Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight .38 Special vs Taurus 856 .38 Special

This is a category-defining choice, not a spec-line debate. The 642 is a 14.4 oz aluminum-alloy DAO hammerless 5-shot built for pocket carry; the 856 is a 22 oz all-steel DA/SA exposed-hammer 6-shot built for belt carry. The 7.6 oz weight delta is the single biggest functional difference — at 22 oz the 856 absorbs +P recoil noticeably better but is too heavy for most pant pockets, while the 642 disappears in a jacket pocket but punishes practice sessions past 50 rounds. The extra round in the 856 matters in this category because the alternative is a speedloader.

Pick the Smith & Wesson 642 if:

• You want a true pocket-carry gun — at 14.4 oz and 1.30" wide with an internal hammer, it draws cleanly from pocket fabric where the 856's 22 oz and exposed hammer rule out the same carry method
• You prefer S&W's factory QC and the largest J-frame holster aftermarket — Taurus has a documented history of more variable factory fit and finish than S&W

Pick the Taurus 856 if:

• You want six rounds in the cylinder instead of five — in a snubnose where reloads are slow, that extra chamber is meaningful and only the 856 delivers it at this footprint
• You want a steel-frame revolver that handles +P practice without the fatigue pattern of an Airweight — the 7.6 oz of additional mass makes sustained range sessions feasible
• You want the option to cock the hammer for a deliberate single-action shot, which the DAO 642 cannot do

Both are .38 Special with similar 1.88"-2" barrels and similar 6.31"-6.55" overall lengths. The choice is between pocket-capable lightweight (642) and belt-carried six-shot steel (856) — the spec table makes them look closer than they actually carry.