M&p 340

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What he explained about the ring in the cylinder requires me to humiliate myself somewhat...
Click to expand...
IMO, sir, you didn't humiliate yourself, but just the opposite:
you demonstrated your integrity by admitting that you were mistaken.

People who can't do that humiliate themselves.
 
S&W CT Grips

Sorry if I'm over-posting lately, but had to say: to reward my M&P340 for NOT being a POS, I ordered the S&W branded Crimson Trace grips today :D (the compact ones that cover the backstrap - analogous to CT405). Unfortunately they are back-ordered... :( They are 259+tax+ship = about 285.

Smith also sells the CT305 model, which looks awsome, as it extends lower so you can get your pinkie on the grip, but I passed due to my affinity for pocket-carry.

I'm sure I'll bore everyone with another range report once I get them installed in a couple weeks. Maybe my hand will have healed by then... :p (I'm 1/2 joking, but it is still a little sore - daggone pencil pushier)

FranklyTodd
 
Can we use BreakFree CLP to clean the MP340s? I just officially joined the club and want to clean the pistol; however, I am double-checking as to CLP being safely used on the finish. I use CLP and Rem Oil to clean my 637 and my 642. So, is it safe?
 
Ordered a 340 M&P! Looking forward to owning what seems like the ultimate carry revolver. ;)

BTW - will any holsters that fit my 442 also work for the 340?
 
Welcome

gtmtnbiker and Dollar an Hour.

442, 642, 340, all the J frame Centennials 1 7/8 including those with a hammer will accomodate the same holster unless there were a strap you planned to use for the hammered version(s). Even then the holster portion is the same.

I recently started using the Breakfree CLP in the cylinders and barrels of both my autoloaders and revolvers. Prior to that I was using the Outers Tri-Care that came with my cleaning kits. The Outers worked fine. The Break Free seems to be the same in terms of aggression. Follow the directions. As mentioned earlier when I called and asked S&W Customer Service what to use on the DLC they said Hoppes Elite. Hoppes Elite has no ammonia.
Keep any of these cleaners off the Crimson Trace Laser lens. It apparently can be cleaned off but will change the nature of the beam while on the lens, I suspect due to diffusion (scattering) of the photons.
 
Well, I'm going to see how the CLP works and as for the laser, I don't use them. I really like the Trijicon night sights on the MP340!
 
Everybody seems concerned about damaging the finish on the M&P340. Are they turning out to be fragile? I thought they were supposed to have a very durable finish.
 
The finish on my M&P340 is more "durable" than any bluing or parkerized finish that I have had on other firearms. In fact, I think it is possibly even more scratch-resistant than the SS finish on my 640.

But I didn't know that when I bought it. I think most people have general impressions about lightweights based on the history of aluminum-framed firearms. There's a lot more of those sold, I am sure, than the scandium-framed ones. Since I recently bought a used 442 as well, I can now say a SC firearm is a different firearm. Period.

and, DAdams, I am STILL trying to get all the something or other (Gun Scrubber? Elite foaming Bore Gel?) off the CT lens on the 340--it's a PITA. However, the latest scrub brightened the diffusion somewhat, and made it more distinct--the pattern now looks like something we'd see on the bridge of the Enterprise.

Jim H.
 
I'm guessing most of you carry the 340 M&P in a pocket holster - which I plan to do quite a bit in my Kramer.

BUT - has anybody found a really nice IWB or OWB holster for the 340 they highly recommend? Seems to me that either IWB or OWB are easier to get to, should you really need the weapon, than pocket carry IMO.

What about the Barami Hip Grip?
 
DLC coating was addressed by myself a number of pages ago....Post 60 to be exact, a fine piece of research consuming some number of hours to compile. ;) Really.

Here is a recap.

"Diamond-like carbon or DLC is an amorphous hard carbon. Since the early 1970s, DLCs have been produced for a variety of practical uses. In particular, the "Diamond-Like" term was coined simply to describe its very high indentation hardness, which is between that of cBN and the soft facets of natural diamond and is very dependant on the synthesis technique used to form it. DLC has no other properties which make it appear like natural diamond, CVD diamond or PCD other than this high hardness and excellent scratch resistance compared with "ordinary" hard materials. DLCs can only be produced in thin film form and even sub-micron DLCs have a brown colouration. A consequence of their amorphous structure and the deposition process used is that DLC layers can contain large amounts (up to atomic 40%) of hydrogen."

It's some pretty tough stuff, but it is still a coating albeit chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

I have the same coating on my Kahr PM9, they call it Diamond Black, Ion Bond etc.
I have yet produced a scratch on either yet other than the "swing scratch" created by the cylinder assembly on the 340.

