Love the wheel guns and the holster videos. I have the 442&642 in my CCW rotation and hell yea ya gotta practice. Looking forward to seeing that 2x2x2 ammo carrier.
Love the revolver videos, I can’t carry one due to ambulatory issues.( I can’t load a cyclinder as easy as my shield plus. It’s just nice to see the variety available to us all.
Great video. I carry the M&P 340 PD daily w/38 SPL +P in either a DeSantis Superfly pocket holster or on the hip in a Galco Combat Master OWB holster. It carries and conceals very well in either configuration. Highly recommend the HKS Speedloader (36) and Hogue grips (takes a lot of the pain away if you're putting any 357 Magnum rounds through it). The only real issue I've experienced with this J frame is the screw on the cylinder release coming loose from time to time. Thanks again for sharing!
I've have a few dif j frames and I really like em, the model 60 was my favorite cus it was all stainless steel. And I've also had a sig p238 which I loved too, and I nvr had a single malfunction with it. But that's also more expensive, you can get a j frame for quite a bit cheaper than a p238. I'd also like to see a video of that milt sparks holster too
I sent a new360PD and new model 60 Ladsmith both to SW for repair before firing due to a bugs in the action. Catching when they shouldn't. My Performance Center 637-2 was perfect new as expected. I was willing to wait for free repair on the two of them due to availability in my area. The service was good. I went with exposed hammers due my hand strength. I'm fine two handed, but one handed I'm not strong enough to hold aim as too much of my strength is used on the heavy trigger. I'm a thin aging fellow ha. Up close and personal it's fine for a quick few shots either hand. I practice drawing from pocket using thumb pushed to the hammer end for smooth draw with no catch. The 360pd has become my everyday carry. Keep the videos coming .
I've also got a Mika holster for mine as well and a LCR. However, I've found that the Mika holster has no retention; if one ever went to the ground in an altercation, etc. the revolver could come out unless the pocket is very tight. I've tested this with numerous pants and it came out. Just something one had better consider. I' don't use one anymore for that reason!
I’ve carried my Ruger LCR for 9 years now. When I bought it I never thought I would use it. I own or have owned every whiz bang 9mm compact/micro. Always end up with the LCR
I have the 340 M&P. It is a phenomenal revolver. I like everything about it, it's smooth and reliable. The night sight is a plus. At 13.8 ounces it's a handful with .357 magnums, but I can handle it well. 38+p's for practice, 357 mags for carry.
I have the 360PD and just ordered a 340PD. The higher backstrap on the 340 makes a difference for me. Learned that from a video with Masaad Ayoob. It fits my hand better and offers better recoil management. I only use .38's in it. Tried one .357 thru it and it was awful. My LCRx .357 is barely manageable with .357's. This makes a great pocket carry piece. I have a Galco horsehide pocket holster that's great. Great review. Thanks for sharing!
After firing 20 defensive .357 rounds in my 340 PD, I said no more of these through that feather weight. Anymore and I would develop a flinch in addition to a sore hand.
360PD is what I started pocket carrying recently. I was carrying a Sig P238 in a wallet holster for years due to being exra self conscious of printing. I gave gotten used to work type slacks with loose=fitting pockets so as to disguise. A jframe on my skinny frame. Great video. Always looking at options.
I have the M&P340 No Lock. It appears to be put together properly. It's always gone bang. I got it back in 2022. I actually am carrying the same ammunition that you are because I have a good supply of it. I prefer the idea of a steel cylinder over titanium. It's also a bit cheaper. I did put a larger grip on it so that it fits my hand better with all three fingers. That hasn't hurt it in pocket carry for me. I have a nice Kramer pocket holster and a Kramer OWB belt holster. It's super comfortable to carry and I don't find it difficult to shoot with reasonable competency. Magnums do hurt though. Given that you only have five rounds before having to do a reload, I do wish there was an intermediate round between 38Spl+P and 357 Magnum. The S&W 43C makes a nice training gun. It's 22LR and is virtually identical to a 340 in dimension, trigger, and sights. Unlike the M&P340, the front white dot sight doesn't have a tritium vial in it.
I agree with everything you said in this video review. I carry a 340PD everyday in a pocket holster. I added Crimson Trace LG-305 laser grips which make the gun very accurate and are 1/2" longer than the stock grips so I get better purchase and hold. These guns (340/360PD) are expensive but they're worth the money IMO. I carry mine loaded with Buffalo Bore 158gr .38 Special +p soft lead semi wadcutters...the old "FBI load" and I carry 3 reloads on Bianchi speed strips. If I have to go into a city I carry the above PLUS a Glock 20.
1911’s and revolvers (especially snubbies) goes together like PBnJ. I’ve not had trouble shooting J’s (or LCR’s). They feel good in my hand and point well. I fire frequently to 25 yards (and beyond) with good results.
Milt Sparks does something to their holsters that no one else on the planet does. They reinforce the holster mouth with metal. Everyone else uses a strip of leather or nothing. Those other holster mouths tend to collapse causing reholstering problems. Milt Sparks holsters are the best holsters made.
Everyone in the county knows when you light a 357 in it! LOL. It also makes people at the range jump. It might be the one gun where you can miss and still take down an assailant! XD
@@FudmottinI heard someone say that the one shot stop reputation the 357 magnum had was in part due to the flash bang concussion effect the round produced at close range...lol
I have the same one it does kick but not bad enough that I don’t shoot it and I use the same ammo you do but, for the practice ammo I use Speer 135gr full metal jacket. Now I have a bunch of friends that will never shoot it again.
