M&P 340 Ammo Suggestion

[a_just_cause]

I have an M&P340. I am looking for a load suggestion on this round that would negate risk of bullet pull. Additionally I am looking for something on the 'lower spectrum of recoil' vs a full 357 blaster.
Thanks in advance for those who can give a specific suggestion - much appreciated.

 

[16thVACav]

Try the Speer Gold Dot .38 Special +P 135 gr. for short barrels.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Speer SB-GDHP is, more or less, the gold standard for snubby revolvers (pun intended ).

From what I've read about bullet pull in the scandium J-frames, it seems to happen most often with lightweight, full-power .357 Magnum loads or FBI loads in .38 Special (158gr LHP +P). I think you'll be ok if you stick with JHP in the medium-weight range, say 125-135gr, either in .38 Special (standard pressure or +P) or medium-velocity .357 Magnum. Fortunately, there are a lot of good self defense loads in that range.

I'd also suggest that whatever ammo you try you should check for bullet pull, even if it's one of the recommended loads. You could even try some of the not-recommended loads; they may work in your gun. Some people use the not-recommended loads and don't report any problems. Basically, you'll have to try specific loads and see if shooting them results in bullet pull.

 

[Bill In Texas]

I agree with the two previous posters Continental Op and 16th VA Cav. The Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 grain +p's are the way to go for short barrel jframe! Just my $.02. Hope it helps!

 

[jack the toad]

The Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 grain +p's are the way to go for short barrel jframe! Just my $.02. QUOTE]
mine too...
I like the SPGDHP .38 Special SB 135 +P in my 642.
I also think Hornady makes good ammo for what youre wanting. I almost bought some of the Hornady Critical Defense 38+P while in Academy yesterday. The sign said closing out and it was less than $15 for 25 rd box, normally like $22. The specs on label said 110 gr bullet at 1090 MV at muzzle. I understood the young guy at the gun counter said the close out was corporate wide so you might find a deal at your local store???

 

[kaaskop49]

I've had good results with both R-P and W-W 110gr .357 JHP loads. Have had no problem with c-j in my M&P 340s. You might also try CCI Blazer .357 158gr 'medium' loads. Another poster reported 990fps in 3": not a barn burner but nothing to stand in front of, either. Please remember that avoiding c-j means little if you cannot control the gun in DA. With the above loads and a little practice, you can.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Trophy66]

340 load

Remington Golden Saber 357-125's are very shoot able in my 360. Much more so than full power 357 loads.

 

[mike campbell]

I carry Remington Golden Saber 125HP's and I've tried the Speer Gold Dots as well. I also tried Hornady Critical Defense but shied away from it after early reports (and personal experience) with poor quality control. I've also handloaded both bullets, as well as a plethora of other 125's to duplicate the "moderate" magnum performance of ~ 1100 fps from my MP340. I've yet to encounter a single instance of bullet pull though I've checked many times in the course of putting a couple thousand magnum lites through mine.

I'm leery of the phenomenon because I know 2 lady shooters who experience it with handloads in their 638's. While it's a real concern, I've not heard of anybody experiencing it with factory loaded 125's in airweight revolvers. Maybe someone will chime in who has experienced it firsthand.

I'd pick a load, shoot 4, check the 5th and, if possible, load and shoot 4 more. Check that one round after 8 firings and if there's no sign of pull, I'd rest easy.

 

[ContinentalOp]

W-W 110gr .357 JHP loads.

While I haven't shot much .357 Magnum, that load was probably my favorite to shoot. It's not a full-power load, so it should be ok. IIRC it's ballistically equivalent to 9mm 115gr +P. Easy to shoot in a steel K-frame. Never tried it in a scandium J-frame, though. While I prefer medium- to heavy-weight bullets for self defense, I wouldn't feel underarmed with this load. My only real concern at the time was that it tended to produce a massive fireball out of a 3" barrel.

 

[jaymoore]

I guess I'm old fashioned, my 340M&P is usually full of Federal LSWCHP 158gr .38 Spl. +Ps. That or CCI snake shot rounds if in snake-ish territory. (Which certainly is the case when in TN round about Watts Bar Lake!)

That said, my 940's carry rounds are rather more powerful +P+ 115gr WW Ranger (AKA "Black Talon") loads.

Final decision for me on both revolvers was POI matching POA paired with a reasonably well proven load.