+ P ammo in J and K frame 38 specials?

ottodog · #1 07-14-2010, 04:50 PM

Is it safe to use Speer Gold Dot ammo in Model 36 and 60 snubbys?

Same question for K frame 4"bbl Mod 10?

Is Speer Gold dot considered +P ?

ajpelz · #2 07-14-2010, 04:59 PM

Yes

Yes

No, Unless specifically marked. There are also +p+ speer gold dots, but unless noted, they are standard pressure.

-db- · #3 07-14-2010, 05:07 PM

Well, technically, there are +P versions of Gold Dot. You'll want to look at the box and/or headstamp.

tpd223 · #4 07-15-2010, 10:45 PM

The 135gr +P Gold Dot is my load of choice in my 642s, and my model 10 and 15 snub.

Recoil is a bit stiff in the lightweight guns, but manageable.

Steve C · #5 07-16-2010, 02:09 PM

I don't worry about using +P ammo or hand loads in steel K frame pistols manufactured in the last 50 years. These where standard police issue weapons and police ammo was often +P level even before +P was a recognized pressure. I've shot hand loads at +P level velocities out of my K frames for over 30 years without issue.

In J frames I use +P very sparingly and though I shoot my J frame pistol only for occasional practice I use mostly standard pressure hand loads.

The real problems with +P ammo is if shooting it out of a alloy framed pistol manufactured before more recent improvements to the construction allowed the +P rating on the handgun. +P and the old "Police" ammo would stretch the frames on these older light weight aluminum alloy pistols rather quickly.

roaddog28 · #6 07-16-2010, 04:15 PM

Hi,
I shoot +P out of my M&P 38 special made in 1954. No issues. The round I have used is the Buffalo Bore 158 gr +p LSWCHP. This round is about the most powerful factory round for 38 special out right now. Velocity runs 1100 FPS or more out of a 4 inch barrel. Most +P rounds run about 900 FPS.

regards,
roaddog28

38-44HD45 · #7 07-16-2010, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottodog

Is it safe to use Speer Gold Dot ammo in Model 36 and 60 snubbys?

Same question for K frame 4"bbl Mod 10?

Is Speer Gold dot considered +P ?

Yes, yes, and yes.

PMRet · #8 07-18-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve C

The real problems with +P ammo is if shooting it out of a alloy framed pistol manufactured before more recent improvements to the construction allowed the +P rating on the handgun. +P and the old "Police" ammo would stretch the frames on these older light weight aluminum alloy pistols rather quickly.

What is considered "recent"? What about airweight J frames from the late 80's and early 90's?

rebelray84 · #9 08-01-2010, 06:42 AM

I wouldn't put +p thru any airweight from the 80s or early 90s.More recent airweights that can take +p are marked ".38 spcl. +P" on the barrel.

ArchAngelCD · #10 08-01-2010, 12:50 PM

Today's +P .38 Special ammo is hardly +P at all. Back when the M10 was king the ammo shot in it was "hotter" than today's so-called +P ammo. If you check the data the +P ammo of today is hardly over 17,000 PSI even though the standard is 20,000 PSI or 18,500 PSI in it's latest incarnation. You will be hard pressed to find factory +P ammo over 17,000 PSI although there is some around.