Purchased a S&W Airweight 442 - spring question

[03Lightningrocks]

The trigger pull seemed a bit heavy so I decided to try the Wilson Combat spring kit. It comes with an 8lb main spring and three choices for the rebound spring. 13,14,15 pound options. The main spring is easy to access because it is right under the grips. I am trying to get the side plate screws out without boogering them up. The screws are tight as tight can be. First, are they normal screw pattern... As in righty tighty/lefty loosey? If so, is it normal for them to be so tight? I watched a YouTube video on it. Seems pretty simple once you get that plate off. Any suggestions on how to get the screws loose without ruining them?

[03Lightningrocks]

This is crazy!! Been trying everything I can think of and no luck yet!! I admit to being a little afraid to crank hard on them as I don't want to mar my new gun just yet. Are these specialty screws? I have slotted screw drivers that are the right width but nothing with the full thickness of these slots.

[grim-bob]

not sure about this gun specifically but its possible that they may have a dab of locktite on them. Might take a little heat to release. If not that then could be they are over torqued.

[Dragonfighter]

Are you using hollow ground screwrivers? If not, do and make sure they fit the screw. If Loctite is suspect, a little acetone (ask your wife, its for nails) dropped in and allowed to penetrate. The heads of gun screws should be hardened so a little extra torque shouldn't be a problem. One of the first things i got from Brownells was a set of hollow ground screw drivers.

[rbwhatever1]

Use a screwdriver that fits the screw and tap lightly with a hammer. This will break a "blue" Loctite seal.

[03Lightningrocks]

Thanks everyone. I gave up last night before I destroyed the screws. I am thinking I may take it to a gunsmith today and see if he will break them free for me. I bet he won't charge me more than ten bucks, if that.

[03Lightningrocks]

I would like to know if anyone has an opinion or any thoughts on the spring change. I am open to pros and cons. The Wilson Combat spring kit was only ten bucks. I am not married to the change. I have only been able to change the main spring so far but can tell you it made a pretty positive change in the trigger pull already. Throw it out there if anyone knows of any reasons not to do the change. Especially personal experience issues.

[couzin]

Light hammer strikes is the usual problem. Check your carry ammo and your practice ammo to make sure there is ignition. Ammo like Blazer steel case has hard primers and will just dent the primer if too light. Federal has very light primers and almost any strike will ignite them. Previous suggestion of getting the absolute correct screw driver, and a little tap with a plastic mallet should break the screws grip. If this was a used handgun it is possible the DPO has secured the screws really good... If you do get the screws loose, use the plastic mallet and smack the grip area on the right side to pop the plate up. Good luck!

[03Lightningrocks]

Light hammer strikes is the usual problem. Check your carry ammo and your practice ammo to make sure there is ignition. Ammo like Blazer steel case has hard primers and will just dent the primer if too light. Federal has very light primers and almost any strike will ignite them. Previous suggestion of getting the absolute correct screw driver, and a little tap with a plastic mallet should break the screws grip. If this was a used handgun it is possible the DPO has secured the screws really good... If you do get the screws loose, use the plastic mallet and smack the grip area on the right side to pop the plate up. Good luck!

It is a new gun. I have yet to fire any rounds from it. I just bought it a couple days ago. The self defense rounds I purchased, and choices are VERY limited, was Hornady. The practice ammo I have been lucky enough to find is Winchester white box and a box of Remington. I have the reloading equipment to start loading as soon as I can get materials. I will try and get the Federal primers when I get the chance. How do I know what primers are in the ammo I listed above?

As for the screws, I quit before I boogered them up. My local gun shop is closed today. I plan to see if they will break them loose for me tomorrow.

As usual, I can never leave well enough alone. I just ordered some crimson trace laser grips...the LG405. They are on sale at the Crimson trace web site. So far my inexpensive pocket pistol has cost me almost 700 bucks. LOL...I am lucky to be single. A wife might find my excesses a bit hard to deal with.

Thanks for all the good advice!

[The Annoyed Man]

I have owned a 642 and my wife still has one..... internally the same gun, differing only in the alloy frame. I was able to get the screws out of mine once.....but I only did it once. Personally, as sucky as the trigger is, it is also the one thing that makes it fail safe when pocket carried. I'd be a little leary of lightening it up too much.

