M&P 340 - How Much Should I Want It

[MarkAlt]

This morning I ranted meaninglessly about GM cancelling my order for a 360J, just when it should have arrived at my FFL. Water under the bridge. Now I'm looking at buying an M&P 340.

I like the Scandium Alloy/carbon or stainless combo. I'm hoping the heavier cylinder will make practicing less painful. Will only shoot .38s. Don't want a laser nor do I care if it has an IL.

They look plentiful on GB, but at top dollar ...and most not selling. Can't get enough insight from what I see there.

Can I get your opinions on whether these are popular right now? Commanding top dollar? Any thoughts on alternatives?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SVT28]

What a bummer about the 360J. I just shot mine for the first time and love the DA/SA capabilities. It is a joy to carry in comparison to my 39-2 that I normally carry and disappears in a sticky holster at 5 oclock.

I would not pay more than $600 for the 340 tho. I paid $425 for the 360J

SVT28

 

[ridgewalker]

It depends on several things. The 360 which you had on order has an exposed hammer. The 340 has a concealed hammer. Does this matter to you?

To my way of thinking the choice is do you want to spend a few hundred extra to save a few ounces over a 442/642? If you plan to carry it in the pocket or on the ankle, those few ounces will be noticeable enough it may be worth it. But the 442/642 are easier to shoot pain free.

You also have the option of 357 with the 340 but a few shots will probably convince you to shoot 38 specials.

 

[MarkAlt]

Congrats on your 360J!

I was really looking forward to getting 'mine'. But, something else will come along.

Most all of the 340s I'm seeing on GB are real close to $1k. A few 'bargains' around $800? That just seems too high. Maybe I'm wrong?

Have fun ...and photos are required of your 360J!

 

[MarkAlt]

It depends on several things. The 360 which you had on order has an exposed hammer. The 340 has a concealed hammer. Does this matter to you?

To my way of thinking the choice is do you want to spend a few hundred extra to save a few ounces over a 442/642? If you plan to carry it in the pocket or on the ankle, those few ounces will be noticeable enough it may be worth it. But the 442/642 are easier to shoot pain free.

You also have the option of 357 with the 340 but a few shots will probably convince you to shoot 38 specials.

Given a choice, I'd prefer the concealed hammer. I already own a 642 and 2 637 PC's with bobbed hammers.

Just looking to expand the snubby collection with a Scandium Alloy j-frame. I do carry pocket, so admit to being curious about the difference and whether it's noticeable.

 

[regalsc]

With guns & myself I want what I want & eventually I will get it whether it be the LGS gunbroker or some other auction site. You will notice NO difference in shooting 357's out of an air weight with a stainless or titanium cylinder. If you keep looking you'll find what you want or at least what you think you want at this time.

 

[HarrishMasher]

I picked up my M&P340 two weeks ago on Gunbroker. It didn't sell at the price he wanted and I got him to sell it to me for $575 delivered. Used but excellent shape. Barely fired if at all.

I have quite a few J Frames. Scandium and titanium I have a 360PD, 342PD. Then I have several regular airweights 442, 638, 642. I do not shoot 357s out of the 360PD. It is not pleasant.

I do however shoot and carry 357s in the M&P340. It is not terrible. I was surprised, it was much better than I thought it would be.

I really like the 340. It is nice and light and handles nicely. It is my favorite of the bunch. But the 342 is right up there for its extreme light weight.

I also love when a gun comes from the factory with night sights, especially XS big dots. Saves me having to install them.

I do not believe they are selling well because of price. Email some of the sellers and make them an offer. You will be surprised. I have made some if my best deals that way. I got a brand new 386 Night Guard for $650 3 weeks ago.

 

[307-Niner]

No use for an exposed hammer on a CC, especially if you plan to pocket carry. In my opinion, the M&P 340 is possibly the best choice, and worth waiting for the right deal to come along. They can also be had without the internal lock, if you desire.

