With its 3 barrel, exposed hammer, adjustable rear and tritium front sight, and slightly larger grip, the Model 60 Pro Series sits comfortably in the middle ground between the smallest and largest .357 revolvers. This gun will kick like a mule, if you arent ready for it, and follow up shots are not quick. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. They are both Scandium/alumanium mix alloy frames and the M&P 340 has a stainless cylinder and the 340PD has a Titanium alloy cylinder. 14 rounds vs 5 rounds. Gun Review: S&W 317 AirLite. Smith & Wesson. Even when firing 100 rounds of .357, there are no hot spots in the metacarpal zone of my hand. Perry's Gun Shop is an owner operated family business with a long . Of course you could load her with 38 spcl, but then again, Id argue 380 capacity once again. Tim. Though I do not carry in this way, the Galco Ankle Glove seems to be the gold standard. Cop armorer friend had to send 2 or 3 standard aluminum J frames (642/442) back to S&W that cracked the frame at 6 OClock below the forcing cone. I often carry my 340PD in either a leather IWB holster or the DeSantis Slim-Tuk Kydex IWB holster. I'll be staying away from Magtech 158gr SJSP 357. Shipping, insurance, and FFL handling $90.00, if less I will refund the difference. For 10 yards or closer these 5 shots will be all I need or have time for UPC. The streamlined hammerless shape allowed the New Departure Safety Hammerless to glide swiftly and effortlessly out of the pocket and into action. A .357 Magnum option is okay, I guess, he said, once circulation had returned to his hand. Click HERE For The Benefits. Lately, its worn a set of Crimson Traces LG-350G Lasergrips. Recoil Control: Though its a tad lighter than the .38 Special Model 642 Centennial Airweight stainless, the M&P340 has nowhere near the kick of an 11-ounce .357 Magnum Model 340PD or the .38 Special AirLite Model 342. I wouldn't want more power to weight than an aluminum .38 with +P rounds. Seriously don't beat on your gun, hold the ejector rod with your left thumb in the housing, cock the hammer enough to release the locking bolt reach around the trigger housing and rotate the cylinder counter clockwise.It will tighen the rod enough to open the cylinder. Theres a small stainless steel insert in the topstrap right above the forcing cone, appearing to act as insurance against flame-cutting from the high pressures of magnum loads. With the more manageable Buffalo Bore 158-gr. I bought one a few years ago just for the heck of it and to go with some new ultralight backpacking gear. Smith & Wesson Models 40, 42, 640, 940, 442, 642, 340Sc, 342Ti and 340PD. In those days, a great many good Americans carried concealed handguns when they were out and about, and most carried them in a pants or coat pocket. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. It has to enable you a fast and easy draw at all times and conditions. 253. I chose the m&p because it did not have the ils but I really wanted a PD. Idaho Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. 5. Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, State Agency: Ouch! Butif Im carrying a 357 its the M60. Nov 20, 2019. For carry, I go with a light .357 Mag load such as Speer's short barrel rounds (they are just 130 feet per second faster than the same bullet in Speer's 38 +P short barrel load). The Office of the Attorney General is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this translation and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information resulting from the translation application tool. Buy whichever you like. Weighing in at roughly . Description. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. I dont have a problem shooting hot loads in lt guns but the 360 is not a lot of fun but can be shot double tap with practice. The very first time I held a Smith and Wesson 360pd in my hand, I knew that I wanted one. Whether you're shooting a pistol, revolver, or rifle, you can be sure your Performance Center gun is made with a close . Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. www.gunsmagazine.com/company/smith-wesson/, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources, Michigan Deptartment of Natural Resources, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. MODEL 340 PD $50 PREPAID CARD Buy Now MSRP: $1139.00 SKU: 163062 357 MAGNUM CALIBER 5 CAPACITY STAINLESS STEEL BARREL MATERIAL SYNTHETIC GRIP Product Features Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolvers have had your back since 1950. In single action, it is a very crisp 3lbs. Model . No function. No purchase necessary. Theres also a flip-side to the Plus-Ps Plenty for Me argument and Ive heard it from very knowledgeable CCW types. Theres also the admonition No Less Than 120-Gr. No purchase necessary. The unconventional bit of JavaScript is disabled. because of the difference in weight. Lately, the .40 S&W has been awash in a stormy sea of unflattering ink. It has a snub-nosed design, low recoil and a medium ranked power factor meaning that the Model 340 PD 2 packs a punch and doesn . The rear sight is a groove in the top of the frame. 