this little j is quite a handful

[Biggfoot44]

For the OP , that is an inherent Catch-22 about these types of pistols. They are pleasant to shoot with *substantial* loads , but you must practice often to gain/ maintain a reasonable degree of being able to shoot accurately.

Thank you for the extensive data Paul.

My take #1 - You can only bend the laws of physics and thermodynamics , but so far. The trade off of 1.87in bbl vs velocity is not insignifigant. If you really need the minimum size envelope for a particular carry mode ( pocket, ankle, etc) then make your informed decision. If having a gunfight with Yogi bear is realistic on your horizon , compromise elsewhers , and step up to at least a 3in bbl.

Take #2 - That .38spl Blue Dot load is certainly a humdinger. But isn't that deep into .38-44 territory ? In a .357 guns , it works for you , but I wouldn't want to accidentially want one to get into a typical .38spl gun.

 

[Paul105]

Thanks Paul,

It looks like you've spent some time with them so I do have a question. Do these guns wear similarly to the 329's, as far has blastshields and hand bounce causing wear on the ratchet?
Thanks again for posting all the data.
Chris

Chris,

I can't answer your "wear" question. I doubt I've shot 300 full house .357s thru both the 340 & 360 and I don't do 38 specials anymore.


Paul

 

[Paul105]

For the OP , that is an inherent Catch-22 about these types of pistols. They are pleasant to shoot with *substantial* loads , but you must practice often to gain/ maintain a reasonable degree of being able to shoot accurately.

Thank you for the extensive data Paul.

My take #1 - You can only bend the laws of physics and thermodynamics , but so far. The trade off of 1.87in bbl vs velocity is not insignifigant. If you really need the minimum size envelope for a particular carry mode ( pocket, ankle, etc) then make your informed decision. If having a gunfight with Yogi bear is realistic on your horizon , compromise elsewhers , and step up to at least a 3in bbl.

Take #2 - That .38spl Blue Dot load is certainly a humdinger. But isn't that deep into .38-44 territory ? In a .357 guns , it works for you , but I wouldn't want to accidentially want one to get into a typical .38spl gun.

1. I'm in Yogi country every day, year around (although they snooze some in the winter). That is the main reason I've gone to the Kahr CW45 with Buffalo Bore 255gr HCFN ammo as my pocket gun. Also, FOR ME, the CW45 is easier to shoot (both accurately and comfortably) one handed and with weak hand.

2. If you're referring to the load data I posted above, the Blue Dot loads are .357 Mags. I modified my post above to show the data used .357 Mag.


Paul

 

[Paul105]

One last thought.

Win Ranger +P+ 127gr JHPs chrono 1,190 fps from my Kahr 3.5" CW9 at 5 paces from the muzzle and 65 deg f. If you look above, that is faster than the Fed 130gr .357 from the 1 7/8" 340. The Kahr is heavier (15.8 oz without mag/ammo) but is much easier to shoot and holds 8 rounds (7+1).

Buffalo Bore 147gr JHP +P due 1,100 fps from the same 3.5" Kahr.

Just some food for thought.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[kpla51]

One last thought.

Win Ranger +P+ 127gr JHPs chrono 1,190 fps from my Kahr 3.5" CW9 at 5 paces from the muzzle and 65 deg f. If you look above, that is faster than the Fed 130gr .357 from the 1 7/8" 340. The Kahr is heavier (15.8 oz without mag/ammo) but is much easier to shoot and holds 8 rounds (7+1).

Buffalo Bore 147gr JHP +P due 1,100 fps from the same 3.5" Kahr.

Just some food for thought.

FWIW,

Paul

I had a kahr cm9 and it was great I then got in a tough time and had to sell it. Yesterday I almost order a pm9 in all black but could not come to doing it. Maybe it is the horror stories about their reliability.

Sold the 340pd in search of a m&p 340

 

[kpla51]

well just got a M&P340 no lock on order thats the nice thing about the px is you don't pay tax or background checks. And their pricing is not too bad! Cant wait to get it.