@@Fudmottin I wonder if anyone back in the 80s ever had their jerry curl catch fire due to the muzzle flash of a 357 magnum....I could hear the chuckles at the police station now. Man what a time...lol
Just bought a S&W 340 M&P. Love it. It has the night sights. A bit heavier that the 340 PD but shoots great. Pretty accurate gun if you do your part. Took all my shots at 15 feet..
Yours looks brand new compared to mine ,mine is wore down around the trigger guard scratched up all over,still shoots great i carry speer sb 357 in it.
Nice! A J-frame always makes sense on paper & in a pocket, it's even better. But, man you're right. Once you touch off a .357mag round on the range w/one of these, you will question your sanity. 😅
I’ve had my no lock 340PD for about 10 yrs but keep it loaded w/+P for better control & more accurate follow up shots. It’s been flawless & I have no complaints.
I cannot imagine the recoil. I had the 342PD which is identical except it has the regular 442 aluminum frame and chambered in .38 Special. Gave it to my girlfriend loaded with light .38 Special ammo as she don't shoot. Shooting it sucks lol.
I love this revolver. My most carried piece. So easy to carry its impossible to leave at home. Sure it stings a little shooting a bunch of .357 mag through it but so does being dead.
I never thought I would find a revolver that kicks more than a 329PD. Shot 158 gr American Eagle .357 magnum in a S&W 360PD. First shot, wow! Got a shooting glove. Second shot, switch to a thicker shooting glove. Shot the rest. Next day hand still slightly sore. Making a tight fist was impossible. Was remarkably accurate though.
I rotate a J Frame in my CCW mix. I don’t carry as much as the others only bc I’m significantly more accurate with my LCP2 and SA Hellcat. I still cant hit shit with it compared to the others. Gut shots all day. Will keep training with it in hopes I get better. But it kills my tendinitis when shooting. I’ve lightened the trigger, added a longer grip and painted the front sight.
I wore out my S&W Model 642 after just ~7,000 rounds. I really liked it though, I want basically the same gun, but one that will not beat itself to death with just standard 38Spl +P ammo... so this seems like the right choice. I want that 357 Mag added durability over a 642, however I still just plan to shoot 38Spl through it... even for concealed carry. My 642 cylinder arbor hole egged out so bad, it reached a point where the timing made the revolver unreliable. Bullets started tumbling, and I had failed primer strikes because the firing pin was hitting too far to the side rather than dead center. This revolver is very cool in that it should not only be more durable than the 642, but it's also even lighter than the 642.
Great review, I bought a used 640 Pro series after not owning a revolver in many years and it has been my EDC since I bought it. I was at my local gun shop today and bought a nice used 340PD with CT laser grips, took it to the range and ran 20 rounds thru it and can’t believe how well this thing shoots for being lightweight. This might be my new EDC.
@@ronaldbak2092 I have a guy in Dallas that is selling one for $775 it hasn’t been shot. But there is also another guy that has gone down to $600 but it doesn’t have the ct laser it comes with oem grips and some vz. Do you think the CT laser grip is crucial?
@@olvera6710 That depends if you going to shoot 357 mag out of it, the stock grips are small and I have big hands, so the laser grips helped with the recoil, it’s still going to be painful to shoot 357 loads, but I like having the laser grips,’you can also look at the hogue rubber grips for around $30 which also do a great job and would save you a few bucks, decisions decisions.
@@ronaldbak2092 Indeed decisions decisions. Haha I will definitely be shooting mags out of it. I never had a pistol with a laser so I was wondering if it helps in shooting close range. Thanks for the insight.
My CCW rotates between a S&W 638, and an old (1964) Colt Detective Special. The airweight j frame is a neat little gun for EDC - light, easy to conceal, you can wear it all day, and hardly know it's there, but the recoil impulse is very stout, because it's such a light gun. The DS is about 50% heavier, being an all steel gun, but much more pleasant to shoot (and holds an extra round). Either way, love the little snubnose revolvers.
Funny, I got the same revolvers (tho my DS is a '57, still a long butt thought like I'm assuming yours is). Love them both, though my hands don't fit the long butt DS well, even with grip adapters. I find I must hook a pinky under the butt. It works fine, not optimal. A round butt j frame with grip adapters though...perfection. That said I carry both often. I really want a Colt Cobra with a Hammer shroud, short butt. I have a nickel short butt cobra once butt trigger wasn't great on it (vs the great one on my DS). Still, with short grips and grip adapter I thought the Colt was just as good as my 638 in feel.
@@1972glm I have two Det Specials. A '64, and a '66 - the 64 is a long grip, and the 66 has the new, shortened grip and oversized panels. Wish I had a 1st gen square butt, but haven't been able to find one near me.
I own a 360pd and I can totally see why the bloom would come off the rose after the first range session and it would get pawned in a hurry for something easier to shoot. It's _painful_ to fire .357 magnum. But I like the option to anyways.
The Remington 125 grain magnum jhp does around 1250 fps in a 2 inch barrel, the Remington 125 38 +p load does around 850 fps out of a 2 inch barrel, i prefer the magnum loads in my model 60😊
I will be picking up one of these in about a month. I also ordered a Mika holster and the LG-405 Crimson Trace grips. My primary EDC is and will remain a Shield Plus but the 340 intend exclusively for pocket carry, in my running pants and also for short errands. That 135gr Gold Dot 8n .38 Special is hard to find, seems like its the 125gr version everyone stocks. I will also try Speer's 135gr light magnum load which only tacks on another 100 fps or so compared to the .38 +p, see if that is tolerable in the helium weight 340 PD.
