S&W has discontinured 342/342PD -- Why??

S

Shotabout

Inactive
I found out today that S&W has discontinued the model 342/342PD. They say the 442 is a replacement for these models but there is no comparison between the two models. Does anyone lnow if there have been problems with the 342/342PD? This is a .38 +P rated snub model with an aluminum alloy frame and titanium cylinder and a shrouded hammer. I was planning on buying one but now I'm not sure until I can find out why S&W canceled the model. By the way this is my first post.

Thanks

Shotabout :confused:
 
I have no idea why they have replaced it. Looks like the 442 comes in a few ounces heavier. If you have shot the 342, like it, and that's what you gotta have, you might search one of the auction sites like gunbroker.com for one, if you cannot find one locally.

If you have never shot a 342: The gun has very pronounced recoil in comparison to the heavier S&W snubbies. Practicing with one is not a lot of fun, imo. Even a S&W rep admitted as much to me a couple of years ago, stating that the model was really designed for someone who had to carry a gun all day, with carry weight being the overriding consideration. Just my opinion, but I would consider one of the Airweight models before spending more.
 
The replacement is the 340. It is basically the same gun but rated for 357 Magnum. It will handle all the 38 Specials as well.

I have a 342 that I have carried almost daily for 5 years. If I were to buy another, however, it would be a 340 or 340 PD just for the extra strength and versatility.

Clemson

By the way, welcome to the forum!!
 
My understanding is that S&W discontinued the model in order to consolodate the revolver line. Cost made customers more likely to buy the 340 than the 342pd. In any case, it wasn't reliability driven. I love my 342pd, and unlike some with the 340, I practice and carry with the same round. If you have an opportunity to purchase a new one and can pay the freight, I don't think you'll regret it.
 
I didnt see this post and posted about the 342PD too.
You can still find them in as new condition on GunsAmerica.com and Auction Arms. Expect to pay in the $600 range as they are really hot buys!!!! They dont have the unreliable Internal Lock as the lightweights of today.

Risking your life with a gun that has a reverse engineered afterthought is not too smart. Smith was cowtowing to pressure from HUD and Barbara Boxer who carries a Glock because she feels her life is worth more than yours!!!

Reliability is more impotant in a gun than anything else. A hit from a 22 that fires beats a 44 mag that is jammed up with fragments of an Internal Lock that failed from the heavy recoil.

There are many posts on the net describing these failures. :D :D
 
Internal Lock failures happened at the Firing Line Range in Manchester New Hampshire per owner Jim McCloud. Call him. They are in the Yellow Pages! Dennis Richard a detective in Rochester Indiana had a 329 Scandium fail.

The failures were caused by full house loads in a light handgun.

Do you sell Smith and Wessons?? I guess you have to defend them. In a year or two the backlog of Internal Lock revolvers will cause their prices to fall!

At gunshows revolver afficianados say they wont even own one!!!!!!!!Only novices buy them and a lot of PD's wont buy 870 Remington shotguns because of the internal lock!!!

Oh yeah your link doesnt work........ :D :D :D :D
 
Thanks for the replys. This is a great place to get info and help. From what is said I don't think I want to cut loose with a .357 in such a light piece (340). The .38 should be a little better.
 
Gunmann,

Two whole reports! Thus are Urban Legends born, in these days of the Disinformation Cowpath, I guess...

Do you sell Smith and Wessons??
Click to expand...
Yes.
I guess you have to defend them.
Click to expand...
No.
In a year or two the backlog of Internal Lock revolvers will cause their prices to fall!
Click to expand...
Believe what you like; it's a free country. (And a semi-free market.)
At gunshows revolver afficianados say they wont even own one!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
I prefer revolvers without the lock, myself, but the issues are more aesthetic and political than mechanical.
Only novices buy them
Click to expand...
Whatever.

I'm a relative novice myself. I currently only own thirty-seven S&W revolvers (with dates of manufacture ranging from 1899 to 2004, three of which have the goofy "lawyer zit"), and bought my first one just eighteen years ago, so I still have a lot to learn. However, my "always" gun in my coat pocket just went from a 1994-vintage 442 (sans lock) to a 2004-vintage 432 (with lock, which will never be used.) If I was going to carry a 329 or 340 with magnum loads, I might disable the lock, just to be extra safe. (But, then, I spend zillions of dollars on other guns to replace MIM, cast, and plastic parts with tool steel ones, so I might display a touch of the paranoiac.)
and a lot of PD's wont buy 870 Remington shotguns because of the internal lock!!!
Click to expand...
A completely separate issue. (And no longer relevant, since Remington dropped its goofy J-Lock...)

If you really don't like locks on guns on an ethical basis, don't buy Taurus, HK, Springfield Armory, Remington, Walther, Bersa, Glock... and (oh, yeah,) S&W.

