[outfieldjack]

I'm looking at a S&W 340. The guy at the Gun Shop said I was looking for a VERY sore wrist if I was going to use this for a range gun. I plan on using this for conceal carry and not for the range. Of course I plan on taking it to the range to break it in and take it to the range to practice with on a regular baisis.

Here is my question? I imagine it will be a bear with 357.... what about loaded with 38's? If I ever had to use it in a SD situation I imagine I would not care how much it hurt to shoot it (I'd load it with 357 for CC).....

Has anyone else shot one of these? Would I be better going with a different model instead?

Thanks,
Jack

[Border]

Save some money. Get the 342PD. Some people are into the pwer thing but I prefer getting multiple rounds downrange quickly and accurately. For even the best shooters that favors the .38 over the .357 especially in a very lightweight snubby! With good ammo in the .38, well, a dead BG is a dead BG! Rambo mentalities notwithstanding, it is very unlikely you'd ever need to actually shoot anybody anyway. I think that it is quite an achievement that they can make the 340, I just think that the 342PD is a better self defense option. I am not of the school that says practive with the .38's but carry the .357 load and count on adrenaline to get you through. I believe that you should carry only what you practice with what and nobody I know is practicing enough with the 340/.357! God help the innocent bystanders and ceiling fans!

[BigG]

The hammer model is a 357; the hammerless a .38. Either one will not kill you although the hammerless is my choice for CCW. These get shot and I am here to tell you about it.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=537001

[JCM298]

I've had a dozen or so snubs over the past 40+ years. My last purchase was a 340SC, Feb.`03. It is my "always" gun and replaced a 649 and a Colt Magnum Carry. I still have both, but seldom carry either.

One member said that shooting it was "like shaking hands with the Devil".
I agree.

For practice, I use shooting gloves and band-aids, plus I replace the grips w/over-size Pachmeyers. At the end of the shooting session, I put the Crimson Trace back on and fire the five rounds of "carry" ammo.

It's great for carrying but not fun to shoot. Go to the S&W Forum and do some research. There's a lot of good posts about the Sc/Ti's.

By the way, if Smith ever builds a 649 in Sc/Ti,

John

[Brasso]

I had a 340pd. Like they said above, loading it with .38's is the way to go. Shot placement is paramount. I think it is a good investment over the 342 simply because it will be a more robust gun. You should be able to shoot all the .38+p's you want without wearing it out.

[KMKeller]

I have a 340PD, and bought it with the intent of carrying it with .38+p, but being able to go .357 if that was all that was available. Have fired it many times with both loads and I now carry it with 158 Grain Hornady XTP .357 in it.

After shooting the gun a bit, I realized that I could get back on target just as fast and was just as accurate with .357 loads as I was with .38s. Recoil is substantial, but getting hits on target is the key and if I can do as well with the .357, then that's the round I'm going to carry.