S&W 340 PD: Opinions?

Thinking about getting this for summer carry. It’s a .357 and… it weighs just under 12 ounces. Yeah, that’s gonna pop. Might carry 38s, but I like the option.

Basically, for certain times, I want a very small and light firearm I can have on me when wearing just about anything. I know it’s kinda lame, but I don’t want to wear a baggy T-shirt or create an artificial belly or love-handle bulge with my usually carry guns. Hey, I worked hard not to have a gut. Yes, I’m a little vain.

Anyone have this gun? Ever shot it?

INFO from S&W.

I havn’t but I have the SW Airweight in .38. Fairly similar aside from caliber. I love it. I also have a Kimber revolver (K6s) in .357. Its got the 3" barrel so slightly bigger gun than the SW. Its still hurts to shoot .357 so I practice mostly with .38 in it.

Thanks! You know, that might be the better choice (Airweight in .38) given the price difference.

I really like the Airweight. Its got the concealed hammer too. Its the gun I keep in my night stand quick access box. Something nice about knowing your revolver is always ready and jamb free.

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Does this type of revolver have a safety? Would you carry it in a holster? I would worry about accidental discharge when carrying or drawing a gun like this.

Most revolvers don’t have external safeties. A few do, but they’re pretty rare. It all comes down to finger awareness. Mainly, don’t touch the trigger unless you’re about to shoot. And generally, revolvers have a longer, harder trigger pull.

And yes, always carry in some type of holster with a trigger cover. Only action movie cops and real-life gang members don’t use holsters.

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I’ve handled one but never shot it. The trigger is long and heavy, probably around 12 pounds DAO. There’s your safety.

I imagine it’s great to carry and extremely unpleasant to shoot.

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Ha! That’s the trade-off for sure.

LOL I like this quote too. I think that sums it up best. Even the Kimber I mentioned, which is much heavier, gives me blisters when I cycle through .357 at the range. I don’t do it that much because like you said, its unpleasant. The SW that @Chris_Shugart is referring to, being much lighter, would be like wrangling a rattle snake.

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I was thinking: it would be like setting off an illegal firecracker in your clenched fist.

And now I kinda want to do it…

:grin:

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It reminds me of a fake review I remember for a SW 642 many years ago. To paraphrase…

“This gun is great for hunting. I use it to shoot at deer while I’m running through the woods.”

My wife has the 442

.38 out of it isn’t bad at all.

.38+p is a fire breathing dragon

But it’s actually surprisingly easy to handle and I was “accurate enough” with it at ranges appropriate for its use. I’m not a great shot in general nor do I get to the range often enough.

I’ve looked at pocket .357s before and I like the idea of them, but haven’t fired to be able to really attest to it. But for a similar go, I like it.

I always like the idea of loading 4 .38s and one final .357 in the thing. “If those first 4 didn’t do it, maybe this one will”

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This revolver won’t get tied up if you short stroke the trigger?

Ha! I sometimes load my S&W Governor that way: 410 self-defense ammo for the first two, then four .45 Colts for the “I guess you didn’t get the message” approach.

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Not sure. Its never happened to me with the SW. The beauty of a revolver is the simplicity and general jamb free design. I actually had that happen on my Kimber with .357 ammo so I sent it back and they adjusted the hand. Thats the only time I’ve ever had a revolver lock up on my. Never with my SW442 AW. I’ve had tons of actual ammo jambs on my semi autos.

I also have the 442. It is probably my favorite carry gun, however I find myself carrying an LCPII most often. The snub nose is surprisingly accurate given the short barrel length.

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Agreed. I have (4) LCPs. One tucked in each vehicle. I have a CWP but don’t carry hardly ever. Still when I do its the LCP as nothing comes close to the compact design. Honestly it’s very accurate in close range too.

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Here’s what it’s like to shoot one with .357’s, hold your hand out with your fingers spread, and have a friend smack it with a cricket bat. Seriously though, quality .38 wadcutters punch deep and leave a nasty wound channel, and won’t fuck your hand up. The 340 PD is a relatively expensive model. A 442, 642 or 638 would be less expensive, and will shoot .38 +Ps.

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I’ve never had a S&W get tied up from short stroking (hehe). They will skip a chamber, and my 649 that has had a professional trigger job does it a little more often (light trigger return spring, maybe). The Colt Night Cobra I had would lock up, kind of, but if you let the trigger all the way out, it would work again. But it was disconcerting.