The Lightest .357 Magnum Revolver Ever Made: Smith & Wesson 340PD Review
The Lightest .357 Magnum Revolver Ever Made: Smith & Wesson 340PD Review
In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves reviews the lightest .357 Magnum Revolver ever made – the S&W 340PD. This gun, that weights 11.8 ounces, is a full-power .357 Magnum. This is a small, light gun shooting a high-power cartridge, meaning that the recoil is going to be…noticeable. But is it so bad that this gun shouldn’t be carried? Or is this noisy cricket a lightweight pocket rocket powerhouse? Watch the video for James’ observations.
Read more at: https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/05/19/smith-wesson-340pd/
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Maybe I missed it in an earlier video, but what belly band holster are you using?
Its like they tried to fill a void that doesnt exist. No need for this gun. Carry a subcompact semi auto
I’ve got a 340 PD. I have X-S big dot sights up front and Crimson Trace compact grips. I usually run Speer Gold Dot 135gr 357 short barrel loads that are a kind of 357 lite. The Crimson Trace grips have a cushion right in the web of the hand and it’s really not to bad. It disappears in the pocket.
Tfb makes a great point about the nickel cased ammo being better. Never shoot steel case ammo out of this gun, I carry this on my ankle as a bug. I tried to go cheap one time and buy some shit Russian steel cased ammo, had to beat the spent casings out with a hammer. Brass or nickel only. Titanium cylinder doesn’t like steel.
I have a 340PD and the best description is Shaking hands with the devil. Also if I miss at least it’s a great flame thrower as well.
I have 2 of THE PD340 both the frames cracked just under the barrel, neither gun had over 50 rounds fired through it. Wondering if anyone else has had this problem
More bounce to the oz
Needs single action and hammer
Ankle carry
GREAT review man! A lot of great points!
9:50 Respect ! That’s gotta be tough to do in Daisy Dukes !
1000 dollars is a stupid insane amount! Americans are told to be scared of the government, and the gunmakers take advantage by doubling their prices!
Too light too short. 357 mag should have a 6 inch barrel. Lower kick better accuracy ballistics and range plus you get another round. All around better performance in a longer barrel.
Been carrying it as a back up for 5 years now loaded with hst 357 magnum i shoot it single hand weakside. Its more of a press on the body gun in my training.
My 340PD Frame cracked under the barrel, My uncle has one and his frame broke in the same place, his was fired less than 1box of.38s mine fired less than 20rnds. Of light mags
Idk if I’m just that much of a man but I shot one full .357 and it’s not that bad 😂
Consumers can expect more futuristic firearms made from exotic materials thanks to the Space Force.
I was started on semi autos in the military when I was handed my first pistol, a 70s series 1911. I have tried and tried but I just can’t develop a liking for revolvers. I’ve never had a semi auto fail me, because I keep them clean and oiled, so the reliability of revolvers vs a semi auto doesn’t move the ball an inch for me. Maybe if I owned a Keltec jamomatic or a Jiminez Saturday night special I might find a revolver to be an upgrade, but I don’t buy crap guns.
I shot a Super Blackhawk 44 for the first time when I was 14. We inherited two of them. We also had a matching pair of S&W 357 and 22 that were fun as hell to shoot, Dad taught me before he died, RIP. I had the Ruger 22 my uncle shot himself with for about 10 years. That always freaked me out a bit, then I sold them all and bought a 68 Camaro and felt better about it.
Just because you can, doesn’t nean you should!
Is the 340PD lighter than the 340sc?
