Description
The Smith Wesson 340PD No Lock 357 Magnum is an ultralight 357 Magnum built without an internal lock, which for a great many buyers is the deciding feature. It is a Centennial AirLite J-frame with a scandium alloy frame and a titanium cylinder, chambered for a full-power magnum cartridge in a revolver that weighs almost nothing.
Smith Wesson 340PD No Lock 357 Magnum No Lock, and Why That Matters
Smith and Wesson added an internal lock to its revolvers in the early 2000s, and it has been contentious ever since. Some shooters object on principle, some on the basis of reliability concerns, and some simply prefer the cleaner sideplate of a revolver without one. The Smith Wesson 340PD No Lock 357 Magnum answers all three.
Everything else is the AirLite Centennial that has been a default backup and deep concealment revolver for decades. Enclosed hammer, double action only, five rounds, and a weight low enough that you forget it is on you.
The scandium-aluminum alloy frame and titanium alloy cylinder are what get the weight down, with only the barrel in stainless steel. Scandium alloy is dramatically lighter than steel while retaining the strength to be rated for continuous +P use.
The Enclosed Hammer and the Honest Trade
There is no external hammer spur. Nothing protrudes to catch on a pocket lining, a coat hem or the inside of a bag when you need the gun in a hurry, and that single design choice is why the Centennial pattern has outlasted a great many more modern designs.
It is also double action only. There is no cocking the hammer for a lighter single-action shot, which removes an entire category of handling error under stress. Every trigger press is the same long, deliberate pull, and that consistency is a feature rather than a limitation on a defensive revolver.
Physics does not negotiate on the other side. A revolver this light firing full-power 357 Magnum produces recoil that is genuinely punishing, and no grip or technique makes it pleasant. Most owners confirm they can shoot magnums, then carry a heavy 38 Special +P load instead. That is sensible and very common.
The revolver is rated for continuous +P use, so 38 Special +P is not a compromise: it is arguably the load this gun was really designed around, with magnums available for anyone who needs them.
Carrying and Shooting the Smith Wesson 340PD No Lock 357 Magnum
Pocket carry is where this revolver is at its best, and it needs a proper pocket holster to do the job. A holster keeps the revolver oriented consistently, covers the trigger, and breaks up the outline so it reads as a wallet or a phone rather than a gun. Carrying a J-frame loose in a pocket alongside keys and change is how people end up with lint in the action and an inconsistent draw.
On the range, be prepared. A cylinder of full-power 357 through a gun this light is memorable, and shooters who have not fired one before should start with 38 Special and work up. There is no shame in deciding that magnums are more than you want from this platform; a great many experienced shooters reach exactly that conclusion.
Dry fire is the most valuable practice available with a double action only revolver. The long pull and short sight radius punish sloppy trigger work, and fifty presses a day for a month will change what this gun can do in your hands more than any accessory could.
Maintenance Notes
Titanium cylinders need specific care. Do not use abrasive cleaning methods or aggressive bore brushes on the chambers, and follow the manufacturer guidance on cleaning products, since some solvents and techniques appropriate for steel are not appropriate for titanium.
Keep the cylinder face and the forcing cone clean. Magnum ammunition fouls a revolver considerably more than 38 Special does, and the ring of carbon that builds at the front of the chambers is what eventually prevents longer 357 cases from seating.
Check that the ejector rod stays tight, as it can back out under recoil and lock the cylinder closed at exactly the wrong moment. On a revolver producing this much recoil impulse, that check is worth making regularly rather than occasionally.
Smith Wesson 340PD No Lock 357 Magnum Specifications
- Manufacturer part number: 103061
- UPC: 022188030617
- Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special, rated for continuous +P
- Capacity: 5 rounds
- Barrel: 1.875 inches, stainless steel
- Frame: scandium alloy
- Cylinder: titanium alloy
- Hammer: enclosed, snag-free
- Sights: fixed
- Action: double action only
- Internal lock: none
Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 340PD No Lock 357 Magnum
This is about as light as a defensive revolver gets while still chambering a serious cartridge, and it comes without the internal lock that many buyers specifically avoid.
Recoil with magnum ammunition is severe. Be honest with yourself about whether you will practise enough to shoot it well, and consider carrying 38 Special +P if the answer is uncertain. A load you can shoot accurately beats a more powerful one you cannot.
Fixed sights mean the revolver is regulated at the factory for a particular load. If your groups sit off centre with a different bullet weight, that is the sights doing what they were designed to do rather than a fault. Find the load that prints where you aim and stay with it.
Who Should Buy It
The Smith Wesson 340PD No Lock 357 Magnum suits shooters who need the lightest possible defensive revolver and specifically want one without an internal lock: deep concealment and pocket carriers, backup gun users, and anyone who values simplicity of operation over capacity.
Learn more from Smith and Wesson, or browse the rest of our firearms selection.
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