M&p 340

[winterset]

OK, Dadams & megatronrules you guys have done it with those pics.

I'm having one as soon as I can find one!

In fact I put one on my wish list at my favorite LGS this afternoon. I've been looking for my first revolver lately...pretty much settled on a S&W...had pretty much settled on a 642 until I first saw an M&P 340 at the gun shop at my local indoor range recently but, they want basically S&W list price for it...
I don't think so...I don't like those guys that much

The wife didn't understand why I was even looking at revolvers...
Until she held (you might even say fondled) the 340, then she was like "maybe we should get this for me" I said "I don't think so, you can shoot it all you want but, I'll be the one carrying it." That might turn out to be an expensive statement though...she has her CCW training but hasn't applied yet...I think she probably will when Mr. Revolver comes home with us.

I told her we could get her a revolver with pink grips but, she didn't like the pink grips on a black gun, I said maybe she would like them better on a silver (meaning less expensive) gun but, she "hates shiney guns"...and "doesn't even care about pink grips anyway". All I can say is 'if she takes my M&P I'm getting a 340 PD'!

Hopefully, she won't like the recoil with mags in that lightweight gun, who says I have to tell her it will shoot 38's also.

First, I have to find one for sale...off to search the web...

 

[megatronrules]

Winterset I think S&W MSRP is to high as well as I paid $650 including sales tx from my 340M&P this past June,this was the boot grip not the CT model. I think you will be very pleased with this gun I love mine it goes everywhere its legal to carry with me. Also if you get some of the mid level .357 magnum self defense ammo the recoil isn't as bad as some would say either. Some of these loads are Remington 125gr golden saber,Winchester 110gr JHP(usually available at Walmart),Corbon 110gr DPX and 100gr powerball and Speer 135gr short barrel and their 125gr jhp both of these are .357 magnum loads. The above mentioned loads are specificity designed and tailored for a snub nose .357 revolver.

I currently have 130gr federal hydrashocks in my 340 M&P,but be warned these loads are full power .357's and not the "low recoil" claimed by federal on the packaging. That being said they are not exactly pleasant to shoot more than a few cylinders of at one time with the factory boot grips. But I will say they are manageable and controllable. However if I put my pachmayr compac grips on my 340 I can easily do a couple of boxes of these loads with no issues.

Let me say that in my opinion the recoil of this gun is seriously over rated. I think somewhere along the way people forget that recoil is a VERY subjective thing to a lot of people. What one shooter feels in manageable another may feel is unbearable.

I gotta ask what happened to men in this great country of ours? When did it become fashionable to say that a gun is "painful" to shoot?,I know a woman who is 5ft 6" and 100lbs who carries and shoots one of these with magnum loads in it In the days of Elmer Keith and bill Jordan nobody complained of a .357 or .44 magnum hurting their hand when they shot it. I think of it like this it may indeed not be the most pleasant experience a person can have to fire a .357 round out of a 13.3oz gun. But it will hurt the guy on the other end of it a lot more. Be sure to post back here when you get your 340 and I hope I've helped you out some.

 

[DAdams]

Winterset

Welcome. If the wife takes the 340 buy two. Why would you want a pd? No XS night sights, no stainless cylinder, no DLC finish, no lanyard post. Can't shoot 110 gr CORBON. 340 pd too light, 442 too heavy, 340 just right!

Shooters

Jacksonville, FL has the best prices usually. You can get one for $629.99 plus whatever, shipping etc.
www.shootersjax.com

Get the wife a 442 for 419.99. Black. 38 spl plus P....no two 340s.

 

[LoneStarWings]

Got my holster today, a desantis superfly2. So far so good. I also decided to see how many cylinders of .357 I could tolerate in semi-rapid fire (one shot per second, 10 seconds for reloads). 15 rounds was all I could stand. Remind me not to try that again I think the Fiocchi 125gr SJHP's was using today kick a bit harder than the other .357 mag ammo I've tried. Definitely more muzzle flash.