My revolver carry journey went from J frames, to 2.5” 686+, to Colt King Cobra Carry 2”, and now I’m carrying a 3” Colt Python. I don’t mind the weight, and the Python will fit in my front slacks pocket. 👍👍👍
On my second 360pd. Wore the first one out to the point Smith deemed it not repairable and sent me a brand new one! Can't beet the power to size ratio of these j frame 357 mags.
@@thefungusshow2535 shooting a lot of 357 magnums. Made everything loosen up. There was a ton of slop. End play, yoke play, and was shaving bullets from being miss aligned when firing from lock up issues. That and the barrel shroud actually came loose on my last range session and could rotate about a 1/4" in either direction.
Sell me the S.L variant...been carrying my 340PD 10+yrs speed loader on the belt and strip in the offside pocket..Really would like to find a S.L. Variant for edc.
20 plus years ago, during police off duty firearms quals, I was shooting my glock 29 and the guy next to me was shooting this with full power .357 mag loads. We had to shoot the ammo we were going to carry, on the same police course we shot for qualifications. That's 50 day and 50 night. Here's the thing...I showed the range instructor the high dollar stuff and switched it for umc 180's right before. The 340 guy...yeah he didn't switch the rounds out and after the day shoot everyone was talking about the 10mm boom in that watered down umc stuff. And as well the 340 idiot firing .357. When we got to the night fire I heard him saying "Ouch!" Everytime he fired.
Just curious on this issue with erosion on the cylinder and barrel! Did it occur again after smith piton a new cylinder? Seems like it could be a concern for people buying this. Just trying to find out as much as I can, before purchase. I would appreciate any info you can give.
@@bobjohnson1633 thank you for the limited information. At least it is a start for me, but can you elaborate more or can someone else please? What cleaning solvents and tools would be safe for the titanium cylinder and barrel, so it won’t erode? Also, there have been other videos that have talked about the cylinder eroding just by shooting the firearm and there was no mention of it being cleaned. It seems like this would be a major issue that Smith and Wesson would know about so for them to keep manufacturing this revolver with these particular metals, there must be a fixed of this or certain ammo to use or something. There have to be plenty of people who have this revolver who have experience and knowledge to pass on. Hopefully somebody can provide additional information, because nobody would want to buy this and not be able to clean the gun correctly or have to send it back to Smith and Wesson constantly
I was once told to use Hoppes Elite to clean the cylinder. I have a bunch of that stuff. Also depending on what loading you use that could also create erosion on the cylinder face. I did a vid on this a while back.
@@TheOl1911 Thank you for the reply. I actually watched the video that you’re talking about. You mentioned Speer Gold Dot 135 Grain Ammunition being the best one to use or a good one to use for this firearm. however, I still don’t think I’ve gotten the answer to the question I had. Have you had the cylinder and barrel erode more than one time? After you sent it back to Smith and Wesson for the repair and the new cylinder, has the erosion happened again? I recently called Smith and Wesson to talk to them about this firearm even though I do not on it yet. I wanted to find out what they would tell me when I talk to them about the issues of this revolver. The gentleman on the phone knew of none of these issues or at least he pretended like he didn’t know of any. He told me that Smith and Wesson would not warranty erosion issues on this firearm unless there was solid proof that the correct ammunition was used which he stated to be 120 grain or higher ammunition. He said any ammunition above 120 grains whether it be 38 special or 357 magnum would be appropriate for this firearm, but if any erosion happened it would have to be some thing the user would have to prove that he used the correct ammo to make the erosion happen before they would fix it. That’s why I’m asking you if you had to send the gun back to Smith and Wesson more than one time? For the repair or replacement due to erosion issues?
So far I have only seen a couple people make videos on the erosion issue many other people have this firearm and have not made a lot of comments or videos about it from what I can find on the Internet. Smith and Wesson told me the gun is still in production and they go out the door nearly every day out of their company to suppliers. They acted like this is a non-issue, but from watching all your videos and a few other peoples comments online, it sounds like it is an issue that just doesn’t go away. It almost sounds like if you buy this firearm, you should plan on not shooting it very much or make sure you’re able to prove that the erosion happened while shooting the correct grain of ammunition. It’s a very odd scenario, at this point I’m not so sure I would want to buy this firearm with such a little reasoning and information how to avoid the erosion
The hollow points your using will likely not expand. Especially through clothing. There are tests of them out there. 4 inch they are fine. 3 inch would probably be ok. But not a two inch barrel. I would use buffalo bore all copper 110 grain plus P hollow-points in .38 special. Or their full power hard cast .38 wadcutters.
The hard cast wad cutters don’t expand at all. I carry them in my 642, but honestly there are some very good .38 loads on the market now that meet FBI penetration standards and still expand. I’m not sure if you’re getting a full 12” of ballistics gel penetration with the lighter BB HPs. They definitely expand but I’d need to see evidence of adequate penetration.
@@thebean8255 Yes out of 3-4 inch barrels those loads expand. The new HST rounds in .38 plus p do expand. But most fail when tested with a clothing barrier. The buffalo bore hard cast wadcutters punch a nice sharp edged .38 diameter hole for 14-15 inches. Hollow points that don’t expand just slip through without cutting anything.
