its loaded to higher pressure, thats it. it is not necessarily faster or more effective. my personal opinion is that if you feel you need +P ammo, you need a larger caliber gun for the task.
The starting point is the classic loading for the .38 special.
+P loads go beyond this moving into power and pressure
ranges between the classic .38 special and the .357 magnum.
From a common sense safety point of view, do not fire +P in a gun
chambered for the .38 special. Do fire +P in a gun chambered
for the .357 mag.
+P rounds are loaded to a higher pressure, and have higher exit velocity giving them more energy and, in general, better expansion and performance from a hollowpoint. The reason for the designation is to differentiate them from "standard pressure" rounds. I disagree that if you want +P performance you should switch to a larger caliber--38 +Ps are ideal for my snubbie defensive use. .38 +Ps can be shot in most modern .38 special firearms in good condition -- Smith and Wesson designates their new snubbies "+P" rated as do many other firearms manufacturers. Bottom line is to check with your firearms manufacturer to make sure it's OK with +P if it isn't addressed on the gun or in the owner's manual (although if you have a Ruger SP-101 I believe it could handle any +P out there). I've also had good luck with Buffalo Bore Ammo (who has excellent customer service) in e-mailing them asking questions about certain types of ammo suitability for my firearm. If you own a .357, it'll shoot any .38 +P out there because the .357 is loaded to a much higher pressure than even the highest .38 +P (all .38 special rounds can be shot in a .357 Magnum, but not vice versa). Most new 9mm's, 45 ACP's, and 38's I know of are OK with +P; however, there's NO WAY I'd shoot 44 special +P's in my Charter Bulldog, or heavy .45 Colt +P's in my Taurus Judge.
Enjoy, and good luck.
__________________
God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
Hmmmm I shoot 38,38+P,357 in my Ruger BlackHawk been doing it for 25 Years. I know there are some lightweight 38 Special handguns that your not suppose to fire the +P Rds. in. Check with you handguns Mfg. if your not sure but I don't think there are that many,especially with the metal technology used these days. I also have an extra cylinder for my BlackHawk in 9mm.
He doesn't say "don't" shoot them in a .357, he says DO shoot them in a .357.
USE A .357Magnum, NOT A .38SPL.
Oh hell..........boy is my face red. Misread the line entirely. Anyway, shoot them in anything ya want, people have torture tested lightweight .38's with +p's, you'll go broke buying ammo before they break. Certainly would be OK to run a few boxes through one without fear.
Please note and re-read my original post. I stated do not shoot +p in a .38 special but DO shoot it in a .357 mag.
Safety - there are many .38 special revolvers out there from different times in history and different manufacturers. It is just about impossible for the average gun owner to learn the metallurgy alloy type, tempering of the steel, if an older gun has been exposed to high temperatures, if someone has fired many high powered loads through a gun you did not acquire new, and so on . . . . So, it is best to take the wiser course and not tempt fate on the hope your .38 special is ready to handle more than the normal load for a .38 special.
I, for one, understand eyes cannot be replaced via transplant. Also, a hand can be damaged beyond repair by high power steel slivers.
For me it is not worth the risk to fire a +P load in a gun with
.38 special stamped into the metal.
Last edited by nathangdad; 04-06-2008 at 07:21 PM.
Reason: spelling
If a modern firearm is +P rated by the manufacturer, it's safe to fire with +Ps (and the design has been proofed to much higher pressures anyway). I personally don't believe you're "tempting fate" by using ammo the gun is designed to use. Certainly if I was unsure of the history of a gun, I'd have it checked out before I'd fire ANY rounds of any kind through it.
Having said that, I WOULDN'T recommend a steady diet of +Ps for your light alloy frame (maybe except scandium or titanium) revolver or auto. This will only serve to accelerate wear and punish you. I'd fire some to verify point of aim, and get familiar with the gun under recoil. I'd also occasionally put some through to re-verify POA and reliability (shooting off my carry rounds a couple of times a year usually works pretty well for this).
Best of luck !
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God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
Federal/Winchester 9mm +P+ is probably OK -- I'll stay away from .38 +P+ in anything but a Ruger !!!!! And, for the record, TAURUS ROCKS !
(Had a bad experience w/ +P+ in +P rated S&W 442) -- gun held together OK though. Think the factory rounds were overcharged to this day. After I sent them back factory said they were OK. The point was well taken by me, though.
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God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
