after much reading i decided i wanted a j frame with some kind of bright stainless, bright nickel, or hard chrome finish, barrel under 2", and no internal lock. the lighter weight the better.

is it possible to take an 11.4oz 340PD and have it hard chromed? would this be a really good idea, or really stupid? i figured id end up (hopefully) with what i wanted. a superlight j frame with bright finish. is there a lock on the 340PD?

I just bought my first gun, a 686-4, 4 inch. Home defense, not CC.

I tend not to alter finishes on the guns I own.
1. For collector value
2. The don't always come out like you imagine.

If you're new to shooting and want a good all around revolver, you might want to start with a .22
A .22 is cheap to shoot, and has virtually no recoil so you can practice without picking up any bad flinching habits. It's also a great woods-bummin', put meat on the table kind of gun.

You might want to look at a used 617, 17 or 18.

You can always pick up a 38/357 J or K frame later on.

I can guarantee one thing...It won't be the last revolver you buy. They tend to multiply in your safe. Good luck with your choice.

I would never buy a J Frame for my first revolver. That's a good way to get turned off of revolver for a very long time.

J Frame guns are not for the novice shooter. In fact they are not for some experianced shooters either.
They are about the hardest revos to shoot well. Besides they are not a lot of fun at the range either.

I would recomend a nice K Framed gun to start with. A 686 would be a good choice also.

Bob

ok ill go buy a .22 k frame then thanks

If you are on a budget, there are many law enforcement K frame .38 Specials on the market in the $300 range. A model 64 (stainless) can be polished if you like shiny guns too. A .22 K frame would also be good but these are much more expensive, and you can buy a fair amount of .38 practice loads for the price difference.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

An 11 oz .357 Mag revolver is about the worst choice a new shooter could pick, other than a .500 Mag.

No, the 11 oz .357 Mag is THE worst. Yes, the 340PD has a lock, and hard chroming it is a costly option, but if you like "bling", then it's your money.
Maybe going all the way down to a .22 is not absolutely necessary, but at least rent-for-an-hour some other guns at a local range to literally get a feel for all that is out there.

Model 66 hands down first choice.

I started with a 627- 5 earlier this year and found it really addicting.
Comfortable to shoot for a long time and very accurate.
Not bad for personal protection either.
The 66 would also be a good choice, just a little smaller frame.
I found my small LCR not quite as fun to shoot recreationally, but very accurate also.

I think the Ladysmith is one of the best snubbies they ever made. FYI, I think you would like a 3" barrel better than 2" because of accuracy.

IMHO, the ultra lights are not good for anything EXCEPT carrying. If you plan to shoot the gun regularly to get skilled, buy a stainless steel gun. You can also pimp out a stainless gun to almost look like chrome if you polish it enough.

I also recommend the model 66 over a J frame, unless you are absolutely locked in on a J.

Check this site J&G Sales they have alot of used 4" S&W M-15 and M-64.
Revolver

Greetings-

I concur with those forum members who suggest that a very lightweight (e.g., alloy) J frame is not good choice for shooters new to revolvers. The worst shooting experience of my life involved .38 specials in a Model 337. These firearms require a lot of training for a shooter to become proficient in their use, and they are almost never pleasant guns to shoot. A K or L frame (Model 66 or 686, respectively) would be a much better choice for a new revolver owner in a centerfire caliber.

Respectfully,
Mike Q.

pickup a S&W J Frame 2 1/8in for my Wife. Ladysmith Weight about 22 oz. in satin stanisless. very nice shoting gun with good loads
38 spl+p Have not had a chance to shoot 357.

Depends what your shooting background is. My first was a 638, hence my handle, but I've grown up shooting many different platforms since I was a small fry.

Your milage may vary, but in general I agree that a larger frame .38 would be a more user friendly model to start with. There was a local incident where a first time shooter was handed a 44mag to touch off. End of the story was the guy standing right behind her lost his life when it bucked and she squeezed off a 2nd shot. I would bet she will never touch another gun. There is great responsibility required along with a good touch of common sense in owning fire arms.

