M&p 340

[DAdams]

MK

I think I posted a response to a general inquiry you made.

Just in case,,, my answer is as follows:




$216 with free shipping for 305s and 105s for $169 from Optics Planet.

The S&W version are $259. Some day though I simply must try out a pair of 405s just to satisfy my curiosity.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...3&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=46305&training

I agree with FT on his evaluation for carry. The grip slip business difference isn't worth mentioning. I like the "stickyness" myself. I would prefer a full grip such as the 405s but they would definitely be exposed during pocket carry with certain chinos/shorts. If I were only carrying IWB or OWB I would go for the 405s.

 

[FranklyTodd]

DAdams, I accept your rebuke on the grip prices. I was comparing local store to S&W - your info is better. Once I paid $600+ for a snub, I fully admit I didn't price shop the grips - I wanted the S&W logo for some vain reason.

I think you might have the models switched (305 & 405):

I would prefer a full grip such as the 405s but they would definitely be exposed during pocket carry with certain chinos/shorts.

The 305s are the extended grip model, the 405s have the air pocket on the high side of the backstrap, but do NOT extend below the frame.

From CT:

Extended Grip Handle: The LG-305 LaserGrips provide a more substantial grip handle than our deep-concealment LG-405 model, both covering the prolific Smith & Wesson line of J-Frame Revolvers (Round Butt).

Compact Lasergrips For J-Frame Revolvers: The LG-405 LaserGrips are our latest edition for the prolific Smith & Wesson line of J-Frame Revolvers (Round Butt). They are our most comfortable revolver LaserGrips to date, and feature a recoil reduction pocket to improve control of the smaller Smith & Wesson frame.

Here's S&W version of the 405: http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=54005&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=46305&training=

Here's S&W version of the 305: http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=13073&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=46305&training=

 

[DAdams]

Indeed

I think you might have the models switched (305 & 405):

I switch those numbers all too frequently and proofread even less. They need to change the model numbers, larger number, larger grip etc.

I wanted the S&W logo for some vain reason.

If I ever buy a set of....of....305s....the larger ones. I will probably stupidly pay through the nose for the S&W Logo versions too. :banghead:Just cuzz, and a only a mere $43 difference.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

I think I'll order some 405's for my 340... As comfy as the Monogrips are, they turn the 340 into a belt gun for me, and I think its a great pocket gun with the right grips.

So, who has the best pricing on 405's?

 

[AStone]

Getting a grip

But seriously, with a set of Hogue monogrips along with point shooting
(what laser?), is this revolver inferior to any handgun out there?

Well, OK, maybe not quite up to a 686 2.5" or 3", but that's apples and oranges.

For an airweight revolver, there's just no comparison, it seems.

Laser? What laser?

 

[DAdams]

DAH

As comfy as the Monogrips are, they turn the 340 into a belt gun for me, and I think its a great pocket gun with the right grips.

Dollar, I agree with your assessment entirely. I purchased my 340 with 405s. Put the HM on it and loved them.
But... Couldn't do much in the line of pocket carry with the extended grips.
I hated to do it but I put the 405s back on. It's ok now that I have become reaccustomed to them. That first trip back to the range was not pretty. Some of the worst shooting ever, even with the laser pointing the way. Just couldn't 'get a solid grip'.

It's ok now and I miss the HM but I have been back to pocket carrying the 340 for some time now. If I holster carried I probably would get a set of CT 305s.

Nem-I still practice point shooting the 642/340 with the laser off. I point shoot practice the two pocket autos I carry also.

Our challenge in the southeast US is lack of clothing. I can't dress like an islander everyday with a shirt out to cover a holster, hence pocket carry is virtually a must.
That's why for summer carry in non "high threat areas" I carry a Seecamp 380. Lighter and more discrete than even the 340 in a Mika.

Looks like the going rate for CTs 405/305 is $216 with free shipping.
Optics Planet and some others had this as the best price the last time I checked.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Optics Planet, thanks for the info DAdams...

