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I've owned a S&W 340PD since 2003 and have not had any issues with the erosion that has been widely noted by owners. I even used it as my training gun in a combat pistol carry class back in 2005. I was the only wheel-gunner to toe the line that day. Everyone had semi-autos. (mostly SIGs, S&W and a few Berettas in 9mm, and a couple in .40 if I recall) My Instructor had a SIG P7, and said I had better keep up with my 5-shot. Challenge accepted, and having 8 HKS speed loaders helped me do just that. The instructor had me positioned as the last shooter on the right in case there were any issues. (which there was when the ejector rod loosened and hung me up)
The funniest thing was when we fired that first volley down the line and 9mm after 9mm (with an occasional .40 S&W) fired went "pew, pew, pew, PEW, pew "
and I fired my .357 snub that went "BOOM!". every head turned to the right and stared. (keep in mind that in 2005, nearly everyone had switched over to semi-autos, and wheelguns were relegated to "Old Men" and retired Cops)
I shot 400 rounds through it that day, half of it being 158gn, full-house .357mag carry ammo. I went home with a bleeding right hand, missing quite a bit of the webbing skin between my thumb and index finger, and had to keep it in ice for a couple of hours.
The only issue with the gun (and not my pussy hand) was that the hand-ejector rod would keep unscrewing after about 50 rounds of .357. The first time it happened the ejector rod had un-spun itself out so far I could not release the cylinder. After rolling it back with my thumb a few times I was able to open the cylinder and spin it back tight. Now I use a small amount of red loctite and it stays in place.
On the good side, I am lo longer recoil-sensitive having killed off the nerves in my right hand...
Great gun, by the way.
The funniest thing was when we fired that first volley down the line and 9mm after 9mm (with an occasional .40 S&W) fired went "pew, pew, pew, PEW, pew "
and I fired my .357 snub that went "BOOM!". every head turned to the right and stared. (keep in mind that in 2005, nearly everyone had switched over to semi-autos, and wheelguns were relegated to "Old Men" and retired Cops)
I shot 400 rounds through it that day, half of it being 158gn, full-house .357mag carry ammo. I went home with a bleeding right hand, missing quite a bit of the webbing skin between my thumb and index finger, and had to keep it in ice for a couple of hours.
The only issue with the gun (and not my pussy hand) was that the hand-ejector rod would keep unscrewing after about 50 rounds of .357. The first time it happened the ejector rod had un-spun itself out so far I could not release the cylinder. After rolling it back with my thumb a few times I was able to open the cylinder and spin it back tight. Now I use a small amount of red loctite and it stays in place.
On the good side, I am lo longer recoil-sensitive having killed off the nerves in my right hand...
Great gun, by the way.
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