3,956. But if this gun were mine, Id do something about it after first settling on a carry load and a practice load that hit reasonably close to one another. I follow the directions and have not had any problems. biking, etc. On top of this, the scandium/titanium combo makes for a distinctive 2-tone silver/black effect. By. cutlery used for window-dressing? Smith & Wesson 642 Airweight. Blessedly, the flat-top bracket for it provides a whisper of square post sight picture to make grouping the gun easier. Its corporate headquarters is based in Springfield, Massachusetts in the USA. 8 years as a FFL dealer. Although, with practice, the 340PD can be an accurate and dependable firearm. Deployed military should use stateside address. Used $450.00. At 50 feet the best .357 results were with Buffalo Bores 158-gr. .38 Special +P defense loads were noticeably more powerful, but still controllable. 32 years as a deputy sheriff. The kicker, naturally, is the 11.2-oz. It took all five of the feeble .38 Short rounds in the cylinder to stop the assailant in the nick of time. Editor Dan Shideler. It is the 340 M&P .357 Magnum Centennial revolver. Its a tough little gun. The Smith and Wesson 340PD is definitely not the best gun for target shooting or fun at the range, but it wasn't designed for that. Posted May 24, 2009. Also has bullet pull been a problem? As this is written, S&Ws MSRP for the M&P340 is $869. 340PD. Operation: Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM Old West 2023, PO Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. posted by sshakrr 01-22-2023. Deployed military should use stateside address. Deployed military should use stateside address. 340 for over 4 years now with the clip grip and LOVE it. Ive had one since they came out & have had j frames forever. Shell ejection out of a hot cylinder on the Model 60 has never been an issue for me like it has been with the 340PD. Athens, Tn. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson 800-331-0852. Actually, that LCP MAX is looking pretty good. (I) Giveaway ends February 28, 2023. Re: Smith & Wesson 340/340PD Revolver-Thoughts, Comments, Cuggestions, etc. I try to train with at least 100 rounds of full power defensive ammo in my carry pieces. If you are looking at purchasing your own I would look into the standard 38 special aluminum model with a stainless cylinder. But if you have your hand on your 360PD in your pocket, you will beat him every time, even if he had his gun pointed right at you with his finger on the trigger. I have tried steel and aluminum-framed J-frames. I have a 360 M&P (.357 Mag scandium snub nose). I carry .38 +Ps as my defense rounds. The heavy double-action trigger and short sight radius are something you have to train to get used to. The partially burnt charge will leak out onto the cylinder and frame while still burning, causing damaging oxidation to the gun's exotic metals over time. In 2006, the best selling firearm offered by Smith & Wesson was the Model 642, the Airweight version of the 640. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, State Agency: If you don t need the ultra light weight, I d recommend the S&W 442 at nearly half price. The author says the gun feels like it's made of molded styrofoam. One aspect of working behind a gun counter that cuts both ways is looking at the guns all day. There's a small stainless steel insert in the topstrap right above the forcing cone, appearing to act as insurance against "flame-cutting" from the high pressures of magnum loads. That load is not always readily available everywhere, and my fallback carry round for the M&P340 is Remingtons all-lead, 158-grain semi-wadcutter +P ammo. Its an excellent low-profile option that carries the gun close to the body. The time came when he was attacked by a crazed man with an edged weapon. With decades of reliable performance to its credit the J-frame line offers models capable of firing .22 LR .22 Magnum .38 S&W Special and the more powerful .357 Magnum loads. My particular model also introduced me personally to the notion that revolver can and do fail, however. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The scandium frame 357 mag will kick your ass when you squeeze off 357 mag rounds. Centennial sales dropped way below Bodyguard sales, and in 1974, S&W discontinued the hammerless guns. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. The S&W M&P 340 is a solidly built, purpose driven revolver that covers a whole host of purposes it could function well in. It shoots great. An early 1990s production Model 442 Airweight made it through 15 years of regular qualifications with +P ammo. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. These Scandium revolvers are niche conversation pieces IMHO. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Chunk that came off hit the instructor running the course (no injury). The Smith & Wesson Model 640 Centennial is easily the most recommended variant of the J-frame line if the Internet counts for anything in gun selection. