Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W 340 PD vs. 642?

I am interested in a lightweight for the few times a year I can’t carry a mid size auto. I’m only interested in a j frame…. Not a ruger lcr or some other tiny auto.

I have zero desire to shoot 357’s in a j frame (340pd) but the 38 version (342?) doesn’t look like it’s available anymore from S&W.

So considering it will only see 38’s…. Is the weight savings of the 340 worth it over the 642? Too much of a good thing? I don’t expect to shoot it as well as a larger framed gun but I’m guessing the weight of the 340 makes it a little harder to control recoil over the 642….. tough decision, wish I had both to test side by side but it’s unlikely. I had the Taurus 605 years ago but it was a piece of crap, cylinder locked up….had issues with the internal lock….couldnt get rid of it soon enough after Taurus claimed they fixed it. Thx.

Never shot the 340 but I do have a 442 and 642 I really like. Just the thing to drop in a coat pocket for a quick trip to the store or throw in a fishing vest or bag.

Even with 38+P, the 340 is a painful gun to shoot.

First of all, if you go 340 get the M&P over the PD. The TI cylinder is dog $hit for a host of reasons. The 340 M&P is still lighter than the 642, which is light enough in its own right. I would wait for the New Lipsey 642s ultimate carry to come out. They have the new sights and are exclusively in 38 special.

I've had my 642 for over 10 years. Of the two, That's the one I'd pick.

I would only have the 340 if I were luck into a smoking deal on one. Otherwise the my 642 rules the the day, every day

Frankly, I'd pick neither of those choices. Search for and buy yourself an older used S&W model 38 Airweight.

It has the best of all attributes. Aluminum alloy frame, steel cylinder and barrel, hammer shroud, but still able to shoot single action if desired!

Mine will be with me until they cart me away and then my son will inherit it.


Frog---OUT!

I have the M&P 340 and put a ti cylinder in it. I like it for caring unobtrusively in a front pocket and the couple ounces of weight savings does make a big difference in carrying. Making it 2 ounces lighter did not make it noticeably more difficult to shoot. In neither case would I wish to shoot 357s in it but I believe having the option to use .357 ammo in a pinch or use shot loads is an advantage to the .357 chambering.

I would roll with the 642/442 every time. The weight difference while carrying is not enough to make a difference but when it comes to shooting, you will definitely notice. I have shot all manner of aluminum and scandium versions in both .38 and .357 and I absolutely HATE the scandium guns.

A 642/442 is fine. The new Lipsey's guns with the various upgrades, to include much better sights should probably be looked at. Yep, they are more expensive, but long after the price is forgotten, you will be glad you have such a well thought out piece and one you can shoot precisely with.

I am picking one up in .32 H&R myself.

For sure Mackey the only advantage a 340 m&p has over a 642 original is the sights. The new Lipseys looks to be a winner!

Awhile back I watched a TFB vid on that Lipsey's edition and it looks sweet.





That said a couple years ago I bought a 340PD and it's been a fun little gun to shoot, once in awhile....lol

It's actually not bad with standard 38 Special ammo, at least not bad IMHO. I wouldn't go shooting 50 rounds through at one session but it's not a problem to blast through a few cylinders. I have shot standard 357 through it and one or two cylinders is enough. Any more than that and I think it would be a negative for your shooting.

Slow rolling a few standard pressure 38's through it at 7 yards?




In fact I liked the gun well enough that I bought the 22LR version as well. Is that one the 43C?

I have a couple 357 J frames and a couple 38 J-frames. I carry my Model 19 2.5" most of all S&W's, that is on a daily basis around the farm, because there's coyotes that are getting too familiar and there's a Mountain lion or two, besides a wolf or two. I use a fairly heavy medium 357 cast bullet load in that. That 357 rides on my hip, not my pocket. I've killed 14 skunks in the daylight off my yard a couple years ago. I didn't care to see them at all but especially during the day. It is nice to have something other than a stick sometimes...

I too am looking for 38 with concealed hammer for a pocket pistol. Extra weight would not be a negative, at least for me. When I'm carrying for social events right now, I'm carrying a Bond derringer in 45 ACP which I like enough. But I love the S&W's and what you're looking at would be pretty close to perfect - my pick, 642 by a nose. I'd practice with which ever I ended up with and be happy with it.

Bad azz,especially like the sights but unfortunately here in commiefornia I doubt it will be available 🤦🏻‍♂️

The LCR has better trigger, grip and available in 9mm Luger which is considerably less expensive to practice with.
The most compact and best J-frame .38 would be Model 37 DAO. These were police contract overrun, therfore, will be difficult to find.
The Lipsey's up there looks good, the only upgrade needed is made for S&W "combat grip" which is not expensive to buy.

SamO,

I would suggest you try some .38 Short Colts.

They have a good bit less recoil than even standard pressure wadcutters. Make shooting J Frames much more tolerable. I am making some at the moment, and its always a struggle keeping them in stock, but I plan on fixing that. In the near future (as funds allow) I am going to get a machine dedicated just to the .38 Short Colts, so I can keep them in stock all the time. Once people try them they tend to come back and buy a BUNCH of them, grin.

If recoil is of concern there are 125 gr loads from Magtech (lead) or Speer Lawman TMJ. One should be able to find those online for about $25/50. The Speer lists < 900fps Vo probably 4" test barrel.

