped HGs.  Congrats either way.

Offline Chris Z

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Re: First Handgun!
« Reply #13 on: April 04, 2012, 09:30:34 PM »
I use USPS Priority for shipping all handguns. FFL's can use the USPS for handguns, and they are much more reasonable than UPS or FedEx