[JSThane]

LOL...I am lucky to be single. A wife might find my excesses a bit hard to deal with.

I am lucky that my wife enjoys my "excesses" and only has one rule - she gets to try it first. For instance, she actually likes my own 442.

On the 442, don't be surprised when it bites back. I love the little revolver as a "corner store" gun, it drops in a pocket easily, BUT... shooting defensive (+P) loads through it feels like I'm giving my thumb a little love-tap from a mini sledge. Shooting light practice ammo reduces that to ball-peen or tack-hammer level, but it still hurts. It's quite frankly the worst recoiling handgun I currently own, including my .44s and a single-shot .454.

All that said, it's a great little revolver. Once you get it to the range, let us know how the spring change worked. The trigger is my one real complaint; the recoil, while painful, is manageable with practice, but the trigger, while smooth, is heavy and stacks.

[03Lightningrocks]

I thought about the same drawback to lightening the trigger pull as you TAM. One thing that gives me some comfort is knowing the pull is still heavier than say my Kahr or Glock. I am not a fan of "mexican carry" so the holster protects the trigger from keys and such. There is a noticeable difference after replacing the main spring only. I am thinking I might try the rebound spring replacement and if it is too lite of a pull, put the stock rebound spring back in.

JSThane brings up a point I was pondering. With the barrel being so short, is there really any point to +P ammo??? My thought process has to do with the extra powder used in +P loads just blowing out the barrel rather than helping to increase pressure and thus velocity or ft.lbs? Not having many options in factory ammo right now, I have yet to find any 38 +P but once I get powder and such I may not load them hot anyway.

A few years back, I had a bud with a .44 magnum in a 2 and 5/8th inch barrel. That had to be the dumbest gun I ever shot! That thing would kill your hand with magnum loads. We would load a magnum round in it and fire it for laughs. He usually fired the .44 special rounds in it. We put a couple rounds of .44 magnum I had loaded for my ruger redhawk in 7 and some odd inch barrel through it. I think more powder shot out the sides of the barrel than burned.

Anyway. My thought was that I most likely would just carry the 38 special rounds in it. No +P.

Keep the comments coming folks. I am getting a good education on this weapon. Thanks again everyone!

[JSThane]

JSThane brings up a point I was pondering. With the barrel being so short, is there really any point to +P ammo??? My thought process has to do with the extra powder used in +P loads just blowing out the barrel rather than helping to increase pressure and thus velocity or ft.lbs? Not having many options in factory ammo right now, I have yet to find any 38 +P but once I get powder and such I may not load them hot anyway.

A few years back, I had a bud with a .44 magnum in a 2 and 5/8th inch barrel. That had to be the dumbest gun I ever shot! That thing would kill your hand with magnum loads. We would load a magnum round in it and fire it for laughs. He usually fired the .44 special rounds in it. We put a couple rounds of .44 magnum I had loaded for my ruger redhawk in 7 and some odd inch barrel through it. I think more powder shot out the sides of the barrel than burned.

Anyway. My thought was that I most likely would just carry the 38 special rounds in it. No +P.

Keep the comments coming folks. I am getting a good education on this weapon. Thanks again everyone!

I carry +P in mine, and shoot maybe 10 or 15 +P a year, just to remind myself how they shoot. My thought is, "If the extra powder doesn't result in extra power, maybe it'll at least set the attacker on fire!"

I used to have a Taurus Tracker in .44 Magnum. While my 442 may be the worst recoiling gun I currently own, that Taurus has to be the worst I've ever fired! Forget micro-sledge or ball peen hammers, that thing was like an 8 pound sledgehammer! And this was with a "recoil absorbing" grip and a ported barrel! I got rid of that gun in a hurry!

[03Lightningrocks]

The visual of setting an attacker on fire with my 442 is nothing but funny.

[JSThane]

The visual of setting an attacker on fire with my 442 is nothing but funny.

Mosin Nagant carbines are also good for that. Use an M44 with attached bayonet, and you can skewer, shoot, clean, and roast a deer all in one fluid motion!
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(Random video from youtube on search string "Mosin M44 Fireball")