In my LGS today and he has Model 351C for $620 and a 351PD for $690. The "C" does not have the lock and the PD does. Both are factory fresh. I am trying to decide which one to buy or to buy both. It appears the front sights can be changed out. The "C" white dot is too small, so does anyone make a larger and brighter white dot? The PD has the orange tube that is also not that bright and I would rather have a green tube or a big white dot for it. LGS says it can't be changed out, but the sight is pinned like the "C".
Also, I like the idea of a double action of the PD, but like the humpback of the "C" for pocket carry. Grips are too small on both. Just trying to decide which one to buy or just buy both and customize them. Also, the trigger pull feels heavy, so after about 500 rounds and I decide to do a trigger job(s) I would like some recommendations for a pistolsmith. Any suggestions to my concerns? Also, the LGS won't come off prices, so is he in the ballpark? Thanks for reading my ramblings and I would appreciate your feedback.

they would not last long.
hope you end up with at least one.
I am trying to find the C myself.
i seen the pd model at gander mountain not long ago for 780.00 and no play in that price. 620 is cheaper than used ones are selling for at a online auction i watch from time to time.
good luck
Mike

XS Sights makes the Big Dot, a large white night sight. It helps a lot. There are two versions, one requires gun smithing, one simply glues over the existing sight. Either gun should accommodate them. Personally, I like the WMR caliber a little more, but that's just me.

I do not own either, but have yet to see a pinned sight I couldn't get changed.

.22 anything J's are always in demand, I don't see prices on them doing anything other than rising, if you can get both and have the money, by them both. You can always sell or trade later and you'll have a desired gun to do it with.

I favor the C.

I had a chance to buy em both a few months ago... I hesitated for a few days before deciding I wanted the PD, I liked the front sight, grips and the hammer.. went back the next day and it was gone.. I agonized over it for another day before going back and buying the C.. heck, I want it for CCW, it's not a range gun.... I put a nice set of custom combats on it, went to the range and fell in love.. carried it for the last couple weeks, it's great carry IWB, forget it's there... I'm happy I ended up with the C, It's the right gun for me.. but you can bet... if the opportunity arises... I'll have a PD some day too... just because.....

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Jack C

351C
In a self defense situation, you will never use single action.
Since a 2 inch barrel isn't a target gun, I saw no use for the hammer.
My C has no lock. It came with the same rubber grips as a 642.
Since there is no recoil, I ordered the smooth wood grips
that come on the PD directly from S&W.
I would not consider any type of action/trigger job on a rimfire.
I realize the trigger will be harder, but reliable ignition
is what's most important to me.
Mine is loaded with Hornady Crirical Defense.
CCI also make a similar bullet (5 grains lighter).
A Gold Dot Short Barrel.
Both at a little over 1,000 fps from a 1.875 inch barrel.
If you think that's impressive, Winchester now has
a PDX1 in 22 Magnum. 1200 fps from a 1.875 barrel.
Here is a link to an article in American Rifleman
where they compare these 3 bullets and a few others
from a 1 inch, 1.8 inch, 4.6 inch and 22 inch barrel.
They give fps, 2 penetration tests and more.
In Los Angeles, The PD sells for $729.00.
The C runs $40 less due to the rubber grips.
The 22 Magnum is a very under rated bullet.
It makes a very nasty wound channel
and is very easy to control for rapid follow up shots.
7 shots. No weight. No recoil. No jam. Pretty powerful too.
What more can you ask for in a close range defensive weapon?

The .22 Magnum for Self-Defense

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I chose the 351c and I'm quite happy with it. $620 is a good price; I paid $689 +tax.

It's a great cc gun for pocket carry.

I'd go with the 351C, but I'm somewhat biased as I own a 43C. Forget the action job. Dry fire it with empty cases either to smooth up the action or acclimate your trigger finger. I wouldn't dare lighten the springs of any sort of .22 J Frame.

Dave Sinko

Thanks for the all the feedback. I'm going back Monday and if they are still available I'm bringing them home. One more question. I know these are close range "point & shoot" type revolvers, would the Big X White Dot (I think that's what it's called) change the point of impact in relation to point of aim at 25' to 75' or would it be a moot point?

When in doubt buy both, you won't regret it.

You can't shoot precision with the Big Dot, but you are not buying target guns . You can still consistently shoot a good group in the A zone with it. That will do it for me.

I think you made a good decision getting both.

In hopes that both are still available Monday a.m. I have been looking for a set of retro j frame target grips like I used to have on a Chief Special .38 I had some years ago. Put those on the PD and put the PD grips on the C. Haven't had any luck finding a set today online. S&W don't show j frame target grips anymore. I googled them with no luck.

I would think the 351PD is the better choice for precision shooting and the 351C the better choice for carry. The white dot works well for getting the front sight quickly on the target, but you won't win any bullseye matches with the 351C.

Not intending to shoot Bullseye. It just that the j frame Factory target grips fit my hand more comfortably.

Well, I snoozed too long. Went back on Monday and both were gone.

Sorry to hear that. They wouldn't last long in Albuquerque either.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Agree-the small grips are really small and that's why I bought a pair of Hogue mono grips.

Trouble is, if you follow Hogue's installation directions, you will invariably scrape the bottom of the frame with the metal "stirrup" leaving some scratches in the matt blueing(closer to black)-this is unavoidable if you follow the instructions exactly.

So, make sure when installing the stirrup you install from the bottom of the frame-not from the side as per the instructions(or you will cause scratching)-and bend the stirrup apart a little first.

BTW-any ideas about how to repair/touch up scratches?