 

[1sailor]

Not to change the subject but, every time a discussion comes up regarding the airweight magnums there are usually guys chiming in to state that they found there's to be a totaly unpleasant pistol to shoot and wished they had bought something else. And I absolutely agree that they are not a pistol I would enjoy plinking with (not with magnum loads anyway). They were never meant for this purpose any more than a corvette was designed to carry a ladder. The Airweights were designed for a very specific and important job. If the day should ever come that I NEED to use it I want to be pulling the baddest, the most powerfull, and the scariest darn thing out of my pocket that I can. I want to be the guy who goes home. Sure it'll make your hand sting but they are very controlable and as with most revolvers, very tolerant. And because of it's small size and lightweight, this is one that I am likely to have with me.

 

[kpla51]

Not to change the subject but, every time a discussion comes up regarding the airweight magnums there are usually guys chiming in to state that they found there's to be a totaly unpleasant pistol to shoot and wished they had bought something else. And I absolutely agree that they are not a pistol I would enjoy plinking with (not with magnum loads anyway). They were never meant for this purpose any more than a corvette was designed to carry a ladder. The Airweights were designed for a very specific and important job. If the day should ever come that I NEED to use it I want to be pulling the baddest, the most powerfull, and the scariest darn thing out of my pocket that I can. I want to be the guy who goes home. Sure it'll make your hand sting but they are very controlable and as with most revolvers, very tolerant. And because of it's small size and lightweight, this is one that I am likely to have with me.

This is all very true and before I bought my 340pd all I read was It hurts blah blah. Most even said they can't justify the price over the 442. The sights alone justify it for me and are a big plus. Maybe in a SD situation its a point and shoot but if i need to aim id rather have better sights. Plus like I've stated before, I have friends that say j frames are sissy guns. Thats when i will give them a cylinder of 357. These are also my friends that leave there "better" 1911 in the truck. I loved my 340pd but sold it in favor of the M&P340 I just ordered.

 

[regalsc]

Im with you 1sailor. The 1st time I shot 357's out of mine I thought if it hurts my hand like this the bad guy is really going to feel it.

 

[kaaskop49]

Couple of thoughts on this cool thread: Is there really much difference in control/recoil between the PD and M&P models? The catalog only shows about 2oz weight difference.

Did anybody catch, in Paul's excellent velocity chart, the MV of the factory R-P 158 LHP in the snub bbl? 753 fps, IIRC. That's ridiculous, and folks ask whether +Ps are safe to shoot!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[kaaskop49]

Not to change the subject but, every time a discussion comes up regarding the airweight magnums there are usually guys chiming in to state that they found there's to be a totaly unpleasant pistol to shoot and wished they had bought something else. And I absolutely agree that they are not a pistol I would enjoy plinking with (not with magnum loads anyway). They were never meant for this purpose any more than a corvette was designed to carry a ladder. The Airweights were designed for a very specific and important job. If the day should ever come that I NEED to use it I want to be pulling the baddest, the most powerfull, and the scariest darn thing out of my pocket that I can. I want to be the guy who goes home. Sure it'll make your hand sting but they are very controlable and as with most revolvers, very tolerant. And because of it's small size and lightweight, this is one that I am likely to have with me.

Thank you. Nice to know I'm not the only voice crying out in the wilderness on this subject.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[kpla51]

Couple of thoughts on this cool thread: Is there really much difference in control/recoil between the PD and M&P models? The catalog only shows about 2oz weight difference.

Did anybody catch, in Paul's excellent velocity chart, the MV of the factory R-P 158 LHP in the snub bbl? 753 fps, IIRC. That's ridiculous, and folks ask whether +Ps are safe to shoot!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I don't think there will be much difference in recoil but from research the pd has bullet pull issues, the cylinder is a little harder to maintain. And there is a minimum bullet weight. For these reasons I sold the pd for a m&p and I like the all black more.

I took the cylinder off of a 442 and the 340pd and there's a good difference in weight of the two.

 

[S&W Rover]

Great thread. Makes sense to shoot the hottest version you can handle and still hang in there for second and third shots. I think you have to balance bullet power with your capacity to get in some range time to master the sights and recoil recovery of the J.

I've opted for the steel framed Mdl 640, the larger S&W rubber grips (three finger groves), and +P .38 ammo (125 grain Golden Sabers or 135 grain Gold Dots) for most carry situations. Its cylinder is in the mail back from TK Custom now after being relieved for moon clips, so I anticipate having 5 + 5 rounds with me. To practice, I have been going to the low end of the spectrum and shooting 125 grain XTP (JHP) bullets over 3.5 grains of Trail Boss powder -- very mild. I end up a session by shooting a few +P's to keep it real.