Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Smith & Wesson 340PD load questions...

[fkovalski]

I recently picked up a Smith & Wesson 340PD. I am familiar with . 357/ . 38 weapons having owned and fired a Ruger GP100 for many years (it is just too heavy for hiking!) One item to note on the S&W is the disclaimer in the owner's manual:



CAUTION: Do not use Magnum loadings with bullet weights less than 120 grains- this will reduce the possibility of premature erosion in the titanium alloy cylinders.



Can I assume that . 38 rounds less than 120 grains are OK as (as far as I know any . 38 is not considered a Magnum. ) . 38 bullets are not Magnum rounds? I would like to eventually purchase some high quality loads for self protection (of the 2 legged kind) and most of the real good max expansion rounds are under this weight. For backwoods carrying against 4 legged intruders I planb on using . 357/ 125 grain Black Hills JHP hollow point.



I am going to call the mfgr, but would not mind your opinions.

 

[AMink]

I don't know why they caution against the lighter magnum loads (could be gas cutting?), but the 125 grain . 357 is a proven stopper for beasties of the two legged variety.

 

[AMink]

From Wikipedia:

The Smith and Wesson 340PD is an ultra-light, J-frame, five shot, short-barrel revolver chambered for . 357 Magnum ammunition.

It has a frame constructed of scandium enhanced aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy cylinder, and a corrosion resistant steel barrel liner. Unloaded it weighs only 12 ounces and when loaded remains under a pound. With no external hammer it operates double action only and is a popular choice for concealed carry. The barrel is engraved with a warning not to use ammunition with bullet weights of less than 120 grains. This is due to the risk of frame erosion from excessive discharge gas temperatures (and possibly still burning powder). Another warning in the owners manual is that recoil may pull the cases of unfired rounds in the cylinder rearward with enough force to unseat the bullets causing the cylinder to jam. The recoil inertia generated by . 357 Magnum loads that are 158 grains or greater cause the bullet to "jump-crimp". This will cause the bullet to protrude out of the cylinder, a term know by some as "prairie-dogging". This will ultimately cause the gun to jam up without removing the unseated bullets and replacing with new ones. Since the cylinder lines up flush to the forcing cone (back of barrel), the protruding bullet will not be able to clear the forcing cone and therefore render the gun incapable of firing the next cartridge. It has also been noted that accuracy is comprised in these types of ultra-light revolvers since the barrel is a steel sleeve liner rather than a single solid piece of steel. [1]



Another site suggested loading all chambers and firing all but one round. Unload and check the unfired round to see if the bullet has "Jumped crimp". That is, if it started to fall out of the case, thus possibly jamming the gun. Never thought of that. The guns are so light that they don't absorb much of the recoil of the heavier 158+ grain bullets.

 

[fkovalski]

I don't know why they caution against the lighter magnum loads (could be gas cutting?)...

I guess I have some more learning on the physics of handguns. I am not familiar with "gas cutting" other than that after eating beans.



The reason I feel that I would want to use . 38 rounds for personal protection is the fear of over penetration. From what I have been told, a . 38 with maximum expansion potential may be a better choice over a Magnum.



All of the smaller rounds is a new learning experience for me. I have solely fired . 38's at the range, but when packing my Ruger 6" GP 100 in the back woods (which got very heavy before too long) it was always loaded with Magnum rounds.



I am perusing the S&W forums for more info.

 

[Bill Lins]

FKovalski posted: "I am not familiar with "gas cutting" other than that after eating beans. "



That could cause some "frame erosion" of its own! ;-)

 

[icman95]

Why not use a . 38 + P? We bought the SW model 642 for my wife to conceal carry. It is strictly a . 38 cal, but will take a + P round which is almost as powerful as a . 357, but not quite. It is a 1 7/8 barrel and 5 shot. Great weapon for CCW and very well built and reliable. We use Federal Hydrashock JHPs in it for self protection. I have used these loads in my other guns for CCW also and have no problems with them. For range practice, we just use whatever is cheap.



The Hydrashocks aren't + P and are 110 grain, but have a very good reputation for a defensive round. Fortunately, I can't say I've ever had to use them in that kind of situation, but I am confident they will work well. If you want more power, then try the Corbon . 38s in + P.

 

[JCyrbok]

It was my understanding that the no less that 120gr weight was to reduce the chance of the bullets dislodging from the unfired rounds in the cylinder from the recoil of the . 357.



I carry Hydra shock 129gr +P . 38spl rounds in my 340PD (as per dept policy). I have shot . 357 mags out of it too and that is a handfull!



It looks like the lightest bullet weight in hydrashock . 357's is 130gr. See attached link Federal Premium - Handgune Ballistics (you will have to look through the list, its would not attach just to the page with the hydrashock info)



You may want to look at Gold Dot short barrel defensive ammo, I have heard some good things about it too. Speer Ammo - Short Barrel



Hope this helps



J-

 

[AMink]

Gas cutting is caused when gasses escape between the cylinder and the barrel. You don't want your hand there! Eventually, after thousands of rounds, the top strap gets "cut" by the super hot gasses.

 

[scootergmc]

I'll be the moron with the "get a Ruger" comment :-laf... with that said:





Get a Ruger LCR!!



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OK, back to your regularly scheduled thread! Oo.

 

[SWCook]

I have one of the Scandium S&W revolvers in the 360 and the bullets under the specified weight will in fact jump crimp. The erosion of the frame has been addressed with a small piece of additional metal to protect the frame from flame cutting as noted in the scandium revolver line.



There are some great all around loads in these small revolvers, you will find several good ones. The ones I use are the Speer Gold Dot rounds specifically designed for the very short snub barrels, this load was designed in part by the NYPD as they searched for a customized load for the very short but stout J Frame Smiths.



The Speer/NYPD load is custom tailored to have better velocity, bullet expansion and less muzzle flash out of these tiny revolver and the design works very well.



The 158 grain Wadcutter is a good one and the new Hornady +P 110 grain FTX looks to be a very viable round as all the reviews have been very good in the multiple calibers that have been released.



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