[ClosetCaseNerd]

Took an inexperienced buddy to the range today. We figured what the hell, lets rent something. I had him rent the funnest pistol in then cabinet, no, not the one in the title. I had him rent a buckmark .22....followed by the pistol in the title :twisted: .



Disclaimer: I am a bad person. I am a particularly bad person for failing to notify my friend of just what we were renting, and the gravity of touching off a .357mag round out of a 12oz scandium/titanium pistol with a grip you can't even get your pinky around, sporting a barrel measuring less then 2 inches (someone we let try it out expressed concern about powder burn, I told them that if it's happening, you'll be focused on more pressing issues....like the tingling that indicates nerve damage in your palm).



So as I teach my friend calmly how to hold a revolver compared to a semi auto, and casually pass on the advice "now, hold onto this..." he takes aim, me with a chit eating grin standing behind him, wondering if I will need a catchers mitt to catch this snubbie as it leaps over his shoulder in recoil.



So my buddy touches off the first round, and simultaneously as the round is exiting the 1 and 7/8's barrel he bellows WHHHOOAAHHH... he turns around, a bit bewildered. Heads poke out of several lanes up and down the firing line, wondering whos got the hand of god itself in lane 3.



My buddy takes a deep breath, shaking hands, clamps down and lights off another round. He sets the pistol down, walking away shaking his head repeating how "thats not fun". I managed one cylinder and another single round before I was "done".



We let a few other fools on the lanes take their crack at it, nobody took more then 3 shots. Everyone giggled as they walked away, and I'm still giggling. Flinch is such an understatement. Its more like: gut check. You watch people begin to apply tension on the trigger, the cylinder lurches, but then pauses, then turns a fraction of an inch more, then a pause....then a sigh from the shooter and the last little bit taken with a wince.

Model: 340PD

Caliber: .357MAG/.38+P

Capacity: 5 Rounds

Barrel Length: 1 7/8"

Front Sight: Red Ramp Front

Rear Sight: Fixed

Grip: Rubber Grips

Frame: Small - Centennial Style

Finish: Blue / Black

Overall Length: 6 3/8"

Material: Scandium Alloy/Titanium/Stainless Steel

Weight Empty: 12 oz.

 

[Round Gun Shooter]

That's my carry revolver but with some updates:



Moonclip conversion

Better fitting wood grips

MagNaPort



And a lot of practice with it. After the MagNaPort treatment, it made my carry ammo easier to use. 135gr 357MAG Gold Dots

 

[ko41]

I've got this one on order.......

at 13.3 oz. and with the CT grips with the recoil reduction pocket on the backstrap it should

be a pussycat to shoot compared to the 340PD :wink:

KO

 

[G56]

I've got a 642 Airweight in 38 special +P, I got some of those Speer loads designated for short barrel revolvers, they are +P, when I shot it for the first time....OUCH! As I recall I only shot 3 rounds of that ammo, that was plenty! I might carry those rounds, but for practice I'll be shooting something a lot milder!

 

[YukonGlocker]

I have shot the 340PD before also. Yes, the recoil with full house .357 loads is very stout.

I routinely shoot my 642 with standard 130gr. .38 loads. And I carry +P which I occationally shoot also. I can't wait for the 340 M&P. I think that will be the ideal J-frame.

 

[trio]

i had the scadium .44 mag once...I never shot more than 6 rounds of full .44 mag through it in a range session... .44 special was fine...i remember i was at the range one day and a guy was there with a .500 and he was like...pffft...so? and i was like, sure, go ahead and try...he only got through 2 rounds...i eventually sold it to a guy that wanted a lightweight bush gun for big game hunting out west....i dont understand how you folks do it...and I should say that i am a really big dude, and i couldnt do it...i had a friend say he was going to man up and did 12 rounds in "relatively" rapid succession...the line of purple that surrounded his thumb for the next week was just atrocious.. (of course for the week after that it was green and orange...and then the next week it was brown...and then finally the next week was it normal colored...)

 

[40SX]

The S&W 340 PD is my go everywhere, always have weapon. It is always loaded with Winchester 145 grain .357 magnum Silvertips. Between me and my girlfriend, we fire at least a 50 round box of the .357 ammo downrange about once a month. She fires two cylinder fulls and I shoot the rest.



It is NOT a fun range gun, but a very light weight personal defense weapon that you will always have with you with no excuses or regreats if you should ever have the need for it.



Actually she would rather shoot my S&W 629 with 3" barrel with full power loads than the 340 PD, but she does very well with either one.



Dennis

 

[ClosetCaseNerd]

I have to say, it wouldn't of been so bad if I didnt split my thumb open on the 2nd round. With my thumbs curled and locked down, in recoil the gun's sharp edge of the cylinder would strike the cuticle where the skin and the nail meets on my support hand's thumb. It cleaved off a nice peice of said cuticle, and just chomp'd its way up towards the knuckle with each successive round. That really added to the experience, lemme tell ya

One thing I dont understand is why they didn't pad the tange like the one ko41 posted. It just seems so logical...

 

[Round Gun Shooter]

I have to say, it wouldn't of been so bad if I didnt split my thumb open on the 2nd round. With my thumbs curled and locked down, in recoil the gun's sharp edge of the cylinder would strike the cuticle where the skin and the nail meets on my support hand's thumb. It cleaved off a nice peice of said cuticle, and just chomp'd its way up towards the knuckle with each successive round. That really added to the experience, lemme tell ya

One thing I dont understand is why they didn't pad the tange like the one ko41 posted. It just seems so logical...

Proper grips made the difference for me. Take a look at the 340PD with the wood grips. It is ported and Moon clipped and a great carry gun.

 

[raz-0]

That's jsut mean. You shouldn't do that toa new shooter.