The Lightest .357 Magnum Revolver Ever Made: Smith & Wesson 340PD Review

Published on May 19, 2020
Duration: 19:16

This review of the Smith & Wesson 340PD highlights its status as the lightest .357 Magnum revolver ever made, weighing just 11.8 ounces. While its ultra-lightweight construction using Scandium alloy and Titanium offers a high power-to-weight ratio, it comes with significant recoil and specific ammunition limitations (minimum 120gr bullet). The review, presented with high authority by James Reeves of TFB TV, details its features, shooting experience, and challenges with reloading, comparing it to other popular firearms.

Quick Summary

The Smith & Wesson 340PD is the lightest .357 Magnum revolver ever made, weighing only 11.8 ounces, thanks to its Scandium alloy frame and Titanium cylinder. It offers a high power-to-weight ratio but requires ammunition of at least 120 grains and presents challenges with recoil and reloading.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Lightest .357 Magnum Revolver
  2. 00:38Weight and Comparison to Airweights
  3. 01:42Exotic Materials: Scandium and Titanium
  4. 02:21Ammunition Warning: 120gr Minimum Bullet
  5. 03:18Technical Specs: Capacity, Trigger, Sights
  6. 05:51Shooting Experience: .357 Magnum Recoil
  7. 09:50Power Efficiency vs. Glock 43
  8. 11:11Reloading Challenges: Ejector Rod and Cylinder

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Smith & Wesson 340PD the lightest .357 Magnum revolver?

The S&W 340PD achieves its ultra-lightweight status, weighing just 11.8 ounces, by utilizing an advanced Scandium alloy frame and a fluted Titanium cylinder, materials chosen for their strength-to-weight ratio.

What is the recommended ammunition for the Smith & Wesson 340PD?

The barrel is marked 'NO LESS THAN 120 GR BULLET'. This is crucial because lighter bullets can cause premature erosion of the Titanium cylinder due to unburnt powder. Standard defensive .357 Magnum loads typically meet this requirement.

How does the S&W 340PD compare in power-to-weight ratio to other firearms?

The 340PD offers an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 153 ft-lbs per ounce. This is notably higher than many other compact firearms, including the Glock 43, which has a ratio of 141 ft-lbs per ounce.

What are the main challenges when shooting and reloading the S&W 340PD?

Shooting .357 Magnum rounds results in significant recoil due to the light weight. Reloading is difficult because of the short ejector rod, which may not fully clear spent casings, and the lack of chamfering on the cylinder's charge holes.

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