Have an itch for a light .38 special

[yqtszhj]

I have a really bad itch for a super light .38 special. Don't know if I'll have the money at the moment but it's time to start pondering anyway. If I get one it will be carried and lighter is better.

I've seen the S&W 340PD (11.4 oz. and if I want to be punished it will shoot .357 too) and the LCR (13.5 oz.) The 340PD has a titanium cylinder that makes it lighter.

Yeah I know the light weight will make shooting challenging but I like light powerful pistols.

Anyone have experience with either of the ones mentioned above or any others? The S&W airweight at 15 oz. is getting heavier than I am looking for. I guess I could throw the .38 bodyguard into the mix at 14+ oz.

[Alfonse]

I have an LCR. I understand it is better with the standard Hogue Grip, but with the CT laser on it is not much fun. A box of 50 rounds, even spread out a bit, is pretty brutal. I don't shoot it much. The original grip is bigger, makes speed loaders difficult, but is much softer shooting. If I ever get another little revolver, it will be all stainless.

[yqtszhj]

That's kinda what I thought about the grip's. I put a Hogue LCP grip on my LCP and it's a breeze to shoot now. Seems like the more grip area the better control and less recoil regardless of weight

[Barth]

I have a S&W 342 ti.
On my digital scale it's 11.1 oz empty.
13.5 oz loaded with five 135 gr Speer GDHP Short Barrel 38 +P.
It's definitely a carry a lot shoot a little gun.
In a DeSantis Nemesis holster it disappears in the pocket.
And It's so light I forget it's there.
I've got a action job on it with a XS Big Dot on the nose.

It's a sweet carry gun and shoots POA at close range.
It's my preferred pocket pistol over the current .380 craze.

[yqtszhj]

You know I was told they don't make the 342 anymore only the 340 although it only weighs slightly more. It's not cheap though but I like it for the same reasons you mentioned.

[pbagley]

I've got a Smith 642-2. Recoil is stiff with 158 gr standard 38 sp and 125 gr +P, more felt recoil than the cm9. With CT grips it is slightly worse, not a lot. Before the CT's I noticed the recoil in the trigger finger most. With the CT's I feel it at the base of the thumb more. After 65 rounds in January I had a flapper at the base of my thumb. That said, it does carry IWB very well. Light and does not aggravate a pressure point in my hip like the cm9 dies.

I hope that helps.

[yqtszhj]

I've got a Smith 642-2. Recoil is stiff with 158 gr standard 38 sp and 125 gr +P, more felt recoil than the cm9. With CT grips it is slightly worse, not a lot. Before the CT's I noticed the recoil in the trigger finger most. With the CT's I feel it at the base of the thumb more. After 65 rounds in January I had a flapper at the base of my thumb. That said, it does carry IWB very well. Light and does not aggravate a pressure point in my hip like the cm9 dies.

I hope that helps.

Thanks for that info. As for the flapper at the base of the thumb that is when I know I've had a good day, but I'm kinda sick like that though.

After 100+ rounds of .380 like I used to do with the LCP I called my wounds "blisters of joy"

[pbagley]

Thanks for that info. As for the flapper at the base of the thumb that is when I know I've had a good day, but I'm kinda sick like that though.

After 100+ rounds of .380 like I used to do with the LCP I called my wounds "blisters of joy"

Funny. My 738 TCP has never wounded me. Neither has either Kahr. The only two that have caused injury have been the 642 and my T/C Contender with the 45-70 barrel. 5 rounds, 400 gr cast bullet hand loads. The blood blister lasted over a week.

[b4uqzme]

I actually carry a Ruger SP101. At 2oz more than my MK9, it's light enough to be comfortable but heavy enough to shoot well. No flappers. And it's tolerable to shoot .357. I guess it comes down to why you want such a light revolver.

[kerby9mm]

I bought a new 340 m&p about a year & a half ago. Scandium frame stainless cylinder & I was lucky that it is one with no lock. 13.4 oz empty XS big dot nite sight. At first the trigger pull was a little stiff but now it is not bad at all. With 357 loads it stings & raps my middle finger knuckle but I have a glove for practice that cured that with 38special not too bad. I also have a 329Nightguard 44mag that with the larger grip does not hurt even with 44mag. I carry the 340 5 days a week in a leather holster & the finish is like new.

