Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock – Superb Lightweight Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock is about as much cartridge as anyone has managed to fit into as little weight. A scandium alloy frame and a titanium alloy cylinder bring it down to roughly thirteen and a half ounces, which is lighter than most 38 Special snub-nosed revolvers, and it is chambered in 357 Magnum. The hammer is fully enclosed inside the frame so nothing snags on a pocket, a tritium front sight glows without batteries, and this version leaves out the internal locking mechanism that a great many revolver buyers specifically avoid.

Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock Weight, Sights And Enclosed Hammer

Weight is the entire argument for the Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock. A steel J-frame runs around twenty-two ounces and an aluminium Airweight around fifteen. Scandium alloy and a titanium cylinder take this one down near thirteen and a half, which is the difference between a revolver that lives on your belt every day and one that stays in a drawer because you got tired of it.

The tritium front sight on the Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock is a real upgrade over the ramp most small revolvers wear. A radioactive gas vial glows continuously with no batteries and no need to charge it in daylight, so the sight is visible in a dark hallway or a parking garage. For a handgun that exists specifically for poor light, that is worth paying for.

The enclosed hammer means the draw is completely clean. Nothing protrudes to catch on a pocket lining or a coat hem, and the revolver can even be fired from inside a coat pocket, which no semi-automatic manages reliably. The cost is that you cannot cock it, so every shot is a long double action pull.

Leaving out the internal lock is why many buyers seek this specific version. It removes a small mechanism from a gun meant to work without thinking.

Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock Recoil, Care And Honest Limits

This needs saying plainly. Thirteen and a half ounces firing full power 357 Magnum is one of the harshest combinations available in any production firearm, and the Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock is unpleasant to shoot with magnum ammunition. The recoil is violent rather than merely firm, the muzzle blast from a one and seven eighths inch barrel is blinding in low light, and most owners fire a cylinder or two of magnums to confirm zero and then never do it again.

The sensible approach with the Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock, and the one most owners settle on, is to load 38 Special plus P for carry and practice. The revolver fires it without any modification, it is far more controllable, and the honest performance difference from a barrel this short is smaller than the cartridge names suggest.

Titanium cylinders need care. Abrasive cleaning compounds and aggressive brushing can damage the chamber finish, so clean with solvent and a nylon or bronze brush and read the manual before the first time.

Five rounds is the capacity of the Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock and a revolver reload is slow. Practice with speed strips if this is a serious carry gun.

Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 103072
• UPC: 022188030723
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, also fires 38 Special
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Barrel: 1.875 inches
• Frame: scandium alloy
• Cylinder: titanium alloy
• Action: double action only, enclosed hammer
• Front sight: tritium night sight
• Internal lock: none

Buyers comparing the Smith Wesson M P340 against a steel or aluminium snub are trading recoil comfort for ounces. As a Scandium J Frame Revolver it is among the lightest 357 Magnum handguns made, and as an Enclosed Hammer Carry Revolver it draws from a pocket without catching on anything. The night sight and the absent lock are what separate it from the plainer models in the line.

Why Buyers Choose The Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock

Buy the Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock if the single most important thing about a carry gun is that you will actually have it on you. At thirteen and a half ounces this one disappears in a pocket or on a belt, the enclosed hammer gives a snag-free draw, and the tritium sight keeps it usable after dark. Having the 357 chambering gives you the option even if you carry 38 Special most days.

Skip it if you plan to shoot it much, because magnum ammunition in a gun this light is genuinely punishing and even plus P 38 Special is sharp. Skip it if you want to cock the hammer for a deliberate shot, since this model cannot. And skip it if titanium cylinder cleaning requirements sound like something you would neglect.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson M P340 357 Magnum No Lock

This revolver suits everyday concealed carriers who prioritise weight above all, backup gun carriers, pocket and ankle carry, and anyone who wants a defensive handgun with the simplest possible manual of arms. It is a poor fit for new shooters, for high volume practice, for recoil sensitive shooters, and for anyone who wants a gun that is pleasant at the range. All firearm sales ship to a licensed FFL dealer for transfer, and handgun and carry rules vary by state, so confirm your local law before ordering.

Learn more about this revolver from the manufacturer, or see more firearms available at MAG5 Firearms.