I recently acquired a S&W Model 60 snubbie from a friend who is retired from the FBI. Along with the revolver he gave me two boxes of ammo. One box of Federal Premium .38 Special High Velocity (+P+) 147 Gr. HYDRA-SHOK JHP , and a box of Winchester .38 Special +P+ 147 gr. JHP, marked: FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY NOT FOR RETAIL SALE.

My question is this stuff safe to shoot in the Model 60( date of manufacture 1974-1978), and my Model 36 ( date of manufacture 1973).

Thanks ahead of time for any information

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TomD

Yes it will be OK but your hand is really going to hurt. I would just use it for self defense. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

Those two are not the hottest available, so limited use is probably safe.
There are no standards for +P+ other than what the manufacturer chooses, so caution is a good idea if you run across other loadings.
S&W does not warrant the .38 only model 60 for +P+.

The general rule of thumb, +P+ ammo is best left for revolvers chambered for the .357 Magnum round. So, IMHO, practice with regular or +P ammo and save the hot rounds for the real deal.

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Always Stay Strong!

I'd be careful on the +P+ ammo like the guys mentioned before. The FBI did use that ammo & when i retired they stocked me up with a cases of it. If you call S&W they will tell you that they don't recommend it. I used the ammo in a 686 L-Frame. We shot it at the range qualifying & I carried it as my standard ammo. Have had no problems, but i'd be concerned in any air weight or other than an L or N Frame gun. Best of luck & be safe.
Carl

I've shot lots of it in K frames with no problem. No need to shoot it in a J frame. Just get some standard pressure or +P for your Model 60 and shoot the +P+ stuff in bigger guns.

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Centennial Every Day

The hottest 38s were the treasury dept loads made by Federal. The only thing on the headstamp is FC and the date of manufacture. I had six of these left over from 25 years ago and I fired them in my LCR a few weeks ago. The recoil was considerably snappier than the modern +P loads I was also shooting.

I received a bunch from a customs agent when he went to a semi-auto. Don't remember that they were that hot out of my M 19 but the bullet shape I remember as more truncated than the commercial version.

I don't think the Federal 147 grain +P+ is hot at all, at least not from a velocity generated perspective. I know higher pressure doesn't necessary produce correspondingly higher velocity (due to the law of deminishing returns), but I chrono-ed some that that ammo last week from an identical Model 60 at average of only 802 fps. If you search the Ammo section of this forum you will see where other people have also tested the +P+ .38 Special with less than anticipated results.

I have lots of the 110 gr "treasury load" +P+ HP ammo. I also have substantial quanities of .38 Special Super Vel 110 gr HPs. In shooting them, I feel that there is little difference in recoil/flash, and therefore in a distinctly non scientific manner have concluded that they about the same in ballistics/pressures. I use the FC stamped stuff, and take a few boxes of the Super Vel to a gun show when I need extra cash, you would be suprised at what some folks will pay for the stuff. I won't sell on the forum as I like the folks on the forum.
Originally I carried the FC stuff in my M60s, (a couple of 2 inchers, and a couple of 3 inchers). However I have settled on SWC 158 gr as a snub load, and now only use the FCs in K frames like my 64/65 models. It really puts out some heat, bang and flash, and does really impressive damage to fruit, disappears apples and oranges, and partitions watermelons all to hell and gone. The recoil in the K frames is not that bad at all, probably due to the light bullet.
As noted above, there are no standards at all for +P+, IMO all +P+ means is is that you are on your own with these rounds.

I have recently shot a couple of qualification courses with my Airweight S&W Bodyguard using the Federal 147 +P+ ammo.

I do not feel that it kicks any harder than the 158 HP lead +P ammo.

I have shot a bunch of the 110 +P and +P+ "Govt." ammo in it as well.

I have had this Bodyguard since @ 1972 and it has shot a bunch of +P, and +P+ ammo both factory and reloads.

It is still tight and a good shooter.

Neither Federal or Winchester would sell any ammo that would be unsafe in a quality made gun like the M60. If it says 38 Special on the box you can shoot it in a 60. The 357 Magnums are made for 357 Magnum ammo, not 38 Special ammo.

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No life story has happy end.

That 147-gr +P+ stuff does right at 900 fps from a snub, with really minimal deviations. Great ammo. I have shot quite a bit of it from my J-frames without issue.