workin_ike
New member
Im looking into getting my second gun (first revolver) i want the 340 or 340PD. what can some of you tell me bout this type of gun,? good and bad. whats a good price for new?
I want a scandium S&W
- Thread starter workin_ike
- Start date
Hello:
I have the 340PD and love the gun. I have not, and probably will not, shoot .357 loads in it. There are some people who do and say that the recoil is stiff, but with practice you get used to it. I like the Gold Dot 135gr +p which is not all that bad regarding recoil. It was specifically designed for 2" snub noses. It is a shoot little and carry a lot gun. It is so light that I usually forget that it is there. I think that it is the ultimate pocket/backup/carry everywhere gun. Lots like the 642, but the 4 ounces is very noticable when carrying in a pocket. If you are going to ankle carry or carry on a belt then maybe look at the 642 because you wont notice the weight difference that much there. But for pocket carry it is by far the best out there in my opinion. Carry a few speed strips in the opposite pocket and you are all set. I paid $599 for mine but I think that I got a pretty good deal. You can probably pick one up for the low $600's if you shop around. Let us know what you decide. DTown24
I have the 340PD and love the gun. I have not, and probably will not, shoot .357 loads in it. There are some people who do and say that the recoil is stiff, but with practice you get used to it. I like the Gold Dot 135gr +p which is not all that bad regarding recoil. It was specifically designed for 2" snub noses. It is a shoot little and carry a lot gun. It is so light that I usually forget that it is there. I think that it is the ultimate pocket/backup/carry everywhere gun. Lots like the 642, but the 4 ounces is very noticable when carrying in a pocket. If you are going to ankle carry or carry on a belt then maybe look at the 642 because you wont notice the weight difference that much there. But for pocket carry it is by far the best out there in my opinion. Carry a few speed strips in the opposite pocket and you are all set. I paid $599 for mine but I think that I got a pretty good deal. You can probably pick one up for the low $600's if you shop around. Let us know what you decide. DTown24
DTown said it pretty well. Lots of related threads here and at www.thehighroad.org if ya want to use search function(s).
I had the 342 (.38+ P airweight) for a couple of years before .357s became available. It was also a dream to carry. First thing I did to my 340 years ago was to buy an oversize grip (CT 305) that covered the backstrap.
Some folks I know
have been known to keep the first 4 holes loaded with +Ps and just #5 with a .357. Which brings up another subject you'll find with research. Some hot loads are known to "jump the crimp" in the ultra-lights. There is good reason for S&W to put in their manuals to avoid light bullets - and to test the others!
I had the 342 (.38+ P airweight) for a couple of years before .357s became available. It was also a dream to carry. First thing I did to my 340 years ago was to buy an oversize grip (CT 305) that covered the backstrap.
Some folks I know
have been known to keep the first 4 holes loaded with +Ps and just #5 with a .357. Which brings up another subject you'll find with research. Some hot loads are known to "jump the crimp" in the ultra-lights. There is good reason for S&W to put in their manuals to avoid light bullets - and to test the others!Most 300 series are running $600-$700 these days. if your brave enough/ plan to carry it with 357 loads , I can see the investment. However, if you only plan on 38 +P loads ( as many do), I'd vote you spend $350 and get a Airweight of similar configuration. The 12-15 oz jump isn't a big deal for carry and helps with recoil .
Quote: "The 12-15 oz jump isn't a big deal for carry and helps with recoil."
Well Tacoma .... I might differ with ya a bit on the first part - and agree completely with the last part. I've owned a couple of the 15-ouncers over the years and, to me anyway, there was a discernable difference when carried in pocket, on ankle or especially IWB on draw-string shorts.
Had I never carried an 11 or 12 ounce j-frame, I might have been happier with the 15-ouncers. But, when putting the pencil to it, the difference in "carry comfort" works out to pretty close to $100 an ounce ...
And yep, even shooting 38s, there is often a distinct difference in felt recoil. Heck, for some students having problems with even the 15 to 22 ouncers, I often suggest popping the $20 to $30 for some oversized grips. But, then again, it goes back to trade-offs between concealability and shootability ...
Well Tacoma .... I might differ with ya a bit on the first part - and agree completely with the last part. I've owned a couple of the 15-ouncers over the years and, to me anyway, there was a discernable difference when carried in pocket, on ankle or especially IWB on draw-string shorts.
Had I never carried an 11 or 12 ounce j-frame, I might have been happier with the 15-ouncers.
But, when putting the pencil to it, the difference in "carry comfort" works out to pretty close to $100 an ounce ... And yep, even shooting 38s, there is often a distinct difference in felt recoil. Heck, for some students having problems with even the 15 to 22 ouncers, I often suggest popping the $20 to $30 for some oversized grips. But, then again, it goes back to trade-offs between concealability and shootability ...
WildWhenWet
Inactive
I agree with Tacoma. I own several semi-autos, but the S&W 642 is my standard concealed carry gun. I carry it in my purse, jeans pocket, coat, etc and hardly notice its presence. IMHO, it's not worth the extra $300 to save 3 ounces. BTW, I've shot the 340 with .357.............OUCH!!! It made a big bang, but the recoil prevents any rapid second shot placement. If you're interested in .357, I would NOT recommend a snubbie 
SnWnMe... Agree with that! Most new owners have no idea how difficult it can be to shoot a lightweight snubby accurately double action.
