Smith & Wesson 351C .22 Magnum
Model: 103351
Smith & Wesson 351C .22 Magnum
Model: 103351
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Smith & Wesson 351C is the enclosed-hammer Centennial sibling to the S&W 351 PD. Same scandium alloy frame, same 1.88" barrel, same 7-round cylinder, nearly identical 11.5 oz weight. The two real changes are the action and the front sight: the 351C is DAO with no exposed hammer, and the front is an XS White Dot rather than the PD's HiViz fiber optic. The Centennial design exists for one specific reason — a fully shrouded hammer cannot snag on clothing during a draw from deep pocket carry. That makes the 351C the purpose-built pocket gun in the .22 Magnum J-frame line.
The XS White Dot front is genuinely useful for fast indexing in mixed light and is a notable upgrade over the integral ramp on the standard Airweights. The honest weakness is what you give up to get the snag-free profile: there's no single-action option at all. The trigger pulls through its full DA arc every shot, which is typical 12 lb J-frame territory — fine for fast, close defensive shots inside 7 yards but a real handicap for any deliberate small-game or trail use. If you want single-action capability in a .22 Magnum J-frame, the 351 PD is the only S&W that offers it. The 351C trades that flexibility for a clean draw, and that trade only makes sense if you actually pocket carry. The all-steel Taurus 942 2" doubles the weight at 23.6 oz but offers DA/SA and an 8-round cylinder at a noticeably lower street price — a different gun for a different mission.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Fully enclosed hammer eliminates snag risk on a draw from pocket carry. The 351 PD and Ruger LCRx both have exposed hammers that can catch on clothing.
- XS White Dot front sight is a meaningful upgrade over the integral ramp on most Airweights, and many owners prefer it to a fiber-optic pipe in mixed lighting.
- DAO only. No single-action option for deliberate shots — a real limitation for trail use or small-game work where you have time to cock the hammer.
- Slick factory synthetic grip is the first thing most owners change. A Hogue Tamer or VZ swap runs $40-80 and meaningfully improves comfort on a gun this light.
- The internal lock (the "Hillary Hole") remains a long-running complaint with modern S&W revolvers. Documented but rare self-engagement under heavy recoil leads many carry owners to disable or remove it.
Category Rankings
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the XS White Dot front sight work as well as a fiber optic in real conditions?
Owners are split. The XS White Dot is a high-contrast paint dot that holds its zero through hard use and never breaks. Fiber-optic pipes (like the HiViz on the 351 PD) glow brighter in good light but can chip out and don't help in true darkness. Most carry shooters who chose the 351C over the 351 PD prefer the White Dot for snub-distance defensive work because it indexes naturally without needing a precise sight picture inside 7 yards. For deliberate aimed fire past 15 yards, the fiber pipe has the edge.
Will .22 Magnum cycle reliably from a 1.88" barrel?
Cycling isn't the question — this is a revolver, so ignition and extraction are mechanical regardless of velocity. The real concern is terminal performance. Most .22 Magnum loads lose 30-40% of their published muzzle velocity from a 1.88" barrel compared to a rifle. Defensive loads specifically designed for short barrels (Hornady Critical Defense FTX, Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel) hold expansion better at the reduced velocities. Standard hunting loads often will not expand and behave more like hot .22 LR.