Appearance and Feel
There's just something nice about the look and feel of a Smith & Wesson revolver. The 642's small, lightweight J-frame feels really good in the hand and allows the gun to be "pointed" at the target with ease, making this an ideal weapon for close proximity self defense applications. The black rubber grips are just soft enough to cushion some recoil and do not show much wear after long term use. As with any double action revolver, learning the trigger break can take some practice and it is easy for new shooters to become frustrated. Sights are fixed and not adjustable.
Functionality
This is about as simple as a gun gets and why it is the most reliable choice for self defense carry. Load, point, pull the trigger, bang. Revolvers remove doubt in the users mind about failure to feed, failure to eject, and manual safeties. I can honestly say I have never had a stovepipe in my 642.
Reliability/Operation
Reliability on my 642 has been 100% all of the time. What else would you expect? Shooting a 1 7/8" barrel at distances greater than 15 feet can take some time and practice. This little gun can be quite accurate out to 25 yards with sufficient trigger time, it's all about learning the trigger break. Recoil is quite substantial given the size and weight of the gun. At 15oz, there isn't much there to absorb the recoil, and long range sessions can become bothersome, especially with 135gr Gold Dot +P short barrel, my recommended load.
Conclusion
Ease of use along with perfect reliability make the 642 a great gun to own no matter what the situation. The small size allows great concealability, making it a great option to stuff in the pocket on your way to the gas station or grocery store. Even though I only carry this piece occasionally, I will always keep it as a part of a well-rounded collection.
