Bought a 340PD and a New 43C!!! (My First AirLites)

[SammyJoe]

Hello Fellow Forum Members!
Excited to share my latest purchases with you all.

Have been looking for a Model 43C for a while now. Saw one new in box at the GunShow on Saturday and bought it!!!
Such a fun little gun, really cool piece.
I have ran 100 stingers through it so far, flawless.

I have also been lusting over the 340PD for about a year now, it has been on my radar after seeing it soo much online.

I Just so happened to see one that was gently used in the box. It does have some strange splotches/blemishes on the inside of the titanium cylinder chambers (see pictures below).
Is this something that I need to be concerned with?
The cylinders are still smooth and shiny, yet they have what looks like splotches underneath the coating....
I am afraid to scrub or get rough at it with at all, I understand that is a no no with titanium alloy.

Anyways, I still think I got a great deal on the 340PD considering it was not carried much. I had to pay up for the 43C though. Put a set of Uncle Mikes on the 340PD, do not care for the factory fish scale grips.

Let me know what you fellas think!
The man I bought the 340PD from said those cylinder marks are harmless, what do you all think about them?
Thanks
-Sam

 

[SAFireman]

The Airweights and Airlites are great fun. The 357 mag is no fun for extended range sessions, but is a joy to carry.

The 43c is a hoot, but some folks don't like the somewhat heavy trigger weight.

Great acquisition

 

[Old cop]

I’ve had the 340PD as my EDC for about three years but keep it loaded w/+P. I found that quick & accurate follow up shots are too tough w/magnum rounds, at least for me. It’s great for pocket carry year around.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Have a 337PD great for cargo shorts carry in 90 degree weather............

 

[pbramlett]

SammyJoe. Do the splotches go away when you clean the cylinder? I just checked my 360PD which is the hammer version of that gun and I don't have that. It looks like stains from cleaning but I could be mistaken.

BTW. What grips do you have on the 340? They look like uncle mikes boot grips.

Thanks,

 

[SammyJoe]

SammyJoe. Do the splotches go away when you clean the cylinder? I just checked my 360PD which is the hammer version of that gun and I don't have that. It looks like stains from cleaning but I could be mistaken.

BTW. What grips do you have on the 340? They look like uncle mikes boot grips.

Thanks,

Hello pbramlett,
The splotches DID NOT go away with the light cleaning.

Ran a patch with some Hoppes #9 through, let sit for a minute and then light cleaning with brass brush. Ran an oil patch through and then a dry patch to finish. That cleaning left all the cylinders glossy, but still the underlying splotches.

The grips are older Uncle Mikes Boots, I buy them whenever I see them in a box of used grips. They are the best rubber boots in my opinion.
-Sam

 

[American1776]

Great choice!
My 340pd is exactly the one you have.

Mine has splotches inside the cylinder similar to yours. Unless both of ours have the same defect (unlikely), I'd assume it's normal.

A few tips: be careful when ejecting casings. Don't push to hard on that ejector rod, or else the cylinder could jump the stop and come free.
Also: check underneath the barrel, where the barrel is screwed into the frame. Rarely, a crack could form underneath there. I do this periodically.

Enjoy those airlites. They are really cool space-age wheelguns.

 

[scruffy]

I had those splotches in the charging holes of a Ti cylinder on a used 360 PD. I was told they were normal and never had a problem with it. I sold it after it locked up on me once after shooting some .357s. Not sure why, if it was the lock or not (not an issue for you) but that experience made me not trust it.

 

[No Quarter]

I love my 340PD! It has been my go-to pocket gun for several years. Depending on need, it goes in my pocket, ankle holster or IWB.

I carry Remington Golden Sabers . 38+p. Accurate and easy to shoot.

As far as the cylinder goes, I don't scrub the face of it. A few blast marks don't bother me a bit. I also, just in case, bought an extra Ti cylinder from MidwayUSA in case I need it.

She shows finish wear, but shoots great and does the job just fine. I put the smaller crimson trace grips on it. They help a little bit with the kick.

IMO, it is the perfect "always"gun. I estimate I have 500 or so magnums and twice that in .38 through her. Still tight as a drum.

 

[SammyJoe]

Great News

Great choice!
My 340pd is exactly the one you have.

Mine has splotches inside the cylinder similar to yours. Unless both of ours have the same defect (unlikely), I'd assume it's normal.