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. It was smooth and consistent with a slight hitch tipping us off at the pause point. The front sight is what Smith & Wesson call Hi-Viz Fiber Optic Orange. For almost everyone, the lightweight series of J frame S&W revolvers, even in .38 spl., are difficult to control. Sales instantly exploded, and the Airweight 042 and current 442 (blued and nickeled) and 642 followed. Because 1952 was the year in which S&W celebrated its 100th birthday, the revolver was dubbed the Centennial. For range work, I mainly shoot 38 Special +Ps. S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers. I practice with wadcutters and semi-wadcutters, but carry Gold Dot Short Barrel PP .357 in the woods (which I also practice with, but not as much for obvious reasons). Having a tied-up CCW gun would be the nightmare of nightmares one from which you might not awaken. I am happy with .38 +P and the lighter weight. Ruger has been using MIM parts for more than 10 years. When off duty, I always carry my duty pistol with plenty ammo. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. This is one revolver in which .357 Mag is simply superfluous. Over the years, Ive shot my Airweight J-Frames a lot with the hot +P ammo I carry in them. The Scandium is added to improve both tensile strength and the finished appearance of the product. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Rebound Springs. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, State Agency: 1990: Steve Melvin had become CEO of Smith & Wesson, and had wisely reached out to a broad spectrum of gun experts. The two combine to produce a powerful .357 Magnum revolver that is unbelievably lightweight. This M&P340 review was originally published in Pocket Pistols #186. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: This is something that all the 340 PD shooters need to be aware of. My goad of self defense is to live. -. http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=109. Action DAO - Caliber .357 Magnum .38 SW Special P - Capacity 5 - Finish Matte Black - Material Scandium Alloy Steel - Grips Black Synthetic . Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: but if it was not id go for the 360 in 357. That is up to you -- some think so and others not so much. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. Lesser weight bullets can have higher velocities so if thats why then a +P type warning should be used. Smith & Wesson Model 340PD Airlite Scandium 357 Magnum Revolver, 5Rd, 1 7/8 - 103061. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Check the attached site and check your revolvers for this issue. These alloys are nearly as light as aluminum alloys and as strong as titanium alloys. There are possibilities of changing a grip in the process of finding the right one. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, Altor Pistols, P.O. I checked elsewhere smith and wesson quality has gone down. Im not outgunned with 13 rounds of 380. Compare. Steel silhouettes yield easy hits out to 50y thanks to the longer sight radius and the ability to fire it in single action. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. A hopeless attempt at child-proofing had been the designs raisondtre. This ultralight Titanium cylinder revolver has seen some finish wear most noticeably around the muzzle but mechanically it is in excellent condition. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Those years were painful ones at the range. Perfect gun for hiking, Mt. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Smith and Wesson Model 340 The S&W 340 PD revolver takes a classic design of a 5 round, snub nose revolver that has been around for generations and spices it up with modernized technology to make an incredible handgun for self defense. The pistol demonstrated superb accuracy for self-defense at close ranges. Another warning in the owners manual is recoil may pull the cases of unfired rounds in the cylinder rearward with enough force to unseat the (lighter and shorter) bullets, causing the cylinder to jam. If you want to carry one of these lightweight revolvers, understand that recoil management is a much bigger problem than having to carry the extra weight of an all steel J frame. 1. The Smith & Wesson 329PD revolver is something else. Once we passed the Manly Magnum Test, we thankfully returned to the .38 Specials. posted by Toyman 02-06-2023. Nice touch. With some frequency, I get a friend who invites me to the range to try out their new handgun. The 340PD is pleasant for me to shoot with regular 38 loads. THink the cylinder is different too. Remember the ammo droughts of 2008 and 2012? MODEL 340 PD $50 PREPAID CARD Buy Now MSRP: $1139.00 SKU: 163062 357 MAGNUM CALIBER 5 CAPACITY STAINLESS STEEL BARREL MATERIAL SYNTHETIC GRIP Product Features Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolvers have had your back since 1950. I usually can keep all 5 rapid shots with the Model 60 in the A zone on an IPSC target out to about 20-25 yards as well. The little gun has very