Don't know if they will ship but a LGS right down the street from me (Massachusetts) had a 351PD NIB. PM me and I'll give you the details. Maybe they will do a deal.

There are two 351C guns on Gunbroker, over $750

Rifles, Shotguns and Handguns for Sale - Buy Handguns, Rifles, and Shotguns Online at GunBroker.com

Nice guns, after reading this thread I think I need one. Thanks a lot guys!

I have the XS large dot on my S&W 340PD. Love it! If you're wanting some custom work done I highly recommend Gemini Customs in KY. Marc did a great job on my little pocket gun. Double action only, it shoots where you point it way past where you'll most likely need it for SD.

I purchased a 351PD before the C came out a few years back. Paid $659 plus tax. Although I generally prefer hammerless revolvers for concealed carry, I think the PD offers a definite advantage for those with weak hand strength to still utilize them for self defense. Rimfires naturally have a heavier trigger, and I have two very petite daughters that just don't have the hand size/strength to pull the trigger any any DA revolver. The PD with the external hammer is my choice for that reason.

I own both and love the 351C. It's deadly accurate at 25ft. I performed a trigger job, (polishing and changing springs) and it's so smooth now. I put a set of eagle Secret Service grips on it. The 351PD sits in the safe.

Doc

I like the concealed hammer of the 351C for CC, but the 351PD has a nicer grip - and was all I could find locally this January - so I bought mine for what I thought was $599, as the trigger guard string tag stated. The LGS owner rang it up as $629 + s/t, which I didn't notice due to the CC purchase - and the madness that was early January in a gunstore. It had to go back to S&W for a new cylinder & ejector, but I was happily shooting it by month's end - and carrying it, too. The slick wood grip doesn't print or stick, and whether from a 642-sized Mika pocket holster or a suede leather pocket holster, rapid draw and fire proved the hammer to be a non-issue. The wood grip is small in my medium+ sized hands, but easily & efficiently 'grabbed', ie, no fidgeting, and the low recoil is no problem. That grip would be miserable in my 632 Pro with real .327 Fed Magnums, however (That's why it sports the larger wooden '60 Pro' grips.). The 351PD is for pocket carry - and a true 'emergency' - it doesn't have to be a 'comfortable' plinker - I have a 4" 651 for that! I'd get the 351PD, given the choice.



As to DA trigger improvement... S&W offers an $85 'clean up' - no spring changes. There is a reason for that - the Magnum rimfire primer needs a significant 'hit' to fire reliably. My LNIB 651 got lighter Wolff springs initially - and ftf's. Back went the full strength hammer coil. Enter my 351PD... I did nothing but flood it's innards free of manufacturing crud, leaving little RemOil aerosol within it. It broke in nicely - actually, very equivalent to the broken-in 651. It seems stiffer than it really is due to the lite weight (10.8 oz) of the revolver - the muzzle seemingly wanders as you pull the DA trigger. Still, it is 'doable' for my wife and myself and easy follow-ups, due to the lite recoil, permit all seven rounds (Hornady 45gr FTX Critical Defense) to be put in the COM of a bg target at 7yd in seconds - good enough for SD - the bg will eventually notice those seven new exsanguination ports you've added...

Stainz

PS I still carry seven rounds in a screw cap poly bottle as a 'slow' reload, despite having bought a Speed Beez 351-7 speedloader and 4 x 7 loading block - great range aids, however.

A few excerpts from an excellent article about the .22 Magnum round:

In my days in Federal Service a number of our agents carried two shot derringers in 22 magnum during undercover operations where a gun couldn’t be seen. Very small and easy to hide...but yet nasty if hit with a shot from one. I fired one in the air one dark night in New York City, to get the attention of my backup officers....they said it looked like the electric company lighting the night! During the 1980s several medical examiners told us to shoot for the guts with the 22 mag...that it would fold the biggest bad guy up...or at least slow him considerably. That advice was followed, and proved to be very true in several uncover shootings.....

And a few years ago I had a young adult male pull a knife on me during an arrest. I put the muzzle of the AMT to his knee and fired a warning shot. He folded up and lay on the floor waiting for the medicos to arrive, crying for his momma...big bad dude that he was. When he gets out of the facilities given to him by the state, I don’t think he will be doing any long foot races.

The round is not a true self defense cartridge, but in the right place it will slow an attacker way...way down....in 1983 we answered a call where a young military house wife with a baby, with her husband away at the Air Base, shot a burglar that broke into her home. She shot him at across-the-room range. She had a Ruger single six 22 RF magnum. Her husband taught her to aim for the third button down on a man sized target. And she did, but being fearful she keep shooting till the gun was empty. All bullets exited in a three inch or so pattern from the perp’s back and it looked like the exit of a .410 shotgun load. Needless to say she did it all exactly right, and he is no longer terrorizing young women.

The Sleeper - .22 WMR

Was the 351PD ever offered WithOut the lock?

Wow, old thread. No, the 351PD always had the IL. I'm not even sure why the 43C and 351C are spared the IL, but it was one of the reasons I chose the 351C, the other reason being that a 351PD was not available at the time

I wanted the C anyway, but I do like the PD as a carry gun, too. The trigger on my 351C is ridiculously hard to pull - my wife actually thought the gun was broken when she tried to shoot it. I have pretty strong fingers so it makes for a very safe carry gun that cannot be fired by accident. I won't do a trigger job but the 351C trigger is slowly improving gradually with use. It's still horrendous. The PD would be the more "fun" version to shoot with its SA ability. The C is like the ultimate carry package for the minimalist mindset.