Smith & Wesson Model 442 UC Lipsey’s Special 13996 38 SP.

Gun Tests readers have been asking us for more revolver testing, so we’ve been looking for new and improved versions of wheelguns to load up and shoot. We recently found a trio of snubnosed handguns that promise power and, perhaps, easier carry that readers might enjoy and perhaps invest in. The first is a collaboration between Lipsey’s and Smith & Wesson — the Model 442 Ultimate Carry, a blued 38 Special version of the current hammerless Airweight model. Lipsey’s is the exclusive distributor, and the current counter price seems to be right at $759, which is MSRP. We also tested another S&W product, the current Model 642 Airweight 103810 in 38 Special, $519. Rated for +P loads, this version also uses an aluminum frame but with stainless steel for the barrel and cylinder to handle the higher pressures of +P cartridges. Stepping up another power level, we got a new Colt King Cobra Carry with the 2-inch barrel, a bright stainless finish, a double-action-only trigger, and rated for 357 Magnum. The KCOBRA-SB2BB model is widely retailing for $949. 

Ammo selection was all 38 Special to accommodate the two Smiths, which can’t handle 357 Magnum rounds like the Colt. The 38s included the recently introduced G2R Telos 105-grain monometal load, along with 110-grain Federal Hydra-Shoks, Sellier & Bellot 148-grain wadcutter rounds, and Magtech 158-grain lead roundnose loads to top it all off. Given their operation and the intended use of these revolvers, we fired multiple five-shot groups double action only at 5 yards. We shot the speed drills from low ready with one, two, and three timed rounds at 5 yards, trying to keep all our shots inside the “A zone” of a USPSA cardboard target.

Smith & Wesson Model 442 Ultimate Carry Lipsey’s Special 13996

38 Special

$759

Gun Tests grade: B+ [our pick]

With better sights, better grips, and some good detail work, we might have to give the Model 442 Ultimate Carry model some consideration as a replacement for what we already know to be a very good revolver.

For those not familiar with the company, Lipsey’s is a firearms distributor in Louisiana with a lot of experience, a serious imagination, and the ability to put its money where its mouth is. Tooling up to manufacture a firearm is expensive. Making changes in that tooling is even more expensive. If we were to ask a major manufacturer to allow us to make a modification on their firearm before it left the production line, they would likely ignore us, laugh at us, or send us to the Custom Shop, where our price would skyrocket. Lipsey’s very experienced buyers try to keep their fingers on the pulse of American firearms purchasers. Their goal is to predict what modifications consumers might like on existing platforms and then approach a manufacturer with a new set of specifications. Then they are willing to order 500 or maybe 5000 pieces, which makes the likes of Smith & Wesson sit up and take notice.

Two of the most common gripes we hear about small revolvers are the sights and the grips. These little wheelguns are hard to aim and, frequently, uncomfortable to shoot for extended periods. Lipsey’s decided to collaborate with Smith & Wesson to alleviate some of those issues, and we held the results in our hands with the 442 Ultimate Carry. The changes in the top strap of this revolver jumped out at us. Gone was that itty-bitty groove, and a real rear sight had taken its place. Though still small in size, it had a Novak-style sight in a dovetail that was adjustable for windage. The rear face was serrated, which did a great job in reducing glare. The notch was a deep U shape that provided a lot of room for the new front sight. Instead of being an appendage suitable only for good light and young eyes, this front sight is a keeper. Made by XS Sights, the front sight has a tritium insert surrounded by a green donut. The net effect is a sight that is very visible in low or bright light. It is held in place by a roll pin in case you should decide to substitute something else. Built to a height that regulates proper point of impact for current defensive loads, we really liked what we saw. 

The grips were another pleasant surprise. The High Horn VZ G10 grips provided more to hold on to than the standard Model 442. We measured them to be the same width as the normal grips, but there was more material fore and aft. These panels provided cover for the back strap, creating more space for the grip. The net effect was a longer length of pull and better protection for the fingers, making this version a bit more comfortable to shoot. Even with the larger size, we still found the UC model to fit easily in our cargo pocket — in the right holster, of course. We’ve used the DeSantis Nemesis holster for pocket carry for decades.

We noticed a few other tweaks as well. Our eyeball calipers tell us that the chamfering on the front of the cylinder was the same as on our Model 642, but we could definitely see more chamfering on the chamber mouths, allowing a smoother reload. Lipsey’s told us that the pins are titanium, bringing more strength to the aluminum frame. Our sample may be blue (there is also a stainless version with black and gray grips), but the barrel is still stainless steel. The barrel and the ejector rod are protected by a shroud. We noticed a bit more attention to polishing with the cylinder, where a simple twist of our fingers would send it spinning for a long time. Good news — no internal lock on this version either.

The S&W Ultimate Carry comes in two chamberings, the 38 Special tested here and the 32 H&R Magnum. The second chambering allows the use of 327 Federal Magnum, 32 S&W, and 32 S&W Long as well. The 32 H&R Mag is a bit sporty in a small revolver, but the shooter has a choice to go there if they please or download to something a bit more sedate. Note that the 32-caliber version brings six chambers instead of just five in the 38.

We were a bit disappointed with the trigger. We read claims of improvement there, but we couldn’t see it. Compression was smooth and consistent, and everything locked up exactly when it was supposed to. That said, we would have liked to see compression a bit lighter. Our 40-plus-year-old Model 60 had a double-action trigger pull averaging 11.74 pounds The modern Model 642 required 11.78 pounds on average, and the slicked-up Model 442 UC required 11.68 pounds. Everything was fine, we had just hoped for a little better.

We had a single flyer (called) out of the A Zone, which brought the Speed Drills group size up to 6.75 inches, and we acknowledge that was our fault. Take out that one shot at 1 o’clock and the overall group shrank down to 5.75 inches, almost exactly the same size as the non-modified Model 642. Off the bench, the 442 UC’s cumulative group-size average was 1.013 inches, again almost exactly the same as the Model 642. That said, the better sights allowed the Model 442 UC to do everything a little more quickly, with most drills clocking about 0.1 second faster. Excepting the one shot we pulled, the overall group was more tightly clustered toward the center of the zone. 

Our Team Said: We really liked the upgrades on the Lipsey’s Special. As a result of the improved grips, the 442 UC was more comfortable to shoot than the Model 642, and the sights were better. Now if we could just get that 442 UC’s trigger a bit lighter, we’d move the gun up to an A- or A grade. 

We fired these revolvers side by side at American Shooting Centers in west Houston. We used a LabRadar chronograph (MyLabRadar.com, $559) to determine muzzle velocities. We used a well-sandbagged Caldwell Pistol Rest from MidwayUSA and a mini-DRC Fortune Cookie bag from Wiebad.com to shoot five-shot groups shot at 5 yards. The Telos is a solid-copper hollow point. JHP = jacketed hollow point. LRN = lead round nose.

Process: Fire one shot from low ready at 5-by-11-inch A Zone target placed at 5 yards. Times in seconds are averages for 10 repetitions. 

Process: Fire two shots from low ready at 5-by-11-inch A Zone target placed at 5 yards. Times in seconds are averages for three repetitions.

Process: Fire three shots from low ready at 5-by-11-inch A Zone target placed at 5 yards. Times in seconds are averages for three repetitions. Elapsed times for all drills were determined using a CED7000 shot timer.

Written and photographed by Joe Woolley, using evaluations from Gun Tests Team members. GT