Finally shot my 340PD

[Outlaw2013]

.....and it was awesome.

It took two years to find it (no lock), and I've probably had it for 2 years and still hadn't shot it. It wasn't out of fear although I'd be lying if I said I didn't fear shooting it for the first time.


First loads through it was testing my carry ammo .357 Barnes Xtac. Lots of speed and power out of a 2" barrel reported on the box, but surprisingly docile. I was really surprised at the lack of pain I expected. When I one handed it, the sting came. Still not terrible.

Then I decided to run some 140gr .357 Hornady FTX ballistics through it because I had em. Full house maggies out of the feather weight.

That's when the pain came lol. BOOM. "Holy xxxx! Woooo" said all. It was like hot hotsauce though. Hurt so good. Even the 15 year old with us was pounding rounds out if it.

What a great Smith. With all the reports of quality mishaps on here I figured I report a success. Pistol has been flawless and in spec out of its very crappy cardboard box (for shame, this is a $900 OTD exotic material PC level gun).

Point of this tale is that I survived pleasantly, and now I really want a .500 or that green grip .460 PC.

......perhaps that 629PC .44 snub with the gorgeous finish and grips....

 

[BUFF]

With the J frame lightweight short-barreled Magnums, you certainly know when the hammer drops!

Congrats. Sounds like it was big dirty fun.

 

[629shooter]

Ah the 340PD, not something I'll shoot full house magnums all day. But, its nice to have around.

I'm glad you are enjoying yours.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[629shooter]

With the J frame lightweight short-barreled Magnums, you certainly know when the hammer drops!

Yeah, it gets your attention. But, I enjoyed the challenge of getting used to them.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[OLDSTER]

LOL !!! That's why I shoot only standard .38 through my scandium frame 360J. With those I can actually enjoy a box of plinkers at the range

 

[quinn]

A (lock model) 340pd is my carry gun. All of the 357 loads I have shot hurt (one round, one blister). I carry it with 3 38+Ps followed by 2 357s. I worried about followup shots if the first couple of rounds were 357. Guess I'm just a wimp. Really great gun, lock or not. I only really needed the gun one time--dog attack--and don't even remember if it recoiled or not.

 

[SAFireman]

I have had a Scandium 340 since they were first out. They are not for the faint of heart, they are a gun to carry a whole bunch and shoot little.

I have let several interested parties try the Airlite 340sc and I have gotten mixed reactions. Most don't have a desire to pull the trigger more than twice The meager 10.5 oz versus full-house Federal 125gr JHP will make a believer on both ends

 

[PatriotX]

Shot the old carry ammo up last week in the M&P360, first time pulling the trigger on that one in about six months.


The small-framed ladyfriend with whom I was shooting wanted to give it a try, as she was doing very well with the M686 snub.


"That £^<¥$#% SUCKS !" was her immediate reaction after the first light Magnum round left the gun. To her credit, she finished the cylinder and went back to the 686 for more.


Scandium + Magnum = Big Boom !

 

[Amp]

So I am not the only one that buys a gun and owns it for a while before shooting it.
Congrats though, I got one or a few waiting to go punch paper.

 

[Outlaw2013]

Thanks.

Watching others and myself in the moment, you could see us all flinching on the trigger at first. I mostly blame it's 50 pound pull and 2ft travel distance on that one. The 360 with the hammer would be much *easier* to shoot IMO.

Towards the end I would pull until the cylinder started to spin and then get serious with it. Otherwise it was a long surprise until boom time.

Still a great holsterless feather weight pocket gun that packs more punch than my XD 40 SC brick in a short range scenario.

If you don't hit em with the round, youll likely set em on fire.

The wood griped 329PC with full house must be nutzo.

 

[JAFO]

The 340 and 329 are wonderful tools for their intended purpose. Nothing else made that I would trust comes close.

 

[Packard]

I have a 340PD. I keep 38's in the first four chambers and a .357 for the last shot.

The extra recoil on the last shot will not mess up your ability to get back on target. And the first four shot will lull you into thinking the recoil won't be so bad so less chance of flinch.

I wear gloves when I shoot. Baseball batters gloves are padded in the right places. But I only shot 10 rounds at a time. Otherwise my hand would become numb and I worried about chronic nerve damage.

I don't carry it very often, but a really good choice for a pocket revolver.

I don't see the advantage of the light weight otherwise. I wear a 640 on my ankle and the weight does not bother me. I wear a 686Pro on my belt and the weight does not bother me.

So for me, the 340 PD is only when I need a pocket revolver.

 

[v84x4]

I relay Love my 340PD

Congrats on your purchase

Regards, Rick

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

I hadn't been looking for one as a carry gun but so many people said don't do it! Shooting full house loads out of my fat little SP101 was uncomfortable enough I can't imagine from an 11oz gun. Those scandium fellas send it right into your hand. I had a 325PD which was a scandium n frame .45ACP and while it was not unpleasant man you could feel that back strap hitting your hand. And that's with .45acp!

Anyway glad you like it. It's definitely something I want to try out some day. The concept of carrying such a light pistol is really appealing.

 

[Terry]

Any one that can shoot more than 10 rounds of full power 158 gr jhp rounds in one session is more of a man than me or very very stupid. And as I get older I shy away from shooting anything hotter than 38 spcl +. Still a great carry gun as you don't even realize you are carrying it.

 

[raisedin99]

In retrospect, firing the first round of 158 grain full powered magnums wasn't real bad, it has been every round after number one. But I'd never sell it.



terry

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I carry a 3 inch Model 13-3 some of the time (all the time until I got my 12-2), but I didn't shoot it regularly with .357 Magnum ammo. I have no desire to shoot .357s from anything that starts 3XX. I will shoot .357s all the time from my issued 4 inch Model 686-6. My excuse? Rebuilt 64 year old elbow.

 

[kaaskop49]

My suggestion: Skip the PD version and go with the M&P model. Some will argue with me but, while a handful, the M&P is easier to shoot. I prefer the lighter-recoiling 110gr .357 JHP loads that are taboo in the PD's Ti cylinder. Or the 158gr CCI Blazer .357 Medium loads. A practice load, yes, but not something to stand in front of.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[mazer]

Sounds like you are ready for a 329PD with full boat magnums!!

 

[pittpa]

What grips are you using? 2 finger grips can be a challenge.