Mine came with a rubber and a wood hammer (I mean handle)….lol It’s great for carrying but sucks for shooting…. 5 357 210gr’s weight as much as the gun…..hahaha ouch!!!!
@JuiceMonkey756 yea I decided to steer clear of the 360PD and ordered a Ruger LCRX in 357, its an all steel frame and cylinder and with the polymer trigger control unit it weighs 17.1 ounces which is plenty light enough for a 357 magnum without the pricey exotic metals
Bout how long I have had mine. I bought 500 rounds of Federal 125 grain HP ammo. I still have a box or two. So the 340 PD.... ALL J FRAMES SHOOT THE SAME. why is that important? Well... you are not gonna shoot that 340 PD. much... but if you have spent 40 years shooting 50k or so rounds out of J frames? who cares? THEY ALL SHOOT THE SAME. minus of course the recoil. In truth.... and I am not recoil sensitive. But this is a whole nuther world of recoil... At 15 yards my first round is almost one inch from the exact center of the bull. My next? maybe a couple of inches away... after that? Well... now I am a J frame fan. I (or anyone else) can hit a 5 gallon bucket at 100 yards with at least 3 out of five This will do the same.... if... you don't flinch... you will flinch! So why not use 38 spl in the 340? cause it is stupid. you do not need to practice with the 340. practice with an airweight. Why ring the cyl and.or put wear on the 3430.... makes no sense whatsoever. Like you I carry the thing ... uh.... always. in sticky holster that fits in the front pocket of my Levi's and does not show AT ALL. to do that I had to use wood secret service grips..... making recoil even worse. WHO CARES? They say that in a tense situation you not only don't feel the gun go off but your hearing shuts down (to an extent) also.... I am here to say that both are true. no... not gunfights... snakes.... rattlers... once it was 3 feral dogs (dog owners suck) 44 mag hot loads. I probly kill 12 snakes a year where I shoot? If I have time to think about it.... IT IS LOUD AND KICKS! if it is OMFG moment? I seriously do not recall the recoil or blast.
S&W should update the 340PD with a new model. How? -3" barrel - Full lug for better extraction - Tritium Fiber optic sights like the TFO - 8lb trigger - 6rd Polished silver cylinder but still scandium ( to stand out from the 340PD) If it's still scandium then all those features should be 14oz. Call it a 340 Detective Magnum This essentially would be a K Frame 3" Magnum A cool feature could be - Cylinder release button. Press the button then the cylinder automatically pops out. This feature might be asking too much.
Wish gun companies would pay attention to comments like these. Slightly bigger barrel would be nice, although 3 in would take this out of pocket carry for most. I mainly wanted to see a concealed hammer like the 638 has. Being able to fire this in single action would be awesome.
@bigdaddyhoffman1911 0 seconds ago I have at lease three, all with "laser grips". Been caring one loaded with good self defense hollow point .357 magnum rounds for many years and I'm almost 70 years old, love it but it's not a good range revolver. Sweet Cherry Self Defense Revolver Pie....!!! Thanks
Snubby revolvers are so convenient to carry and very adequate for daily use. They're excellent travel companions.
Absolutely
Love the wheel guns and the holster videos. I have the 442&642 in my CCW rotation and hell yea ya gotta practice. Looking forward to seeing that 2x2x2 ammo carrier.
Nice review...and thanks for introducing me to the Mika Holster....ordered one for my 442.
I got one when they first came out years ago. It’s looking pretty worn. Still shoots great and it is my constant companion.
Hi .
Just watched your video, it’s June 2024 and it’s still year of the Revolver . 😊
P.S. 6 years of painful s&w 69 bliss .
Very good and sensible review
Love the revolver videos, I can’t carry one due to ambulatory issues.( I can’t load a cyclinder as easy as my shield plus. It’s just nice to see the variety available to us all.
Coming up on 6 years with my Ruger LCR. Love a snub.
Great video. I carry the M&P 340 PD daily w/38 SPL +P in either a DeSantis Superfly pocket holster or on the hip in a Galco Combat Master OWB holster. It carries and conceals very well in either configuration. Highly recommend the HKS Speedloader (36) and Hogue grips (takes a lot of the pain away if you're putting any 357 Magnum rounds through it). The only real issue I've experienced with this J frame is the screw on the cylinder release coming loose from time to time. Thanks again for sharing!
I've have a few dif j frames and I really like em, the model 60 was my favorite cus it was all stainless steel. And I've also had a sig p238 which I loved too, and I nvr had a single malfunction with it. But that's also more expensive, you can get a j frame for quite a bit cheaper than a p238. I'd also like to see a video of that milt sparks holster too
I sent a new360PD and new model 60 Ladsmith both to SW for repair before firing due to a bugs in the action. Catching when they shouldn't. My Performance Center 637-2 was perfect new as expected. I was willing to wait for free repair on the two of them due to availability in my area. The service was good. I went with exposed hammers due my hand strength. I'm fine two handed, but one handed I'm not strong enough to hold aim as too much of my strength is used on the heavy trigger. I'm a thin aging fellow ha. Up close and personal it's fine for a quick few shots either hand. I practice drawing from pocket using thumb pushed to the hammer end for smooth draw with no catch. The 360pd has become my everyday carry. Keep the videos coming .
