340pd durability

[Cal44]

My main EDC is a 340pd.

Usually carried with 38 special std pressure.

I need to do some serious practice .

My question is, should I practice with the 340pd or should I use a steel m36 for practice?

Will a 340pd hold up to a few thousand 38 special practice rounds?

What is the usual failure mode for one of these scandium Air Lites?

 

[pasound]

With 38's it will never show anything but a line around the cylinder.

 

[rockquarry]

Is there such a thing as a "usual failure mode"? I doubt anyone can answer such a question beyond a casual guess. There are light J-frames snub noses and heavy J-frame snub nose guns. The lighter ones have more noticeable recoil than the heavy ones and it may take a little longer to recover from recoil with a light gun. Other than that, they're about the same. Both guns require much more shooter skill than a heavier, larger-framed revolver.

If you wear out a gun learning to shoot proficiently, you're way ahead of many others that don't take the time to become proficient. The price of a new gun replacement is of little consequence in comparison to developing shooting skill.

Lots of people today seem needlessly obsessed with "round count". It's a term we never heard before Internet forums. Few shooters wear out guns, but if it happens, it shouldn't be viewed from a negative perspective.
Get good with both your guns. You'll be glad you did. Don't worry about "round count". These guns aren't collectors' pieces.

 

[KalamazooKid]

I've carried one for 13 years and have put a LOT of rounds through it. My normal routine is to shoot 50 or so 38's and then always shoot one cylinder of 357. And trust me, your hand will wear out before the gun does.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Have fired lots of 357 for years without an issue. I don't think 38 hurts it much.

 

[No Quarter]

I shoot mine every trip to the range. I have shot plenty of 357 and 38 special through mine. No issues at all. Still tight and cylinder shows no erosion.

I love this little gun. I say blast away. It'll handle it just fine. The more I've shot it, the better I have been able to manage the recoil. One of the best purchases I have ever made.

 

[waffles]

If yours is anything like my 340SC you'll wear down the scandium frame where the cylinder stop is and be waiting 4+ months for an answer from the mothership.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Shoot all the 38 Special you want in it & don't worry about hurting it.

But do shoot what you'll be carrying in it, and still don't worry.

My carry handloads are not quit full 357 loads that I practice with too.

In general they're stuff enough & if something fails S&W can fix it.

They still make plenty of Sc framed J-frames.

.

.

 

[SAFireman]

If yours is anything like my 340SC you'll wear down the scandium frame where the cylinder stop is and be waiting 4+ months for an answer from the mothership.

Waffles is right. The frame lug will wear if you shoot it enough. It happened to me. S&W took care of it in a few days, they replaced the frame and shipped it back to me. That lifetime warranty is a good thing

Don't worry about wearing it out.

This pic was taken several years ago, right after the frame was replaced, it shows a lot more wear now.

 

[just plain joe]

I posted here back on 07-15-2019 about problems with my 340PD. It was in regards to a question about "Frame Cracking in Scandium Revolvers". It is as follows:

" I had a 340PD I purchased in December 2004. I ran less than a box of .357 Magnums through it. I shot many standard and "+P" .38 Special loads through it as it is the firearm I carry during the summer months. Last October, after LEOSA quals, I noted a crack in the frame directly beneath the barrel/forcing cone. I contacted S & W and they requested I forward it back to them. After examining the firearm, they provided me with a new 340PD.

You may wish to do a search here as I think this may have been discussed. I believe that others have experienced similar problems. "

Just to make you aware I wanted to include this. Was this a fluke? I really don't know. Smith & Wesson made it good and I was happy. I now carry the new revolver and have had no problems.

HTH.

JPJ

 

[mstem]

If yours is anything like my 340SC you'll wear down the scandium frame where the cylinder stop is and be waiting 4+ months for an answer from the mothership.

I have had to send several guns back to S&W. Some new, some I purchased used. I called, was polite with customer service person & they were polite with me. Every time I explained the problem I was having. One call I had cleaned a new Model 29 & a new Model 57. The blueing turned cloudy. I told the person what I had done & he asked if I had used a certain cleaning product which I had. He ask if I had read the instruction manual? I told him no. He said if I had I would have known not to use it on guns with locks. Then he ask for my email address & was going to send me a shipping label. I sent them in & 10 day I had 2 brand new guns, different SN's, at no charge. Everything else I have sent to S&W were back within 2-3 weeks. With the exception of one I sent in about the time the chicom flu hit. That one did take 3 months. I expected longer with no more people than they had working. So all I can say about S&W customer service is it's fantastic! And courtesy goes a long ways!

 

[Muss Muggins]

You'll wear out before that 340PD does . . .

 

[waffles]

I have had to send several guns back to S&W. Some new, some I purchased used. I called, was polite with customer service person & they were polite with me. Every time I explained the problem I was having. One call I had cleaned a new Model 29 & a new Model 57. The blueing turned cloudy. I told the person what I had done & he asked if I had used a certain cleaning product which I had. He ask if I had read the instruction manual? I told him no. He said if I had I would have known not to use it on guns with locks. Then he ask for my email address & was going to send me a shipping label. I sent them in & 10 day I had 2 brand new guns, different SN's, at no charge. Everything else I have sent to S&W were back within 2-3 weeks. With the exception of one I sent in about the time the chicom flu hit. That one did take 3 months. I expected longer with no more people than they had working. So all I can say about S&W customer service is it's fantastic! And courtesy goes a long ways!

Glad to hear you've had a good experience with them. Maybe next time I'll get that good customer service as well, in the interim I'll keep waiting and occasionally following up with them and get told new dates that pass or get told "I have absolutely no idea" when asking whats being done. Now I'm just hoping I'll have it back by shorts season.

On the topic of durability, this is my third dead j frame (1st scandium, other two were the classic airfreight frame cracks). I feel pretty comfortable saying that if there's a known flaw where through normal use you will wear down the frame enough to need replacement (in guns that, for obvious reasons, are not seeing high round counts) the revolver is not durable. It is light though, and thats a tradeoff I have to live with.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Recent update on S&W:

This last week I sent back a new 19-9 "Classic" that was bought new but had several problems. They told me it would take a month or two.
I asked how long it would take them to fix a 18-3 with a slightly bent extractor rod and worn cylinder stop, they said six months. We'll fix that one locally.