S&w 340 pd

[Petrol & Powder]

I'm a big fan of snubnose DA revolvers and I've shot a bunch of them. I had a chance to shoot a S&W 340PD the other day and it was an experience !
That gun has a scandium alloy frame, titanium cylinder and a sleeved stainless steel barrel - it weighs 11.2 ounces ! I can see some uses for that gun but I wouldn't want to train with one for any length of time :smile:

I was shooting 158 gr 38 Special loads and it was on the edge of being unpleasant. The gun is chambered for .357 magnum and I can't imagine what 50 rounds of magnums would be like.

I shot a lightweight 1911 Commander for years and recoil was never a concern. I'm extremely comfortable with the regular alloy framed 38 Special snubnose revolvers that have steel cylinders. I'm not shy about recoil.
But a 357 magnum revolver that weighs less than 12 ounces empty - that may be the practical limit.

It sure is an interesting concept.

[country gent]

I have that model for a carry gun also. It carries very well and is forgotten about when worn, But even my 148 grn bullseye load with 2.7 grn bullseye is stiff recoil in it. I normally practice with a all stainless model of it due to the recoil.

THe onlyload Ive found that's comfortable in it is my wax bullet load with a 5/8" long was wadcutter and std primer

[Petrol & Powder]

It's clearly a great little gun but boy does it have some bite to it.

[35remington]

My 11 ounce LCP2 is a bit snappy. A Plus P 38 is notably more power and recoil in the same weight revolver and is my low round count limit.

Shot one with 357 loads. I like to think I am smart enough not to deliberately repeat the experience very often.

[BK7saum]

I shot two 357 magnum loads with 158 grain jhp bullets. Unloaded the other three, and called it done. I carry 125 grain 38 spc+p gold dots.

[bmortell]

I originally started with a lcp 380 and 2 mags out of it just seemed too painfull and I wasnt enjoying my power output per recoil seemed very inefficient. next I tried a 16oz 38+p and was mostly happy but switched to a 20oz 357 and shoot 125gr at 1300, for me it seems id rather carry more weight if it allows me to accomplish decent output. 20oz seems about right

[Petrol & Powder]

The engineering and materials used to create that 340PD are amazing. I'm glad to see S&W offer such a tool but lengthy practice with that tool would not be something I would look forward to.

In years past I had a pair of S&W DAO J-frames - the all steel 640 and its airweight twin. The 640 was the old 38 Special model with the 1 7/8" barrel and not the newer 2 1/8" 357 mag model. It was identical to the airweight model except for the frame material. I told myself that I would practice with the steel framed gun and carry the alloy framed gun. Turns out that was a good plan in theory but not in reality. I ended up just practicing with and carrying the airweight. (a better plan in my opinion)

Wish I still had that old 640.
S&W only made that stainless DAO model for a few years before they enlarged it to a .357 mag model. It was nearly identical to the old blued Model 40 Centennial.

[Meatpuppet]

Ive been carrying the 340PD for years (ankle, pocket, AIWB) in the hot Florida weather. To be fair, practicing with it is not pleasent. But I believe the point of it is that it is so light you always have it with you! I have a "ClipDraw" attached to it and I can carry it in a pair of elastic waist gym shorts without my pants falling down.

And it never corrodes.

Fed 130gr HydraShock for carry and super (duper) mild reloads for practice. While it looks funny, I added the "Ergo-grip" to it which substantially changes my wrist angle and helps with recoil.

[Mytmousemalibu]

The 340PD takes top honors for being the most unpleasant gun I've ever shot. Two of my USPSA buddies carry them, I carry a 442 no-lock. Ive shot factory .357 and my handloads. Brutal little gun with a 158gr. bullet and 18.2gr of 300MP! All of us shoot handguns a lot, including some pretty potent race guns and all of us burn through a lot of ammo. We are very well acclimated to noise and recoil. A memorable moment, one of the guys picks the 340PD, fires one .357 and puts it back on the table commenting, "Thats just stupid!". Beforehand he proclaimed that it couldn't be that bad! He was in for a shock! We were thinking about playing an evil game of who could stand the most rounds through one but that has yet to happen, lol.

[rking22]

Cool engineering, but I did the same! Touched off ONE 158gr 357 and put it down. Just for reference I own and enjoy a 23oz 41Mag Tracker and that 340 was brutal! I like my old M36 and some full charge WC loads, if I need a second or third shot I feel more confident with the steel, weight can be an assett.