Got mine used (former police officers backup gun) for $460. It’s great. Use .38 +p in it. Easy to shoot. Crazy accurate. I put a big white circle dot on the front. Trigger had work done to it so double action works very good and it does have a hammer. For reload rapidly, I use a belt loop with 6 shells and practice reloading two rounds. Just reload two and you got two more rounds. Almost as fast as putting a mag into a semi auto.
my choice for conceal – no edit – concur
M&P 340 is like $829 and no internal lock
Retired NYPD. Rookie gun run call in transit. Narcotics undercover on his way home. Braced by 3 bad guys w a gun & knives. Being winter the MOS had a “tripple fat goose” on with S&W 640 in his pocket. You unloaded all 5 .38 +p rounds w a gun to his head. Speaking w the MOS after the shoot he praised that weapon w saving his life. Any automatic or even a hammer, he may not have gotten off the defensive shots. Especially if they found his wallet (off duty) w an NYPD badge. Since that night I have never carried anything off duty but my S&W 5 shot chief. Not hammer. Like he said, “Id rather have 5 shots I know, life or death, I can 100% rely on than a glock with 15 rounds I know would have gotten me killed.” Food for thought. Proven in the field! Now i can have the same reliability w a .357? Not a question. However, populated area, definitely need hollow points to avoid a round passing through a target & hittin an innocent bystander.
Be safe. Better to have it and not need it etc…. SemperFi semper paratus
The standard .38 j frame 642 cuts up my hand after 75 rounds of fmj standard pressure. It’s awesome that this is an option, but a hard pass for me.
If u r gonna carry 38spl, buy a 442 or 642 @ half the price. It’s chambered 357 mag. Carry 357 mag.
I own and was shooting at a range once in Boston. Some State Police were watching me so I offered them a try. They looked at each other and said "No F-ing way". That’s how I’d summarize .357 from it. I haven’t sold it yet, but always consider it after each range trip. The recoil is enough to dislodge bullets from the casings, another reason I think they want you using 120 grain or higher if I’m not mistaken.
I had one, but no longer. I hated shooting .357 in it, but would do one every so often to remind me how painful it was, and always carried 38 special +P. I wouldn’t shoot .357 in anything lighter than a Ruger SP101
A lot of stuffing going on in this video.
At what age can you buy them in Cali
Broken hand?? Small price to pay for the views!!!
7:53 ~ Oh James, get you some Speed Strips.
i have one and I load the first four rounds with .38 specials, and the last round with a .357. That way it doesn’t hurt until you’re empty.
I’ll keep pocketing my 640 357 Magnum
You can install a pachmayer pro diamond j frame grip to soften the recoil.
Favorite gun channel besides Harrell and good ol’ hickok45
125gr 357
Just strengthen your hands 🤷♂️ honestly if you lift weights without wrist wraps shooting this shouldn’t be an issue.
It’s a great lightweight .38 special +p revolver and arguably a horrid, albeit high quality,. 357 magnum revolver. IMHO. The 640 is the lightest .357 magnum I have any interest in shooting.
😂 masochist…
I got to test fire this. I view it as a comfortable back up gun to carry for those that do. Ideal for say ankle holster carry. Similar weighted guns will invariably be in the .380 range. This gives you full .357 capability.
Your primary will still be whatever weapon you choose with reloads. If the fight finds you on the ground out of ammo or primary incapacitated or person(s) on you…
I have loaded some 180gr "VERY Hot Handloads" in my 40oz L-Frame jammed my Pachmyer grip into my hand in unforgettable ways…I couldn’t imagine them out of that thing!
Try shooting 38 out of one and with a hammer. Nothing not to like about it. Not worried about FPS really. Any round will work for self defense. You don’t want a super hot round going through and hitting an innocent behind the perp.
I owned one before you were old enough to shoot. I was in Colorado at the time, and I can attest it can get your attention when shooting, AT THE RANGE, BUT, in life and death scenario you would not notice. I hunted Africa, and my African rifles are beasts, if it doesn’t kick, it doesn’t bite!!! This was back in the 80s I believe when I owned it. Some make too much out of recoil, and this puts that in people’s heads. The fun I shot at 14 years old was the model 29, BEFORE DIRTY HARRY, and never knew the difference then, or now!!!
" any asshole could hit that "
If you truly are a masochist you should review the s&w 329pd (44mag)
Fine review but the title is a lie and it’s repeated though out the video. The 360pd is a little lighter. The 340 is the lightest double action only.
Freakin love your side comments, makes me spit my beer out!
Carry two.
This might have a niche market with backpackers who want to carry protection