A Look At My Modified Smith & Wesson 442 (Wilson Combat, Hogue, A Holster, JMCK, Zeta6)

Part of my injury-tabletop series. The 442 is a gun that I've shot, carried, and monkied with a lot over the last few years.
Link to the review: www.primerpeak...
Link to the Pocket Pistol Roundup of 2024: www.primerpeak...
J-Frame Spring Kit Review: www.primerpeak...
Revolver Grip Selection Article: www.primerpeak...
442 Shooting Playlist: • 442 Drills/Testing

[@garyelliott2670]

Great video, love the 442 and 642

[@oldcop18]

The 442 Pro is my EDC in a Blue Force Gear pocket holster. The only addition is a dollop of white paint on the front sight & Harrett grips that cover the backstrap. I have a speedstrip in a off pocket & speedloaders in the center console of our car. In 1974 I was carrying my issued Colt Detective Special (about the same size as a J Frame) when I was forced into a gunfight w/three armed robbery suspects and I, along w/two other cops, was able to put down one suspect, wound another & the third man surrendered on the scene so I have confidence in this platform.

[@Paul_Whaley]

Tasteful upgrades on your 442! I've got Herretts on some 1911s and on a Model 15 right now. I'm glad to hear that a snubbie revolver was able to be a lifesaver! People underestimate the humble snubbie, but as you know, it can certainly put in work, as long as we've got the skills to use them. Thanks for commenting, and for sharing your snubbie story. I don't know if you have any interest in it, but I'm sure that people would love to hear about your time in law enforcement from the 1970s. I think that a lot of the younger folks of today don't realize how different and how similar it was in the 1970s.

[@johanvandersandt8904]

Appreciate your efforts with the videos man! Man the 442 is pretty! Great looking grips too! Nice speed strips! I never really got used to mine but I am sure with enough training it would have been awesome! It's true. I used my little Astra as an office carry. Take care man!

[@Paul_Whaley]

The snub nose revolver has a very low skill floor (basic loading and unloading, shooting), but has a very high skill ceiling (true proficiency). It really is a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of gun. Hey, a small Astra sounds like a great gun for that! As always, thanks for the kind words Johan! I've got a much older gun on display for tomorrow.

[@jasonashley4579]

I dropped in a wilson combat spring kit and polished it up then chamfered the cylinder and put on a set of crimson trace laser boot grips, I carry my 442 more often than my Glock 19 now.

[@Paul_Whaley]

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing your 442 upgrades Jason!

[@zacharydalton8132]

Love my 442. It’s my “all the time “ gun. I got a set of hamre forge grips and it rides in an A Holster pocket backbone.

[@Paul_Whaley]

I really dig the A Holster stuff. I've got a handful of Alan's stuff, and it's great. One of our writers has really been trying to get me to buy some Hamer Forge grips, but I just have reservations about spending $60 on 3D printed grips.

[@flyontop]

Excellent video!

[@kylewood8327]

The J frames are nice and I even have one (a .38+p Bodyguard), but I really prefer my Colt Detective Special with a six shot capacity. It’s my main carry so that’s why. Great video and review!

[@Paul_Whaley]

Thanks Kyle! I've always been more of a fan of the S&W small frame revolvers (cylinder release, trigger feel, general internal action), but those older Colts are hard to beat. Thanks for commenting!

[@N.R.S.412]

442 is nice 👍🏻,I carry a 637 with wilson combat springs, altmont altai stocks,and Alabama pocket holster. The stocks made a huge difference. I'm using the punch +p ammo but thinking about some hst. Did you ever use those before?

[@Paul_Whaley]

I've shot HSTs in 38 in the past. They are consistent and good ammo for shooting, but I have some concerns about reliable penetration. I like the 135gr +p Gold Dot, as it penetrates pretty well compared to a lot of 38 JHP. The 38 Punch ain't bad, but I have concerns about shooting to the sights. I tested that ammo in this 442 (like 2 years ago, right after the ammo came out), and I found that it shot rather high at most distances. Something that I could account for, but I'd rather have ammo that shoots to the sights on this gun. I like a lot of the exposed lead loads, as they penetrate well, but don't overpen. They generally don't expand, but expansion is really just a means to slow down the bullet for as far as I'm concerned. Shot placement is everything. How do you like that Alabama pocket holster? One of my writers bought their BG2.0 holster, and he's liking it so far.

[@N.R.S.412]

@Paul_Whaley good point on POI punch hits just a hair left for me. I can never find speer when I'm looking. The Alabama holster is nice it doesn't print and not tight so the pistol comes out easily. Good price too I think it was under $50

[@Paul_Whaley]

@@N.R.S.412 The 135gr +p Gold Dot is hard to find. They've been pushing the 125gr +p load a lot more, but it performs worse out of snubbies. I think that they are doing more with the lighter weight bullet, as they also do a .357 Mag loading with the same projectile, so it's probably cheaper for them to just make one bullet for two loads. Good info on the holster! I might have to check one out!

[@ThatUYgunguy]

I wish my j frame was back so sad!

[@americanmilitiaman88]

Im looking at getting a 442. How big of a deal is the little lock that comes on someof them. I dont care if it has one or not. My concern is could it possibly be engaged on its own. Is that possible?

[@Paul_Whaley]

The lock is not likely to engage on it's own, but they are prone to breaking. When they break, they lock the gun up, which would effectively be the same thing as it engaging on its own. Removing the lock and putting a plug into the lock hole is pretty simple. I did it for a friend's 642 over the summer, and it was maybe a 25 minute long job. TK Custom sells a plug kit if you wanted to remove the one from the gun. You don't actually need it to remove the lock, but you'd otherwise have a big hole in the side of the frame, which would be in ingress point for lint and fuzz.