I've had a 642 for years and I love it. Good shooting and as simple as it gets. For $300 those little guns are a steal and as much as I like other brands there's no comparison when you can get a S&W. Mine loves the Hornady American Hunter hollow points and makes me look like a better shot than I really am.
For a carry gun, my only gripes were that it's slow to reload, and no night sights. Eventually I swapped it out for a shield that eliminated those two issues for me. My 642 still gets carried now and again, but it took a backseat once I got the shield.
For a carry gun, my only gripes were that it's slow to reload, and no night sights. Eventually I swapped it out for a shield that eliminated those two issues for me. My 642 still gets carried now and again, but it took a backseat once I got the shield.