[LoneStarWings]

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/firearms/163426_thumb.jpgvs.http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/firearms/163072_thumb.jpgvs.http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson//upload/images/firearms/109003_thumb.jpg

I currently have a semi-auto S&W M&P in .40 S&W and am looking for another good handgun to compliment it. Goals in order of priority:

1. 2nd handgun just for backup in case something goes wrong with my 1st one
2. Reliability
3. Decent stopping power
4. Concealability
5. Ammo commonality

I was considering either a S&W 610, S&W 310 (nightguard) 10mm/.40 revolver, or a S&W M&P .40 compact since they would shoot the same ammo as my first gun.

I was leaning toward one of the revolvers just to change things up a bit and have the capability for higher powered loads. However, compact weapon would also be nice for CHL duty and i realize an N-frame would not be very practical for that purpose, even if it is a fairly low priority.

As a result, I am now considering a S&W j-frame in .38/.357, specifically an M&P 340 centennial. I feel like this would best fit the role of the backup gun I am looking for, as it is more compact than my semi-auto and also a revolver, but obviously it would use different ammo.

I understand that the m&p is probably difficult to handle with .357, so it would be more of a .38 gun as well.

Any opinions on which direction I should go?

PS: I have very little experience with revolvers, aside from an old .22 I shot when I was a kid.

[Jasper86]

why pay extra for .357 capability if you dont plan on using it?


(FWIW, i've shot a scandium airweight jframe in .357. i fired all 5 shots just to be polite, and i will NEVER do it again). they're flat out PAINFUL to shoot (and i've shot a .500 S&W magnum, that was a hoot to shoot!)


look @ the 442/642, or if you want .357, a 640 (the extra weight does tame the recoil a bit)

[Peakbagger46]

I carry the M&P 340 on duty as my BUG daily. I don't see ammo compatability as much of an issue in a backup gun as it is hard to imagine a realistic scenario where you would be able to download mags to reload your bug.

I use .357 loads in the gun and find it very controllable as the gun tends to kick straight backwards rather than up, allowing quick followup shots. I would caution on this, however, as a lot of experienced shooters do have trouble with lightweight J-frames in .357.

If your agency allows it (mine doesn't), crimson trace grips would be outstanding on this gun.

One other word of caution, do not use regular .357 or .38 duty ammo in a snubbie as you won't get any expansion. I tested and use the gold dot short barrel ammo which (at least in water) preformes very well.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

[calaverasslim]

If your looking for a good BUG and decide to stay away from the 357, then why not a M36 in the +P variety. I often carry my Dads old M36, 2" as a carry and it is light and very manageable.

[stana]

I think the mags for you MP 40 would work with a MP compact in 40. From a back up stand point that would be handy. You would likley find that the MP compact shoots as well or almost as well as your full size MP. The MP compact is easy to conceal and would serve very well in that capacity. My wife likes her MP compact alot. The Smith J frames are harder to shoot well, but carry nicely in my pocket. With in their limitations Smith & Wesson 442 and 642 are my perfered BUG. Of course you need more that two handguns. Just decide which you want first. I don't anything about the 610.

[ArmedBear]

I agree with Jasper.

I rented an Airlite and shot some .357 through it. Then I bought an Airweight.

Commercial .38 Special +P is available with 158 grain bullets and over 1000 fps muzzle velocity from a 2" barrel.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108

First off, that's plenty powerful IMO. Anything more is hard to control in a light little revolver, so you lose followup speed and accuracy in return for a little more "power" -- maybe no more effectiveness. Or, you lose concealability because you put oversized grips on the gun to make it controllable.

WRT ammo compatibility...

If what you want is a "hot spare" in case your gun breaks, there's probably nothing that would replace just having two of the same gun.

However, if you really want a BUG, that implies something else. To me, it implies that the gun will be ignored most of the time. It implies that it would be used in a worst-case scenario. That means reloading is unlikely, you may not be upright, etc.

If I found myself on my back after I was attacked and knocked down, without a gun in my hand, it's hard to imagine anything I'd rather have than my 642 stashed where I could get it quickly.

A revolver that is light and small enough to carry all the time, that will go "bang" when you pull the trigger, then go "bang" again, no matter what position it's in, no matter how you grip it, etc. is really hard to beat.