[Benello]

I am thinking about getting a Smith 340pd snubbie with the titanium cylinder and scandium frame. It’s a 357 magnum and weighs about 11.4 oz unloaded. I just have a sweet spot for Smith snubbies and although I have a 638, I’ve always been intrigued by the 340pd.

I know it will hurt to shoot, but I don’t care. I know it’s almost a thousand dollars, but I understand the materials dictate that some. I just think it’s cool and wonder if anyone who owns one has any regrets or if they are still pleased with theirs? I’d like to think it carries well, heck it’s about 2 oz. lighter than my regular G42 that I pocket carry without issue.

Some may say, there are a lot better guns to spend almost a grand on, and I’d agree in some ways, but I kinda want some more wheel guns in the stable and have all other bases covered.

 

[bac1023]

I only like steel revolvers personally.

I guess if you plan to carry it, its a decent choice. I don't buy new S&W's though.

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

I don't have one, but you should definitely buy one.

Write a review, with pics too, in this forum.

Also try full power .357 magnums. Curious to know how that goes.

I have the 637 and 642 for .38. And the all steel 640 for magnums. Personally, while I'd try a magnum in a 340 for the fun of it, I can't imagine shooting them in it for any other reason than tricking your brother in law

 

[Maccabeus]

I like mine. I love the light weight combined with the ease of j-frame carry.

I don't regret buying it, but I also don't consider it a flexible gun that can fire .38 or .357 as I imagined before buying it. Technically it can, but I will only carry .38+P in it after a few test shots with the magnum rounds. I save those for my Kimber K6s.

 

[boyscoutG36]

It's the best 38 you'll ever own, I've loved the few I've had. With magnums it felt like my fillings were loosened.

 

[pittpa]

Carrying in leather OWB it is scary because sometimes you can't tell it is there and have to reach to check. I shot a cylinder of various full power 357 rounds to see what it was like. The trigger guard cut my trigger finger. Speer SB 357 is tolerable.

 

[Mike2x]

I have a 342pd 38spl only. Greatest pocket J frame I have ever owned. Not fun to shoot, but great to carry. I cannot imagine firing .357's.

 

[Benello]

Thanks for the replies thus far. Seems like overall it’s a winner. I can imagine the recoil with the 357’s. I’d most likely do a cylinder and then be done I’m sure. Mostly interested in 38’s just nice to have the capability for the magnums.

Plus to me it just seems like a neat piece of engineering with the materials involved, just for that reason alone to have in the collection.

 

[boyscoutG36]

They are great revolvers. Read the manual regarding cleaning the Ti cylinder, I've have seen a cylinder pitted and ruined due to improper cleaning.

 

[-JCN-]

I am thinking about getting a Smith 340pd snubbie with the titanium cylinder and scandium frame. It’s a 357 magnum and weighs about 11.4 oz unloaded. I just have a sweet spot for Smith snubbies and although I have a 638, I’ve always been intrigued by the 340pd.

I know it will hurt to shoot, but I don’t care. I know it’s almost a thousand dollars, but I understand the materials dictate that some. I just think it’s cool and wonder if anyone who owns one has any regrets or if they are still pleased with theirs? I’d like to think it carries well, heck it’s about 2 oz. lighter than my regular G42 that I pocket carry without issue.

Some may say, there are a lot better guns to spend almost a grand on, and I’d agree in some ways, but I kinda want some more wheel guns in the stable and have all other bases covered.

I don't have one, but you should definitely buy one.

Write a review, with pics too, in this forum.

Also try full power .357 magnums. Curious to know how that goes.

I have the 637 and 642 for .38. And the all steel 640 for magnums. Personally, while I'd try a magnum in a 340 for the fun of it, I can't imagine shooting them in it for any other reason than tricking your brother in law

I have a 340 PD. You can shoot 357 magnum out of it, but with that barrel length it has the ballistics of short barrel 9mm and is way less shootable.

It’s an extremely comfortable gun to carry, but I find myself wanting more capacity, so I carry this one instead when I carry revolvers.

 

[Wlfman13]

I have two words... “Buy it.”

I originally saw my first 340PD used, for $860. Instant Bucket List.

Fast forward 5 years, after waiting for the right price. I found one for just over $400, with a XS Big Dot sight, which is what I had planned to install, anyway.

38Spcl loads are pleasantly robust.

357Magnum loads feel (almost) like you lit a firecracker, closed your fist, and let it explode. I say (almost), because you wouldn’t [I don’t believe] hold a firecracker more than once and go back for more. After 5 consecutive 357Magnum rounds, you will be glad you didn’t commit to shooting an entire box of 50. However, it’s not unmanageable. It’s just unpleasant.