Shooting 38's from the M&P 340 is easy, my first time out, I was plinking cans at 20 yards. Recently, I tried some Remington 125 gr JSP full house 357 mags. It jumped the bullets & jammed the cylinder. Recoil was sharper, but not the "hammer to the hand" experience that many describe. I'm hoping to find a 357 mag load that will work in my 340 the next time out. I have a thread on here about all that.

I chose the no-lock M&P 340 as my EDC. I carry it OWB most of the time, and pocket carry occasionally. The XS Big Dot night sight is great. It's a great little gun and it conceals easily. They do command a premium, but they also seem to hold their resale, if you should decide you don't like it. I found a good deal on mine by placing a WTB ad on this forum.

I also like posting pics....

 

[luangtom]

I have the M&P340 and the 340PD. One or the other is my EDC. Either one fits my needs when stoked with Speer .38+P in 135-gr for short-barrels.

 

[Rpg]

Your question "how much should I want it "?

My view us not more than you'd want a M42

A matter of taste, to be sure.

I wouldn't pay a premium for Scandium: S&W's trick alloys don't impress me.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[629shooter]

I have enjoyed my M&P 340. I really like the front night sight and, the option of using 357 Magnums I've put quite a few rounds downrange, (38 SPL, 38 SPL +P, and 357 Magnum. That little revolver continues to impress me. They aren't cheap. But, I wish I would have "taken the plunge" sooner.

If you like J-Frames, and don't mind having a pile of them, you might as well buy one.

Its only money.

 

[HarrishMasher]

Its only money.

My thought exactly! Plus I would add, life is very short, enjoy it!

 

[1sailor]

I bought my M&P340 from a fellow member about 5 years ago and I couldn't be happier. Recoil when firing full loads is really not what I had expected. It doesn't jump much at all. Full house loads feel like a sharp slap on the palm with a ruler but the little pistol doesn't buck much at all. Even with a younger girl firing it. A hammerless pistol is about as foolproof as you can get. Especially for a carry or home defense weapon. They seem to come naturally to the hand and have no protrusions that can snag on anything. I have had lots of guys tell me it doesn't carry enough rounds but I think most of them invision themselves being involved in prolonged gunfights. I wouldn't have paid $1000 for one but I'm sure glad I have mine. Fully loaded it virtually vanishes in a coat pocket and is always ready.

 

[tjpopkin]

I carry my 340S all the time. It is barely noticeable, in terms of weight or bulk, but the security it could provide with .357s, especially with Barnes copper bullets, is undeniable. I shoot it occasionally, and it has felt recoil that approaches PAIN levels. That is a good incentive to not want to shoot an assailant and face unaffordable legal battles. However, if needed, the 340 should provide all the stopping power I could want in a very small, light package. Meanwhile, I practice (in comfort) with an all steel J-frame. For comfort, fun and accuracy….I love my RM.

 

[kaaskop49]

I wonder how much this inertia/bullet jump issue is affecting sales of the 340, besides the 1G neighborhood price. I've never been happy with my early 360Sc for this reason and for the hideous recoil. Hate to sell a 2" gun, though.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[b_san]

I wonder how much this inertia/bullet jump issue is affecting sales of the 340, besides the 1G neighborhood price. I've never been happy with my early 360Sc for this reason and for the hideous recoil. Hate to sell a 2" gun, though.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I don't think you'd have that issue in a M&P 340 though since you have the extra weight of the stainless coated cylinder instead of the 340PD's titanium. That said I've not run into enough bullet creep on any of my titanium guns to make it an issue for me though I did get the cracking on the end of the cylinder in my 3" 360sc even though I never used less than 125gr bullets. S&W fixed it with a brand new titanium cylinder for free in about a 4 week turn around.

You're point about the high price is probably on target though, tough to compete in the general self defense market at $800+ for a J frame with any of the small pocket pistols running around $300ish.

