Smith & Wesson M&P 360

About the Smith & Wesson M&P 360

The Smith & Wesson M&P 360 is an ultra-lightweight, five-shot, double-action-only revolver chambered for .357 Magnum, built on a J-frame with a scandium-enhanced aluminum alloy frame and titanium cylinder. Introduced in 2002, the Model 360 was one of the first AirLite PD (Personal Defense) series revolvers to combine scandium frame technology with a titanium cylinder. The revolver weighs only 13.3 ounces (377g) unloaded, making it one of the lightest .357 Magnum revolvers available. It features an internal hammer design to prevent snagging during concealed carry, a 1.875-inch barrel with a stainless steel liner, and a satin stainless finish that distinguishes it from the matte black M&P 340. The scandium alloy frame provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio while the titanium cylinder handles the pressures of .357 Magnum ammunition. The Model 360 can also fire .38 Special and .38 Special +P ammunition. XS tritium night sights are standard equipment on many variants, providing visibility in low-light conditions.

The Model 360 was one of the pioneering AirLite revolvers that demonstrated the viability of scandium alloy frames for lightweight yet powerful defensive handguns, establishing a new category of ultra-light magnum revolvers.

Smith & Wesson M&P 360 specifications

The M&P 360 is nearly identical to the M&P 340 in terms of construction and specifications, with the primary differences being the satin stainless finish versus matte black and the sight configuration. Both models share the same scandium frame and titanium cylinder construction, making them among the lightest .357 Magnum revolvers ever produced. The extremely light weight makes these revolvers highly concealable and comfortable for all-day carry, but results in substantial recoil and muzzle blast when firing full-power .357 Magnum ammunition. The short 1.875-inch barrel significantly reduces muzzle velocity compared to longer-barreled .357 Magnums, with typical factory loads producing around 380 m/s from the snub barrel. Most shooters practice with .38 Special ammunition to manage recoil and reserve .357 Magnum loads for defensive carry. The internal hammer design limits the revolver to double-action-only operation with no single-action capability. The Model 360 PD designation includes the 'PD' suffix indicating 'Personal Defense' and scandium construction. Some variants feature XS 24/7 Standard Dot Tritium Express sights, while others use standard fixed sights. The scandium-aluminum alloy used in the frame was a metallurgical innovation that allowed Smith & Wesson to create revolvers substantially lighter than traditional aluminum or steel-framed guns while maintaining the strength needed for magnum cartridges.