But, that’s the point. It’s very pleasant to carry, a little unpleasant to shoot, and definitely unpleasant to be on the receiving end of it.

On the list of guns that I own, its in the “never to be sold” category.

After considering the first two (listed in the photos) names listed, “Little Miss Dangerous” won out.

-Wlf

 

[MurrayNevada]

I liked it but went with the 340M&P. A slight increase in weight (approx. 1.5oz.) but I thought worth it for the PVD coating and stainless steel cylinder. It also has XS tritium night sights. At the time there were some issues with set-back in the rounds in the cylinder. I think this was with light bullets (115gr). I don't know if it's still an issue or ever really was an issue.

 

[ede]

I have one it'll hurt you shooting magnums. Son had one and qualified with it for a BUG shooting my mag reloads. His hands/ fingers were brused and bloody from shooting it.

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

You can shoot 357 magnum out of it, but with that barrel length it has the ballistics of short barrel 9mm and is way less shootable.

I think we established that those Speer 135gr are only magnum lite. With real magnums, the snubby beats 9mm. But you have to hold on with all 3 hands

 

[boilergonzo]

I have one. The above are all spot on. I love it. It is just CRAZY how light this gun is! It amazes me. And I won't part with it. It is a great winter, put-in-your-coat-pocket gun. The weight (or lack thereof) is stunning. It isn't an LCP/P3AT, but for the size it is simply stunning.

On the flip side, it feels like getting kicked by a mule when shot. It hurts a bit. I have suffered through four cylinders, but it was brutal, and I was beginning to flinch. As noted, one cylinder is PLENTY if shooting full strength .357 Magnum!

I would say get it. Absolutely! Very sweet gun! But...

Know it is not a fun range gun,
You do need to avoid harsh cleaners on Titanium/Aluminum or you will mess up the anodizing,
and it is a bit pricey.

But I will never part with mine. Fun little bugger! Mine has a Crimson Trace laser on it, so the grips aren't quite perfect...

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

Mine has a Crimson Trace laser on it, so the grips aren't quite perfect...

Not perfect in the pic, or in your hand?

I have those same grips, and the hand fit for me is pretty good, similar to boot grips. But in pics, they can look bulkier than they are.

 

[Henny]

I carried my 340PD for years. Great handgun for carry. Not bad for shooting 38s out of. 125 magnums feel like you’re hitting your hand with a ball peen hammer every trigger pull.


It’s all good though!

There’s a lot of misconceptions about magnums out of a snubby. I chronographed mine using similar ammunition.

The ammunition I tested was the common ammunition issued to agencies in my area - at the time. I was issued the 125 Remington. The test bed was my 640.

The difference is the magnums are well over supersonic where the 38s aren’t. When I still carried my 340, I carried the magnums in it.

I don’t carry my 340 anymore. I sucked it up, and I carry a G19.5 MOS with a RMR every day. More bullets and more holes are more better. Plus my eyes are going to hell. The RMR is a godsend.

NOTE: sorry about the poor quality pictures. They are OLD!

 

[bubbatime]

I have one and have had it for a decade. Yes, with the Crimson Trace grips, it’s a $1000 gun. I bought it because it’s the BEST deep conceal revolver you can buy. Period. Money is no object to me when I think something is the best there is, for the task at hand. Yeah you can get 2, almost 3, regular 442 j frames for the same cost. But that 11 ounce gun just disappears into a pocket.

My gun collection won’t be without a 340.

I used to carry it every day of the year. The introduction of the P365 put the j frame back in the safe. I’d still have no qualms carrying it , I just am more comfortable with 11 rds of 9mm and a spare mag vs 5 rounds and a slow reload.

 

[Benello]

So I’d assume CLP is safe for the titanium cylinder?

 

[boyscoutG36]

MilPro7 is good and a normal toothbrush or nylon bristle brush for the chambers. Where people run into problems is using bronze brushes and chemicals that can etch the finish. It has a matte finish so powder residue can get trapped on the outside of the cylinder, it doesn't effect function but some people over clean their guns to the point of damaging them.

The bad case I saw was a guy that used Hoppes and a bronze toothbrush to scrub the front and sides of the cylinder. After about a year of qualifications and maybe 50 rounds through it, he showed it to me and asked if there was an issue with his cylinder. The face of the cylinder was eroding away, it was subtle but there was definite damage. S&W did replace the cylinder under warranty, but I think it was mostly his fault.

Oh and never use stainless brushes on a Ti cylinder, titanium is tough but it's softer than most stainless steels.