S&W Performance Center 442: latest evolution in small .38s

by Dick Jones | Contributing Editor

When Smith and Wesson released the J Frame, five-shot, .38 Special, Chief Special, Chief’s Special Airweight, and Centennial in the early ‘50s, revolvers and the .38 Special round ruled the police handgun market. In those days, the .38 Special loading of a 158-grain round-nosed bullet at 830 feet per second was considered a perfectly acceptable round for both personal defense and police work. It was standard issue for police officers everywhere in the form of four-inch barreled Smith and Wesson Model 10, Colt Police Positive, and Official Police revolvers. Law enforcement officers carried six rounds in the cylinder with another supply of loose rounds in bullet drop pouches. The five-shot capacity of the J Frame .38s wasn’t considered a huge disadvantage in consideration of the smaller size and lighter weight.

Times have changed, and in a world of double-stack, compact, striker-fired pistols, six rounds is considered to be less than desirable, making the five-shot capacity of the J Frame revolvers seem downright anemic. In spite of the lower capacity, as in days gone by, the simplicity, light weight, and compact size attract a lot of concealed carry permit holders, this writer included.

The grip of the Pro 442 is wider and shorter front to back than the Crimson Trace LG 405 I added for the test which allows the shooter more control in fast follow up shots and the over-molded back strap area softens recoil. Of course, the big issue is the ability to shoot accurately in low light conditions.

The model 442 is the direct descendant of the original Airweight, enclosed hammer Model 42, but revised to match the modern world of gunmaking. Gone are the high polish finish and checkered walnut grip panels, replaced by more practical synthetic rubber grips and matte finish anodizing and nitride that’re much more durable and carefree.

The Performance Center Pro Series 442 is the latest evolution of that original lightweight gun from 1952 with a modern twist from a time that preceded the original gun’s design, namely the moon clip. The moon clip was designed to allow use of rimless .45 ACP ammunition in revolvers, specifically the 1917 revolver used in World War I. Only recently has the moon clip seen a resurgence of use based on competitive shooting where reloading a revolver under the constraints of time created renewed interest. Moon clips not only speed up the reloading process by allowing the shooter to load all chambers in one motion, but they also make the process of unloading more positive and foolproof.

The Performance Center Pro Series 442 has the ability to utilize moon clips aiding both loading and unloading. Note the machined area around the extractor. The extractor still functions normally without the moon clip.

The most popular example of the use of moon clips is the much viewed, 1999 video of Jerry Miculek shooting 12 shots in less than three seconds while using a Model 25 S&W. Since all six rounds were unitized by the moon clips, he was able to unload and reload in lightning fast speed, allowing this amazing feat.

Recently, Smith and Wesson has introduced several more guns that utilize moon clips both for rimless and rimmed calibers, primarily 9mm and later .38 Special. The Performance Center Pro Series 442 is a basic 442 with a cylinder that’s been machined to allow for moon clip use. While it functions with moon clips, the extractor also will operate normally without the moon clip unlike S&W guns chambered for rimless calibers.

Some might argue the viability of a five-shot, .38 Special revolver for defensive use, but there are strong arguments in favor of this configuration. Depending on which information you choose to believe, few civilians facing a deadly threat fire more than five rounds, and many estimates put this number at a bit less than three. Of course there’s absolutely no reliable data for this question or all others that relate to civilian/assailant encounters because sufficient records simply don’t exist, but everyone agrees that reloads during civilian/assailant encounters almost never happen.

Other numbers put average distances at below three yards and many defensive shootings occur at arm’s length. Caliber effectiveness numbers don’t exist either, but one can certainly make the argument that modern .38 Special +P defensive ammunition is at least as effective as the hardball .45 ACP that was the only option available just a few years ago. Another unrelated but interesting bit of information is that estimates are that 70% of civilian defensive encounters occur under low light conditions.

While the moon clips work for faster loading and are a big help in clearing the cylinder for a reload, I found my Safariland speed loaders faster. Chamfering the chambers would help.