Yep, here in warm / HOT Arizona, pocket carry is a popular choice too.

I mean, if I'm gonna belt carry, I've got very nice setups for my Glock 19 or Walther P99c...

 

[Marvin KNox]

Carry pictures?

Still mulling things over before the big purchase.

Do you guys have any pictures of yourselves or others carrying snubbies? I'd really like to see some.

I'd like to see what one looked like in a close concealing, FBI cant, hip rig. I'd like to see one concealed with an appendix tuck. In the pocket. etc. etc.

This will be my only carry gun. I figure to carry it in the pocket sometimes. But am thinking about hip carry OWB, appendix carry tucked IWB, cross draw tucked - and all the rest.

I'm enjoying the thread and pictures with holsters are always great.

MARV

 

[stripenow]

340CT M&P arrived

The 340 arrived yesterday.Oh yeah....worth the wait.I got about 3 different holsters and I have to say that the Smartcarry is superb for this gun.It works here in Florida and you can wear it with shorts,jeans or pants.I will be taking it to the range Tuesday and will take the advise of the other posters on starting with .38 then +p .38 then 357.Is it Tuesday yet?

Pete
Venice, FL

 

[FranklyTodd]

Just got back from the range...

I'd like to see one concealed

Marvin, not trying to be a smart alec, but I carry either in my pocket or in a SmartCarry, and trust me it is invisible. Any picture would just look like me, and you really don't want to see that!

[Pete is] taking it to the range Tuesday

I've been busy, so before I knew it almost a month has gone by without shooting the 340. Went today at lunch, put 100 .38s and 20 Gold Dot Short Barrel +Ps downrange. Holy cow I love this gun!

I also rented a Kahr PM9 and a Sig239 and put 100 rounds combined through them. Out of curiosity I seem to keep searching for a carry auto I like better than my Glock 26. The Sig and Kahr were fine, but I like my 26 with added thumb safety much better than either, and for carry I like the 340 10X more than the 26!

I do have a question, though. I'm getting decent at getting very tight groupings at about 25 feet, both with the laser and without. However, that is with slow deliberate shooting. Mine stacks slightly right before the trigger breaks, and I can really shoot it as well as I could if it were single action capable.

However, when I'm trying to sort of simulate a stressfull trigger pull (fast DA pull), my shots go wide - but not consistently wide! The target looks like if I kept shooting, it would be cut in half. All the holes are on the same level line right through the bullseye, but could easily be 10 inches either side of it, or anywhere in between. What am I doing??? :banghead: I'm not even talking about follow up shots, I mean deliberate aiming, then a fairly fast trigger pull.

I guess I know the answer, I need to dry-fire practice with the laser more so I can see the wiggle and reduce it, but I didn't know if any here had some sort of tip that would help correct this side-to-side action.

One other question is a cleaning question: How do you get blood and chunks of skin out of the knurled cylinder release button? I apparently gripped it too high with a +P and a big chunk came off the top of my thumb knuckle. First blood shed on the 340 for me, but I don't care, I still have a huge grin on my face after shooting it!! (by the way, I'm kidding about how to clean it, I'm sure Hoppes Elite and a brush will take it right out).

To all the newer M&P340 owners out there - congratulations again on what I feel is just about the best carry piece out there right now. I think a +P only Airweight is probably a close second, and maybe is even better in a way if you factor price into the equation, but dang it's hard to beat the 340.

Safe shooting!

FranklyTodd

 

[Brassman]

Frankly Todd

My favorite way to dryfire is watching TV and aiming at peoples' heads for quick aimed shots. It has taken me a long time and a lot of dryfires to get to this point.

I began by aiming at a light switch or something fairly small across the room and squeezing the trigger and focusing on the front sight the whole trigger pull. I try to have the sights stay lined up the whole way and don't move from the aim point even after the trigger has broken. I bet I have practiced this tens of thousands of times in the last 4 or 5 years. Now every time I squeeze the trigger for an aimed shot, I stage the trigger out of habit. I got the staging routine from watching a Jerry Miceluk video a few years ago where he was talking about getting the most accurate aiming routine down. Jerry said it worked for him, and it sure has helped me get better.

