Just traded for a fired 5x, SW 342Ti, NO lock, snubbie. You guys with ‘em, what am in store for? I heard the 5 bullets that go in it, are heavier than the gun? I’ll pick it up this weekend, when I get home. Input/feedback on this model would be greatly appreciated. All I know is it was fired 5x, comes with all original paperwork, case, sleeve, etc...Thanks
PS, After further research, gun is PD/Ti, blued finish, Orange front ramp sight.

Actually, the gun floats, and five bullets are necessary to keep it in your holster. When you fire it, you'll find out why it only has five rounds through it. Kind of like when the 29 first came out, it was common to find used ones in great shape, with a box of 44 rounds included.

Like with the 29, folks vary in their reaction to the recoil, and differ in their judgments as to the importance of whatever reaction they experience. GRIPS and ammo choice will affect the recoil, A LOT. Especially grips.

I had one once. I don't now. I still have my .44 Magnums.

I have a 360J scandium 5 shot J frame that a friend bought for his wife, she fired it one time and put it back in the box. He never fired it.

It is a good carry weight however it is a handful shooting anything other than 148gr wadcutters, which is what I load it with.

I have a 342 ti and carried it for number of years. We qualified with it annually, firing 50 rounds day and 50 night. Our issue round was a Gold Dot +P. I told people who asked about it that it was 364 days of pleasure and one day of pure pain. Needless to say its a bit snappy with +P ammo. Painful with regular 38. Could not fathom shooting the later models with full bore 357 magnum ammo.

I now carry a 940, of which many people say its too snappy to shoot. After the 342ti, the 940 is a pleasure to shoot.

Bill

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Bill

It is a brutal gun to shoot, and I am experienced with the 340 models in .357. A very experienced, retired NYPD officer who has more experience with firearms than most has stated on this Forum that it this is one gun that hurts him to fire. Almost forgot, you'll have to try different loads in this gun as the "crimp jump" issue will rear it's ugly head on this .38. Be forewarned.

FWIW, be careful with the finish on this model. The KlearKote (?) finish on my 342 peeled off after using GunScrubber, which I use on all of my firearms.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I have the 340 M&P and love that little sucker. I don't like shooting too many .357 rounds out of it though. Great to carry you might forget that your carrying it.

The 342 may just be the ideal revolver for pocket carry. It is so light you can actually forget it is there.

Recoil is very manageable with the right grips. In my case, the right grips are Crimson Trace LG-405s.

The air channel at the backstrap cushions felt recoil to a great degree but even with the CT 405's Magnum loads in an AirLite or AirWeight are a handful.

digiroc

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Shoot Well My Friends

I had a 360PD that I fired one cylinder of full house .357 Corbons through just to see what it was like. Recoil was brutal to say the least. I practiced with .38 +P, which while not nearly as bad as .357, was still pretty snappy. I carried it with the Corbons until I traded it. It was a dream to carry. I had a clip on it with one of those trigger guards and would often forget it was even there. I traded it because I wanted to find a DAO 340PD, for which I’m still looking. I still have a box of Corbons with 45 left waiting for it.

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

Congratulations!

I like the old saying that firing the 342/340 with +P38/357mag was like shaking hands with the devil

Congrats on acquiring the finest deep carry revolver made! I carry one frequently and think it's a shame they stopped making the gun. I like it so much I have a second as a back up!

Be careful with your grip selection as they can make or break the gun, from both a shootablity and weight/carry stand point. I don't see putting heavy grips on such a light revolver, and some of the light grips are simply painful to shoot.

The crimson trace listed above are a good choice, very similar to what I went with, the houge monogrip, with laser ofcourse. It's light and helps absorb recoil.

Congrats and don't be afraid to get out and shoot it!

Got one exactly like the one you have, minus the box & paperwork. Doesn't matter as it will never be sold anyway.

Took a little getting used to at first, but now the recoil doesn't bother me. I practice mostly with standard pressure loads and an occasional cylinder of +P, but I carry it with +P.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

The most painful revolver I have ever fired and I've been shooting for 60 years.

Stu

I can safely say in 40+yrs of shooting EVERY caliber, almost every model handgun, it WON’T be the most painful! I’d give that honor, to the .454 Casull I HAD!

I had a 4inch Redhawk (not a Super RH), rechambered by Hamilton Bowen to 475 Linebaugh that was quite painful as well.


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VCDL, GOA, NRA

It is pretty snappy, but the crimson trace grips really help. This is definitely my go to when absolute concealment/comfort is key.

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Finally got around to bringing home that 342PD tonight. Yeah, it’s SWEET! Mint condition, fired one cylinder’s worth, MAYBE. My question is, are low end to moderate lead loads, ok in this model? Is the +P Jacketed inscribed on bbl, just a capacity limit?

As I understand it, it means that +P should be jacketed, not just lead. Read the instruction book's detailed comments. Regardless of barrel inscriptions and instruction book's instructions, all loads, especially lead-bullet loads, should be tested for ability to hold a bullet in the case under recoil. Load with five rounds, fire four, and look at the fifth. The bullet should still be where it was in the case when you first loaded it into the cylinder.

Read the enclosed slip, explained everything. No +P LEAD loads! Took it out this evening, fired 50rds of my Low dose 158gr Lead RNs, and 50rds Gold Dot 130gr +p JHP, Lawman. While definitely not a range toy, recoil was manageable, accuracy surprised me. Much more accurate than my Dad’s old 36 steel Chief’s Spl. Gun is definitely a keeper!

Congrats!

Here's my 2001 342. Fired less than 1 box by my Brother's Wife then sat in his safe for 15 years. Now resides in mine. Outer Box, Case, Lock, etc. etc.

I shoot my 1988 60-3 Chief, 1971 Charter Undercover and 1990 Ruger SP101 for Snubbie Relief.

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One of my absolute favorite and often carried.



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America First

I found a 342 PD for a great price last year.

I don't shoot lead because it will stain the cylinder.
(Be careful how you clean the cylinder by the way.)

Mine is actually more comfortable to shoot than my 642 was.
Makes no sense I know.
I had a 342ti previously and had the same experience with it.
As long as it wears a Hogue Bantam grip, I would rather shoot it 10 times than a 642 one time.

I actually prefer the recoil impulse with the Bantam grip to the Crimson trace.

That's just me.

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