hello,i am new. thank you for having me. i just recently picked up a 342 pd. before buying it i fired a 642, i had no problems with recoil. i was just firing 125 38spcl. but the recoil was non-exsistent. i shot it just as well as my all steel j-frame. after finding the 642 to be so easy to control i figured i should be able to handle the 342 with no problems. am i correct in this assumption? will the 4 to 5oz really be that much worse? i figure it will make a diffrence because its like 25% lighter than the 642. what should i expect? also does anyone have wood grips on their 342? if so how does that help with controling the gun?(if it dosent make it worse) and one last thing, if anyone has a pic of a 342 w/wood grips,c oud you please post it? thanks, skt.
342 question
- Thread starter skt666
- Start date
Personally, I find that the little Ti J-frames cross the line into "unpleasant" with +P defense ammo, but that's just me. Others don't seem to mind them at all, and some folks even claim not to be bothered by the fire-breathing 340. (We all know they're just trying to sound cool, though. 
)
)Diamondback
New member
People tend to remark that the small J frames are more difficult to shoot accurately than full sized revolvers....these little , lightweight babies I find VERY hard to shoot well. They seem to have a mind of their own and without consistant practice I am not at all accurate. The muzzle flip is much more pronounced than with the aluminium frames, certainly appreciably more than an all steel J frame, and the hand slap/sting is uncomfortable for me but not intolerable. These ultralight revolvers have their nitch....that can't be denied. However I personally don't enjoy shooting them.....I don't mind carrying 15-21 oz. but hey...different strokes...that's why B&R has 31 flavors ! Either way S&W makes a good revolver and stands behind them 100%. The nice thing about a S&W is that it won't be hard to sell and you will recoup some of your original cost if you ever decide to sell. Bottom line you have a well made gun. Enjoy !...and welcome to the forum ! Keep us posted as to your impressions once you shoot your new baby and post a picture or two if you are so inclined.
-Regards
-Regards
I carry a 342 with wood grips. I pocket carry 99% of the time, and I find the wood grips don't catch on the cloth of my pocket and impede draw or reholstering. I load the gun with 125 grain +P Gold Dots from Georgia Arms. It is no problem at all to shoot a few cylinders full of that ammunition from the little gun. I don't find much practical difference between the 342 and the 642 when I shoot them side by side with the 125 grain loads. If you can handle the one, you can handle the other.
I don't have my camera with me, but If I can get a pic of my old gun (this 342 has been my carry gun for about 5 years now), I will post it. The grips are the S&W laminated wood grips. They are very small and work quite well for me despite rather large hands.
Enjoy your new piece!
Clemson
I don't have my camera with me, but If I can get a pic of my old gun (this 342 has been my carry gun for about 5 years now), I will post it. The grips are the S&W laminated wood grips. They are very small and work quite well for me despite rather large hands.
Enjoy your new piece!
Clemson
i finally got out and shot the 342. it wasnt all that bad, like onions said, the slap is the worst of the two. the trigger gave me a little bite now and then and i left with a blister. the sights need getting used to, im thinking of putting on some big dot sights, you can see them at www.gunblast.com(run a search on 342) i think they will make a world of difference. i wasnt to accurate with the gun but it was my first time out with it. i shot all 125gr, none of which were +p. if your gonna get this gun and your a lefty, watch that you dont keep your thumb to close to the clynder release when firing. i did did that a few times and now have a sore thumb. i fired 150 rounds and that seemed to be enough. the 342 is keeper and i look forward to getting out there again, this time with some hot +p rounds.
I'm afraid the grips show up a little dark in the photos. They are Smith & Wesson stock grips. You can see them at www.smith-wesson.com. Look under "Firearms Accessories" and then under "Finger Groove Combat Grips." When the first 342's hit the market, Mas Ayoob was quoted as saying that he fired a 342 with the wood grips, and the recoil stung his hand, or something to that effect. That hurt the popularity of the gun with wood grips. They had been "original equipment" on the 342, and you could choose between a gun with Goodyears or the laminated wood. I have wood on most of my handguns, and I really like it for pocket carry, for which the gun excells. S&W sells the grips for a hair under $60 a pair.