Hey WildWhenWet... welcome. I agree with you on the 642. From what I can tell, it's probably THE most widely preferred pocket revolver there is. When I'm riding a motorcycle, I toss mine in the jacket pocket... also drops nicely into my front jeans pocket. I rarely can even tell I'm packing it. Don't enjoy shooting it much, but it's a great gun for which there is no excuse not to be packing heat. And of course packing heat leads to...well, you know... we all get wild! ;-)=
Hey WildWhenWet... welcome. I agree with you on the 642. From what I can tell, it's probably THE most widely preferred pocket revolver there is. When I'm riding a motorcycle, I toss mine in the jacket pocket... also drops nicely into my front jeans pocket. I rarely can even tell I'm packing it. Don't enjoy shooting it much, but it's a great gun for which there is no excuse not to be packing heat. And of course packing heat leads to...well, you know... we all get wild! ;-)=
I have a 340SC. It has become my primary carry piece. The light weight makes it perfect for carrying in a pocket. If you don't like hard recoil you will not like this gun. It's not too bad with .38 Special +P, but with .357 Mag it can actually be painful. I'm a recoil junky so it doesn't bother me, others don't seem to enjoy it.
orionengnr
New member
Tam, love your posts
But, (as a former roadracer, and one who has tossed a few bikes down the track) I never met a racer who enjoyed falling off his bike. When he says "you get used to it" it is more an acknowledgement of the likelihood of what may happen. That is why he spends $1200 for a leather suit with body armor, $250 for boots with shin and toe guards, $175 for gloves with carbon fiber knuckle guards, $700 for a top of the line helmet, and an awful lot more $ for track time to practice every chance he gets.
Or, to put it another way, much like the individual who spends a lot of time and money on his shooting, you understand and accept the risks that are inherent, and you do all in your power to mitigate those risks so you can enjoy your chosen sport....
Hope we can agree on this one, we are not as far apart as it seems at first blush...
But, (as a former roadracer, and one who has tossed a few bikes down the track) I never met a racer who enjoyed falling off his bike. When he says "you get used to it" it is more an acknowledgement of the likelihood of what may happen. That is why he spends $1200 for a leather suit with body armor, $250 for boots with shin and toe guards, $175 for gloves with carbon fiber knuckle guards, $700 for a top of the line helmet, and an awful lot more $ for track time to practice every chance he gets.
Or, to put it another way, much like the individual who spends a lot of time and money on his shooting, you understand and accept the risks that are inherent, and you do all in your power to mitigate those risks so you can enjoy your chosen sport....
Hope we can agree on this one, we are not as far apart as it seems at first blush...
snacktrack
New member
I have a 340PD w crimson trace grips. To me, its the perfect CCW. I dont know why S&W doesnt make the 342 anymore, I would have bought it if they did make it. I load mine with hydra-shoks in +P. I shoot at the range with regular 38 special.
Everyone is attributing the painful shooting to the .357 load IMO the .357 is overkill in a self defense situation. I dont want my bullets coming out the other side of the BG. So i just dont use .357's
So if you use +p's, the recoil is a fair amount, but who cares?? You are saving your life. Make you first shot count. Aim for center mass and pull the trigger. With my laser grips, even in the complete darkness it takes the guess work out of it.
IMO the DAO revolver is the perfect CCW, and the lighter and more concealable the better. With the option of 3 different loads, 38 special, +P, and magnum, choose the one that is best for you. After you save your life, do you think you will be worrying about how your hand stings a bit? I dont think so.
Everyone is attributing the painful shooting to the .357 load IMO the .357 is overkill in a self defense situation. I dont want my bullets coming out the other side of the BG. So i just dont use .357's
So if you use +p's, the recoil is a fair amount, but who cares?? You are saving your life. Make you first shot count. Aim for center mass and pull the trigger. With my laser grips, even in the complete darkness it takes the guess work out of it.
IMO the DAO revolver is the perfect CCW, and the lighter and more concealable the better. With the option of 3 different loads, 38 special, +P, and magnum, choose the one that is best for you. After you save your life, do you think you will be worrying about how your hand stings a bit? I dont think so.
workin_ike
New member
Got It
Thanx guys. I ended up getting the 340PD this past sun, and shot it today with 38's recoil is nothing. gonna try the 357's this sat. does hurt little bit in the web of the hand. thats where the frame hits. may look into new grips that wrap around. got it for 659...cheapest in the area within 6 stores...oh well maybe little more than most would pay but i like it. thats all that matters to me
Thanx guys. I ended up getting the 340PD this past sun, and shot it today with 38's recoil is nothing. gonna try the 357's this sat. does hurt little bit in the web of the hand. thats where the frame hits. may look into new grips that wrap around. got it for 659...cheapest in the area within 6 stores...oh well maybe little more than most would pay but i like it. thats all that matters to me