For decades, my primary choice for daily concealed carry has been a lightweight, five shot, .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver with a laser grip. I also carry a speed loader in my pocket, just in case. I’m certainly much more proficient with a handgun than the average citizen, but I prefer the safety and certainty of the revolver over a similar size and power semi-auto. If I knew I was likely to face a defensive situation, I’d carry more, but there’s a balance between convenience and capability and I’m comfortable with five rounds of .38 Special +P defensive ammunition and five more in my pocket.

The Performance Center Pro Series 442 is a basic 442 with moon clip capability. There’s a 1.875” barrel with basic integral front and rear sights. Weight is a reasonable 15 ounces with an aluminum frame, all other parts being stainless steel. The 442 is double-action-only with the hammer completely enclosed within the frame. Other than finish, stainless instead of carbon steel, and the relief cuts in the cylinder, it’s the same gun as the Model 42 introduced in the year of my birth, 1952. It comes with synthetic grips that resemble black rubber and has no internal safety locking system. Three moon clips come with each gun. My test 442 was finished matte black, but it’s available in matte stainless as a 642.

Shooting the Challenge Target 8-inch Training Target, I was able to easily put three fast repeat shots in the critical zone, knocking the target down.

Shooting the 442 was exactly what I’m used to and there were no surprises. The trigger on my test gun was smooth and reasonably light for a carry gun. It exhibited no stacking in the final stage of pull as did some other test guns I’ve recently tested. Personally, I don’t mind a bit of stacking, provided the pull is reasonably light and smooth. The sights were the standard for a small revolver and in decent light I as able to shoot tight groups at the seven-yard distance where I normally test concealed carry guns. Being extremely conscious of trigger management with the double-action-only trigger, I could shoot groups less than 1.5 inches every time and often below one inch. My test gun did shoot an inch or so left of center. In fast, defensive fire, it was no trouble to stay within two inches at three yards. At ten yards, I could easily drop the excellent Challenge Steel 8-inch Training Target I use for training clients,. This target requires multiple rapid follow up shots to react and it was easy to drop it at ten yards in quick order with three shots. I expected no less because I use this target in my normal practice with my daily carry 340 PD.

Recoil, as one might expect, was certainly noticeable with defensive 125-grain defensive loads. With the synthetic grips provided with the gun, sustained fire of more than a box would produce discomfort, but concealed carry guns aren’t designed for sustained fire, they’re designed for concealment and the supplied grips are fine for this. I didn’t particularly like the supplied grips for two reasons. First, I find the overmolded Crimson Trace LG-405 grip that normally graces my J Frame revolvers to be much for comfortable and manageable. Second, the width of the supplied grips is wider than the LG 405 grips and that extra width obstructs fast reloads with both moon clips and speed loaders.

The narrower Crimson Trace LG 405 grips allow easier loading and extraction with both moon clips and a speed loader.

Reloads with the moon clips weren’t as fast as with the Safariland compact speed loaders I carry in my right front pocket. The slender gap that allows use of moon clips means the clips have to be quite thin to work properly and they weren’t as easy to align as the speed loader. I suspect this wouldn’t be a problem with a little chamfering of the chambers, as is the normal practice with competition moon clip guns. It would be nice for Smith and Wesson to take care of this operation. The moon clips did aid with ejection though, and when carrying the gun during testing, I loaded it with a moon clip load and carried a speed loader.

So how does the Performance Center Pro Series 442 fit within my required criteria as a daily carry revolver? With the addition of the Crimson Trace LG 405 grips, I’d be satisfied to carry it every day for the rest of my life, and I did carry it from the time I received it until the present. With an MSRP of $499, it’s affordable, accurate, concealable, and powerful enough to satisfy the delicate balance that’s required for a concealed carry pistol.

Yes, it’s double action only and it takes some practice to shoot a double-action gun accurately and fast. Yes, there are more powerful calibers and guns with larger capacities, but daily concealed carry requires compromise. No one can argue that more is better, but for daily concealed carry effectiveness must be balanced against comfort and concealability, otherwise, we’d all be choosing between carbines and shotguns for personal defense.