Hello everyone,

Had an impromptu trip to the range today and finally shot my S&W M&P 340 J frame which is chambered in .357 Magnum. Now before everyone gets all excited, I only shot .38's in it because that's all I had with me

Federal 158gr LRN to be exact because I haven't started loading for .38/.357 yet and that's what I had left over from my first attempt at a light weight revolver in that class, the Ruger LCR. Now let me make this clear, I'm not a Ruger hater, but I HATED the LCR. I fired one cylinder of .38's in it and traded it the same day. I revisited the concept recently when I traded for the S&W. It was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up. Now I was wondering what in the heck was I thinking since I didn't like .38 in a lightweight compact revolver, what in the world would I do when I torched off a .357 in an even lighter framed gun???

Well, I still don't know that answer but after firing a couple of .38's I thought, really? I was all tense and nervous about that? It was such a non-event that I know the +P's will be fine and I won't hesitate or cringe to pull the trigger on the .357's either. I'll know for sure soon as I can't wait to take it back to the range with LOTS of different ammo.

I also could not believe how accurate this thing was/is. On a B-27 target, at five and seven yards, all five shots were in the orange. Slow and rapid fire. I'm more than impressed. I can also assure you what my new front pocket carry is. You'd have thought that in over 30 years of firing, carrying and handling firearms I'd have stumbled across this by now... I'm now officially a huge J frame fan.

Thanks for listening!

Great J Frame. Keep shooting!

I love my M&P340.

But I got to tell you shooting 357 mags out of it is painful.

38 spl and +P are ok but the mags do kick.

you got the right grips - hogue bantams. soaks up the kick.

I was at the range today and shot my 340 M&P with my Steel Challenge handloads. 38 special- 128gn RNFP with 3.5 gn TrailBoss . They had more kick that I thought they would have. I usually shot them out of a full size revolver. It was fun to see where they would hit from 5 to 7 yards. I think I'll stay with 38's and 38's +P. I don't think I can deal with 357 out of that light gun!

go with a 357 mag 110 grain and IS A WALK IN THE PARK

I was an early adopter of the 340. My most pocket carried revolver.
Add a CT grip, a Mika holster and you have the only the only J Frame necessary

+1 on not finding .357 mags enjoyable in a J frame. I carry a 60-9 but only shoot .38's in it.

Attached Images

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But then, what do I know?

Love my 340 no lock....

I do carry .357 Speer Gold Dot on occasion...
but mostly stick to Speer Gold Dot .38+P 130gr short barrel load.

While it is a handful with .357 ammo...I have found that, at "get off me" distances....I can unload all five rounds with very good speed and accuracy.

One of my fave Smith's-I had a 340 PD some time ago and traded it because I could not shoot light bullets-I really liked it and am probably one of the recoil insensitive snubbie shooters around. I later picked up a Ruger LCR in 38 which I did not like, and later got a Ruger 357 LCR which I really do like . I dunno, but it just seems a better piece. A keeper.
Now I have a new no lock 340 M&P which I truly love. Nice gun. Accurate, and to me the recoil with fullhouse light bullet loads like Cor-bon 100 gr 357 and no more than 125 gr others is acceptable and I even enjoy it! It is my pocket carry gun almost all the time. This is my little friend.
My favorite Smith, and I have a few. My next fave is a
10mm NightGuard-what a cannon! It goes with my 6 1/2" 610
Deer slayer. STOP. Have fun!

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eat dessert first