I have a 360PD. Absolutely horrible with full house 357, no way to control it. With 38+p it becomes somewhat manageable, but still a handful. I'm going to get some of the 38 ammo from Lost River to see if they are better as they have been loaded specifically for similar revolvers. I fired a total of 1 (ONE) round of some old Black Talon 357 ammo I had when I first got the revolver just to see how bad it was.....it was THAT bad.

All that said, I am seldom out and about without it on me. I throw it in a vest pocket (Cinch Concealed Carry vest), regular coat pocket, or pants pocket in a Sticky holster along with whatever else I am carrying that day. When I need heavy Concealment, it's just the 360.

I picked up my Lipsey's Model 442 in 38 Special from my dealer yesterday afternoon and I am impressed with it so far.

The sights and grip are a vast improvement over a prior 642.

The trigger pull is still a little heavy and the action is very smooth.

I can't wait to get it to the range this weekend.

I think Lipsey's and S&W have a winner with this one.

StarchedCover

This is very good advice. A the Lipsey’s UC 32 H&R Mag is a 6 shooter with light recoil - a good option, especially for a shooter who is not willing to put up with the bark and bite of a full house 340.

The 340 PD is extremely easy to carry and very tough to shoot with 357s. It’s doable for an experienced shooter who is willing to put in the time and withstand the pain, but not particularly enjoyable. As LTC Cooper said about the Star PD, the 340 is, “a gun to be carried a lot and shot a little.”

It disappears in a pocket because of size and weight. But there’s a price to be paid when you pull the trigger. There are no free lunches in life. Unless you’re an illegal immigrant in Unkle Joe’s Amerika!! 😂

It would have been wiser to pick up .327 FM. Ruger made limited run of these 3" lightweight revolvers along with ones chambered for 9mm Luger.

I disagree with your suggestion for my purposes. They may fit your planned use however.

The enhancements incorporated into Lipsey’s UC version far outweigh the ballistic advantage of the 327. Added recoil over the 32 H&R Mag was not one of the things on my list.

However, to each his own. Go with the Ruger and enjoy, if that’s what you decide.

BTW I’m speaking from the perspective of owning, shooting and using a 340 PD loaded with 125 Speer GDHPs as a BUG and NY reload and a 329 PD camp gun I used when hunting bear in AK with Federal 300 grain hardcast FPs. For those specific purposes both of these work well for me, so recoil when appropriate is not an issue.

With Ted’s Lost River wadcutter ammo, the 32 H&R Mag UC is what I need now for specific uses. Thanks for your opinion though. It’s always great to hear diverse perspectives.

I was approaching this from practical point of view. The PP .32 S&W Long 98gr load is cheaper to shoot then .38 Special. One does not need to shoot .327 Mags out of that revolver, Boomers shoot .38s out of S&W Model 13/19s all the time. I assume the only reason folks buy .357 Mag SC revolvers with Ti cylinders is because those will be easier to sell, if they decide to do so.

No.

Some of us buy 357 Mag and 44 Mag revolvers because they’re lighter to carry and then we actually shoot that ammo - in the real world - even though we may mostly practice with 38 Spl and 44 Spl on the range. As you say, it’s cheaper, easier on the guns and the shooter, when used at higher volume.

Crazy idea, hah? Go figure!!

In a moment of weakness I clicked the “buy now” button and a brand new 340 pd is on the way…. We’ll see how she goes 👍🏻

I personally prefer slightly more weight in a J frame so I like the 442's and 642's. I find more weight makes them a bit easier to shoot well. I'm sure the 340 will work well for you though.

I prefer the S&W 340 M&P but I really thing these new lipseys jframs are going to be awesome. I’ll buy all 4.
S.

The good think about the new S&W 442 is that you can get it (at your option) without the key lock.

The 340 I just bought is no lock.

The best .38 J-frame is Model 638 Airweight. It allows higher gripping surface on backstrap affording greater control even when using rubber boot grip. Ability to take SA shots is a wonderful bonus of that design.

Go away…. You ignored the original post and have only offered info that was not asked for…. You’re standard M.O.

tag

Where can the 642UC from Lipsey's be purchased?
Are they still being produced?

I have a fairly recently produced 442 that I like a lot. As you say, just an effective gun you can drop in a coat pocket.

Sorry I did not help, the correct suggestion to your question was Performance Center Model 642.

They are being produced and will continue to be made. They are being done in batches. Due to the tremendous popularity, they have been being snatched up quite quickly. The .32 H&Rs more so than the .38 Specials, due to the lighter recoil, higher capacity and deeper penetration by the better loads.

That said, I would just find a Lipsey's distributor and have them put you down for one. That is what pretty much everyone is doing. They are starting to show up in various shops now.

I have a 432 and have about 400 rounds through it of 100 grain Poly Coat wadcutters and it has been an outstanding little gun. Been carrying it as my every day "Always" gun, which for the last 2 decades has been a spot reserved for my old Smith 442 .38 Special.

Won't get rid oof my 442, and will still carry it as a BUG from time to time, but the 432 is just such a sweet gun with great improvements that it definitely wins in the pocket gun category. No doubt about it.




The sight upgrades alone make it a whole other animal, and quite easy to shoot well, provided you put in some practice.

Old style J Frame sights on my 442 :




New ones of the Ultimate Carry 432:

What the heck is a .48 Special?? Sounds devastating. Does it have a four round cylinder?