s&w 340 m&p

[dagerv]

So I have read through a lot of the old posts from a previous (long) thread about the 340. I have one and was wondering how many rounds you highroaders have shot through yours and how well it's holding up (wear etc.).
Thanks ahead of time for your responses!

P.S. I'm looking at about 400 .357 through mine and a box of 38s.

 

[DAdams]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7540169#post7540169

Well heck, the thread isn't that old and one of the most visited threads on THR.

I have about 250 rounds through my M&P 340, granted, I need to get it out more often but I have a few new M&P semi-autos that need some attention too.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Good guns, but.......

.357 mag ballistics from < 2" barrels are abysmal. Save a couple hundred bucks and buy a .38 (+P rated). .38+P gives up very little to the .357 from very short barrels. All you really get is more recoil and muzzle blast.

I used to really want a 340 PD, until I started seeing the velocity and energy figures when you have such a short tube. .357 just needs more barrel. Kinda like what happened when Ruger chambered the .454 in the Alaskan; The .44 Mag does just as well from that 2.5" barrel.

 

[Sox]

A lot of misinformation out there about the perceived disadvantage of the .357 in the snub.

It is not a small difference in velocity. I found this video on you tube and found it telling.

Google "youtube, snub nose velocity" I thought it was a pretty insightful experiment.

I have 500-750 rounds through my 340 with no appreciable wear, granted they are all 148gr or 158gr .38 though.

 

[DAdams]

I didn't purchase a lightweight J Frame to attain .357 capability, although it is nice to know the revolver was designed to handle such. I like the fact that it is sufficiently "over engineered". I carry it loaded with SPGD FSB 135 gr Plus P.

I purchased the M&P 340 because I found that a 642 was too heave for pocket carry. The 340 offers:

Weight MT 13.3 ounces
Centennial Frame Design
XS Dot night sight
DLC finish
Lanyard post
.357 capable

Makes an excellent pocket carry with Crimson Trace 405 grips in a Mika Roundcut holster.

 

[dagerv]

Thanks for the responses guys. I have mostly 158 gr rds through mine. I have maybe shot 10 of the 125 gr critical defense through mine. It seemed to discolor (its already black) the top of the frame but other than that no wear.

machIVshooter I would rather have the 357 ballistics out of a snub than the 38 +p out of a snub so I opted for the 340 the best of both worlds.

The reason I ask is that before I bought one I looked at a used one and it seemed to lock up and have a lot of cylinder play both in rotation and front to back.

 

[RetDep310]

Haven't had mine very long because I kept "trading up" my other snubbies to get the 340. Probably 150 rounds through it. I got mine for all the same reasons as listed in DAdams' post. This was one of the guns I used to qualify at my former department for LEOSA (retirement) requirements. Not the best at 25 yards, but it hung in there! Speer Gold Dot 135gr Short-barrel works for me....

 

[dagerv]

just figured I'd add a pic of my own:

[/IMG]

 

[DAdams]

Nice stop action pic. You should see a snub .45, rather dramatic as well.
Interesting ones eyes don't perceive that in moderate light conditions. I'm focusing on the target. I have dumped my 340 with 357 in a rapid fire with time to get back on target. Stopped long enough to reload and done it again.
Great guns but not for everyone.

 

[HiVel1]

Gotta have one!

gotta get on easap=waiting to order from my range store as no LGS around here stock them or seems to know how to order them-"sell what you got" is the operative here but not to me. So next week maybe we'll score one of these little beauties.