I’m looking to add one of these to my carry rotation. I thought about the Kimber K6s for the round count, but I like this better for the weight.
I've also got a Mika holster for mine as well and a LCR. However, I've found that the Mika holster has no retention; if one ever went to the ground in an altercation, etc. the revolver could come out unless the pocket is very tight. I've tested this with numerous pants and it came out. Just something one had better consider. I' don't use one anymore for that reason!
I’ve carried my Ruger LCR for 9 years now. When I bought it I never thought I would use it. I own or have owned every whiz bang 9mm compact/micro. Always end up with the LCR
I have the 340 M&P. It is a phenomenal revolver. I like everything about it, it's smooth and reliable. The night sight is a plus. At 13.8 ounces it's a handful with .357 magnums, but I can handle it well. 38+p's for practice, 357 mags for carry.
I have the 360PD and just ordered a 340PD. The higher backstrap on the 340 makes a difference for me. Learned that from a video with Masaad Ayoob. It fits my hand better and offers better recoil management. I only use .38's in it. Tried one .357 thru it and it was awful. My LCRx .357 is barely manageable with .357's. This makes a great pocket carry piece. I have a Galco horsehide pocket holster that's great. Great review. Thanks for sharing!
After firing 20 defensive .357 rounds in my 340 PD, I said no more of these through that feather weight. Anymore and I would develop a flinch in addition to a sore hand.
360PD is what I started pocket carrying recently. I was carrying a Sig P238 in a wallet holster for years due to being exra self conscious of printing. I gave gotten used to work type slacks with loose=fitting pockets so as to disguise. A jframe on my skinny frame. Great video. Always looking at options.
P938 is a raspy little thing recoil wise. I have a P938 Equinox, it's a classy little pistol tho...
I have the M&P340 No Lock. It appears to be put together properly. It's always gone bang. I got it back in 2022. I actually am carrying the same ammunition that you are because I have a good supply of it. I prefer the idea of a steel cylinder over titanium. It's also a bit cheaper. I did put a larger grip on it so that it fits my hand better with all three fingers. That hasn't hurt it in pocket carry for me. I have a nice Kramer pocket holster and a Kramer OWB belt holster. It's super comfortable to carry and I don't find it difficult to shoot with reasonable competency. Magnums do hurt though. Given that you only have five rounds before having to do a reload, I do wish there was an intermediate round between 38Spl+P and 357 Magnum.
The S&W 43C makes a nice training gun. It's 22LR and is virtually identical to a 340 in dimension, trigger, and sights. Unlike the M&P340, the front white dot sight doesn't have a tritium vial in it.
I agree with everything you said in this video review. I carry a 340PD everyday in a pocket holster. I added Crimson Trace LG-305 laser grips which make the gun very accurate and are 1/2" longer than the stock grips so I get better purchase and hold. These guns (340/360PD) are expensive but they're worth the money IMO. I carry mine loaded with Buffalo Bore 158gr .38 Special +p soft lead semi wadcutters...the old "FBI load" and I carry 3 reloads on Bianchi speed strips. If I have to go into a city I carry the above PLUS a Glock 20.
1911’s and revolvers (especially snubbies) goes together like PBnJ. I’ve not had trouble shooting J’s (or LCR’s). They feel good in my hand and point well. I fire frequently to 25 yards (and beyond) with good results.
just bought one of those mika holsters for mine. waiting on delivery
Milt Sparks does something to their holsters that no one else on the planet does. They reinforce the holster mouth with metal. Everyone else uses a strip of leather or nothing. Those other holster mouths tend to collapse causing reholstering problems. Milt Sparks holsters are the best holsters made.
This is the most compelling revolver for carry in my opinion. Nothing like it out there chambered in .357…
Everyone in the county knows when you light a 357 in it! LOL. It also makes people at the range jump. It might be the one gun where you can miss and still take down an assailant! XD
@@FudmottinI heard someone say that the one shot stop reputation the 357 magnum had was in part due to the flash bang concussion effect the round produced at close range...lol
@@anonymousf454 It certainly has a flash bang effect when shooting it from a tiny ultra-light revolver!
I have the same one it does kick but not bad enough that I don’t shoot it and I use the same ammo you do but, for the practice ammo I use Speer 135gr full metal jacket. Now I have a bunch of friends that will never shoot it again.
@@Fudmottin I wonder if anyone back in the 80s ever had their jerry curl catch fire due to the muzzle flash of a 357 magnum....I could hear the chuckles at the police station now. Man what a time...lol
Just bought a S&W 340 M&P. Love it. It has the night sights. A bit heavier that the 340 PD but shoots great. Pretty accurate gun if you do your part. Took all my shots at 15 feet..
hey, hows the cleaning on it? I can't seem to find straight forward info on it
Yours looks brand new compared to mine ,mine is wore down around the trigger guard scratched up all over,still shoots great i carry speer sb 357 in it.
Nice! A J-frame always makes sense on paper & in a pocket, it's even better. But, man you're right. Once you touch off a .357mag round on the range w/one of these, you will question your sanity. 😅
And everyone else on the range will come rushing over to see if you're OK! LOL.
My only revolver and it’s about to become my go to carry. It’s not a Range toy but great for protection
I love these pistols for ccw.❤
I’ve had my no lock 340PD for about 10 yrs but keep it loaded w/+P for better control & more accurate follow up shots. It’s been flawless & I have no complaints.
How many rounds and how is she holding up?
