Smith & Wesson is updating one of their best selling handguns: the model 642. The 642 is an aluminum framed .38 Special revolver that is carried by thousands of cops and armed citizens as a pocket or ankle gun. In fact, it may be the most popular back-up gun in the United States.
The new S&W 642 features a 2 1/2″ barrel and a full-length, shrouded extractor. The current 642’s have a 1 7/8″ barrel and a diminutive extractor.
The new 642 has a pinned, black blade front sight, the standard fixed rear notch and the seemingly “hammerless” fully enclosed hammer. Unloaded weight is only up to 16 ounces, and the overall length is 7″.
Get a new gun for Christmas? Congratulations! Owning a firearm is a very positive thing, but it comes with the very serious responsibility of safe handling, storage and use.
Handling
A firearm will never discharge without human intervention. This means a loaded gun laying on the table is no threat to anyone, unless a person walks over and begins to handle it. So, the firearms community developed a set of four rules to follow when handling a firearm.
All firearms are always loaded – Always treat a firearm as if is loaded. Even if you just checked it, always assume it is loaded. There are many cases where someone thought the gun was unloaded, and tragedy struck because it was not.
Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy – Don’t point a gun at your friends, wife, husband, dog, TV or anything else that would be hurt, killed or destroyed by a bullet. If you accidentally discharge a firearm that is pointed in a ‘safe’ direction, no one is killed. If you are pointing the gun at a loved one…
Recently I talked about finding a self-defense gun that fits you. One of the things I pointed out was to buy good quality firearms, not cheaply made firearms. Used guns are often a great value, as you can often get a high-quality, “low mileage” firearm for much cheaper than new.
My used NYPD model 64 revolver I picked up for a song.
At the time of this article, J&G Sales had a stock of used Beretta 92F and 92FS pistols for sale at very reasonable prices. Conditions ranged from good to very good and prices range from only $299 to $339 depending on model, condition, and quantity ordered. There is no doubt that these are used pistols. But for less than $350, you can have a very good quality pistol for your home defense needs.
Recently, I had a friend pick up a very lightly used M&P 40. The pistol had very little signs of use, cam in the original box, was equipped with night sights, and had three 15-round magazines. The price? A mere $299. (Sorry, they are all gone. I called to buy one, but too late!)
Dry firing is a form of firearms practice, where all ammunition is removed from the gun and the shooter pulls the trigger and otherwise manipulates the firearm. The obvious advantage is no ammunition is used, so it is cheaper than going to the range. Plus dry firing can be done in your home, rather than at a range.
But can you improve how you shoot a firearm without shooting live ammunition through it? Absolutely. Let me show you how.
Safety First
Dry firing means practice with a firearm that has no ammunition. This should be obvious, but it is a key component to both safety and the general concept of ‘dry’ firing. So, empty your gun. Check it twice. Take all of the ammunition out of the room. Check your gun again. Stick your finger in the chamber, shine a light in there, make sure no magazines are in the gun.
SayUncle has a picture of what is purported to be the Gen 4 Glock pistol due out in January 2010. The picture clearly shows the interchangeable back straps and new texture on the grip. The magazine release appears larger than the current generation.
The model designation on the slide is slightly changed, adding a “Gen 4” next to the model number.
The photo, if real, also shows the other outward appearances of the pistol to be largely unchanged. The rear slide serrations are typical of the standard Glock pistols, not those of the RTF2 models. The finger ridges on the front of the grip are still there (some hate ’em, others love them).
Previous:  Pistol-training.com is reporting that they received private confirmation of the new Glock models from another industry professional at the National Association of Police Equipment Distributers (NAPED).
So, despite Glock’s statements, someone at the NAPED conference is saying new adjustable grip Glock’s will be rolling out within a year. It makes me wonder if someone let something “slip” at the convention, and Glock is still putting the new models through testing.
If Glock is developing an adjustable grip pistol, and someone did release the information too soon, this puts Glock in a tough position. They could continue to deny the rumor, and hope no one else leaks additional information.
On the other hand, if they were to announce the new pistol now, they would likely be doing so well in advance of the completion of testing and development of the guns. So, announcing and then failing to deliver could create a major PR debacle.
Pistol-training.com’s source puts the roll-out time around the 2010 SHOT Show, which would seem to make sense.
Picture courtesy of SaysUncle.comPicture courtesy of SaysUncle.com
Smith & Wesson is updating one of their best selling handguns: the model 642. The 642 is an aluminum framed .38 Special revolver that is carried by thousands of cops and armed citizens as a pocket or ankle gun. In fact, it may be the most popular back-up gun in the United States.