Stop babying these things. Shootem, cleanem, carryem. :D

jfh, were you in on the lens cleaning thread on the 642 thread. I thought someone came up with a method to do it or had contacted CT or some such?
 
DAdams: re CT lens cleaning-- I was in on that--but I may have missed some special advice, if somebody came up with a good way to clean the lens.

Whatever is on there may be dried globs or etches on the lens, I can't tell. I've cleaned it several times, and only the last time did it seem to brighten up. Cleaning tools have been the CT-supplied 'wiper' and the gun cleaning cotton-tipped applicators on wooden sticks. I've tried no particular solutions except for Gun Scrubber on the cotton applicator.

I know the original 642 discussion included a link into the CT forums, where they basically just said to "stay at it"--is there anything else to know?

Jim H.
 
Ct Lens Cleaning Update:

OK, it was the right morning to tackle this lens diffusion problem, and stay at it until I either solved it or requested an RMA.

I solved it: I found that the problem can be refined as cleaning agent residue 'drying' on the lens. I've lost the technical terminology for this--but we have all watched Windex "evaporate" off a piece of glass. It is the residue left behind on the lens that apparently causes the fuzzy / gaussian / intergalactic images.

I tackled this using a comprehensive approach--e.g., cotton-tipped wood applicators, the CT-supplied swabs, Windex, and Gun Scrubber. It was at about the third attempt--that I flipped on the laser after keeping a windex-wet cotton tip in there for a minute, then removed it--that I watched the pattern change as the Windex evaporated when I activated the laser.

The correct procedure seems to be to

1. Clean the lens with a wet swab, then,
2. Wipe the lens with a dry swab to remove cleaning residue.

Repeating this a few times got the projected beam back to about 90+%--little diffusion, much brighter, and generally focused (not quite as good as new, but much better than before.)

Repeat wiping with a dry swab to improve the beam.

Well, that's one less hassle to deal with.

Jim H.
 
Took delivery today of my new 340 M&P. To my surprise it does not fit my Kramer pocket holster for my 442, but I figured out why. I think it's the full underlug barrel, as the Kramer is so detailed in its fit, there is an indent under the barrel of the 442, that makes the 340 a force fit.

I can jam it into the holster, but that defeats the purpose of easy in, easy out.

I'm planning to order a DeSantis as I'm happy with my P32 DeSantis pocket holster.

Trigger is heavier than my 442, but that gun has 600 rounds through it and has been smoothed out internally. I plan to have a gunsmith clean up the 340 too.
 
My 340 shipped finally. Hope to have it in my hands by next wednesday. Going to try to look for some holsters today. Dont have much selection locally, will probably end up having to order without trying one out, as usual.
 
Just ordered a Mika yesterday - he's swamped! Looking at 4 week lead time.

Oh, ordered a Hogue Monogrip as well. Those little Bantams installed at the factory don't really cause me to want to try a .357 of any sort. :)
 
Hogue Monogrips

Dollar-

With those HM shooting .357 SGD short barrel you wil think you are shooting
.22 Mag. :evil::what::eek: Well they do make a big difference, since you are not dealing with the bare metal of the grip, much more padding and lots to hold on to, which allows your hand to control the torque allowing target acquisition and muzzle flip to be quicker and less.
 
Hogue?

I think the HMs extend down quite a bit further (room for your pinkie, right?), and may impede CCW depending on carry method (I pocket my 340).

I'm planning to get the Smith compact laser grip (same as Crimson Trace LG-405). They don't extend down any further, but still cover the back of the frame, and have an "air channel" along the back to pad the meat of your hand against the recoil.

Does anyone know of a non-laser grip that has this compromise - still compact with respect to the bottom of the grip, but extra padding behind the frame?
 
New to forum, flirting with MP340 purchase

Greetings all. I am new to this forum. I have spent the last several years of my gun life on other forums posting mainly about semi autos. I have many of them all shapes and sizes. Of late I have been introduced to the world of revolvers by one of your members, (jfh). I am in fact very near coming over to your side by buying an MP340 with CT grips. Indeed I was so near that I was at the dealer tonight money in hand to place my order. What stopped me is that I noticed that the J frame was actually larger than the Kahr pm40 that I presently carry. I have hard time envisioning stuffing a MP340 into a pocket holster and then into a front pocket of a typical pair of jeans and then trying to move normally. The grip is just so large compared to compact autos.
Am I missing something here or is the answer that you all feel that other snubby benefits out way the concealability handicap?
 