EVER SHOT IT IN SD???DIDNT THINK SO
I cannot imagine the recoil. I had the 342PD which is identical except it has the regular 442 aluminum frame and chambered in .38 Special. Gave it to my girlfriend loaded with light .38 Special ammo as she don't shoot. Shooting it sucks lol.
I love this revolver. My most carried piece. So easy to carry its impossible to leave at home. Sure it stings a little shooting a bunch of .357 mag through it but so does being dead.
You can always carry 38
@@bobjohnson1633 This is true. I like to make things spicy occasionally.
I never thought I would find a revolver that kicks more than a 329PD. Shot 158 gr American Eagle .357 magnum in a S&W 360PD. First shot, wow! Got a shooting glove. Second shot, switch to a thicker shooting glove. Shot the rest. Next day hand still slightly sore. Making a tight fist was impossible. Was remarkably accurate though.
I’ve got the 637 performance center I really like a lot that gets carried a lot in the hot summer months in an azula belt slide holster
I rotate a J Frame in my CCW mix. I don’t carry as much as the others only bc I’m significantly more accurate with my LCP2 and SA Hellcat. I still cant hit shit with it compared to the others. Gut shots all day. Will keep training with it in hopes I get better. But it kills my tendinitis when shooting. I’ve lightened the trigger, added a longer grip and painted the front sight.
I wore out my S&W Model 642 after just ~7,000 rounds. I really liked it though, I want basically the same gun, but one that will not beat itself to death with just standard 38Spl +P ammo... so this seems like the right choice. I want that 357 Mag added durability over a 642, however I still just plan to shoot 38Spl through it... even for concealed carry. My 642 cylinder arbor hole egged out so bad, it reached a point where the timing made the revolver unreliable. Bullets started tumbling, and I had failed primer strikes because the firing pin was hitting too far to the side rather than dead center. This revolver is very cool in that it should not only be more durable than the 642, but it's also even lighter than the 642.
Great review, I bought a used 640 Pro series after not owning a revolver in many years and it has been my EDC since I bought it. I was at my local gun shop today and bought a nice used 340PD with CT laser grips, took it to the range and ran 20 rounds thru it and can’t believe how well this thing shoots for being lightweight. This might be my new EDC.
How much did you pay for that 340pd? I’m thinking about buying one used today.
@@olvera6710 I paid $750 with the box and the CT Laser Grips for the 340PD and it was like new.
@@ronaldbak2092 I have a guy in Dallas that is selling one for $775 it hasn’t been shot. But there is also another guy that has gone down to $600 but it doesn’t have the ct laser it comes with oem grips and some vz. Do you think the CT laser grip is crucial?
@@olvera6710 That depends if you going to shoot 357 mag out of it, the stock grips are small and I have big hands, so the laser grips helped with the recoil, it’s still going to be painful to shoot 357 loads, but I like having the laser grips,’you can also look at the hogue rubber grips for around $30 which also do a great job and would save you a few bucks, decisions decisions.
@@ronaldbak2092 Indeed decisions decisions. Haha I will definitely be shooting mags out of it. I never had a pistol with a laser so I was wondering if it helps in shooting close range.
Thanks for the insight.
Pocketable speedloader? Try the REVISION CV Ammo Pod. I use them for my LCRs. Should fit J frame, too.
I really wany one of those..great revolver
I recall the time I qualified with my BUG, an S&W 442, using PMC 158gr +P ammunition.
My CCW rotates between a S&W 638, and an old (1964) Colt Detective Special. The airweight j frame is a neat little gun for EDC - light, easy to conceal, you can wear it all day, and hardly know it's there, but the recoil impulse is very stout, because it's such a light gun. The DS is about 50% heavier, being an all steel gun, but much more pleasant to shoot (and holds an extra round). Either way, love the little snubnose revolvers.
Funny, I got the same revolvers (tho my DS is a '57, still a long butt thought like I'm assuming yours is). Love them both, though my hands don't fit the long butt DS well, even with grip adapters. I find I must hook a pinky under the butt. It works fine, not optimal. A round butt j frame with grip adapters though...perfection. That said I carry both often.
I really want a Colt Cobra with a Hammer shroud, short butt. I have a nickel short butt cobra once butt trigger wasn't great on it (vs the great one on my DS). Still, with short grips and grip adapter I thought the Colt was just as good as my 638 in feel.
@@1972glm I have two Det Specials. A '64, and a '66 - the 64 is a long grip, and the 66 has the new, shortened grip and oversized panels. Wish I had a 1st gen square butt, but haven't been able to find one near me.
@@jakubfabisiak9810 Nice got the best of both worlds.
Yeah those first gen Colt DS's are hard to find and expensive when yah do.
@@1972glm I got a really nice 1937 Police Positive in .32 though (same model Bronson used in Death Wish) - the action is like glass.
I have wanted an m&p340 since I picked one up. I can't justify the cost right now or for the last 10 years lol
I own a 360pd and I can totally see why the bloom would come off the rose after the first range session and it would get pawned in a hurry for something easier to shoot. It's _painful_ to fire .357 magnum. But I like the option to anyways.
J frames, LCRs, and similar very small revolvers are get off me guns. They help you get away from trouble.
I just ordered one after seeing this my friend. It’s 1150 beans now.
what kind of ammo you running
I can't find that Gold Dot load anymore. I can find their 125 +P but not the 135 Short Barrel.