When I first started shooting, I flinched and pulled down and to the left on nearly every shot. Then for a while I went the other way and twisted the weapon on the trigger pull and my shots went up and to the right. When I began the routine stated above things began to improve and have kept on improving the more I practiced. Just my 2 cents. Sorry for such a long post.

 

[DAdams]

Same Here

I've been busy, so before I knew it almost a month has gone by without shooting the 340. Went today at lunch, put 100 .38s and 20 Gold Dot Short Barrel +Ps downrange. Holy cow I love this gun!

Everytime I range my 340 out I just come away amazed at such a fine piece of equipment.

MK-

Here you go.





This one has three slots for cant.
http://www.gearzoneproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=769

Into the Columbia Landers goes the well in this case the 642 with CT 405s.



Driving with a valise style "holster" which fastens to the seat belt.



340 with Hogue Monogrips in an Uncle Mikes IWB. Of course a shirt or jacket would go over this. Could be rotated to 4 O'clock position. Backasswards due to the mirror image.


Manbag Carry. Flap open. Good for the woods or touristy carry when you need you pockets for a backup or other goodies. 642 with standard boot grips.

http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=27&product_id=129

This holster may be worth a try.
http://www.gearzoneproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=777

 

[Marvin KNox]

Nice pictures

I'm not quite as slim as you, but I'm working on it. Even so, I'm thinking that the 340 with 405 would hide fairly well for me tucked in an IWB appendix carry.
MARV

 

[kanderson586]

the 340 with 405s in a bianchi iwb appendix carry works very well for me, you would not forget it is there but it is not uncomfortable. i drive for a living and the appendix is neccesary and it stays very concealed

 

[AStone]

OK, really, you people have to quit talking about this revolver,
or I'm going to be compelled to get one.

Now, what's it gonna be?

 

[Marvin KNox]

Packing a 357 on my hip

I'm getting very, very close to joining the club. I even tried to talk myself into an airweight since hardly anyone packs 357's anyway. They just go with a +p.

Funny, though! I keep coming back to the 340 M&P. It may well be that the only 357's I'll fire will be just to check it out and say I've done that. It may be that the only 357's I'll carry are the ones I put in chamber #5 - (just to sign off before I run for it - if things go that far).

But - it's funny that us "boys" pay a lot of money for a lot of toys that we don't really need. It may be 4X4 drive. It may be leather on the seats. It may be mag wheels. We may trade in the factory tires for the extra big raised white letters. It may be the V-8 when the 6 would do.

It may be the custom leather holster instead of one that will work just as good for a lot less.

The more I think of it - I'm just like the rest of the guys. There's just something about a 357 magnum that says it all. The night sights are nice - even if I will have a laser. The 1 1/2 OZ. savings is nice - even if it's nothing to speak of and the gun would kick less at 15 OZ.

I'm just a big kid, I guess. But I'm willing to lay out 2 or even 300 dollars just to be able to answer the question the guys all ask when concealed carry comes up. "What are you carrying?"

"Snub nose Smith and Wesson 357 Magnum - and you?"

MARV

 

[FranklyTodd]

If you buy anything less you'll always wonder....

us "boys" pay a lot of money for a lot of toys that we don't really need

Boy, do I ever resemble that remark.

I decided that I wanted a very light snub. Once spending the $400 is a done deal (sunk cost), spending the extra $200 was much easier to swallow. I genuinely intend to carry this thing for 30 years, so that $200 works out to less than $.02 per day!

And that ignores the fact that I'll eventually pass it down to my sons.... So really two cents a day is way OVERstating the cost of the M&P. Gosh, isn't rationalization a beautiful thing.

If you are not a very nice person, I've heard of people making a lot of money with a 340/340PD by betting people at the range they can't put 3 cylinders full of full-house .357s down range... There's always that route...

