Well, I had a couple of firearms that “needed trading” so a couple of weeks ago they went toward a new S&W 351PD in 22 magnum. I really like the idea of a extremely lightweight revolver with low felt recoil and a step up in oomph over 22 long rifle. I originally was going to get a NAA Pug until I handled one at the local gun store. The PUG is truly a marvel but I couldn’t figure out any way to grip it comfortably that allowed a reasonable cocking/trigger pull method. So...I didn’t get discouraged and asked to see the 351PD. Minutes later I was completing the required paperwork to take her home.

The 351PD is really, really light. When I picked up the box I wondered if the fireearm was actually in there! It truly slips in/out of the pocket using the Sticky holster for my LCR. The grips are beautiful and feel good in the hand with my pinky finger tucking nicely under the bottom of the grip. The front orange sight jumps out as long as there is some light, and if you set that orange dot in the bottom of the rear sight trench, it shoots poa for me. Very easy sight acquisition.

Out of the box the trigger is smooth and consistent...but very heavy in DA. I would guess the DA was 16+ lbs in DA and measured at 3.5-3.75 lbs in SA. That just won’t do so I cleaned, lubed and changed the trigger return spring to 14 lbs, then did hundreds of dry fires with snap caps. Trigger improved greatly and now weighs in somewhere in the 12-13 lb range for DA and right at 3 lbs for SA. Trigger return is still plenty forceful. DA weight is an estimate because my gauge only goes to 11 lbs...but it is breaking pretty much right after the gauges limit. I am satisfied with the DA trigger now and the SA pull is really nice, and it should improve a little more with continued use.

Shooting impressions...this thing is really fun to shoot! I put about 100 rounds down range from 7-10 yards, using a pretty even mix of CCI maxi mags and Hornady critical defense. No malfunctions at all.

Shooting in SA is almost unfair once you get the sight alignment and grip down. Just put the orange dot at the bottom of the trench, and it was right on for me. I had to experiment with support hand placement a bit to ensure my thumb did not interfere with my trigger pull. I have average size hands but fairly long, narrow fingers. DA shooting was more challenging as I had a tendency to pop up the barrel a bit causing me to shoot 2-3 inches high and a bit to the left. But by the end of the session I was getting much better at shooting in DA.

This little revolver is as accurate as the dude behind the trigger pull. If I do my part there’s no way I’ll be able to complain about accuracy. I don’t think I’d have any problems shooting steel plates out to 25 yards and probably beyond, especially in SA.

So far, I really like this firearm. It will eventually become my go to carry option for times when I need something light and easy to conceal. Just needs a little more range time to verify reliability and improve my shooting consistency in DA.

It is a bit pricey but I believe Smith and Wesson has a winner in the 351PD.

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That’s a good looking revolver.

You have a winner there! Thanks for the excellent write-up.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I've been debating one of these.... how do you feel carrying it for self defense?

I have one and love it - as many here know.

Approximately the same ballistics as the .380 acp.

Tell me, ScottN, did you get the face of the cylinder all covered with copper residue from the magnum rounds? If so, were you able to remove it? I've stopped trying, lol.

Enjoy the gun - great little piece!

For me it fits a very specific role. It will be ankle carried when I need to dress up, and it will be pocket carried when I wear gym shorts or sweat pants. I feel very comfortable using it for this role. My primary carry is a 357 snub nose.

Generally speaking, it may be a good carry option for anyone wanting a low recoil option but still has the hand strength to pull through a fairly heavy DA pull while holding the barrel steady.

22 mag is not likely to be anyone’s first choice in a defense cartridge but 7 rounds certainly provides a level of comfort. I also found that a 10-round 22 speed strip can be loaded 2-skip one-2-skip one-2-skip one-1 and then dropped in a pocket very easily making for a pretty quick reload. Voila, fourteen rounds of 22 mag at the ready!

Yep, mine has the same residue.. It didn’t bother me enough to work at removing it. Although, I did find through google searching that Flitz makes some products that supposedly work if I’m ever of a mind to do something about it.

You will almost instantly ruin the coating on your aluminum cylinder getting after burned residue, definitely do not use flitz.
On a side note one of these days I'm gonna spring for a 351c no lock..spendy little gem, but it's a must have.

Thanks for the heads up on the Flitz!

I have the 351C. Much better for concealed carry!

My buddy has one NIB for sale, the 351 PD. He looked 2 yrs for one for his sister and when he found this one, she had already found one on her own. Looks like a neat little gun.