Clemson
Clemson
alphamaniv
New member
All this talk of difficult to handle, has me questioning my upcoming purchase of the 360. 12oz is sure to make full magnums a handful. My thoughts were that if I was ever in a life threatening situation and was firing the gun, I wouldn't notice the recoil. This was/is going to be my backup carry in the winter and my primary in the summer. I guess I'll have to give it a little more thought, but knowing me, I'll get it anyway and then laugh my ass off if the first time I shoot it it goes flying over my head. I tend to hold a gun like I am trying to squeeze blood out of the bottom of the grip, so I will hang on to it, but I hope it doesnt disconnect the arm.
alphamaniv
New member
Cool! Thanks for the info. My wife and I have an arrangement on gun purchases, and the planets are about to align again for me. 
Right now, my summer carry is a little 22lr auto 
I'll feel better with a magnum in my pocket. That sounds kinda bad doesn't it.? 
Besides, the 357 is one of my favorite rounds, and I can always carry 38's if im not feeling well. I go shooting about once or twice a month on average. I wish it was more, but thats all time will allow right now, I figure I'll put one or two cylinders worth through it, and then move on to my old 586 or one of the semi autos. After that, I always break out the 10/22 and single six and shoot the rest of the day away.
Right now, my summer carry is a little 22lr auto I'll feel better with a magnum in my pocket. That sounds kinda bad doesn't it.? Besides, the 357 is one of my favorite rounds, and I can always carry 38's if im not feeling well. I go shooting about once or twice a month on average. I wish it was more, but thats all time will allow right now, I figure I'll put one or two cylinders worth through it, and then move on to my old 586 or one of the semi autos. After that, I always break out the 10/22 and single six and shoot the rest of the day away. Clemson, how's the finish on yours holding up? I have a high-miles five+ year old 342 that's beginning to look seasoned, but except on edges and corners where wear is inevitable, it is holding up quite well. I keep reading the posts from guys on the S&W Forum complaining that their 337s and 642s are suffering from instant finish deterioration and it makes me wonder what's going on (other than injudicious use of harsh solvents).
Skt, if you find practice gets a little trying you can get a companion J-frame in carbon or stainless. A nice 36 or 60 or 640 or even a 940 works fine for training/range use and the weight does (IMO at least) make a difference after 100 or 200 rounds.
Skt, if you find practice gets a little trying you can get a companion J-frame in carbon or stainless. A nice 36 or 60 or 640 or even a 940 works fine for training/range use and the weight does (IMO at least) make a difference after 100 or 200 rounds.
JNewl, i also own a steel j-frame(taurus 651) and other snubbies before it. the experince with the steel frames def. pays off when shooting the 342. i shot the 342 first and then the 651, my aim was better than it ever was with the 651 that day. The 342 is a tough little pistol, its two days later and my hand is still alittle sore. however, i havent been out to the range in a while, so im a little tender. my first gun was a 2inch 357, when i first got it i had no idea 38s could be shot out of it. I also had no idea there was such a thing as a 125gr, 110gr ect. 357s, i was given 5 boxs of 158 grain 357 with the gun so thats all is shot for a while. so needless to say im not to recoil sensitive but this baby will still take some getting used to
JNewell, I need closeup photos to really show the wear on my gun. You can see that I use a leather pocket holster most of the time with it. I do have a belt slide that I carry it in sometimes in the winter, but most of the time it goes in the pocket. My gun is showing wear on the edges, the front of the trigger guard, etc. I don't think it is excessive for a piece that has spent literally thousands of hours in the pocket of my Dockers. Mechanically, it is holding up well. I don't shoot it a lot, but I have probably put between 1000 and 2000 rounds through it.
When I get a chance, I'll do a closeup series of the little gun and post them.
Clemson
When I get a chance, I'll do a closeup series of the little gun and post them.
Clemson
The wood grips are no larger than the rubber boot grips. They may even be a tad smaller. They do require some practice to get used to, but they do a good job of positioning my hand where I need to have it. A full-sized set of grips would undoubtedly make the 342 easier to shoot, but a couple of hundred practice rounds will make the boot grips much easier to stomach. It is all a compromise. In the case of the pocket gun, you may give up some precision for concealability. If you shoot slowly and deliberately, the precision comes back, but that is not realistic for a belly gun. If you have the time to make a shot like that, you should be running -- not shooting.
Clemson
Clemson