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Borrow jfh's and carry it around a few days! :D

I don't have much of an answer other than I find it no trouble at all to conceal and comfortably carry in a Nemesis pocket holster, in jeans, khakis, or suit pants. Though you can tell there's something in my pocket, IMHO it prints less like a "gun" than the square printing of an autoloader.

If the grips seem large, make sure you have the LG-405 grips on it, as they make an LG-305 that extends down below the bottom of the frame - better control at the expense of concealability. The LG-405 is still compact on the bottom, but does add some backstrap material. I think they also make one that is as small as the stock Hogue Bantams with no padding. For me the backstrap padding without the extension was the ideal compromise (LG-405). Also, if you care about the little things, if it doesn't have "factory" CT grips, you can buy them direct from Smith and they have the S&W logo, instead of the CTC logo ($259). Same grips though - I think they have equivalents to the 305 and 405..

If, however, I found a .40 caliber autoloader that I would trust 100%, I could shoot as well, and carried as easily, I don't think I would have bought the snub. If you have that relationship with your PM40, I don't blame you for having second thoughts.

Good luck with whatever you decide...
 
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Tuckerp229's revolver reservations: It's neat to see a new gunny friend showing up on THR--we met at our local club pistol range last fall, on one of those days I was frantically running my "replica load" chrono tests--and we've talked guns once a week since.

At any rate, I thought I'd address the issues he raises here as well.

1. That size / grip issue, or revolvers vs. SAs discussion: Although I own and shoot several semi-autos (and have even intermittently carried them--as small as a Springfield Armory P9 / .40), when I got going with carry again this year, I went directly to a revolver and didn't consider a semiauto. My reasoning was that I wanted a simpler handgun to carry--point and go bang, so to speak, and I didn't want to distract my thinking at a critical time with even semi-conscious thoughts of semi-auto issues.

2. The same simplicity factor applied to DAO selection--I wanted something that could be shot from a (jacket) pocket if needed.

So, to me, the form-factor issues were secondary--the simplicity of operation and shooting for this kind of firearm (i.e., a carry handgun) overrrode all else.

As for pocket carry--well, that really depends on the features of the pants. I've now found a brand of "work jeans" whose pockets are routinely big enough to facilitate pocket carry. See Duluth Trading Company's website.

The final factor in this selection has simply been acclimation--even though my personal threat levels are extremely low because of my lifestyle, I've made a point of simply carrying whenever I am dressed to get used to it. That, combined with a decent pocket holster (Mika) and the roomy pants pockets, and I now feel totally comfortable with it. I've even gotten used to finding my house keys in "the other (front) pocket," although I've carried them in my stronghand front pocket for about fifty years.

Now, one of these days, we've going to show off our respective reloading benches to each other....but that's another story.

Jim H.
 
You can make yourself become accustomed to most things. After 3 years of CCW I find myself reaching into my gym shorts right pocket and finding the Mika containing my M&P 340. These shorts are tied at the waist with a drawstring. I have become so comfortable with pocket carry that even in these shorts that I wear around the house I forget the weapon is there. I too have learned to carry my keys after about 50 years in the other pocket. Three years ago when I started carrying any firearm felt bulky and heavy, but now it's all part of being awake and dressed. It's when I reach into a pocket and the weapon is not there that I become nervous.
 
Well, I went out and "done it". I ordered the MP340 with the CT grips. It may be in this Friday but more probably next week. Now I'll answer my own question about ease of carry and conceal. What the heck, if I hate it I can always tempt one of you all with it. ;) I wish publicly blame JFH for having converted me to the idea of the MP340.

Just to show the level of my sickness, while waiting for the order paperwork I noticed a slightly used SW 625 with a five inch barrel that looked real tempting. After all the posts on this forum extolling the glories of the moon clip reloading and the ease of shooting the .45 ACP not to mention being wowed by the JM shooting videos, I am very nearly ready to dive into this one as well.
 
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Good going, Tuckerp229!

Now, about that 625--I'll bet I know where it's for sale--and if I still had some money left right now, I'd steal it out from under you--

Jim H.
 
Congrats!

Congratulations, Tucker, you won't regret it... Don't buy anything else yet, let the 340 be the lone "new gun on the block" for at least a couple days! :p

What CT grips are on it, do you know? There are three available:

LG105: tiny as stock Hogue Bantams
LG305: big as Hogue Monogrips - extend backwards AND down from the frame
LG405: in between - padding on the back, but no extension below

I can't tell from the S&W web picture what they are if you got the actual CT model from Smith - either 305s or 405s. :confused:

I think the 305s would far and away be the most comfortable, but I ordered the S&W equivalent of the 405s. I'd love to hear a range report, as my S&W lasers are on backorder for a few more weeks :cuss:

Happy shooting - FranklyTodd
 
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