I was able to acquire a lightly used M&P 340 for a very good price. However, I am very concerned over using 357's in it due to the light weight. Is anyone out there carrying this gun with 357's and if so what load are you using ? Also what grips give you the best in handling and recoil protection? Many thanks.

I have the 340 pd,. I use the crimson Trace grips with the gel pad in th back strap. No problem with the magnum loads.

I have one in my rotation. I have Pachmayr compac grips on it. They add a few ounces to the weight but they also fit my hand better than the crimson trace grips that came with it. With these grips I can shoot 110 or 125grain magnums loads accurately and without discomfort. My preferred carry round is Remington 110 grain sjhp.In 38+P it’s Speer Gold Dot 135 grain.

I carry my M&P340 daily stoked with Speer .357 135gr for short-barrel. Grips are Altamont boot-grips.



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GA Carry member
Vietnam Vet

My brother carries one with CT lasergrips. As far as I know, he loads .357 for EDC. He's pretty good sized, and has never complained about recoil with that pistol . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Thank you all. I have tried the CT ones with the gel pad. Also looking at Hogue laser grips (just think they may be a tad too long for concealed carry).

My 340PD is in my pocked almost daily, in an El Paso pocket holster. I used to carry it with Speer 125 Gr Gold Dots. They have pronounced recoil, but I've never had any bullet jump problems with them. Lately I've been using Federal Nyclad +P 38s. The factory grip is what I've settled on for carry. I have some nice wood boot grips, but they are painful with anything over standard 38s. They stay on the 642.



The snake loads pictured are for my morning run/walks on the City mountain trails.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Bought a 340M&P last year for my wife when she 'thought' she wanted something lighter than her steel frame 640-1. Put Hogue tamer grips on it, which are definitely easier to shoot than the stock. However, she will not shoot it any more. For .357 we shot mostly Remington Golden Saber in it or light .357 handloads. I occasionally carry it now with .38+P, but five or ten rounds of practice is enough.

I carry one daily as a backup. I had carried Corbon 357 DPX in it, but after gel testing I found that I wasn't losing much by going to Speer 125 grain gold dot 38 specials. It has been loaded as such ever since. Much more pleasant to shoot with the Hogue G10 grips.

I use factory 110gr W-W or R-P .357 Magnum ammo in my M&P 340s. The steel cylinder of the 340s permits the use of this light bullet ammo, which is a no-go in the titanium-cylindered PD model. I have been carrying these with the OEM S&W boot-grip knockoffs, but I find the longer 3-finger S&W rubber grips to be slightly more comfy when firing as they cover the backstrap. YMMV.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I pocketed mine through the summer, and now that I can wear a vest or jacket it's back in my Lobo Enhanced Pancake. It wears Hogue Bantams, and Barnes 140gr no-lead HPs fill the holes. Out of seven types from .38 158gr jacketed flat points to .357 158gr JHPs it's the ammo I best achieve POI at POA at seven yards.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

My hand loves the stock grip on my M&P 340, enough that if gripped tightly, recoil isn't bad with a moderate load under 158gr XTP. I was impressed with that bullet's performance in luckygunner's bullet testing.

I carry one daily. Don't be afraid to shoot the magnums in it.It can handle more magnums than you!

Congrats!!!

UPDATE: went to range with it. Had Hogue Bantam grips on it. Shot 125 gr FMJ Freedom Muntions 38's with no problems at all. Shot LIBERTY AMMO, 357, 50 gr. through it with no problems either. Sure, it was a steep blast but it did not hurt my hand like I had thought it would. Could it be that these guns are getting a bad rap due to the AMMO we are using in them rather than their light weight?

I know many just use 38's in theirs, but I'm not paying all this money just to shoot 38's. Think I may have found the ammo I need to keep in it.

I owned a couple of 340 M&P's a few years back. I did run a few magnum loads through them initially, but after comparing my performance in rapid one-handed fire, I decided .38 special +P was simply a much better fit and subsequently loaded them with Corbon DPX. While it's kind of nice to have the option to use it, I generally don't see much advantage in choosing .357 magnum over .38 special +P in a lightweight snubnose revolver when considering the overall pros vs cons.

Mine goes everywhere that I can carry. Took it on a 3 mile run this morning and never noticed it was in my pocket. Try that with a 3" 65, bet you will have a blister if you try to pocket carry. That and when I sweat it's like alien blood and corrodes everything. I don't shoot to many 357 out of it but 38+P is no problem. I like the option that if I need it I can use a 357. And the sights on the M&P are excellent, out to 10 yards I can roll a 4x4 all day long.

I have a 340PD with Crimson Trace LG405 grips that do a lot to tame recoil and actually keep the profile of the gun small. As for .357's, I have shot them with no problem but Speer Gold Dots in 38 sp. are much easier for followup shots.