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Race
05-26-09, 12:22
What is the difference in these two? Does S&W still make the 342?

Did they ever make the 342 without the ILS lock (before the lock)?

Thanks.
sigmundsauer
05-26-09, 16:30
342PD is .38 Special and 10.8 ozs and discontinued. The 340PD is .357 Mag and 12 ozs. All came with the ILS. This is one revolver in which .357 Mag is simply superfluous. I am happy with .38 +P and the lighter weight.

Tim
ErikL
05-26-09, 17:11
They did make the 342 without the lock they are pretty hard to find and when you do you will pay at least 2x that of a 642. Money probably better spent on on a set of Crimson trace lg-405's. The one thing I do like better on the 342 over the 642 is the orange ramp sight, i have found i shoot my 342 slightly better than my 642 because of it.
Race
05-26-09, 19:00
Thanks for the info. Anyone know if the 342 was discontinued because of any problems? Seems a 10oz revolver would be pretty popular.

I would never fire .357 out of a 340, anyway - I would much rather find a 342.

Thanks again.
f.2
05-26-09, 19:02
Did they ever make the 342 without the ILS lock (before the lock)?

Mine is a 342 Air Lite Titanium, pre-lock, MIM trigger and hammer. Purchased used, low round count. Never liked the lacquered silver finish so I sent it to Smith & Wesson's Custom Shop and they refinished it in PD black. Very light ED pocket carry:

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/1201/342leftfullbi0.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=342leftfullbi0.jpg)http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2839/342fullgl7.th.jpg (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=342fullgl7.jpg)

edit to add: The Hogue grips work very well with this pocket Centennial when shooting SGDHP 135gr +P .38spl. The trigger is so very smooth. Don't know if that has to do with the MIM or not, but it is miles better than a new no-lock 642 (with a trigger job). Pocket holster is a round bottom Mika. Very comfortable with a front pocket carry and not noticable imo.
ErikL
05-26-09, 19:18
I was told they quite making them because there wasn't demand for them. I have over 2000 rounds through mine with no issues what so ever.
ballistic
05-26-09, 19:23
I own a stock 342PD without the lock, orange ramp sight and Hogue grips. It's carried often, shot very little. I load Winchester Silvertip 125gr +P and carry 2 speed strips or 2 speed loaders. The extremely light weight is appreciated when carrying concealed.
sjc3081
05-26-09, 21:26
350 FPS.
malignantbum
05-28-09, 21:01
I own a stock 342PD without the lock, orange ramp sight and Hogue grips. It's carried often, shot very little. I load Winchester Silvertip 125gr +P and carry 2 speed strips or 2 speed loaders. The extremely light weight is appreciated when carrying concealed.

why would you carry a platform and not train with it on a regular basis? Hell purchase a secondary "practice" platform and maintain your skillset that you have developed. But if you feel that carrying something often and not training with the platform that you use or as you say "shot very little", groovy. Just a thought from the peanut gallery
firecop019
06-04-09, 13:20
I have a 342pd w/ a lock, which I really only shot for qualifications. That is until I found that I could reload some low pressure rounds. Now I shoot it more often and it's actually fun to shoot. Before it was just plain painful.

Isn't the 442 very similar to the 342? The only thing I'd like to do is change the front sight from the ramp to the xs sight they started marketing.
CarlosDJackal
06-04-09, 13:40
Thanks for the info. Anyone know if the 342 was discontinued because of any problems? Seems a 10oz revolver would be pretty popular...

My guess is what's the point of buying a revolver that is chambered for the .38 when you can buy one that is chambered for the .357-Magnum but allows you to shoot .38s out of it anyway?

I have a 340PD and it does hurt when you shoot .357 loads out of it. I carry mine (usually as a house gun or a BUG) loaded with the Speer 135-grain +P JHP GD. I have had to send it back to S&W because of a broken spring a few years ago. They repaired it at no cost. YMMV.
CC556
06-04-09, 13:44
I have a 340PD. I carry the 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel rounds in it. I don't find it that bad to shoot. I wouldn't take it to the range and put 100 rounds of .357 through it for fun, but I don't find it punishing. I like the 340 because it gives me the option to shoot .357 if I want, and it's so damn light.
ballistic
06-04-09, 17:48
why would you carry a platform and not train with it on a regular basis? Hell purchase a secondary "practice" platform and maintain your skillset that you have developed. But if you feel that carrying something often and not training with the platform that you use or as you say "shot very little", groovy. Just a thought from the peanut gallery

Who said I don't train?
Race
06-04-09, 17:54
My guess is what's the point of buying a revolver that is chambered for the .38 when you can buy one that is chambered for the .357-Magnum but allows you to shoot .38s out of it anyway?

I have a 340PD and it does hurt when you shoot .357 loads out of it. I carry mine (usually as a house gun or a BUG) loaded with the Speer 135-grain +P JHP GD. I have had to send it back to S&W because of a broken spring a few years ago. They repaired it at no cost. YMMV.

My assumption was the .38 version may be a tad lighter and the hopes earlier models were produced without the lock.

If all is equal, the 340PD would be fine.