 

[HarrishMasher]

I wonder how much this inertia/bullet jump issue is affecting sales of the 340, besides the 1G neighborhood price. I've never been happy with my early 360Sc for this reason and for the hideous recoil. Hate to sell a 2" gun, though.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I would think the bullet jump issue has about zero effect on sales. My guess is 99% of people who have purchased a 340 have no idea what bullet jump is. I sure didn't when I bought my 360PD back in 2002. I didn't even know enough back then to buy the 340PD instead of the 360PD, given the advantages its concealed hammer provides.

Price is the only real factor hurting sales. $1K for a little revolver is pretty steep. Especially when there are reliable micro 9s out there by every major manufacturer these days. You really have to love revolvers to choose one of the titanium and or scandium J Frames.

I got a smoking deal on the 360PD. They had just come out and it was crammed into the revolver case at this old school gun shop I used to go to when I lived in Boulder CO. I gave him my used 642 and $250 and he gave me the 360PD. I could have chosen the 340PD right next to it, but I had no idea what i was doing back then

 

[629shooter]

Price is the only real factor hurting sales. $1K for a little revolver is pretty steep. Especially when there are reliable micro 9s out there by every major manufacturer these days. You really have to love revolvers to choose one of the titanium and or scandium J Frames.

I agree. The price tag is the biggest factor.

The S&W 442/642s can be had for under $400 Ruger LCR is a little more but, its in the same ballpark. Then, you have the "pocket 9MMs"/capacity debate.............

 

[vermontdane]

My 340PD is the perfect revolver for packing due to the light weight. I keep my loaded with 3 rounds Snake shot and 2 rounds 38 Special JHP. Perfect for Utah varmints of all kinds. However, get it Mag-Na-Ported. Then you can fire .357 without undo pain and .38 Specials are pussycats.

 

[PJS50]

I have owned and carried the similar, 340PD since the scandium framed revolvers first came out (12 years ago???). Here's my take:
-This gun IS my "front pocket of the cargo shorts" summer-carry pistol. When combine with a Desantis Nemesis (or similar) pocket holster, NOBODY knows you are packing and the gun is so light, it doesn't really "swing" even when I'm running around playing Frisbee or baseball with my kids in the local park.
-My gun is fitted with the Crimson Trace laser grips (the model which is more "rubber/combat" oriented) and this allows me to not only get my pinky on the grip, but it does a much better job of taming severe recoil than the smaller/factory grips the gun came with. Even with the slightly larger CT grips, the gun it still plenty small to get inside a normal front pocket of dress-slacks with these grips if you need to. The front-button activation of these grips is the CATS-*** as well! I never train with the laser "on" of course, but when you have the laser on, having that red-dot hovering just above your front sight makes quick and very accurate target acquisition from a draw almost brainless! One thing to also consider regarding a laser on this or any pistol; they can themselves be a deterrent to any would-be attacker and can actually prevent you from having to pull the trigger! How? Simple, EVERY scum-bag has seen the Terminator movie, and they know, where the "dot" goes, a bullet is not far behind. You place that dot on ANY perp, they know they are dead without you having to make it a reality. Anyway, enough rant about the laser, but as you can probably tell, I LOVE the CT grip on my 340PD and I highly recommend them!
-Most of the time I carry mine with .38+P fodder (either 125g Speers or 129g Federals) and with these +P loads, even my wife can handle the recoil. When loaded with full-house .357, it does recoil with a bit more of a "smack" than the .38's, but I shoot an un-ported .454Casull so the 340 with .357 is no big deal. You do need to test for projos backing out when shooting .357. I have seen the 5th round's projo move when it doesn't have a good crimp.
-As far as shrouded/hammerless vs. hammered: GO HAMMERLESS ALL THE WAY. For inside the pocket carry to be a viable option, there is no other way to go...
-I'm not sure if the newer M&P guns are better, but the trigger that came on my 340PD was ATTROCIOUS! I installed an APEX trigger kit on mine and I LOVE it; it's not too light, but it's very smooth and uniform.

So, should you get one?
I think so. Especially in the summer time, I sure like mine...