340 M&P: new and back to the factory

[wheelyfun66]

Hey All,
I have owned a couple M&P 340 j frames over the years, and sold them off (I am famous for buying/selling/trading at an alarming rate, ha!) but recently bought another new one from a large online vendor.

Upon inspecting it, the ejector rod is bent pretty badly. I could have rejected the transfer and sent it back to the online vendor, but decided to transfer it and just send it back to S&W for repair.

The ejector rod was bent such that it caused the cylinder to rotate in a fashion where it would move up and down within the cylinder window as the trigger was being pulled.

So, it should go back tomorrow, after S&W sends shipping label.
I will keep y'all updated and am hoping that Smith takes good care of it and sends it back before TOO long.

I've got a nice set of VZ grips and a new holster from Garett Industries, just waiting to break this J frame in and get it into the carry rotation for summer days when I need super discreet carry option.

 

[Eagle1*]

That sucks man. I just got a 340 PD with the IL today and only reason I did was the gun seems have to have been put together rather well from the factory so I jumped on it at the price they were selling it to me for. Keep us posted.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Did the OP get his 340PD back yet?

 

[wheelyfun66]

Did the OP get his 340PD back yet?

Hey there,
I have a 340 M&P, not a 340 PD....
but yes, I received my 340 M&P back from S&W after roughly 8 weeks.
They replaced the ejector rod and every is perfect and as it should be.
I still have not fired this revolver and actually have it up for sale on another forum, and may post it here as well.
This is my 3rd or 4th S&W 340 that I have owned over the years, and love this model, but... I have a high dollar 1911 on order and this 340 remains unfired and as new... so it likely will go up for sale.

I am glad that S&W sent a shipping label and repaired the revolver, but still remain aggravated that QC can let a $950 dollar revolver out the door with problems! Also, 8 weeks is too long, in my opinion.

My local area does not have good gun shops, and now I don't dare buy a S&W without being able to inspect it first... so cannot realistically handle revolvers such as the 66-8, which I am interested in.

 

[1sailor]

I also live in a secluded area without much in the way of a gun shop. Driving 250 to 300 miles to look at something can get costly and time consuming. When you're in this situation you pretty much have to rely on online sellers. I've been pretty lucky so far. I also have an M&P340 that has been my daily carry for about 8 years. I'm in my seventies now and thinking maybe switching to an M640 just to make it a bit easier on me. To be honest though, the M&P340 isn't nearly the beast a lot of people think it is.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Agreed, that firing 357 mag is not nearly the beast that many folks claim it is through the 340.
Is it fun? no
Is it controllable and accurate and fast? Well, if you put in enough work, yes!
Having said that, I normally prefer a good Buffalo Bore loading in 38+P

 

[Marshal Tom]

I had an M&P 340 for many years with a nice trigger job and chamfered chamber. I recently traded it off and obtained a 649ND. I had never had a humpback before but really like it and it is much more pleasant to shoot than the M&P 340. The increased weight doesn't seem to bother me either.

 

[1sailor]

I've always liked the 649's also but, man are they expensive now that Smiths not making them anymore. Comparing used models there's about a $200 to $300 difference between the 649 and the 640.