little end shake. These offer a powerful green laser and are shaped to absorb recoil very well. Then it went in for re-timing. Barrel Length. For grouping purposes from a rest, carefully staging the DAO trigger is what we did. These small revolvers were designed to fire a full power round and are as simple and easy to use as they are reliable. Therefore, I eventually purchased one for myself. I have seen several of these revolvers with this problem, mine included. The eight-round stainless steel magazine fits flush in theSW1911's scandium-alloy frame. Ive had a Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight from the 1970s rebuilt at least twice, once as a direct result of two boxes of Federal .38 Special +P+ ammo that stretched the aluminum frames cylinder window to the point where excessive headspace was causing misfires. Some thoughts on the 340 PD: more expensive than a 340; more recoil; added concerns about lighter weight bullets potentially jumping their crimp and locking the cylinder -- so you need to thoroughly test your carry loads. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, State Agency: The Model 340PD is available in 357 Mag. Having always had a passion for firearms, Rusty S. has had experience in gunsmithing, firearms retail, hunting, competitive shooting, range construction, as an IDPA certified range safety officer and a certified instructor. Contest void where prohibited by law. The S&W 340PD is small enough for discreet OWB carry with just a T-shirt cover garment. No purchase necessary. Low Flash, Low Recoil JHPs. At least 8 of those rounds are from the 15 yard line and they all hit the man-size target with little effort, but I do practice often. We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. Its 10ozs(m/l) heavier, shoots easy with 125 PDs, is accurate & u can shoot all 5 fast & easy & is almost as easy to conceal. It's a solid, well-built little gun. When tactical lights first came out, we all thought the 50 lumens they offered was astounding and could never get better. That revolver, while insanely light, is true misery to fire. Id surmise this is to caution anyone from using short, lightweight screamers that could be more likely to jump the crimp. The gun remained popular well into the 20th century, but many had switched to solid-frame, swing-out-cylinder Colts and S&Ws for their small revolver needs by WWII, and after the war, S&W did not renew production of the Safety Hammerless. Sure, the airlite is an amazing 1 hit wonder. Contest open to U.S. residents only. However, I just prefer a more comfortable and versatile model: The Model 60-15 Pro Series. 342PD is .38 Special and 10.8 ozs and discontinued. The 340 PD at $1,019 MSRP is obviously a premium offering, featuring a 2-piece sleeved barrel, scandium frame and a titanium cylinder. New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, State Agency: Lets look a little deeper than the bare bones of how its described on the S&W website. The Smith & Wesson 640,. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt! FMJ (648 fps). Re: Smith & Wesson 340PD revolver. Joined: Aug 2003. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: Add to Cart The item has been added. 2: 459: Ruger Revolvers, H&K VP9LE, Ruger American 45acp. revolver will never be practical for self-defense purposes. This adds another level of safety that many shooters find comforting. 1974: In little more than 20 years, times had changed. The correspondingly large rear notch allows sufficiently precise alignment for on-demand headshots from off-hand at 25 yards. You must log in or register to reply here. Some hammerless models can even be fired from inside a coat pocket or bag. It is still fairly tight. Missouri Deptartment of Conservation, State Agency: Ruger changed the trigger linkage so the DA pull is smooth and medium-heavy making the revolver easy to shoot accurately. From the left side it looks like a little silver horizontal J against the dark anodized scandium. .45 &.357 are my favorite calibers. We head out to the range with the range with the Smith & Wesson 340PD J-Frame revolver, discuss its features, what it's like to fire it, and what I think of it overall . However, I still argue that wheel guns still have a place for emergency defensive use and may even be the right option for your everyday carry revolvers such as the S&W 340PD. Th Smith & Wesson 38 Military & Police Model of 1905 38 Special Revolver - Collectible *4th Change* Our price: $399.99. At around $250 used it sure beats the 340 price tag of $850. Report a problem. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. In January of 2005, I was on the range for the SHOT Show Media Day. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Smith and Wesson 340PD. These springs greatly influence the double action trigger pull which is a major concern of competitive shooters. Photo: Joe Novelozo, Well, said my shooting buddy Thomas Mackie, massaging his right hand with only a slight grimace, now I can say Ive done it.. He had an old S&W 357, it is a beautiful firearm. S&W replaced it with a 642, no charge AND included a duty action trigger job because the 442 had one. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, State Agency: North Dakota Game & Fish Department, State Agency: There are no adjustments because they aren't needed. Throwback Thursday: Taurus Judge Range Report, ATI Milsport SGA 410 All the Advantages of an AR in .410, Ruger SR1911 LW Commander The Lightweight .45 ACP, Rifle Hack: Sighting for 100 Yards at a Distance of 25 Yards, Throwback Thursday: All About Bullet Grain. I swapped the standard rubber grips for Hogue G10 grips. When I started looking for a j frame 357 airweight about 2 years ago I found a 340 m&p & a 340pd. Michigan Deptartment of Natural Resources, State Agency: Grip Finish. What are the problems with a Smith and Wesson 642? Smith and Wesson J-Frame revolvers have been popular carry options for decades. And while the Hogue grips look nice I wouldnt want to shoot this gun unless it was fitted with standard rubber grips. Nothing wrong at all with a five shot revolver, just keep in mind its capacity and practice with it. if youre going for a snubbie,consider the semi bobbed hammer Charter Arms,preferably in 45Colt or 44Special.Big hole,limited muzzleblast.357Mag muzzleblast is horrendous in a snubbie. Today 02:49 AM by Toyman. S&W would be well advised to increase the filet radius as well as improving surface finish in the filet and/or shot peening. The original S&W Safety Hammerless ceased production in 1940 but the concept was resurrected in 1952 as the Centennial. I was looking on GB & found 2 without ILS & both in my state of Michigan so . With a listed price of $849 (real world prices are closer to $750), this model is also one of the more affordable .44 Mag. So why even deal with the option of hammered single action? . Subject: Scandium .357 - 340 PD. 1952: The great combat shooting authority Rex Applegate had linked up with S&W in the postwar years, and sold the companys guns among other materiel in Latin America. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the sixgun by which all other .44 Magnums are judged. Elite V-Crown JHP. Its a perfectly sensible caveat. Shopping with us is absolutely safe - you never have to worry about credit card safety when shopping here Share your latest AR build or photos from the range with #RangeDayFriday for a chance to win a new firearm! The world demand for scandium is expected to grow, which means the price will continue to rise. Its features are described in its Safety Hammerless designation. That being said, I find it very accurate at snubby ranges and I reach for it much more often than my S&W 686+ because it is so light and easy to carry. Ankle carry is another good option, especially if you plan to use the snubby as a backup gun. The green fiber-optic front speeds up sight acquisition. scandium alloy makes it as light or a bit lighter than a similarly sized aluminum-framed .38 Special Airweight, but its rugged enough to handle .357 Magnum ammo and a steady diet of .38 Special +P rounds, while the five-shot cylinder is made of PVD-finished stainless steel. With the full-pop SIG 125-gr. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, State Agency: He learned that the discontinued Centennial had become a sought-after cult gun among those experts, including Wiley Clapp and many more. So this revolver was born. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The result here is a pistol that tips the scales at only 26 ounces. It incorporated a grip safety in the backstrap that supposedly would require an adult hand to span both that part of the handle and the trigger. It cannot, however, hold a candle to any of the hammerless ultracompact J-frames like the 340PD when it comes to ankle or pocket carry. It would be chambered for a broad range of cartridges, including the .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .32 Magnum, .327 Federal, .356 TSW, 9mm, and of course, the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. The top .38 Special performer, shown here, turned out to be Speer 135-gr. Are they worht the $$$? This doesn't mean it's not accurate, however. Because most users found it took work to hold a very small, light revolver steady against a relatively long and hard trigger pull, the single-action capability seemed important. Great pocket gun without the hammer to catch on anything. This is a carry pistol by nature. Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources, State Agency: We can ring steel plates off hand at 50 yards consistently. Products from the Performance Center are the ultimate expression of old-world craftsmanship blended with modern technology. Case in point: American Outdoor Brands, which spun off from Smith & Wesson last year, reported sales up 60% over its first two fiscal quarters; Vista Outdoor reported a 41% increase in ammo sales . Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. There have been enough J-Frames for a gun collector to specialize in and gather a substantial herd of them. It is a unique blend of metallurgy and features.