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Old 04-18-2011, 06:13 PM
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enfield enfield is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckfw View Post
I have a satin nickle airweight model 38-2 and it just has .38 Spl on the barrel, not +P. I have shot a few +Ps in it and it seems to handle them well, giving 2" groups @ 25 feet (Crimson Trace). I shoot +Ps in it because the cylinder is steel and should be able to take it. I noticed that the newer 638s are rated for +P ammo... is there a difference in strength or is it just that maybe the +P ammo wasn't out back then? I know that it may "shoot loose" later on, but it hasn't made any negative impact yet. What are your thoughts?
On your airweight J-frame, it depends on when the gun was made. S&W converted all aluminum j-frames to their magnum frame in the mid-late 90's. My 638 doesn't say +P on the barrel, but it has the magnum frame and is safe with +P. It's possible to tell from the serial number and/or model number if you have the magnum frame.

You may have already given enough information to determine your frame, but I'm in one room and my catalog is in another.
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Last edited by enfield; 04-18-2011 at 06:15 PM.
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