SAFireman, I've got just about as many miles of carrying as that Chief!!! Well, not quite. I've been officially carrying since 1975, when I joined the police department, but unofficially since about 1965, when I joined the Navy. One thing that remains constant for all of us J frame lovers, is that mechanically they are all alike. True, some are made from lighter materials, some have an exposed hammer, some are nickled, some blued, some stainless, but they all are alike in that they are probably the most potent, reliable, concealable, effective small handgun that has ever been devised!!! I have all three basic configurations: cenntenial, bodyguard, and chief. And quite a few variations of each. I have never had one that didn't work. I also have a couple of Terriers, which is the I frame that preceded the slightly larger J frame. They are little marvels also, and sometimes I like to carry one of them. But as I said above, the 340PD is in many ways the ultimate evolution of power in a very small package. Of course there is a trade off in increased recoil. I have found that the .357 mag Speer gold dot short barrel load with the 135 gr bullet is the lightest recoiling magnum load that still has sufficient power to give one confidence. Of course they are also pretty pricey... At retail, almost a buck and a half apiece, when you can find them. I've had them on back order from midway for months now, but fortunately I stocked up yhe last time I saw some for sale.
