S&W 340 PD

[cmrtwister2]

Hi, How well would Gold Dot 158 gr personal defence ammo work in this gun and how bad would the recoil be ?? Thanks For Any Info

 

[J-FRAME]

About as bad as it gets in this gun. Took me and my stepson two trips to the range to do a whole box.About what it must be like to have a hand grenade go off in your hand and still have a hand. No accuracy from the recoil shock. This was my experience with it others may love it.These were full bore Federal .357 rounds 158 gr.

 

[Firehouse]

I have an M&P340 and I scaled back to .38 +P's. All that power isn't much use if you can't hit with it.

 

[ENH]

As I set here eating this salad, my 340PD rests in it's usual place, my front pocket, loaded with 38 +P 135 gr Gold Dots. The speed strip in there with it has 6 357 GD's, but I don't like shooting them on the range. If needed I'll never feel them.

 

[j2k22]

it's kinda like the old saying, " if you have to ask, you can't afford it".
these airlite magnums are not fun to shoot, as the term is commonly understood, but they are great carry guns and can be shot quite effectively if you have the experience and commitment.
my first session with my 340, using the stock grips which I later replaced with solid wood boot grips, ran about 120 rounds of full-power 158 gr 357 ammo. We were taking turns shooting at bowling pins scattered at random between 5 and 15 yards, with a 5-second timer to start and stop your fire. I was averaging 3-4 pins per drill, from the beginning to the end of my ammo. Most of the other shooters with a mixed bag of service-style semiautos were doing about the same. Some drills I was able to get all 5 pins, don't remember getting less than 2.
the point being, the guns will hold up it's end of the deal if you hold up yours. I was bleeding at the base of my thumb and the second joint of my trigger finger where the frame rubbed during recoil. Replacing the grips fixed that problem.
most of the people who thought that they would like to try the little beast declined to finish an entire cylinder after learning what it felt like.
have carried it every day for about 7 years, working on the third finish. love it!

 

[pinkymingeo]

I enjoy shooting my 340PD and 360PD. I put 50rds through one or the other, weekly. I've never tried a full house 357 through them, and probably never will. My handload, chosen for low recoil, is a 125jsp at 930fps. When I learned how to hold the guns so they wouldn't punish my trigger finger, I found they're fun to shoot. You hear an incredible amount of nonsense about ammo choices. Fact is that if you hit your assailant in the central nervous system, the fight is over regardless of caliber or bullet type. If you don't then nobody can predict what's gonna happen, regardless of caliber or bullet type. Anything you can shoot well that will penetrate deeply enough, will work just fine and be OK to shoot in a 340.

 

[Robert B]

I have a M&P360 and I run the Speer 135 grain GDHP short barrel 357 mag load through it. I have experimented with Speer GDHP full house 125 grain 357 mag rounds. I really didn't feel any more recoil with the full house load, but I noticed significant crimp jump with them. The short barrel load above only runs at 990 fps and there was no crimp jump with them. I also noticed that the slower load grouped at point of aim, but the full house load grouped 1.5 inches low. I recommend either the short barrel 135 grainers in 357 mag or 38+P because of the unwanted crimp jump with the full house loads.

 

[jhiller]

The 340 PD is designed as a close up get off me gun.

I wouldn't even consider using full power 357 loads. Repeat shots are virtually impossible and seldom is one enough in any fight,
I suggest trying the Speer GD 357 mag sb. It has a MV of slightly under 1000 fps from the 340 pd and energy near 300 ft lbs. That puts it at the same level as a 38 special from a 4 " barrel and they have a long history of success on the street if you do your part in placement

 

[cmrtwister2]

Thanks Members , I am going to go with +Ps and stick with them sounds like 357s are a PAIN thanks for the info.

 

[coach22]

If you want to shoot 357's in your 340 PD, try Corbon DPX.
I felt less recoil in mine with them compared to the Speer GDSB 357.
That being said, My 340 PD is loaded with Buffalo Bore 125 +P's.

 

[magnum12pm]

I like to call these 20 round boxes of Self defense bullets, designer bullets, with great marketing and overpricing. My favorite marketing trick is the one they call low recoiling 357. When I reload them myself I call them 38+P+ in 357 brass

I'm not saying the high dollar SD rounds aren't any good, mind you, I just simply will not pay that much for 20 rounds of this ammo. I have not checked lately, but I can imagine what they are getting for 38+p SD or 40s&w, the way prices of everything has soared. I know if it saves your life its worth it, however I would imagine if I were lucky enough to get two or three rounds of any HP that comes in 50 round boxes,into the chest of the attacker he would be in desperate need of a hospital, or funeral director.

 

[SIG229fan]

About as bad as it gets...

I shot four cylinders-full of 125g loads thru a range gun and can only describe the recoil as highly unpleasant.

But then, as someone has aptly described it, the revolver is essentially a 'get off me gun' and not something I'd shoot regularly. I can't say if the extra expense and punishment is worth it with the higher-horsepower loads but if I'm going to depend on five rounds initially, why would I care?