A few tips: be careful when ejecting casings. Don't push to hard on that ejector rod, or else the cylinder could jump the stop and come free.
Also: check underneath the barrel, where the barrel is screwed into the frame. Rarely, a crack could form underneath there. I do this periodically.

Enjoy those airlites. They are really cool space-age wheelguns.

American,
That is music to my ears, I thought I may have had a serious problem there.
I guess that is just the way that the titanium alloy reacts to magnum pressures...???

And thanks for the great advice/tips; I will keep an eye out for that.

-Sam

 

[SammyJoe]

I had those splotches in the charging holes of a Ti cylinder on a used 360 PD. I was told they were normal and never had a problem with it. I sold it after it locked up on me once after shooting some .357s. Not sure why, if it was the lock or not (not an issue for you) but that experience made me not trust it.

Scruffy,
I do not plan on shooting many 357s through this gun.

Considering this is a really convenient and easy to carry "get off me gun", I will probably carry 357s or some stout +Ps.
-Sam

 

[SammyJoe]

I love my 340PD! It has been my go-to pocket gun for several years. Depending on need, it goes in my pocket, ankle holster or IWB.

I carry Remington Golden Sabers . 38+p. Accurate and easy to shoot.

As far as the cylinder goes, I don't scrub the face of it. A few blast marks don't bother me a bit. I also, just in case, bought an extra Ti cylinder from MidwayUSA in case I need it.

She shows finish wear, but shoots great and does the job just fine. I put the smaller crimson trace grips on it. They help a little bit with the kick.

IMO, it is the perfect "always"gun. I estimate I have 500 or so magnums and twice that in .38 through her. Still tight as a drum.

No Quarter,
That is phenomenal.
This one I just got appears to have been carried very little. No finish wear at all but I can tell its had some magnums through it.
I think the fella that had it before me just didn't clean it much, hence the cylinder splotches.
Oh well, its still in tip top working order.
She ate all 100 +P handloads I threw at her today. They are on the lighter said of 38+P but still was a little snappy.
Snappy little gun but that won't bother me at all if I ever have to use it to preserve life or limb.
It might just be my new everyday companion over my heavier m60 nd.
-sam

 

[Bob512]

I have a 43c.......very fun gun, have spent long days at the range with it! Enjoy yours and great choice.

 

[burneyr]

Great scores!

No IL on either which is a big plus.

I'm on the lookout for an older model 60 to modify like yours. Bought a set of pearl grips for it today

I have Ti cylinders fitted to two of my Airweights. I took a look, and one of them has the same splotches in the chambers. It is my most-fired carry gun, and a few thousand rounds later no issues.

And like American1776 mentioned, check under the barrel after shooting. I lost a 340 S&W replaced due to the frame splitting in that spot. I retrofitted Airweights with Ti cylinders after that.

I just had a 637-1 split in the same place.

 

[SammyJoe]

I have a 43c.......very fun gun, have spent long days at the range with it! Enjoy yours and great choice.

Bob,
That is the plan! Gonna shoot the snot out of the 43C and 340PD both!
-Sam

 

[SammyJoe]

Burney!
Hope you received my message a few days ago and also hope you are doing well!
I am so happy to finally be the proud owner of a few AirLites.
Yes my 340 definitely has seen some 357s due to the marks but no damage structurally whatsoever.
The finish is like new and shiny bores all around!
Thanks again for the kind words and help Sir
-Sam

 

[burneyr]

Burney!
Hope you received my message a few days ago and also hope you are doing well!
I am so happy to finally be the proud owner of a few AirLites.
Yes my 340 definitely has seen some 357s due to the marks but no damage structurally whatsoever.
The finish is like new and shiny bores all around!
Thanks again for the kind words and help Sir
-Sam

Yes sir received the message - I'm glad it worked out for you. When you decided to go AirLite you didn't mess around.

 

[SammyJoe]

Burney,
I suppose I jumped in head first.
So far I am very happy, these things are like carrying a cell phone in the pocket.
-Sam

 

[mod34]

Burney,
I suppose I jumped in head first.
So far I am very happy, these things are like carrying a cell phone in the pocket.
-Sam

Please Friend, be warned!! These can get a bit, "sticky" by which I mean very, very difficult to turn lose once you are hooked. Please also know that they have a crazy tendency to multiply while you're, "not looking"!

 

[SammyJoe]

Mod34,
I had a hard enough time getting these in the house without prying eyes seeing them.
I can usually sneak a single gun into the carry rotation without her noticing.
Considering these guns look so similar, I think I will be able to do it.
-Sam