Bassoneer

I have one that I use with my 642 on occasion. Works good and is convenient to get on and off. However, it sticks out away from my body a bit more than with a leather pancake holster. If I'm wearing the right clothes it doesn't matter, and like I said it is a very convenient holster to get on and off. Light weight, strong and securely holds the gun. Best wishes, B

This is awesome. I just printed a few on card stock and my wife (a graphic artist) made some adjustments and cut them all out...looks great, Thanks, B

Santa went to the gun show today...I think there may be a Russian rifle under the tree this year, Da? B

My wife and I watched a movie on Netflix this morning called "The Way Back" with Ed Harris and others. It was about some guys sent to a Siberian work camp who escape...long story, but near the beginning, at the Siberian work camp, there were Russian soldiers walking around with their Mosins and bayonets attached. I told my wife about the Mosin Nagant rifle and how a lot of people in the US were getting them at a low cost (hint, hint I want one for Christmas). She seemed more interested with the content of the movie - women! My nephew bought one of these and can't wait to get out and shoot it...I'm sure I'll be getting one soon, even if Santa can't pull it off for Christmas. B

Glenn, There is a small tension adjustment screw under your grips on the front side of the frame (below the trigger guard). Make sure that is tightened all the way in...that will make sure the proper tension is applied to a piece of spring steel (located inside the grips) and that your hammer falls on the primer with the full force designed by S&W to ensure your primers ignite. You should not be getting FTF with this type of revolver...let us know if this screw was loose. If not, suggest you try a different brand of ammo. Best of luck, B

You're right...if it says 686-4 it should be Stainless Steel...same model as mine. I love the highly polished ones and yes, you can make them look like a mirror (like the nickle ones). I hope mine looks as good some day after years of hand polishing, but I'm leaving the hammer and trigger dark on mine. I have a 3" SS Ruger GP100 that has the original brushed finish, and it seems a little rougher than the Smiths, but I intend to polish it some day (when I get around to it). Thanks again for the nice photo, B

That's a beautiful gun. Just by chance, is it a Nickel Plated 586? The 586 model is exactly the same as the 686 except it comes either blued or stainless...just curious. I have seen them polished though and that is the way I like them. I usually use Mother's Mag Polish and an old tee shirt to polish them up. Later, B

Thanks for the compliment on the grips. Those were made by Kim Ahrend...you can find them on ebay and some other places, or can order them directly from Ahrend's grips over the web as I did. These have the optional oil finish which is supposed to feel better, be more durable, etc. They are beautiful grips and do feel nice, but honestly, after trying several types of grips, I think I like the Uncle Mike's Rubber grips best for shooting at the range. Thanks again, B

I have one of the 686-4 Plus models and it is my favorite gun of all time. I have also owned a -3 and a -6 and they were great guns also. The 686 is really a great gun and you will love being able to shoot any modern ammo through it without worries...it is a beast, but with a very nice action and very accurate. Good luck on your hunt...if you can find one at the price paid by jkb4c (noted above) then you will have it made (call me if they have two and I'll come buy another one at that price). B

I've had a couple of S&W revolvers worked on at Predator Custom Shop. They have a master gunsmith who is very good and his rate has been reasonable for both guns (action job $65, end shake repair $35). The work done on my guns has been excellent. They also do the work for our Knoxville Police Department. Not sure how they would do with very old rifles. I've also heard positive things about a man named Shannon who works at Coal Creek Armory, but have never had any work done there. Good luck, B

I am 100% revolvers 100% of the time and that is based on my own personal experience, not on what somebody told me. And I don't plan on defending against a large number of bad guys...just the thug who is trying to kill me. If I did intend on defending against an invading army, I would have a rifle. To anybody carrying semi's...practice clearing jams and try to stop dropping empty shells on my head at the range B

Agree with Dolomite - Norris is a nice place to shoot and everybody that I've ever met there has been friendly. The pistol range is a little long for most folks who want to snap off some practice rounds from a self-defense handgun, so I have notice that most users walk up closer to the targets (as do I). If there are two users, you just need to coordinate with your neighbor so you're both on the same page and doing the same thing. I don't think I have ever seen anybody actually shoot from the tables because they are so far away from the targets. But it is a nice place to go shooting. One of my sons likes to use their rifle range and we set up a box with little army men and various small stuffed toys (cereal box type toys, old coke cans, etc) and he blasts them with a .22 rifle. Coal Creek Armory is hit or miss...sometimes it is fine. I am thinking about running over there today and trying out a revolver that I just got back from a gunsmith. Good luck with your shooting, B

I don't know anything about safes, but I would like to get one also...I noticed that the Tractor Supply store in Lenoir City had several different kinds, and they didn't seem to be outrageously expensive. For what I've got, they would probably do fine, but again, I don't know anything about safes. Anybody know about the ones at Tractor Supply? Thanks, B