638

__________________
Anti-gun = Anti-American

Dear Stringer, The way I selected a pistol was to go to several gun shops and ask to pick up and handle many of the revolvers. See how they feel in your hand, the balance and comfort. I would then suggest you check out a local indoor range. Many of them have guns to rent. You could go shoot a few and see what feels good in your hand. I bought a J-frame model 60-15. It's a very comfortable gun to both shoot and carry. It is a 5 shot 38spl/357mag. One member really slammed the J-frame. I couldn't disagree more. Mine is a late model stailness with an internal lock. It has given me absoluty no problems and shoots like a dream. The best trigger on a double action revolver I have had from the factory. This gun also came with hi-viz sights. Very fast to aquire the target and very accurate. I really liked the 686 as well but as I already owned a Model 19-2 I wanted a smaller pistol. It really depends on what you want the gun for. It's a very fun process and once you pick up that gun that slides into your hand and feels like an extension of your arm you will know thats the one you want. Have fun!

Howdy

I tend to agree, a J frame is not a good idea for your first revolver. Especially not one chambered for 357 Mag. Especially not a light weight one. Have you ever tried shooting a light J frame with 357 Mag ammo? Reminds me of all those used Model 29s you can find in gunstores along with a half a box of 44 Mag ammo. After just half a box, the owners decided they weren't too crazy about the gun after all. Yes, old Bob Munden can perform some pretty good tricks with a J frame, but most of us can't.

I too would suggest getting your feet wet with a K frame. My first Smith a zillion years ago was a nice Model 17 (K22). It cost me an arm and a leg ($125 in 1975) but I still have it. There are plenty of used K frames on the market for you to get your feet wet with. I dunno about $300, I ain't seen too many in that price range anymore, but there are still plenty of them out there. M&P, Model 10, K 38, you can shoot fairly inexpensive 38 Sp ammo through all of them without excessive recoil. Plenty of 357 Mag K frames on the market too.

I suggest you try out a K frame. I guarantee you will like it.

For a first revolver for a new shooter I would recommend a 686 4".

It's nice and heavy to shoot .38 specials, even with +P's very little recoil with that gun. .38 special target ammo is pretty cheap.

It is versatile for HD, woods gun, or whatever you want, and you can graduate up to .357 magnums later on without having to buy another gun.

I think that a .22 hand gun is kind of an "extra" gun to have. Kinda after you own just about everything else, and don't know what else to buy.

I don't own one and doubt that I ever will. I could see myself buying a .22 rifle someday though.

I have two stupid lightweight Smiths, a 44 and a 38. The 38 is a J frame, the Ti model when they very first came out. They have a purpose, but only gun is not it. Get a .357 K Frame 19 or 66. With light 148 grain wadcutters it will pass for a 22 long rifle if you handload. (if you don't handload, start) With 38 Specials, it is a great gun to learn the basics. You have the option of 357 Magnum loads for defense or hunting...it is about the best all around choice in my opinion.

thanks but did any1 read my actual question?

Well yes, I did, But I along with others here noted that this is a first revolver for you and your choice for that is not a very wise one.

That's all we're telling you. Go ahead and buy a lightweight, short little blaster if you want.

+1 on what Mod said.

If you choose the liteweight model you should be ready to buy a second gun real quick.

That way you'll have one you can shoot and enjoy, and one you can leave in your pocket or at home.

Bob

Get that j-frame and then try to hit the side of the barn. Make sure to close the door first. There made for walking up to someone and sticking it in their ribs and given them 2 or 3 rounds and run like hell. Only if you see they want some of you first. Your life will change for ever after you pull the trigger.CCW is not for everyone. Stick to the range

The lock can be pulled out. It isn't hard. I would on a light gun, though for all I know, they might make some without it now.

I don't know if you can hard chrome over the alloy well or not.

You can learn to shoot with wadcutters or cowboy loads, but it'll still kick.

My first revolver was an 8 3/8" 29-5 .44 Mag with the old wood grips. I loved it. Great gun. Wish that I still had it.

I'm new to the S&W Forum, this is my first post, but I sure wish that I had found you earlier, when I bought my first revolver, a 438 bodyguard. Big mistake.
The gun shop owner had me convinced that this was the one that I needed for conceal carry. As a first time shooter, and a women,this felt like a grenade going off in my hand. I didn't shoot again until this fall, when I purchased a 317 and 617 22LR, and a heavy westerner, puma legacy 357 mag. I am now having fun shooting, but it just goes to show you, if someone leads you in the wrong direction with gun choice, it sure can shake your confidence. I personally would rather have a heavier gun.

Very true and good advice there sir! I for one would not opt for CCW. And, in the state that I live in, you'd have more than your share of trouble even IF you fired in self defense.
Also;
I always laugh at the movies or TV when they show the detective pulling his 2" snub-nose .38 on a guy 60 yards away running, and dropping the guy.

Pure hilarity.