Posted: 2/16/2012 12:30:58 AM EDT
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I am looking into buying a J frame revolver.
I held the 340pd and fell in love with it instantly. I am looking for a small revolver that I can conceal carry and also shoot at the range. I have read nothing but Painful reviews on the 340pd... "terrible to shoot" "hurts" ".357 is unbearable." Are all J frames going to be like this, and I should just go with the lightest? or are those few ounces causing this much recoil compared to them? Kind of want the .357 to be able to use both. Any recommendation, or opinions on the recoil would be appreciated. -Dan |
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The 340PD can, for sure sting a lot with full bore Magnum loads, but there are some loads out there such as the Gold Dot Short Barrel 135gr Magnum (990fps) and the 125gr Gold Saber (1220fps) that are not 'full bore'. I am looking hard at a 340M&P. Less expensive, only two ounces more weight, and with a steel cylinder rather than the Ti version.
But plenty make do with the standard M442 / 642 using better .38+P loads such as the Gold Dot 135gr +P Short Barrel. |
| If you are thinking about an alloy J frame carry gun, you might want to consider getting two: one with the alloy frame for carrying, and a steel frame for practice. I am among the skeptical about long term durability of the alloy frame guns. Great for carry; not so great for range work. Steel for range work is much better. That said, mine were nearly uncontrollable with anything approaching full power ammo with the original grips. I have large hands and they are small. I put Pachmayr Gripper grips on mine and, while it isn’t pleasant, it is controllable. I tend to think of the little .357s as extra strong .38+P guns. |
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I absolutely love my 340PD. Probably the best pocket gun I've ever owned. CT grips for this gun, IMO, are probably among the most important improvements you could add to any firearm. Very light, corrosion resistant, powerful, acceptably accurate to say the least, reliable, multi-caliber. What's not to like? . 
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Quoted:
I absolutely love my 340PD. Probably the best pocket gun I've ever owned. CT grips for this gun, IMO, are probably among the most important improvements you could add to any firearm. Very light, corrosion resistant, powerful, acceptably accurate to say the least, reliable, multi-caliber. What's not to like? .http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s107/5POINT56/SW340PDCT001.jpg Mine looks like this, but I've added an XS Big Dot. This is my favorite carry gun for a CCW. |
| I have one and it is brutal with magnums, but you are simply trading shooting comfort for carrying ease. If you are only going to shoot .38's in it, get the 342PD. I agree with having a heavier J frame to practice with. I practice with a Model 60. You carry it 1000 times more than you shoot it so compromising towards carry ease is not foolish. |
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Had one, sold it. Still have a 642 which will shoot +P without the massive pain and do it for half price (the gun that is.) The PD with magnums was so bad I didn't even feel comfortable carrying it because I figured if I had to empty it in a shootout I felt it was virtually uncontrollable. Then again, I'm a big pussy 6'2" 220# Jarhead USPSA shooter. YMMV
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I love my 340 PD. I carry it with 38 +p LSWCHP loads but the reason I got the 340PD was so I could use the same 357 reload (about equal to a 38+p) in the 340 as I do in my 586 and GP100.
I have fired some full house 158 gr magnums in it and they were ouchy but not unbearable. |
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I own a bunch of j-frames in stainless, Airweight, and Airlite.
I carry my department issued load for BUGs the 135+p gold dot in .38spl in most but I do like the .357 gold dot short barrel load in a couple. Buy the 340 and shoot it... If your not too recoil sensitive go with the magnums. If you are the .38+p isn't bad 
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My 340PD is a joy to carry, but not a whole lot of fun to shoot with magnums. I carry the 135gr Speer .38 special Gold Dots in mine. I have shot exactly five rounds of .357 magnums out of it, just to say I did......It was four rounds too many! It felt like someone was hitting your hand with an aluminum baseball bat....
I got mine used off of GunBroker for around $525.00. The shop owner who sold it said that the original owner bought it, took it out once to the range, shot it and then promptly brought it back and traded it in for something a little easier to shoot. I didn't like the looks of the "Hi-Viz" front sight at first, but they sure are great for fast acquisition: 
These are not my pics, but you get the idea: 
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I have one with the CT grips, removed the lock and replaced it with a plug, and put in a spring kit, carry it in a "Simply Rugged" pocket holster. This is about the most practical pocket carry gun out there. The finish is starting to go at the corners, but I could care less if it blew off in sheets. This is a real working wheel gun and not a showpiece.
Naturally, I had to try some .357 rounds in it. When asked what it was like, I described it as similar to driving down the road trying to smack mail boxes of their posts with your bare hand. Interesting and conversational for about five seconds, then you've had enough. Now I use +P ammunition and am extremely satisfied with the arrangement. |
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Man the $%&! up and get the 340PD. You can always use 38's in it if the whole magnum thing doesn't work out. The recoil issue is really overblown IMNSHO because people keep the stock grips on it. The grip surface is small, and the backstrap is exposed. The gun moves a bit under full recoil and the exposed backstrap hits you palm like a bat. I use a slightly larger Pachmayr grip and it solves most of the problems.
This is the grip I use. |
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I've got a 360 and love it!
Easiest gun I've ever carried. The picture above with the shoulder holster shows Hogue Bantam grips.. The are better for recoil control than stock grips. I've tried Critical Defense .357 ammo next to .38 +P ammo, and shoot the .357 just as well. Maybe someone will post in this thread from your area and let you shoot a Scandium gun. The recoil is there but there are ways to deal with it.. |
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Quoted:
I have one with the CT grips, removed the lock and replaced it with a plug, and put in a spring kit, carry it in a "Simply Rugged" pocket holster. This is about the most practical pocket carry gun out there. The finish is starting to go at the corners, but I could care less if it blew off in sheets. This is a real working wheel gun and not a showpiece. Naturally, I had to try some .357 rounds in it. When asked what it was like, I described it as similar to driving down the road trying to smack mail boxes of their posts with your bare hand. Interesting and conversational for about five seconds, then you've had enough. Now I use +P ammunition and am extremely satisfied with the arrangement. How do you like the spring kit? Which did you use? |
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How do you like the spring kit? Which did you use? This is the one: APEX kit for J Frame I think it smooths up the trigger pull quite a bit. Take a look at the reviews on that page. There is also a discussion of this product HERE. |