[Barth]

There will be blood...

Of all my handguns only my S&W 629-2 44 Mountain Gun (38 oz),
with full power 240 gr Magnums, would leave a mark.
At around 50 rounds it would draw blood - LOL.

I did shoot box after box of 357 Magnums with my 65-3 K and 640-1 J frames testing various ammo.
No blood or blisters, but my hand was sore for a week.

[RxDoc]

IMO, check out the Rger KLCR .357mag, shoots .38spl, .38spl+P, and .357mag, whichever you prefer to carry or practice with. I added a XS Big Dot, and stuck with the Hogue Tamer Grips. Very manageable with .38spl, even +Ps, and I personsonally don't have any problems shooting .357mag loads, especially the CorBon DPX 110gr, less recoil than 125gr loads. Sweetest trigger in it's class by far, and accurate even at longer distances. Fun gun for me.

[getsome]

As much as I love my PM40 I find myself pocket carrying my Smith 642 most of the time....I almost forget it's there and I know it's going to go bang every time and even though the PM40 is more powerful and accurate I think I'm better off with 5 for sure 135 Speer Gold Dots if God forbid the SHTF...

[ltxi]

I have a really bad itch for a super light .38 special. Don't know if I'll have the money at the moment but it's time to start pondering anyway. If I get one it will be carried and lighter is better.

I've seen the S&W 340PD (11.4 oz. and if I want to be punished it will shoot .357 too) and the LCR (13.5 oz.) The 340PD has a titanium cylinder that makes it lighter.

Yeah I know the light weight will make shooting challenging but I like light powerful pistols.

Anyone have experience with either of the ones mentioned above or any others? The S&W airweight at 15 oz. is getting heavier than I am looking for. I guess I could throw the .38 bodyguard into the mix at 14+ oz.

My answer, as always, is classic J-frame Smith in your choice of flavor.

My thought on weight is to not get too wrapped around the axle over a couple of ounces. My M&P 340 weighs about 13.5 oz....empty. Loaded it's a pound, 16 oz even. My pushing 20 year old 442 goes just under 2 oz over that Can't tell the difference in carry reality and having done this so long either gun goes unnoticed during daily affairs. My bobbed hammer model 60, also an older version, goes a pound and 7+ oz and I can notice the difference...enough that my u&c is the trusty ole, slick trigger 442.

Also, fwiw, I think carrying a lw J-frame with .357 mag for offense/defense is a not good idea. I'm sure there are folk who can handle follow up shots with that set up, but I'm not one of them. .357 turns something like my 340 into a one shot wonder, for me, under "real" conditions. I carry 125gr std pressure Fed NyClad in my 442 and 135gr Gold Dot SB in the Model 60.

[yqtszhj]

My answer, as always, is classic J-frame Smith in your choice of flavor.

My thought on weight is to not get too wrapped around the axle over a couple of ounces. My M&P 340 weighs about 13.5 oz....empty. Loaded it's a pound, 16 oz even. My pushing 20 year old 442 goes just under 2 oz over that Can't tell the difference in carry reality and having done this so long either gun goes unnoticed during daily affairs. My bobbed hammer model 60, also an older version, goes a pound and 7+ oz and I can notice the difference...enough that my u&c is the trusty ole, slick trigger 442.

Also, fwiw, I think carrying a lw J-frame with .357 mag for offense/defense is a not good idea. I'm sure there are folk who can handle follow up shots with that set up, but I'm not one of them. .357 turns something like my 340 into a one shot wonder, for me, under "real" conditions. I carry 125gr std pressure Fed NyClad in my 442 and 135gr Gold Dot SB in the Model 60.

Stopped by my local shop today and they were telling me about one of their customers that decided to load their 340 with .357 and the guy obviously didn't have a good grip and it ripped one of his fingers open. I had a King Cobra at one time in the past and even as heavy as it was the .357 has some punch to it too.