About a year ago we tested various calibers of PDX1 in water jugs and it's a very good round...I would not hesitate to carry it. In .45 ACP we found it didn't expand when shot through multiple layers of denim, but a lot of ammo is that way. The previous poster is right, it is bonded unlike the Ranger T. Good luck, B

Agree...the person who ends up with the S&W Revolver will end up with the better end of this deal. B

I suppose they do have the right to ask, but we have the right to tell them we're not comfortable talking about it. Doctors are big into the rights of our privacy...maybe we should say that is private information we don't share with anyone...just like our Social Security Number, Bank Account Number, etc. B

Trekbike, how do we become members of the J Frame Social Group? Thanks, B

I have a 642, and I think it's the same thing in a different color. I carry mine a lot because it is so light. I have done two things...added a Crimson Trace grip and had an action job. I probably had the gun for a year or two before I did either...so try yours out and get used to it. The CT grips cut down on recoil because they have a rubber section that comes around the backstrap - and I really like the laser to get on target fast. The action job made a big difference in the trigger pull...like Trekbike said, the 642/442 has a reputation for a much heavier trigger, and it's not as silky smooth as some of the other S&W revolvers. Anyway, my bet is you'll really like your 442 as a carry gun. Won't be your favorite range gun because it kicks pretty hard, but it will always be the one you want to carry. Good luck, B

I've got some of the same tobacco from Leaf & Ale. However, my issue is that I like the way cigars taste (although some say the smell bad) and find the pipes to be hot and don't really like the way they taste (although most say they smell great). I only have one cheap pipe that I bought to try and am not sure I like it. I love cigars, but they can be quite pricey. I probably smoke about one cigar a month out on my deck...very relaxing. Some of my best memories of my grandfather were of him smoking his pipe...after he passed away I got his old car to drive for a while as a teenager - it smelled like his pipe and every day when I got into the car I thought of him. B

Revolvers only suck to some folks. I prefer them. To each his own I suppose. B

Awesome truck...awesome color. I drive a deep blue 04 and the next time I get a new truck, I think one like yours will be what I get. Just beautiful. Only problem I ever had from mine was the window motor and toggle switch. Fixed the switch myself...couldn't be happier with Ford. Thanks for sharing. B

I just had an action job done on my 642 by Predator Custom Shop on Papermill Road...they do work for the Police Dept and came highly recommended by Personal Defense Options...and they did a good job on my gun. I have had some 1911 work done by "Red" while he was at Gander Mountain (he actually took the gun home to do the job) and I wasn't 100% happy with the work. However, "Red" did some work on my son's shotgun for me and it was great. I think he may be better with shotguns...but that is based on only my two times going to him. Good luck, B

Awesome, awesome choice. That is my weekend, kickin' around town gun. Just put it in a pocket holster in my front pocket and almost forget it is there. I also added some Crimson Trace grips that I got used here on the forum, but I had it for at least a year before I did that and it wasn't a "must have". Also, I have it at Predator Custom Shop right now getting an action job. It shoots fine, but compared to my older S&W guns, the trigger is not as smooth (maybe none of them are). They are going to replace some springs and smooth out any rough spots...I think they know what they're doing. Anyway, those are some of the things you might consider in the next year or two, but you will love carrying the gun. Shooting it is not as fun because it kicks hard, but that's what you give up with light weight. The thing kicks hard, and there's nothing much you can do about it except put on bigger grips (which again defeats the purpose of a good carry gun). So...I think most people practice a few rounds each time they go to the range, but don't use it as a "fun, all day target gun" when they go shooting. It is a "man, I'm glad I have that gun with me" type of gun...it will be there when you need it and you won't care about recoil if you're in trouble. I say you made a very wise decision. B

We inherited a 100-lb Doberman named Ben. He was a "rescue dog" that my in-laws got from somewhere...I think he was found wandering around in the rain somewhere, so we don't have any history. I don't even know how old he is, but I suspect about 10 years old now. My mother-in-law passed away a few years ago and my father-in-law remarried about a year later...to a lady who doesn't like dogs. So, we told them we would take Ben (we already had other dogs too). Ben is very afraid of rain and if there is thunder he will shake all over and lean against us...I think that might be from something in his past. He and the other dogs chase squirrels in the back yard and bark when somebody comes to the house, but they are all very sweet and I would say Ben is probably the calmest and most polite dog we have. We also have a 6 pound Chihuahua that will jump all over the Doberman and he puts up with it...he could eat that little dog in one bite, but would never do it because they are friends. The only bad side is Ben does not like cats AT ALL. We used to have a cat named Hazel. Hazel and Ben lived in the same house for about a year, but one day we were all gone and when my wife came home she said it looked like a CSI crime scene...the cat had been killed by Ben (I suspect the Chihuahua and the others were in on it too). So, if you don't have cats and want a cool dog, I would highly recommend a Doberman. But if you have cats, you might want to get the dog young and train it to be around them without eating them. Also, his farts smell like a mixture of a rotting carcass and a chemical plant. Good luck, B

+1 - we won using this technique. Work on those axles! Good luck, B