If you're concerned with personal security and mechanical reliability, OTOH, study the issue more carefully and strap that knee down to resist any tendency it may have to jerk. :)
 
I gave my fav snubbie (Centennial with great trigger and no lock) to my wife as a gift a couple of years ago... eventually replaced it with a new one with lock. Not crazy about having the lock, but I certainly do not fear it. Bigger disappointment was comparing level of finish from the old (better) to the new :eek: and having a brand new trigger.

Shotabout, I can't really recommend shooting 357 mag from any snubbie unless you like to look at "flames" shooting out the barrel (which from your post, it seems like you are ready to forego). If you find something that can accomodate +P loads (recommended) you will probably be good to go. :)
 
evolution of a snubbie
model 442 aluminum frame 38 with steel cylinder and barrel about 15oz.

model 342 aluminum frame 38 with additional relief cuts titanium cylinder steel barrel with aluminum shroud about 11oz.

model 340 scandium impregnated frame 357 with titanium cylinder steel barrel with aluminum shroud about 12.5oz.

the scandium frame adds additional strength to the aluminum and has been postulated to be as strong as steel while retaining the light weight of aluminum in theory the m340 should outlast a m342 if both are firing 38 spl loads. I would be more inclined to buy the m340 and fire 38's in it.
 
TAMARA

Do not disable any safety device built into a firearm. The civil liability
could be bad in front of a gun hating jury and a shyster defense attorney.
The same reason you dont use reloads for defense or Black Talons. Using a cartridge the same brand and bullet as your local Police is always a better idea.

Personally I like the workmanship of the older Smith and Wessons and Colts.
I own a bunch of Old Smiths & Colt First Gen SAA's.

My 2 cents worth, guess thats why they have 48 flavors of ice cream or they would have stopped at vanilla. ;)
 
The 342 was dropped because not enough folks wanted to pay the Al/Ti prices for a .38 Special revolver after the 340 was introduced in .357 Magnum -- that simple. No problems other than not enough buyers.
 
Gunmann,

Do not disable any safety device built into a firearm. The civil liability
could be bad in front of a gun hating jury and a shyster defense attorney.
The same reason you dont use reloads for defense or Black Talons. Using a cartridge the same brand and bullet as your local Police is always a better idea.
Click to expand...

I'd be more inclined to buy into that if Ayoob would be more forthcoming with relevant case cites. In this locale a good shoot is a good shoot, whether done with a side-by-side double rifle with the safety disabled and handloaded .600 NE cartridges, or the same G22/165gr GS combo that the local po-po use.

A local wanted to buy a Fobus for his 3" 65. Fobus does not catalogue a holster for the 3" 65. I suggested the 4" K/L holster they sell. He countered that it was too long. I suggested trimming the extraneous plastic from the ent with an X-acto. He shuddered visibly and said "You should never alter any of your defensive gear! If you get into a shooting and you've made even the tiniest alteration to any item of your gear... [fade to Charlie Brown's teacher's voice]"

I didn't have the heart to tell him that the only factory parts left in the carry gun on my hip at the time were the slide, frame, and barrel, and that the barrel was going to be gone when I scraped up the dough for a Kart... :o
 
Pity. If you choose a concealed snubby as a back-up or off-duty weapon, I think the S&W 342 is the best one ever made.

I have a 342 that I carry off-duty, and it's a great weapon. The weight was indeed the overriding concern for me. In a holster, a few ounces is no big deal, but carrying in a pocket, the weight is noticable.

Reliable, corrosion-resistant. Shooting the 342 is a bit crisp, but not punishing.

I don't think anything more than .38 spl +P is desirable in a snubby. I can definitely feel the difference in my K-frame M65 between .38 +P and .357, and don't think the trade off (flash and recoil vs. marginal increase in power from a 2" barrel) is worth it. Many with the 642 say they carry it with .38s anyway.

For this tactical niche, DA-only is the way to go, so the concealed hammer is OK.

Pick up a used one while you still can.
 
If one wants a 38SPL gun - then get a 642 - the ultimate manstopping 38SPL snubby.

I had a 442 and traded for a 642 as it was easier to clean.

I have to admit the 432 is tempting - with all the arguments about the 32.

I think the weight difference is neglible between the 340s and 642s for pocket carry. It isn't for the 640 IMHO.

Shooting a 357 is a bear from the little Sc guns. So if you are going to carry a modern 38 load - the 642!!
 
RIP Model 342PD. Mine was made before the internal lock came along and is my most frequent carry gun. IME, a useful, well-made revolver.
 
to a 2004-vintage 432 (with lock, which will never be used.)
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Tamara, isnt the little airweight .32 the coolest thing since Eskimo poop? I bought one a while back, and it is my EVERYWHERE gun. I couldnt think of a better snub than this.

By the way, I have never seen a Smith lock fail. My dealer, who sells a lot of Smiths as well, stated that he has never had a Smith with the lock come back. I too prefer the looks and workmanship of the older Smiths, but I like the models and varieties offered today.
 
I've got S&W's with /without the lock. I'd put ALLOT more faith in any S&W revolver with a lock than most semi autos.
The only failure I've heard of involving scandium guns is that some full house loads had a tendancy to back the bullets out of the casing during recoil.
 
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