 

[LoneStarWings]

Also, any reccomendations on cleaning the Cylnder Burns On the outside front of the cylinders withotu taking off the finish? Mines got 120 rounds through it now and they're starting to show up.

 

[winterset]

Welcome. If the wife takes the 340 buy two. Why would you want a pd? No XS night sights, no stainless cylinder, no DLC finish, no lanyard post. Can't shoot 110 gr CORBON. 340 pd too light, 442 too heavy, 340 just right!

Yeah, after furthers studies, I've decided you're right about that, the M&P is the way to go. Except, now I'm even having second thought about needing a 357 at all. I am also concerned about the recoil issue, I'm getting old and not as tough as I once was. I shoot my KelTec PF9 with +P loads all the time and it's no big deal. Do you know how the 357 would compare to that?

Shooters Jacksonville, FL has the best prices usually. You can get one for $629.99 plus whatever, shipping etc.
www.shootersjax.com

I have been checking their site...they don't even have the 340 listed right now. I saw one on Impact Guns with CT grips for $978. or so a couple of days ago.

 

[DAdams]

Winterset

Call Jacksonville, I think Lonestarwings got his from them and although they are not showing it own their website they may actually have them or have them coming.

Here is my theory on .357 capability. It's there if you want it. It is there from a versatility standpoint, if (for some odd reason) only .357 were to be available you can avail yourself to it. As many have commented in a social event you won't be paying attention to recoil. In reality might it take a microsecond to regain sight picture due to recoil difference between .38 spl vs 38 spl plus P vs .357?? I suspect it would so you need to factor that into your personal defense philosophy. Apparently you have with the 9. Me I don't bother (nor do I think I need it) with Plus P in my Kahr PM.

I have fired .357 through the 340 just to see what all the hoopla was about, and check for crimp jump, particularly I wanted to see (qualify) if there were going to be any issues for the SGDFSB .357 135 gr and there was not.

I have the Speer PN 23921 38 spl plus P in mine for carry puposes. If I run out of that I have some standard Buffalo Bore 20C that I keep around for the 642 and I have .357 for my 686 which I can run in the 340.
The nice thing....I can run it all in the 340.

 

[LoneStarWings]

Yeah, I got mine from shootersjax.com. The price was pretty good. I hope I didn't take the last one!

Firing .357 out of the M&P is not a big deal if you only do it one cylinder at a time, imho. It's a cumulative effect, if you do cylinder after cylinder it will start hurting. I practiced rapid fire on a watermelon sized target at 20 yards yesterday, and 9 out of 10 of my .357 shots hit the target.

Call me masochistic, but I think shooting the .357's out of the 340 is actually FUN.

 

[winterset]

Call me masochistic, but I think shooting the .357's out of the 340 is actually FUN.

In that case I'll probably like it...I may be old but, I'm still pretty tough

I really want a pocket size revolver and I hate to go down very far in power.
I feel 100% confident when carrying my SIG P220 (with winter clothing) it ALWAYS spits out anything I shove in it! I don't have that confidence in the PF9...so, it must be replaced.

 

[angel1216]

new boots!

"angela's" new boots! picture taken with her big brother.

 

[jfh]

LoneStarWings: For cleaning the cylinder face, I use the typical lead-away wipe patches, and it has been no issue for finish removal.

My M&P 340 has about 2,000 rounds through it now--the vast majority of it lead reloads. The cylinder face routinely leads up a bit, and I clean it first with Hoppe's Elite Bore gel, then with the lead wipe, then a final wipedown with CLP.

There does remain a greyish stain, but no lead deposits per se--and none of the DLC (?) finish has come off.

Jim H.

 

[DAdams]

lonestarwings. Looking good man. Let us know how you like the DeSantis Superfly.

jfh. Thanks for the reminder on cleaning the cylinder. Actually I think that the manual says anything but cleaners with amonia is ok. The DLC is tough stuff.

 

[AStone]

The nice thing....I can run it all in the 340.

Dude, keep it up. You're going to talk me into a 340 yet.

Just doing my semi-annual pass through of the club house,
making sure the MSAA is keeping tabs on things.

Looks good.

