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The Range
Handgun Discussion
+P ammo in middle-aged S&W
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<blockquote data-quote="Jefpainthorse" data-source="post: 1371596" data-attributes="member: 11766"><p>I will wait for others to chime in here,and will defer to experienced opinions... but I'd be wary on one hand... and would not hesitate to fire a limited diet of +P on the other hand.</p><p></p><p>Why the wishy washy?</p><p></p><p>From what I have heard from several sources... what passes for +P sold today is about as stout as the commercial .38 special sold in the 1930's.</p><p></p><p>I have heard from several sources over the years that 70's vintage SW guns are safe to fire with +P loads. Most of those opinions are based on steel framed guns.</p><p></p><p>About the only way you would know if your gun is +P capable is to measure from forcing cone to the rear frame face.. and see if it stretches after your run the hot stuff in it.</p><p>Now... directly speaking (if it was my gun and it is not)... putting 10 +P through that revolver probably wont hurt a thing. I have a alloy Colt... I've fired a very limited amount of +P through that gun just to see were it impacts.</p><p></p><p></p><p>It's your gun and my opinion is worth what you paid for it...</p><p></p><p>About expansion and penetration from the short barrel... do a little research about what was know as the "Treasury Load"... If memory serves, testing found a JSP 110 grain bullet usually gives the best balance of performance against human targets. </p><p></p><p>158 grain Round Nosed Lead (standard load for 38 special) isnt sexy... but it has a long track record and I never felt undergunned with it when that was all we had a few years back. I seem to have seen some photos of RNL lead projectial that had expanded to nearly .75" when fired into gelatin blocks with good penetration. 148 gr lead semi-wadcutters had some favorable data when tested also.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jefpainthorse, post: 1371596, member: 11766"] I will wait for others to chime in here,and will defer to experienced opinions... but I'd be wary on one hand... and would not hesitate to fire a limited diet of +P on the other hand. Why the wishy washy? From what I have heard from several sources... what passes for +P sold today is about as stout as the commercial .38 special sold in the 1930's. I have heard from several sources over the years that 70's vintage SW guns are safe to fire with +P loads. Most of those opinions are based on steel framed guns. About the only way you would know if your gun is +P capable is to measure from forcing cone to the rear frame face.. and see if it stretches after your run the hot stuff in it. Now... directly speaking (if it was my gun and it is not)... putting 10 +P through that revolver probably wont hurt a thing. I have a alloy Colt... I've fired a very limited amount of +P through that gun just to see were it impacts. It's your gun and my opinion is worth what you paid for it... About expansion and penetration from the short barrel... do a little research about what was know as the "Treasury Load"... If memory serves, testing found a JSP 110 grain bullet usually gives the best balance of performance against human targets. 158 grain Round Nosed Lead (standard load for 38 special) isnt sexy... but it has a long track record and I never felt undergunned with it when that was all we had a few years back. I seem to have seen some photos of RNL lead projectial that had expanded to nearly .75" when fired into gelatin blocks with good penetration. 148 gr lead semi-wadcutters had some favorable data when tested also. [/QUOTE]
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