The Remington 125 grain magnum jhp does around 1250 fps in a 2 inch barrel, the Remington 125 38 +p load does around 850 fps out of a 2 inch barrel, i prefer the magnum loads in my model 60😊
I'm still kicking myself for getting rid of my model 60. But I'm looking to get another one cus I loved it
I will be picking up one of these in about a month. I also ordered a Mika holster and the LG-405 Crimson Trace grips. My primary EDC is and will remain a Shield Plus but the 340 intend exclusively for pocket carry, in my running pants and also for short errands. That 135gr Gold Dot 8n .38 Special is hard to find, seems like its the 125gr version everyone stocks. I will also try Speer's 135gr light magnum load which only tacks on another 100 fps or so compared to the .38 +p, see if that is tolerable in the helium weight 340 PD.
My revolver carry journey went from J frames, to 2.5” 686+, to Colt King Cobra Carry 2”, and now I’m carrying a 3” Colt Python. I don’t mind the weight, and the Python will fit in my front slacks pocket. 👍👍👍
Ooh, you messed up. Should have gone with a 686+
I've got a 4 inch python made back in the 70's, I won't carry it though, instead I carry a 629 performance center snubnose loaded with 44 specials.
@@bobjohnson1633 I’m back with the 2.5” 686+ 👍🤷🏼😉
@@frankbutta9344you speak my language with regard to all revos mentioned. As such, interested in your reasoning for evolving back to the 686+, 2.5 ?
Wow I like that milt Sparks holster. I've been using a Bianchi number 57. That looks better!
Seriously - if you are interested in one just get one! It truly is a very nice holster for a j-frame. Works very well.
Could you do a video on the sop9 and prove to these plastic wonder people that capacity is not the issue.
On my second 360pd. Wore the first one out to the point Smith deemed it not repairable and sent me a brand new one! Can't beet the power to size ratio of these j frame 357 mags.
What wore out on the first one?
@@thefungusshow2535 shooting a lot of 357 magnums. Made everything loosen up. There was a ton of slop. End play, yoke play, and was shaving bullets from being miss aligned when firing from lock up issues. That and the barrel shroud actually came loose on my last range session and could rotate about a 1/4" in either direction.
How many rounds you got through this bad boy
I don’t understand why you would carry it without .357…. Defeats the purpose of this specific j frame.
Sell me the S.L variant...been carrying my 340PD 10+yrs speed loader on the belt and strip in the offside pocket..Really would like to find a S.L. Variant for edc.
20 plus years ago, during police off duty firearms quals, I was shooting my glock 29 and the guy next to me was shooting this with full power .357 mag loads. We had to shoot the ammo we were going to carry, on the same police course we shot for qualifications. That's 50 day and 50 night. Here's the thing...I showed the range instructor the high dollar stuff and switched it for umc 180's right before. The 340 guy...yeah he didn't switch the rounds out and after the day shoot everyone was talking about the 10mm boom in that watered down umc stuff. And as well the 340 idiot firing .357. When we got to the night fire I heard him saying "Ouch!" Everytime he fired.
Just curious on this issue with erosion on the cylinder and barrel! Did it occur again after smith piton a new cylinder? Seems like it could be a concern for people buying this. Just trying to find out as much as I can, before purchase. I would appreciate any info you can give.
They put a delicate coating on it that is easily damaged by the wrong solvents or brass brush. Then the titanium easily corrodes.
@@bobjohnson1633 thank you for the limited information. At least it is a start for me, but can you elaborate more or can someone else please? What cleaning solvents and tools would be safe for the titanium cylinder and barrel, so it won’t erode? Also, there have been other videos that have talked about the cylinder eroding just by shooting the firearm and there was no mention of it being cleaned. It seems like this would be a major issue that Smith and Wesson would know about so for them to keep manufacturing this revolver with these particular metals, there must be a fixed of this or certain ammo to use or something. There have to be plenty of people who have this revolver who have experience and knowledge to pass on. Hopefully somebody can provide additional information, because nobody would want to buy this and not be able to clean the gun correctly or have to send it back to Smith and Wesson constantly
I was once told to use Hoppes Elite to clean the cylinder. I have a bunch of that stuff. Also depending on what loading you use that could also create erosion on the cylinder face. I did a vid on this a while back.
@@TheOl1911 Thank you for the reply. I actually watched the video that you’re talking about. You mentioned Speer Gold Dot 135 Grain Ammunition being the best one to use or a good one to use for this firearm. however, I still don’t think I’ve gotten the answer to the question I had. Have you had the cylinder and barrel erode more than one time? After you sent it back to Smith and Wesson for the repair and the new cylinder, has the erosion happened again? I recently called Smith and Wesson to talk to them about this firearm even though I do not on it yet. I wanted to find out what they would tell me when I talk to them about the issues of this revolver. The gentleman on the phone knew of none of these issues or at least he pretended like he didn’t know of any. He told me that Smith and Wesson would not warranty erosion issues on this firearm unless there was solid proof that the correct ammunition was used which he stated to be 120 grain or higher ammunition. He said any ammunition above 120 grains whether it be 38 special or 357 magnum would be appropriate for this firearm, but if any erosion happened it would have to be some thing the user would have to prove that he used the correct ammo to make the erosion happen before they would fix it. That’s why I’m asking you if you had to send the gun back to Smith and Wesson more than one time? For the repair or replacement due to erosion issues?