Carry on.

Nem the undergunned w/ a mere .38 spl air weight

 

[DAdams]

Nem

Thanks for honoring us with your presence.

Nem the undergunned w/ a mere .38 spl air weight

Dude- That's quite alright...my wife has one.

I know someday you will have one. If I win the lotto I will buy you one.
Cuz you are our Number One FanMan.

 

[AStone]

Wow, what a kind thing to say.

The honor is mine, DA.
Nice to know where my friends hang out.
With kindness like that, I won't stay away so long.

Besides, it's fun to come here on occasion to look at such fine guns.

Now, get thee to the 7-11 store and buy some lotto tickets!
(and some good beer)

 

[DAdams]

Now, get thee to the 7-11 store and buy some lotto tickets!
(and some good beer)

Right you are, the weekend is upon us.

Might even get to the range today and light up the 340. A novelty that would be. Crreeeek. "Opening sound of the ammo vault". Brushes away the cobwebs. "What have we here, the last of the Remington Green box back when it was $14 for 50."

You come back whenever you want you are always welcome here. Glad to see the burst of 340 activity.

 

[winterset]

Glad to see the burst of 340 activity.

As soon as I can find a 340 there will be even more activity, here, and at my local range.

I am nearly obsessed with finding one right now...good thing I don't have to take my work seriously, it could detract from my search time

 

[prplflh71]

and still waiting............

My 340 CT is still on B/O through my dealer since May 26th! I emailed S&W this week after my dealer couldn't give me an approximate ETA. I was told they are currently 250 units behind in orders for the 340 CT and could not give me an ETA.

I've seen a few come and go on the auction sites and wish I'd spent the extra hundred bucks to just get the dang thing!

Oh well, I'll continue to be patient and get all sweaty when I see pics posted by others on this thread. I'll have mine in time!

 

[winterset]

My 340 CT is still on B/O through my dealer since May 26th! I emailed S&W this week after my dealer couldn't give me an approximate ETA. I was told they are currently 250 units behind in orders for the 340 CT and could not give me an ETA.

I've seen a few come and go on the auction sites and wish I'd spent the extra hundred bucks to just get the dang thing!

Oh well, I'll continue to be patient and get all sweaty when I see pics posted by others on this thread. I'll have mine in time!

I'm thinking the same, there is one LGS that has one but, it will cost about $1,150.00 after taxes...maybe I should just pony up the bucks and get it.

Actually, I'm considering buying an x42 for now or maybe an LCR and giving it a year for things to settle down...plus maybe S&W will start making a 340 without the IL by then
But, I'm not holding my breath...when they can sell everything they make before it is even made, I don't see them having much incentive to change things.:banghead::banghead:

 

[DAdams]

As soon as I can find a 340 there will be even more activity, here, and at my local range.

I am nearly obsessed with finding one right now...good thing I don't have to take my work seriously, it could detract from my search time

A more worthy endeavor I can hardly imagine.

Oh well, I'll continue to be patient and get all sweaty when I see pics posted by others on this thread. I'll have mine in time!

Insert Inspiring Photo Here:

maybe S&W will start making a 340 without the IL by then
But, I'm not holding my breath...

If you are it better be a deep one.

On May 11, 2001, Saf-T-Hammer Corporation acquired Smith & Wesson Corp...Saf-T-Hammer, a manufacturer of gun locks and other firearms safety products, purchased the company with the intention of incorporating its line of security products into all Smith & Wesson firearms in compliance with the 2000 agreement.

 

[DAdams]

Range Day

A friend of mine inherited a 686 7 shooter and wanted to try it out today, so after lunch it was off to the range. It was great because there were very few folks there which was helpful not having to yell as much while giving free advice.
He brought along a couple boxes of Federal JHP .357 158 gr. which came with the revolver.

I brought the 340 since it hadn't been out of the house for awhile and needing some exercise.

I violated my ammo stash and along came a box of Remington .38spl 130 gr for warm up purposes. I don't like to shoot without replacing or adjuncting too so I stopped at both Wal Mart and Gander Mountain hoping to get some .38 spl or some +P, no such luck. Picked up a box of Remington .357 125 gr JSP instead.

