I've seen new no-lock 442s available for ~$270 shipped after rebate in recent memory. At least you'd have the option of sending it back to S&W to let their warranty technicians screw it up for you if something was wrong with it.
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Not another dime.
Okay, so I got mine today. I took it to the range and went through (from memory):
- 70 rounds of a handload with Zero 148-grain DEWC over 2.8 grains of Bullseye
- a 50-round box of R-P 130-grain FMJ
- 15 rounds of R-P 158-grain +P LSWC-HP
- 15 rounds of a handload with 158-grain Berry RN over 5 grains of Unique
The end result looked like this:
The gun's decently accurate. Here's the result of five rounds slow fire at five yards with my WC handload (yeah, I pulled one):
I had to hold low in the 10-ring to get it to hit the X with the WC load. It was pretty close to POA with the R-P 130-grain load, so that's the bullet weight I'll get for defensive ammo. The +P stuff wasn't that bad to shoot, just wouldn't want to stick with it for a full range session.
Condition of the gun was pretty close to the one shown in the ad, actually somewhat better. I don't think it was shot (or cleaned) much during its tenure with that department. It's tight - with the trigger held back, there's zero back-and-forth cylinder movement.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with the transaction.