Smith & Wesson M&P 340 as Back-up Weapon

[Leiden]

I've been gone a few years from the forum and I apologize. My agency finally made me drop the Smith & Wesson 3rd Generation guns and adopt the M&P .45. It's been a difficult ride with it, but life hurt even more when we dropped revolvers as back-ups. The worn 649 was retired and the Springfield XDS .45 was brought; however, there are some things revolvers are better at and ankle carry might well be one of those.

I'm willing to bend the rules and carry a revolver anyways - we've always had good luck together in exigent circumstances and I can articulate. The M&P 340 sure seems like a modern replacement for the 649. Have any of you here noticed issues with it, or have any remarks?

Will the M&P 340 hold up to about 200 rounds a year of our old and now discarded issue Federal .38 +P LSWHP load, of which I have several cases?

Perhaps it's wrong to consider the back-up still a contender for an on-duty back-up, but sometimes - just sometimes - the quality of the Indian is more important than the quality of the arrow.

Leiden

 

[murphydog]

Welcome back! I would guess the combination you mention would be fine as a backup. I think +P 158 gr .38 Special is about as much as you would want to use in a model 340 on a regular basis. Calculating how much trouble would ensue if your department found out you carried (or had to use) it would be an entirely different topic. Good luck in your decision.

 

[just plain joe]

First, welcome back to the forum.

As to the revolver issue, please consider the following. First the good. I carried a Model 340PD Scandium revolver off-duty and into my recent retirement since December 2004. I ran many Federal 125 grain JHP & Speer 135 grain JHP .38 Special +P bullets for training and qualification. With continual practice I have confdence in this weapon/cartridge platform. Qualification could be a little interesting at 25 yards, though. It was great with the proper holster when summer clothing precluded or limited my ability to carry my Springfield Pro .45 auto or S & W Model 13, 3 inch revolver.

Now the not-so-good. Last month I completed my yearly qual for retired LE in PA. I utiliized the Speer 135 grain loading. Upon returning home to clean the firearm, I noted that the frame of the 340PD had cracked direclly beneath the forcing cone. S & W asked that I return the revolver. Two days ago I was notified that they will be replacing the frame. The original barrel and cylinder will be fitted to same. A Google search discovered that "J" frame revolvers are prone to cracking. I can't say how widespread this is, but apparentlly some have experienced it so act accordingly. As an aside, I utilized very few .357 Magnum cartridges in this revolver despite it being rated for same. I don't believe that it is needed and it is somewhat uncomfortable to shoot without the proper stocks/grips which add bulk and adversely affect concealment. TANSTAAFL.

I intend to continue carrying my 340PD when the situation warrants. I always carry an extra speedloader/speed-strip though. Hope this helps.

JM2c.

JPJ

 

[Cal44]

The M&P 340 would work just fine.

Another less expensive option would be the 642. You give up the 357 mag capability, but it's half the cost.

Both of these are much lighter than your old 649, so the recoil would be much greater.

 

[thomasinaz]

The 340 is a good gun for the backup role you describe. Nice and light and hammerless, so no snags. It'll hold up to your 38 loads just fine. Your hand will hold up better than shooting with full 357 mag ammo also. (At the risk of sounding less than manly, these Ti J Frames are brutal with Magnums.) My only concern would be getting the chamber cleaned well form the lead deposits left by the shorter 38 ammunition. Probably not that big an issue if you're never going to shoot 357s out of it though. I've had my 340 PD for several years and carry it in my front pants pocket all the time. I have shot Federal Nyclad +P 38s out of it, and they were fine.

 

[629shooter]

I'm my opinion, the M&P340 would be an outstanding choice for the task. Mine has 800+/- through it. With the majority being factory 125 gr. Magnum loads.

The sight picture of the M&P340 continues to yeid my best J-Frame accuracy, and speed. But, recoil is brisk with magnum loads but, given its weight, that shouldn't surprise anyone.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[michpatriot]

The MP340 will serve you well, mine has thousands of rounds through it, a lot of Gold Dot 357 short barrel and some Barnes 140gr 357 and some Buffalo Bore 180gr 357 outdoorsman...and a whole bunch of 38 special mixed in, It's been my range slave, and NY reload for my 340PD.

 

[1sailor]

I've had my M&P340 for a few years now. I bought it used from a fellow forum member. I don't shoot it a lot. Maybe 400 to 500 rounds a year. I have never experienced any issues at all. I did change out the grips for a pair of Uncle Mike's combats but that was primarily because it's what I have on all of my revolvers. Shooting magnums is not pleasant but not out of control either. I think most people imagine the pistol bucking wildly out of control but in reality it's really not like that at all. What it does do is transmit a certain amount of impact to the palm of your hand that feels like it's being slapped sharply with a ruler. If you have emptied your .45 and have drawn your backup pistol then you are already in a world of s**t and are unlikely to notice that slap. As a reloader I find I prefer a load about midway between a .38+p and a beginning magnum load. I find that to be accurate and controllable with surprising results out to at least 20 meters.

 

[Old cop]

I've had a no lock 340PD for a couple of years and while I don't shoot it often, I do have around 200 rounds of +P through it. Hornady 110 grain +P seems to be the easiest to control for quick & accurate follow up shots. I have run a few rounds of .357 down range but it's just too difficult to control w/o oversize grips, which defeats the purpose of the gun.

 

[transit]

I would be very leery of those Federal rounds in that gun.

Their current production rounds are not properly crimped. In the Airweight and Airlight style guns, they will jump. They will tie up the gun.

It took several years, and a lot of work for us to finally dump them. It only happened after the failures (-thankfully in training) became impossible to ignore. Believe me, people tried.

The 158g LSWCHP +P was an excellent load.

In lightweight revolvers, the current Federal version is not. Don't do it.

 

[Cal44]

I find I prefer a load about midway between a .38+p and a beginning magnum load. I find that to be accurate and controllable with surprising results out to at least 20 meters.

There is a wide range of 357 Magnum loads -- from mild to wild -- available.

I like the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr short barrel 357 Magnum load for my LCR 357.

It's at the low end of the power range for 357 Magnum, but it's a good step up from the 135gr 38+P gold dot.

You might give it a try in the M&P 340.

 

[Leiden]

Thank you all for your replies. I love my 649 and 49, always have, but I do believe that M&P 340 will be a good back-up revolver.

I appreciate the effort and observations.

 

[jaymoore]

I would be very leery of those Federal rounds in that gun.

Their current production rounds are not properly crimped. In the Airweight and Airlight style guns, they will jump. They will tie up the gun.

It took several years, and a lot of work for us to finally dump them. It only happened after the failures (-thankfully in training) became impossible to ignore. Believe me, people tried.

The 158g LSWCHP +P was an excellent load.

In lightweight revolvers, the current Federal version is not. Don't do it.

As the OP has quite a bit of the ammo on hand, I don't reckon it would hurt to try what he has, especially if it's older. I'm somewhat in the same boat, as I have a rather more limited supply of the Federal rounds- in the old red boxes, if that's a clue as to their vintage! (1980's?) They get shot when replacing the carry rounds. I use reloads for much of my usual practice with the M&P340.

 

[Old cop]

It was an effort for me to move away from the old FBI +P HP load for my 340PD b/c I'd used it on the street and it worked, but the risk is not worth it. My chances of actually having to deploy a weapon as a sedate retiree are very slim so these days the Hornady 110 +P gets the call. It's easy to control and readily available @ my LGS here.