S&W 340pd Range Report

[badshot]

First Impressions,

At 11.4 oz this little powerhouse is so light that I have to check twice just to make sure that it is in the case. In your hand it feels like you are holding air. The thought of putting .357 rounds through it was a little scary. I got this gun because I wanted something that I could carry without the builk and weight but still packed a punch. Believe me that this gun fits that perfectly.

At the range I first put .38 rounds through it and them moved up to .38 +p and finally .357. The .38 were very manageable and the +P gave the hand a shock but nothing too bad. The .357's were like having a horse kick you in the palm of your hand. The kick was mostly felt in the thumb and not the wrist as I thought it would be. I put about 15 .357 rounds through it and that was more than enough.

I was shooting at a target at 15 yards. The 9lb trigger pull and what seemed like a trigger travel of about 2 feet along with the anticipation of the kick made for poor accuracy at 15 yards. For me the affective range would probably be more in the 7 yard range. The gun shot high, very high. I think this mostly had to do with the double action trigger pull and the anticipation of pain. More range time is needed on my part with .38 rounds to build confidence and shooting accuracy. Until then I would not want to be in a gunfight across a parking lot with this as I would have a hard time hitting my target at that range.

That's it for now.

[bigbob76]

First Impressions,

At 11.4 oz this little powerhouse is so light that I have to check twice just to make sure that it is in the case. In your hand it feels like you are holding air. The thought of putting .357 rounds through it was a little scary. I got this gun because I wanted something that I could carry without the builk and weight but still packed a punch. Believe me that this gun fits that perfectly.

At the range I first put .38 rounds through it and them moved up to .38 +p and finally .357. The .38 were very manageable and the +P gave the hand a shock but nothing too bad. The .357's were like having a horse kick you in the palm of your hand. The kick was mostly felt in the thumb and not the wrist as I thought it would be. I put about 15 .357 rounds through it and that was more than enough.

I was shooting at a target at 15 yards. The 9lb trigger pull and what seemed like a trigger travel of about 2 feet along with the anticipation of the kick made for poor accuracy at 15 yards. For me the affective range would probably be more in the 7 yard range. The gun shot high, very high. I think this mostly had to do with the double action trigger pull and the anticipation of pain. More range time is needed on my part with .38 rounds to build confidence and shooting accuracy. Until then I would not want to be in a gunfight across a parking lot with this as I would have a hard time hitting my target at that range.

That's it for now.

I agree that it is a real handful with full power loads, especially with the compact grips. It might be hard to claim self defense in a gunfight across a parking lot though.

[badshot]

I agree that it is a real handful with full power loads, especially with the compact grips. It might be hard to claim self defense in a gunfight across a parking lot though.

Not if they shoot first!

[RTE]

I finally got this out for a test drive last weekend.


Shot some lead 38 reloads
then some 129gr Hydra-shok +p's
then some 147gr Hydra-shok +p+'s

15-25 yards Best snubby for the money.

Kicker is with the weight
Without looking.....I have to shake it to tell it's loaded

[xr650r]

M&P340 owner here.

Same results.

The trigger has a little flat spot right before let-off. That's how I get accuracy out of it. Get some really mild 38 reloads and practice with the trigger.

[xr650r]

And some ice for that thumb tendon. :-)

[jamesonamac]

Thanks for the report. I've been wanting one of those for a while now, but they sure are pricey. Careful cleaning those, I've seen some tore-up ones on the used market that were cleaned with wire brushes (unknown if bronze, copper, or stainless steel). Made a mental note to myself that when I get one to only use nylon brushes on it.

[lazs]

I have a 340pd.. it is as accurate as any J frame I have owned that I shot double action which is.. very accurate indeed but... and it is a big but.. most can't shoot any J frame.. I have owned dozens over the years and.. even if they can shoot a j frame single action.. most can't shoot double action.. and.. even if they can shoot a J frame double action....

The real elephant in the room is.. most people simply can't handle recoil and the 340 PD is king of recoil.. it is sharp.. Like catching a line drive fastball one handed with a bare hand. No one likes to be hurt.

I took off the rubber grips and put on ebony SS wood grips.. smaller and even worse for recoil but.. rubber grips are stupid for a gun that goes in a pants pocket. I shoot only federal 125 JHP full house .357 loads and few of them.. I bought a single lot of 1,000 and they will last a lifetime. I will not practice with 38's.. I have shot plenty of 38 J frames in the past.

At 10 yards I can put the first 2 rounds near center left an inch or so and about 3" spread.. after that.. I am flinching so bad that I am barely keeping them in a 12" "pattern" That is fine with me.. it is a belly gun meant to make so much noise and blast that bad guys a block away are seeking cover and the one that got shot at is pulped and deaf and on fire.

It is meant to be the gun that no one thinks you have and that is so light and compact that you forget you are carrying it. It is not for target shooting or even practice.

If you are not familiar with J frames I say get an old steel one in 38 and put the same grips on it that you will have on the 340PD and then shoot it in nothing but double action mode.

Then.. take out the 340 and run about 5 full house loads through it once in blue moon and you are good to go.. No.. you won't win any matches with it.. but you will have a gun that will save your life.

[leelaw]

lazs, that's a good writeup; about the same as I'd say about mine (minus the wood grips - mine are still stock)

[lazs]

Well.. the wood grips are real bears. They make the gun much more compact tho and that is what it is for in any case.

I have about 250 full house .357's through the gun.. everyone wants to try it at least once it seems. I have shot it enough to know it is dependable.

When you shoot one.. it is difficult to convince yourself that you have not shot a proof load or a reload that was double charged and that you are not hurting the gun.

[bigbob76]

Mine came with an extra set of rubber grips that are oversize and have some rubber over the back strap. They defeat the purpose of concealability but tend to make it much less punishing to shoot. The common argument for practicing with a handgun the same way you will carry it makes sense but maybe the main thing is to master the double action pull. If you want it to conceal well you will probably go with the smaller grips for carry. If the time comes that you need it a little pain in the hand won't matter much.

[badshot]

M&P340 owner here.

Same results.

The trigger has a little flat spot right before let-off. That's how I get accuracy out of it. Get some really mild 38 reloads and practice with the trigger.

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments. I did notice the flat spot so I will give that a try.

[leelaw]

Oh, and make sure you disable the trigger lock. It has a tendency to cause jams or malfunctions in airweight magnums. If it will cause the issue on your revolver, it won't be apparent by practicing with .38 or .38+P+, and I'd hate for your gun to not fire if you ever HAVE to use it.

[lazs]

Also.. as much as the gun hurts to shoot.. I would bet I could convince a judge or jury that shooting the guy was the very last option and that I would have done almost anything to avoid doing so. Really.. I didn't even know it would set him on fire.

[jamesonamac]

Oh, and make sure you disable the trigger lock. It has a tendency to cause jams or malfunctions in airweight magnums. If it will cause the issue on your revolver, it won't be apparent by practicing with .38 or .38+P+, and I'd hate for your gun to not fire if you ever HAVE to use it.

I know there are a few documented cases of malfunctions from the lock, but I think to say they "have the tendency to malfunction" is dis-information. A tendency would mean that most will malfunction, which I don't believe is the case. BTW, no one hates the S&W lock more than me.