M&P340 - Best Defensive J Frame Ever Made

[HarrishMasher]

Due to a combination of excellent sights and ideal weight, the M&P340 is the finest defensive J Frame S&W has ever produced. After living with the M&P340 for a year here are my thoughts.

The M&P 340 has the best sights ever available on a lightweight J Frame Snubby period. The XS Big Dot Night Sight up front and a deep cut U shaped rear groove sight. No other J Frame snubby has the rear groove cut as deeply and in a U Shape. All other J Frame snubby rear sights have a shallow Square Notch.

The M&P340 sights are simply amazing and allow for the best sight picture and most accurate shooting I have ever experienced with a J Frame snubby. I own 8 J Frames including the super-lightweight PD models, and the M&P340 is hands down the best defensive J Frame snubby S&W has ever produced.



M&P340 with XS Big Dot Sight & U Notch Deep Cut Rear Groove Sight

All other J Frame Snubbies have the shallow rear groove sight that is SQUARE notch and NOT U Shaped like the M&P340

If you are trying to decide between purchasing any other J Frame snubby and the M&P340, the M&P340 is the superior gun because of the sights. ALSO, when comparing the M&P340 to a super light 340PD, the couple of extra ounces of the M&P340 makes a HUGE difference when firing 357 mags. I have no problem shooting 357s out of my M&P340. For some reason 357s out of my 340PD are absolutely brutal. The 2+oz difference in weight between the two guns seems to make a huge difference.

If you own any J Frame other than the M&P340 with a pinned front sight and install an XS Big Dot, half the dot gets cut off by the shallow square notch. Definitely not what you want. The XS sight is NOT designed to work with a shallow Square notch, or really a square notch at all.

I have also experimented with Trijicon and Meprolight front night sights on J Frames with a pinned front sight. Just like the XS Big Dot, invariably half of the dot gets cut off by the shallow square rear sight. This makes for a poor sight picture. Even worse in quick fire situations you always shoot way too high because you instinctively want to have the whole dot on target. Usually 6" to 10" too high at 25' in my experience. Trust me and avoid doing this and learn from my mistakes/experiments.

I have owned J Frame snubbies for 25 years, I currently own 8, If you want the best defensive/carry J Frame snubby ever made, hands down, you want the M&P340.

 

[4Given]

OK.......I'm sold, already!!!

Been considering the lighter weight PD, BUT the pic looking down the barrel put me over the top.

Thank you for your experienced review and recommendation!

 

[16thVACav]

"All other J Frame Snubbies have the shallow rear groove sight that is SQUARE notch and NOT U Shaped like the M&P340".

I agree with nearly all of your conclusions, and 100% of your enthusiasm, but do need to point out that the 342PD also has the deep cut U-shaped rear sight.

 

[1sailor]

I'm sure pleased with mine. Bought it from a fellow member a few years ago for $400 which I thought was a pretty good price.

 

[Hopper]

Ok, great news on the XS Big Dot. Well, the whole pistol, really. I recently picked up a 640-3, and need to put something up front that I can see better. Sounds like the XS is a great option to have on the short list of sights.

 

[HarrishMasher]

"All other J Frame Snubbies have the shallow rear groove sight that is SQUARE notch and NOT U Shaped like the M&P340".

I agree with nearly all of your conclusions, and 100% of your enthusiasm, but do need to point out that the 342PD also has the deep cut U-shaped rear sight.

I have a 342PD, mine has the shallow square notch like every other J Frame snubby I have ever seen.

I just got a set of walnut Ahrends grips for my 342PD today. I ordered them 3 months ago and they just showed up 5 mins ago!

 

[hkcavalier]

Great post. I am strongly leaning toward hunting down a gently used J frame when the tax return comes in. Thought I was sold on a 60 but now I'll keep my options more open!

 

[APS]

I agree, best sights, and much easier to shoot after adding the CT-405s. Unfortunately I shoot my LCR more accurately so the 340 moved on.

 

[Mambeaux]

Do they make a M&P 340 without the internal lock? That would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[Georgia1911]

I get what you're saying, but I would put the 640 Pro up there as well. It has the advantages you assign to the 340, but more so with night sights and even greater mass for those who want to carry 357 Magnum.

 

[Hapworth]

Uh, moon clips?

 

[CWH44300]

Do they make a M&P 340 without the internal lock? That would be a deal breaker for me.

They do,

I kinda agree with the op, while not easy to shoot.
They do have a great sight picture.
This is 30 rounds of 158gr swc magnums and 5 rounds of 125gr scorchers at 30 feet. They are pretty cool little guns, if you get one your probably gonna like it.

 

[mc5aw]

As impressive as the 340 PD is, I think it is far from the best J-frame S&W has ever produced. That honor could easily go to the Model 36, 37, 49, 60, or 640, all of which I have owned, and all of which I could place #1 on the J-frame list. No IL revolver will ever hold the loftiest position of "best" S&W, though the 340 PD is a very nice carry gun.

 

[Hapworth]

...No IL revolver will ever hold the loftiest position of "best" S&W, though the 340 PD is a very nice carry gun.

M&P340 is available without the lock.

 

[Rpg]

As impressive as the 340 PD is, I think it is far from the best J-frame S&W has ever produced. That honor could easily go to the Model 36, 37, 49, 60, or 640, all of which I have owned, and all of which I could place #1 on the J-frame list. No IL revolver will ever hold the loftiest position of "best" S&W, though the 340 PD is a very nice carry gun.

Don't overlook the M38 : my favorite, hands down.

 

[BruMatt]

Still don't understand what all the bad press on the Internal Lock is about. Sounds to me like lemmings going over the cliff. Has anyone ever really had a problem with it. I have six IL guns and shot thousands of rounds with them without an issue.

The M&P340 offers the best combination of weight, caliber, sights and out of the box function and quality for every day concealed carry of any wheel gun out there. If that is your criteria for top of the heap it is hard to argue against it. Other folks may have a different set of criteria for evaluations.

 

[Hapworth]

Still don't understand what all the bad press on the Internal Lock is about. Sounds to me like lemmings going over the cliff. Has anyone ever really had a problem with it. I have six IL guns and shot thousands of rounds with them without an issue...

Let's not get that started...

 

[USAF385]

Nah, that huge, blocky front sight is a deal breaker for the serious concealed carry individual.

 

[Hapworth]

Nah, that huge, blocky front sight is a deal breaker for the serious concealed carry individual.

Well, call me every day carry, regular range time and professional instruction frivolous...

 

[HarrishMasher]

"All other J Frame Snubbies have the shallow rear groove sight that is SQUARE notch and NOT U Shaped like the M&P340".

I agree with nearly all of your conclusions, and 100% of your enthusiasm, but do need to point out that the 342PD also has the deep cut U-shaped rear sight.

Here is my 342PD. Shallow Square Notch rear sight. Can you please post a pick of your 342PD with a deep U notch rear? Thanks!

BTW, The Ahrends Walnut's just showed up today! 3 month wait. 0.9 ozs.