[Two Barrels]

I have one of the M&P 340s. It is slightly heavier due to the steel cylinder vs titanium. It has never seen a 357 round but has seen plenty of 38 special loads. It usually is loaded with either Federal Nyclads or Gold Dot Short Barrels. 2 to 3 cylinders full is more than plenty.

[M-Tecs]

I don't have a 340PD but I do have a 337PD. It's 10.6 oz in 38 Special +P hammer spur version. With 129 grain Federal Hydroschocks its POI is perfect and it shoots way better than this type of gun should. With the +P it's on my upper end of comfort level. I have no doubt that in 357 it's a handful.

http://snubnose.info/docs/38-snub_vs_357-snub.htm

[Mytmousemalibu]

For the inquisitive: To simulate the 340PD with .357, simple place your hand on a flat surface, on top of a soft towel. Place a piece of strap steel or aluminum in your open palm to simulate the backstrap. Strike the piece of metal with a deadblow hammer with enough force to send your nerves to a low earth orbit! That should be close!

[curioushooter]

The 340 PD is called the devil's handshake for a reason...

Whenever I see one I revert to Malcom in Jurassic Park: "your engineers at S&W were so preoccupied with the question of if they could that they failed to consider if they should..."

I have a 60-18, weighs more than double, and 158s pushed to 1300 is punishing.

However 140s at 1250 are not too bad.

I have a 442 PC and that is heavier...couldn't imagine it with 158s at Maggie speeds.

The Speer 135 GD is mighty fine however, as is the Apex spring kit.

[curioushooter]

Hey M-Tecs....where can you get those federal 129+Ps?

[Petrol & Powder]

The 340 PD is called the devil's handshake for a reason...

Whenever I see one I revert to Malcom in Jurassic Park: "your engineers at S&W were so preoccupied with the question of if they could that they failed to consider if they should..."

...............

/\ That's a good way to look at it.

I can envision some limited use for that tool and I think it is cool that S&W did develop the technology to make that gun. Pretty sure I don't want to put a lot of rounds through one in a single session.

For me, the 340PD is, "A bridge too far" and I'll stick with a 442 Airweight but the 340PD is an option for those that want it.

[tazman]

I thank you all for your description of that revolver. It put any question of my ever purchasing one to rest.
I can handle my model 60 with 3 inch barrel well enough to practice with it with 38 special loads. I could not handle the 340PD in any way, shape, or form.
I like my hands to work when I get up in the morning.
I admit it, I am a wimp when it comes to recoil.

[Gray Fox]

I have the Performance Center version of the 640 .357 with the adjustable night sights, moon clips, and Crimson Trace grips. It is enough to make your eyes water with a couple cylinders of Federal 158 grain jacketed HPs I picked up at Wally World. I now carry Remington 110 grain .38 +Ps that I have half a case of left over from a Federal training contract. I carry the same loads in the two 642 .38s I carry in the Georgia summers. I'm going to try to work up some low-to-mid-range .357 loads using Berry plated DEWC. GF

Similar, but even worse was the .44 special version that my lovely wife bought me for my birthday several years ago. In came in the fitted metal case and was beautiful to behold. With any load you'd want to carry in it, however, it was Hell on wheels for the shooter. I forget what I sold or traded for it, but it took a bit of obfuscation to gradually let my wife know that I no longer had her present. GF

[rintinglen]

I have a 342, which is the 38 Spl version of the scandium. I shoot it 30 rounds a year. It is a little too much fun to shoot for pure pleasure. I shoot my 640 38 for practice.

[mattw]

I have never shot one of these ultra light 357's, do not really care to with 357's as I like 180 grainers. It has to be about as unpleasant as my wifes 629 Horton with the super short barrel. At least it is an N frame so you have something to hold on to for the ride!

[Mytmousemalibu]

For what its worth, both of my buddies that carry the 340PD do NOT carry it with .357! They are smart enough to stick with .38+P in their little demon's! Before I got my 442 I carried a 360J which is a scandium .38 special gun but still a steel cylinder. S&W will actually put a .357 cylinder if you like or if you are mentally deranged. Pretty much all the airweight J-frame's will deliver more than enough "equal and opposite reaction" to your meat mittens with warm .38's let alone .357 of any flavor. There is no doubt that you get a fair step up performance with .357 but I would rather have a more mildly recoiling gun that is easier to hit with and probably faster.