Charlie

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Charlie

I've had the 351c for several years. Trigger is still a bear but I haven't messed with it. My cylinder face does not have the residue, but strangely the cylinder face was not finished at all, just raw alloy.

.22 Magnum has done the job when called upon for self defense. Even the little NAA minis have accounted themselves well in that role.

That's exactly what I want it for! I usually carry a 45 shield but I'm starting to find myself more and more wearing gym shorts or cotton shorts around the house and running around town to do errands. A shield doesn't exactly work well and causes droopy pants lol. I recently condensed all my guns to a few calibers and 22 mag is one of my hunting rifles.

I've also debated a Lady Smith in .357 magnum but then I'm opening up another caliber to stock ammo for. How do they compare in weight vs a J frame in 38 or 357?

I cannot give a comparison to a j frame in a centerfire caliber. I own and prefer the Ruger LCR when it comes to centerfire snub nose revolvers. <Insert pause for the forum to react to blasphemy just stated > The LCRs are not as pretty but I sure prefer their DAO trigger to the centerfire j frame triggers I’ve experienced.

So, here are some weights I gathered using my wife’s kitchen scale while she was conveniently away. All weights are for loaded firearms.

Ruger LCR 357 with factory grip = 19.3 oz

Ruger LCR 38 with boot grip = 14.65 oz

351PD with factory grip = 12.65 oz

FYI, the LCR 38 is loaded with the ARX 77 gr ammo which is obviously very lightweight.

The 351 is about 1/3” shorter in length and height than the LCR 357. It less than a 1/4” shorter in length and height than the LCR 38 with the boot grip

Hope this helps

Imho you picked a winner. I bought one for my wife. I started her with a small auto. Then she went from that to three different j frames. The last being a 637. After surgery on both hands ( thumbs ) recoil became a issue for her. So I bought her the j frame 22 Magnum. Her 351pd stays in her purse. Loaded with Hornady Critical defense ammo.

Wow that is a huge difference. I think my wallet and cell phone weigh more then a loaded 351. I definitely need to go look at one of these. If this is the case I can see myself carrying more often then letting it locked in the glove box.

I carry my 332TI for the same reasons extremely light, easily fits in a front pocket and doesn't pull your pants down. .32 H&R mag is a decent SD round. I have been thinking about a 351PD, well just because.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

I believe I got the weight of my 351c down to 12.1 oz by using alloy grips, 30gr ammo and removing the lanyard pin

Wrap a cell phone lanyard around that pin for use in thickets, streams, rivers, barns...anywhere you don’t want to drop your revolver.

So after reading your post and seeing the weights of a loaded 351pd, I went ahead and purchased one. Got it on gunbroker used like new for $500 shipped. No box but oh well. I figure if I don't like it I can easily get that back out of it. The cheapest I could find online was $615 shipped.

Today again I had gym shorts on while out doing some grocery shopping and other errands and left my shield in the glove box. I'm hoping this revolver fills that spot..... at least for the summer time.

Congrats Shtf45acp! I think you’ll like it but it takes some practice to become proficient with the heavy DA trigger, especially if in factory configuration.

I got out to the range again yesterday to renew my carry license, then decided to put some rounds through the 351. I shot 3 cylinders of the Hornady CD followed by 4 cylinders of Speer Gold Dots. The Gold Dots shot extremely well. Either my 351 really like the Gold Dots or the rounds with the Hornady served as a good warmup to improve my trigger mechanics...probably a little both.

I plan on shooting it a lot hopefully. It's a hell of a lot cheaper then shooting my 45's lol.

Are you considering doing anything with the trigger pull? From the research I've done s&w raised the trigger pull considerably over a center fire revolver for a more positive strike on the rim fire cartridge. Is it recommended or do people mess with it because of this and possibly having a miss fire?

That's a sweet little revolver.

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Life is short,live it fully.

I don’t plan to do anything more than I mentioned in my original post...cleaned and lubed, installed a 14 lb trigger return spring then dry fired a bunch with snap caps. That improved the trigger a lot but it’s still a 12-13 lb pull but that’s a whole lot better than 16+ it must have been from the factory.

Changing the trigger return spring won’t cause light strikes. The main spring ignites the primer and I left that one alone other than lubing it.

Your best bet is likely to seek out a competent gunsmith to tune the action. I’m not a gunsmith but have had good results with installing the 14 lb return spring. Your mileage could vary.