It may be that the only 357's I'll carry are the ones I put in chamber #5 - (just to sign off before I run for it - if things go that far).

By the way, that strikes me as very funny I may have to load a "sign off" round, too!

 

[Brassman]

I hear ya Marv! Now you're talking. I've seen peoples' faces change when you breathe those three little numbers in order. You don't have to explain +p at all...let them think what they want.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Happy-Medium grip?

Is there a pocket-able grip that is reasonably comfortable? Or are the factory Hogue Bantams about as good as it gets for that kind of compromise?

I love shooting the 340 with the Monogrip, but it's too large for pocket carry.

Seems hard grips like Ajax or wood grips would be pretty uncomfortable given the light weight of the 340.

How about Pachmayrs?

 

[kanderson586]

the ct405s are perfect for conceal, they are still the 2 finger grip but have soft rubber on top of backstrap. they fill a larger hand nicely. they are hard pladtic on the sides but soft rubber on the straps which make it a bit more bareable to fire.

 

[Marvin KNox]

Packing a 357 on my hip

I figure I only have to refer to the biggest thing in the cylinder to keep from telling a lie. I think it's worth carrying one FULL HOUSE 357 just to be able to get those looks of awe from the guys. And it will be a "full house - Buffalo Bore" just in case they get a little too curious.

All kidding aside - most of us don't carry reloads, even if some say we should. That being the case - why load a loud "KA-BOOM" to remind yourself you're out of ammo?

Besides that - there's always the chance that the big boy will do something that the little guys couldn't.

And, who knows? It's always possible that the bad guys will think your friend "Dirty Harry" just arrived to back you up.

That's all gotta be worth a sore hand when you get home.

MARV

 

[DAdams]

By Jove He's Got It

Marvin KNox-

Great analysis and justification. You will kick yourself the minute you walk out the LGS door with a X42, thinking you could have had a V8 for a few dollars more.

If those aren't the best darn reason(s) to purchase a 340 I don't know what are.

Those same rationalization skill sets will come in even more handy when you consider a Rohrbaugh R9 or a Seecamp LWS .380 in the future.

 

[stripenow]

Range Report

Holy Hell ! The 340 M&P CT arrived last week and went to the ramge yesterday. Took a box of .38, .38+P, and 357 mag. The .38 were nice, great groups at 7 yards.Then on to the .38 +P, what a difference. They shot a bit higher being a hotter load. My hands were feeling every bit of every round.Then the .357. Holy Hell . There was an earlier post stating it was like shaking hands with the Devil. This statement is precise and true. 5 rounds was enough.Love the fact I feel its the perfect carry gun in Florida.This is NO range target gun with the .357 mag loads. I had brought my .45XD and Beretta 92 F for some fun. Love the 340 and looking forward to carrying it.
Pete
Venice,FL

 

[FranklyTodd]

The .38 were nice, great groups at 7 yards.Then on to the .38 +P, what a difference. They shot a bit higher being a hotter load. My hands were feeling every bit of every round.Then the .357. Holy Hell.

When I recommended that you start with .38s and work your way up to +Ps, and only then to .357s, I didn't mean in the same range session!

I meant over a period of weeks!

It is the perfect carry gun - I'm glad you like it. Don't be discouraged if your hand still hurts tomorrow, and the next day, and the next...

I am an admitted paper-pusher, but mine hurt for more than a week after tangling with full-load .357s my first time out!

Have you decided on your carry load yet?

Congrats again - FT

 

[stripenow]

Carry Loads

Hi FT, Thanks for the reply. I got a laugh out of it. I have selected the Mag-Safe .357 shells. They are reduced load and deep penetrating. I do a lot of handloading so that might change.For now I will stick with the Mag-Safes. Not to woory I only fired 10 rounds of 357's and have no desire short term to fire many more.I will stick with the .38's for now at the range.Great Gun. Glad I own one.
Pete
Venice, FL