M&p 340 / 340pd / 340

[george29]

I am so confused. The 340 is the strongest & lightest or just the strongest?

Whats the difference between the 340 & 340PD?

This from S&W:
SKU: 163060

Smith & Wesson combined a Scandium alloy with a Titanium cylinder to build the strongest and lightest weight .357 Magnum revolver made. The result...maximum power in a small, lightweight, easy-to-carry package. Scandium alloy is used for small, medium and large frame revolvers. Smith & Wesson's lightest and strongest revolvers deliver dependable power every time.

This means they are claiming this revolver to be stronger than the GP100 as well as their own 686 and 627.

Could it be the titanium?

 

[Headless]

The difference between the M&P 340 and the 340PD is that the M&P 340's cylinder is stainless steel, whereas the 340PD's is titanium. As a result the 340PD is lighter than the M&P 340 by an ounce or an ounce and a half. Also, the M&P comes with tritium dot front sight/U notch rear...whereas the 340PD comes with the more traditional 'ramp' type front sight/square cut out rear (or hi-viz front sight in some cases it appears).

Dunno which way i'd vote for durability, as i've not had the chance to compare 10,000 full house .357's through both guns to see how they each wear... and i doubt anyone except S&W has...or if they had, they're probably in the hospital nursing a broken wrist

 

[big_bang]

The 340 frame is natural (Al/Sc) finish, cylinder is titanium. The sight is a black ramp.

The 340PD is the same weapon, but with a black finish and a couple front sight options.

The M&P 340 has a black Al/Sc frame, and a black-coated stainless steel cylinder. It is slightly heavier than the other two due to the cylinder's greater mass.

Titanium has a greater strength-to-weight ratio than steel.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

This means they are claiming this revolver to be stronger than the GP100 as well as their own 686 and 627

I don't think that you are splitting the hair fine enough...

They are not saying that it is the "strongest", nor are they saying that it is the "lightest"; what they are saying is that it is the "strongest and lightest".

 

[Wolfeye]

I'll agree with Sir Aardvark; I'm pretty sure that "strongest and lightest" claim only makes sense if interpreted as a strength vs. weight ratio. I've never heard of a 340 frame stretching, though.

Besides... I'm pretty sure the 340 would jump-crimp some heavy magnum loads that the GP100 would eat up with glee. Even forgetting about felt recoil, a gun still needs to be a certain weight before it can effectively shoot certain ammo. Strength is only one factor to keep in mind.

 

[george29]

The Titanium part threw me, that's why I thought they coul,d be claiming it is the strongest.