So far I have only seen a couple people make videos on the erosion issue many other people have this firearm and have not made a lot of comments or videos about it from what I can find on the Internet. Smith and Wesson told me the gun is still in production and they go out the door nearly every day out of their company to suppliers. They acted like this is a non-issue, but from watching all your videos and a few other peoples comments online, it sounds like it is an issue that just doesn’t go away. It almost sounds like if you buy this firearm, you should plan on not shooting it very much or make sure you’re able to prove that the erosion happened while shooting the correct grain of ammunition. It’s a very odd scenario, at this point I’m not so sure I would want to buy this firearm with such a little reasoning and information how to avoid the erosion
The hollow points your using will likely not expand. Especially through clothing. There are tests of them out there. 4 inch they are fine. 3 inch would probably be ok. But not a two inch barrel. I would use buffalo bore all copper 110 grain plus P hollow-points in .38 special. Or their full power hard cast .38 wadcutters.
The hard cast wad cutters don’t expand at all. I carry them in my 642, but honestly there are some very good .38 loads on the market now that meet FBI penetration standards and still expand. I’m not sure if you’re getting a full 12” of ballistics gel penetration with the lighter BB HPs. They definitely expand but I’d need to see evidence of adequate penetration.
@@thebean8255 Yes out of 3-4 inch barrels those loads expand. The new HST rounds in .38 plus p do expand. But most fail when tested with a clothing barrier. The buffalo bore hard cast wadcutters punch a nice sharp edged .38 diameter hole for 14-15 inches. Hollow points that don’t expand just slip through without cutting anything.
Can you tell me, where you buy the pouch for rounds? I need one.
Look up Simply Rugged Holsters
thanks
Mmmm wound be good for summer carry
Oh yeah I had that model and it’s a HAMMER on the hand when it goes off LOLOL
Mine came with a rubber and a wood hammer (I mean handle)….lol
It’s great for carrying but sucks for shooting….
5 357 210gr’s weight as much as the gun…..hahaha ouch!!!!
Shot my 360PD. Cracked 2 frames. Currently on the 3rd frame. 357mag capable.
How many rounds before the cracks?
@@takumisato7126 Roughly about 400-500 steady diet of 357. Nothing was at or under 120grains. Bear loads, hot buffalo bore loads mixed in as well.
@JuiceMonkey756 yea I decided to steer clear of the 360PD and ordered a Ruger LCRX in 357, its an all steel frame and cylinder and with the polymer trigger control unit it weighs 17.1 ounces which is plenty light enough for a 357 magnum without the pricey exotic metals
I say go small or go home with my S&W 43C.
11.3 oz.
Bout how long I have had mine. I bought 500 rounds of Federal 125 grain HP ammo. I still have a box or two. So the 340 PD.... ALL J FRAMES SHOOT THE SAME. why is that important? Well... you are not gonna shoot that 340 PD. much... but if you have spent 40 years shooting 50k or so rounds out of J frames? who cares? THEY ALL SHOOT THE SAME. minus of course the recoil. In truth.... and I am not recoil sensitive. But this is a whole nuther world of recoil... At 15 yards my first round is almost one inch from the exact center of the bull. My next? maybe a couple of inches away... after that? Well... now I am a J frame fan. I (or anyone else) can hit a 5 gallon bucket at 100 yards with at least 3 out of five This will do the same.... if... you don't flinch... you will flinch! So why not use 38 spl in the 340? cause it is stupid. you do not need to practice with the 340. practice with an airweight. Why ring the cyl and.or put wear on the 3430.... makes no sense whatsoever. Like you I carry the thing ... uh.... always. in sticky holster that fits in the front pocket of my Levi's and does not show AT ALL. to do that I had to use wood secret service grips..... making recoil even worse. WHO CARES? They say that in a tense situation you not only don't feel the gun go off but your hearing shuts down (to an extent) also.... I am here to say that both are true. no... not gunfights... snakes.... rattlers... once it was 3 feral dogs (dog owners suck) 44 mag hot loads. I probly kill 12 snakes a year where I shoot? If I have time to think about it.... IT IS LOUD AND KICKS! if it is OMFG moment? I seriously do not recall the recoil or blast.
This video must have been a challenge from a friend: “I’ll bet you can’t make a video and say “J-frame” 100 times without a comment.” Right ?
S&W should update the 340PD with a new model.
How?
-3" barrel
- Full lug for better extraction
- Tritium Fiber optic sights like the TFO
- 8lb trigger
- 6rd Polished silver cylinder but still scandium ( to stand out from the 340PD)
If it's still scandium then all those features should be 14oz. Call it a 340 Detective Magnum
This essentially would be a K Frame 3" Magnum
A cool feature could be
- Cylinder release button. Press the button then the cylinder automatically pops out. This feature might be asking too much.
Wish gun companies would pay attention to comments like these. Slightly bigger barrel would be nice, although 3 in would take this out of pocket carry for most. I mainly wanted to see a concealed hammer like the 638 has. Being able to fire this in single action would be awesome.
@bigdaddyhoffman1911
0 seconds ago
I have at lease three, all with "laser grips". Been caring one loaded with good self defense hollow point .357 magnum rounds for many years and I'm almost 70 years old, love it but it's not a good range revolver. Sweet Cherry Self Defense Revolver Pie....!!! Thanks
5 ROUNDS TO GIVE YOU ARTHRITUS AND HEARING LOSS..BUT HEY ITS CONVENIENT TO CARRY..LMASSOFF