Being a newbie, I would appreciate someone explaining the basic difference(s) between .38 Special and .38 Special +P ammo. Also, any preferences between 110gr Winchester SilverTips and 110gr Gold Dots. I carry a S&W Model 642 for CCW and have a 649 Bodyguard for home protection. TIA.

I would suggest looking at the practical effects of the distinction by considering the differences in the ballistics charts published by manufacturers. I use the 50 yard numbers as my comparison criterion.

http://www.federalpremium.com/ballistics/default.aspx

http://www.blazer-ammo.com/blazer_chart.aspx

http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/handgun.aspx

I prefer heavier bullets than those you listed. For snubnose .38s I would either use the FBI load (158 gr. LSWCHP), which is available from various manufacturers, Speer's 135 gr. +p short barrel Gold Dot, or Double Tap's 125 gr. +p Gold Dot. Welcome to the forum. +p simply means higher pressure. In all but the weakest oldest ,38s, very limited use should pose no problems.

Look at either of the .38 Special 158 grain lead SWCHC loads by Buffalo Bore. I use the standard velocity loads in my 38-2, they are soft cast lead with a gas check. The velocities published are accurate.

I too prefer a little more weight in my 38 Special ammo. The 125 grain is the lightest that I like to use. I also bought a box of the 158 grain +p BB load to try. wyatte

I practice with standard velocity 38 Special loads and carry +P 125 gr JHPs. I'm a big Cor-Bon fan, so I go with their products in just about all calibers.

The +P round will generate higher pressures than the standard .38 Special. Usually those higher pressures translate into higher velocities too. Those higher velocities are sought after to insure adequate expansion of the bullet used in a SD round.

I don't like 110gr projectiles in a .38 Special either. The .38 Special was created to fire a heavier bullet than that. (I think the original was a 158gr bullet)

I like and carry several different rounds. Like "flop-shank" I like the FBI load, Speer 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 Special +P round and DoubleTap's 125gr .38 Special +P round which uses a Gold Dot LV bullet. I currently carrying the DoubleTap offering in my M638.

Welcome to the forum...

Great article on the myths and truths of +P ammo.

http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/demystplusp_0306-7/

For some reason SAAMI has changed their pressure limits for the .38 Special +P twice. I see no reason to set a limit of 21,000 PSI, reduce it to 20,000 PSI and then neuter the load to 18,500 PSI. The current SAAMI Max pressure for the .38 Special is 17,000 PSI which is very low compared to the ammo that was used when the revolvers they are trying to protect were manufactured. I'm sure the .38 Special ammo that was around in 1950 was hotter than the so called .38 Special +P ammo available today. It's just ashame we have to put up with ammo and reloading data which doesn't allow us to enjoy the full potential of our handguns.

Amen, brother!

quote:

Originally posted by ArchAngelCD:
For some reason SAAMI has changed their pressure limits for the .38 Special +P twice. I see no reason to set a limit of 21,000 PSI, reduce it to 20,000 PSI and then neuter the load to 18,500 PSI. The current SAAMI Max pressure for the .38 Special is 17,000 PSI which is very low compared to the ammo that was used when the revolvers they are trying to protect were manufactured. I'm sure the .38 Special ammo that was around in 1950 was hotter than the so called .38 Special +P ammo available today. It's just ashame we have to put up with ammo and reloading data which doesn't allow us to enjoy the full potential of our handguns.

Thank the liability lawyers. You know someone , somehow , somewhere will try to shoot +Ps in and old pre-1900 Colt or S&W or one of the inferior Spanish copies meant for black-power and if hurt , will find a lawyer to sue every ammo maker there is.


Heck on one of the other threads , someone asked about making an older .38 special J-frame into a .357 mag.

Never underestimate the stupidity of man.

So, if you have a 1950 gun can you load or shoot the higher pressure data in it and be safe? Or visa versa, if you have a modern say Ruger or S&W is it safe to shoot the 22,000 lb 38+p in it or do you have to shoot the 17,000 lb 38+p data in it?

Since I shoot pre-numbered N frames in general, I shoot the older hotter ammo and don't sweat it.

It is an interesting question though.

quote:

I like the DoubleTap 125gr .38 Special +P round which uses a Gold Dot LV bullet. I currently carrying the DoubleTap offering in my M638.

Welcome to the forum...

Me too.

I did an Internet search on the DoubleTap .38+P and it turns out it's the Speer Gold Dot 125gr .38+P. Please clarify - is DoubleTap a dealer for Gold Dot? Is the ammo cheaper through DoubleTap than through gun shops, catalogs, etc.? I'm a newbie; thanks for your indulgence and help.

I can't believe all the welcomes I've had... I look forward to being a contributor to the site. Thanks.

Speer Gold Dot is a kind of bullet. Different cartridge manufacturers don't make their own bullets, they use Speers or Hornadys, for example. A cartridge is an assembly of case, primer, propellant, and bullet. So the cartridges can have one name on them and contain a bullet with another mfgr's. name & specs.