We ran through a few .38 spl in each. Mild mannered and Mike did pretty well with the 340 being his first snub experience. We then switched up to the .357 158 gr and the 686 got a bit more lively.

I then loaded up the 340 with five 158s and touched off the 340, five times fast ....... Yee freaking ha.

Mike said it looked like my hand was consumed in a ball of fire.
Now I did not see this, as my rapt attention was on the target 25 feet downrange, but I'll tell you this..it was the "stoutest" set I have experienced in the little 13 ounce J frame. You really couldn't tell there was a cushioned airpocketed backstrap courtesy of the Crimson Trace 405.

No crimp jump and the recovery time to get back on target was demonstrably protracted compared to the .38s.
Now I know why I stick with the SGDFSB Plus P. A defenite compromise "tweener".

The laser grip needs some tweaking.
A good time was had by all.


Photo by Someone Else.

 

[AStone]

I then loaded up the 340 with five 158s and touched off the 340, five times fast ....... Yee freaking ha.

Just out of curiousity (not being critical, just curious),
why load up those hot rnds and do a quintiple tap without just first running them through singly, or as double taps?

That seems pretty adventurous.

Of course, I know you're an adventure loving kind of guy - you do own a 340 after all - but still ...

"Frankie, come to your senses. Don't do it, Frankie, don't do it!"

 

[megatronrules]

DAdams I like that pic of your 340M&P with those laser grips nice,I'd hate to the bad guy looking at the end of that thing. I also was wondering is it a simple task to sight in the laser grips? I ask as I've considering a set just like yours. I've heard that the easy way sight these in is to adjust it so the little red dot is just above the guns front sight,is this correct?

 

[FranklyTodd]

I've heard that the easy way sight these in is to adjust it so the little red dot is just above the guns front sight,is this correct?

I take my grips off every cleaning - there's horror stories of what solvent does to the laser lens. I sight it in by lighting it up at a white wall 25 feet away, and adjusting the laser so it's right under the big dot. I'm not sure why you would want it above - I'll listen for smarter folks than me to chime in.

Note that in probably 15 cleanings, I just had to make my first post-cleaning adjustment. Up until now, take 'em off, clean, put 'em on, and they are perfect.

 

[DAdams]

Buckaroo

The day after, no pain, no bruising, and no broken bones.

Nem, Questioning My Sanity Wrote:

why load up those hot rnds and do a quintiple tap without just first running them through singly, or as double taps?

That seems pretty adventurous.
Of course, I know you're an adventure loving kind of guy - you do own a 340 after all - but still ...

I guess because it is rated for the load, and I have run SGDFSB .357 through it on numerous occassions I felt it would respond well. Having said that I should have perhaps checked for crimp jump which I have done with .357s years ago first time out.

My drill(s) for the day were not tackdriving or an attempt at tight groupings.
Throught I might try the Ole Fuff, fiVer. Only with an 8.
5 rounds, 5 seconds, 8 yards. COM. Now I don't think I made 5 seconds with those proverbial Full House Loads. Probably more a 5, 7, 8 drill. But it was fun cuzz that sucka did buck back and up. I only did 2 cylinders back to back. 10 rounds of that nonsense was enough for me. Although I did one more drill with the 130 grainers. Not quite as dramatic.

I take my grips off every cleaning - there's horror stories of what solvent does to the laser lens.

Been there, done that. As someone said, it makes the beam appear like looking at a starfield at warp five. Took me a concerted effort to get things clean and almost back to normal.
I'm going to take them off this time, because it battery change out time. 2 years is probably pushing it and I want to check for battery integrity as-well.

How do you sight in the laser

....here is the response to that question as answered by the Crimson Trace Folks.

To start with please consult the video on our site found here: http://www.crimsontrace.com/Home/Support/SightingInGuide/tabid/166/Default.aspx




If you still have any questions please post in the Customer Service and Technical Support forum or give our customer service team a call at 1-800-442-2406.