SW 340 PD - scratches on cylinder face?

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druryj

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Check the gap between the cylinder face and the barrel on all cylinders. I’ve seen several including one of my S&W’s where some of the cylinders did not have the proper gap, but they were always adjacent to each other. It appears your cylinder has a skip between the two.
I believe it should be a .006 gap easily checked with a feeler gauge.
Gap looks fine.
 

dlbleak

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Check it on each chamber?
How’s the end shake? If it’s had a steady diet of 357 it could need a bushing. If the bushing is worn, the cylinder falls out of line with the barrel.
 

coolhandluke

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Unfortunately that looks like it may very well be gas erosion to me (hard to tell from photos). S&W specifically states not to use magnum loads with projectiles that are 120 gr and smaller or this exact thing will happen. The Ti surface coating doesn't even have to be compromised by being scratched by overly aggressive cleaning. I for one, don't even clean my Ti cylinders.

If it is gas erosion and the coating on the cylinder is compromised, the cylinder will become unsafe at some point in time as fragments of the cylinder face will continue to be eroded. If you stick with .38 loads, the erosion in those areas may not get much worse.

S&W will not do anything under warranty as Joel isn't the original owner. They will only replace the cylinder with a blackened steel version on your dime as they no longer offer replacement Ti cylinders. Numrich carries NOS Ti .357 J frame cylinders if anyone is ever in need of a replacement.
 
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dlbleak

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druryj

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I'll bring you some 357 mag rounds, you being a Man's Man and all

For you to shoot.

Check out the article in the link below. The author shows the efffects of running sub-120 gr magnum loads through a 340.

https://www.all4shooters.com/en/shooting/culture/titanium-cylinders/

Yeah, saw this already in researching the issue. Mine is nowhere near that bad. I know not to use the magnum rounds under 120 gr, plus, it says it on the barrel and in the manual.

Interesting read Lucas. That’s a bunch of erosion after only 34 rounds. Joel, yours looks like it’s mainly on two chambers which doesn’t make sense. Is there erosion on all five?

No marks or anything on the other 3. End shake seems okay.
 

bigred1

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I didn't think my M&P had that stipulation since it is stainless steel wanted to check. But here is the info on yours.
20190414_154314.jpg
 

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