Smith & Wesson J-frame 442
The Smith and Wesson 442 is a compact black revolver that holds 5 rounds of .38 Special + P. This revolver is built on Smith’s J-frame which is an iconic and history-rich model of revolvers. Think of any movie scene where a man or woman pulls a revolver out of their pocket and points it at some one discreetly. The odds are, that is a Smith and Wesson J-frame revolver. It has been used in countless movies and shows.
However, it has been used even more so by police officers, on duty and off duty. Civilians all over the world carry this revolver because it is the most popular carry revolver of all time. The Smith and Wesson J-frame is the most time tested and reliable revolver ever made.
The model 442 is the same iconic J-frame revolver but with an internal hammer instead of an external hammer. There are 2 reasons for this.
The first reason is that revolver hammers tend to snag and get caught on clothing when drawn from a holster. So by removing the hammer, there is no way to snag the gun on your clothing.
The second reason is that cocking a hammer puts the gun into single action. This means that the trigger is extremely light, around 1-3 pounds to be exact. This allows the shooter to make very accurate shots at distance. But due to the short 1.88 inch barrel, shot placement passed 20 yards starts to become unpredictable. So there is no real need for a single action trigger.
Gun Review
I have owned and carried the Smith and Wesson 442 most days for the last 2 and a half years. When I received it I was impressed by the fit and finish of the gun. The black color was perfect and had no imperfections of any kind. It’s just such a good looking gun you really can’t complain about the looks of it.
The only bad thing about it was that I noticed the trigger felt super gritty and would even lock up. And this was so crazy to me because I had read all kinds of flawless reviews saying the trigger was a smooth heavy double action pull and that it was great. So I contacted Smith and Wesson and sent in the gun and they repaired it for free and sent it back to me in a timely manner. Apparently it was some kind of catastrophic, extremely rare, quality control oversight. But nonetheless, they fixed it and it has been perfect ever since then.
I carry the gun in a 1791 Gun leather IWB holster and its so comfortable that I forget it’s even there. I switch from carrying 3 o’clock to carrying appendix depending on how I feel that day. Occasionally I will stick the gun in a pocket holster and carry it in my pocket but that is only when I’m wearing thin gym shorts. The gun is so light that you can really carry it anyway you like and it’d be comfortable.
Is a 5 round revolver enough ?
Some people say that 5 rounds isn’t enough but I have never felt under gunned. It really comes down to what makes you feel comfortable mentally. When I am just going about my day, going to gas stations, Costco etc. 5 rounds makes me feel perfectly comfortable. Statistically, the average gun fight in America consists of 3 rounds being fired at 1 yard distance. So statistically, having 5 rounds in a gun that is virtually incapable of jamming, is pretty good. But I ONLY carry this when I am doing small day-to-day things.
If I was a shop owner, I would NOT feel comfortable carrying only 5 rounds in this compact revolver. I would be carrying a full size pistol that carries at least 15 rounds plus an extra magazine. Carrying a gun is always a compromise because the only way to truly be prepared for every dangerous encounter is to wear a helmet, kevlar, and carry a rifle with multiple magazines. But of course you aren’t going to suit up for war every day. That’s ridiculous. In my opinion, carrying a full size heavy pistol with an extra magazine everyday is just too much for me and my situation. I really only do that if I am meeting someone to buy or sell something, or If I am going somewhere with a big crowd where mass shooters might be a plausible threat. Here in Arizona, that means malls and outdoor holiday activities usually. So for me, 5 rounds checks the box in my head that I am prepared for the statistically most common gun fight and that is truly good enough for me.