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Using +P Ammo in model 36
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Oscar Zulu
Member
No problem to the gun. Will hurt Your hand and your wallet before the gun feels it.
OZ
OZ
Check the factory manual. Use of +P generally accelerates wear and may provide both more recoil and a different point of impact than you feel comfortable with.
Where you put the bullet is far more important than what the weight, diameter or velocity of the bullet. [Have I done it, yeah. Do I still do it? No.]
Where you put the bullet is far more important than what the weight, diameter or velocity of the bullet. [Have I done it, yeah. Do I still do it? No.]
mgjohn
Member
Should not be a problem I have a older model 37 that I have shot over 1200 rounds of 38 +P+ thru, along with uncounted rounds of +P and standard velocity. It is still going strong.
billdeserthills
Member
Model 36 was not designed for +P ammo
S&W will not authorize use of +P ammo
in your gun
S&W will not authorize use of +P ammo
in your gun
Engine49guy
Member
As I recall any model marked steel frame Model 36 is OK for occasional +P ammo.
Why anyone would feed an old and tiny J frame a steady diet of high Velocity +P ammo...Well...I would not understand?
I agree with the majority...
You should not use a steady diet of +P ammo as it will accelerate the deterioration of your handgun,
Rather,
Use low Velocity ammo for occasional target practice but carry the Hottest +P ammo you can find in the gun for self defense....
I promise you the paper target will never know the difference....
Cheers!
Why anyone would feed an old and tiny J frame a steady diet of high Velocity +P ammo...Well...I would not understand?
I agree with the majority...
You should not use a steady diet of +P ammo as it will accelerate the deterioration of your handgun,
Rather,
Use low Velocity ammo for occasional target practice but carry the Hottest +P ammo you can find in the gun for self defense....
I promise you the paper target will never know the difference....
Cheers!
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Steve C
Member
A model 36 made in '82 is a modern revolver and a few boxes of +P won't wear it out quickly but like driving your car at 100 mph occasionally it puts more strain on the mechanisms parts than using standard pressure ammo.
Personally if it was to be used as a carry self defense pistol I would buy one box of +P carry ammo that's made by one of the 4 major manufacturers with a good expanding JHP and test fire 5 of them to make sure I can hit the kill zone of a silhouette at 20 yds. If they hit where I aimed that would be all the +P I would shoot for practice. When I carry the gun I would load the +P along with 2 speed loaders for the ride. Revolvers are inherently reliable to unlike a semi auto there's no need to test a bunch of rounds to make sure they feed and extract reliably if 5 work you can expect the next f 5 to work just as good.
If they're needed for SD then they'd get used but I don't stress any small frame pistol I like or want to work reliably by shooting +P just to punch paper. Maybe once or twice a year I'd shoot another 5 rounds of +P just to remind myself what they're like.
Practice would be done with standard velocity reloads or factory ammo if you are not a hand loader. At the ranges handguns are shot I find little difference in point of aim vs point of impact between standard velocity and +P. An inch high or low at 25 yards may make a lot of difference when scoring targets but in a SD situation at the typical 5 to 10 yds it will make no difference at all.
Personally if it was to be used as a carry self defense pistol I would buy one box of +P carry ammo that's made by one of the 4 major manufacturers with a good expanding JHP and test fire 5 of them to make sure I can hit the kill zone of a silhouette at 20 yds. If they hit where I aimed that would be all the +P I would shoot for practice. When I carry the gun I would load the +P along with 2 speed loaders for the ride. Revolvers are inherently reliable to unlike a semi auto there's no need to test a bunch of rounds to make sure they feed and extract reliably if 5 work you can expect the next f 5 to work just as good.
If they're needed for SD then they'd get used but I don't stress any small frame pistol I like or want to work reliably by shooting +P just to punch paper. Maybe once or twice a year I'd shoot another 5 rounds of +P just to remind myself what they're like.
Practice would be done with standard velocity reloads or factory ammo if you are not a hand loader. At the ranges handguns are shot I find little difference in point of aim vs point of impact between standard velocity and +P. An inch high or low at 25 yards may make a lot of difference when scoring targets but in a SD situation at the typical 5 to 10 yds it will make no difference at all.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I have a 1975 vintage M36 and when I carry it I load it with standard pressure Federal Nyclad ammo. It's not because I'm worried about harming the revolver, that ammo just shoots so well in that revolver.
I agree a few rounds now and then of +P ammo will do no harm to any post WWII all steel S&W revolver. The ammo shot in those revolvers back then was "hotter" than the stuff being marketed today as +P ammo.
I agree a few rounds now and then of +P ammo will do no harm to any post WWII all steel S&W revolver. The ammo shot in those revolvers back then was "hotter" than the stuff being marketed today as +P ammo.
badge 851
US Veteran
I believe that the weapon manufacturer states not to use +P ammo for a reason. For me personally I choose to heed that advise. I use the following two standard pressure loadings...........
• Federal® Premium® Personal Defense® 125gr Nyclad® HP
• Buffalo Bore® Std Press 158gr LSWHPGC
Both products will serve you well.
Erich
Member
Saint Elmer held forth on the strength of the J-frame .38s, and I concur. I've owned several, and would never be troubled by shooting an unlimited amount of .38+P ammo through the steel frames.
My last Model 36 no-dash, I didn't shoot much that wasn't +P through it. Hundreds and hundreds of rounds of it - and stuff well beyond SAAMI's +P standard as well. Gun didn't bat an eye. A neighbor who needed a carry gun talked me out of that one, but it was still going strong and still tight as a drum.
I have a customized 36-1 that might be my favorite pistol ever (don't ask me why - I have no idea, really) that essentially does not get shot with anything below what's presently rated as +P rounds. Steel-framed gun, offset bolt notches, short forcing cone protrusion into the cylinder window - the only thing that could get hurt by a 20,000 PSI round would seem to be the hand of a less-than-rugged shooter.
Don't rely on what we say, though. Contact S&W with the serial number if you want the official story. You should do whatever makes you comfortable after you research the issue, though - perhaps all the Model 36s that I've shot/owned have been exceptionally strong ones.
My last Model 36 no-dash, I didn't shoot much that wasn't +P through it. Hundreds and hundreds of rounds of it - and stuff well beyond SAAMI's +P standard as well. Gun didn't bat an eye. A neighbor who needed a carry gun talked me out of that one, but it was still going strong and still tight as a drum.
I have a customized 36-1 that might be my favorite pistol ever (don't ask me why - I have no idea, really) that essentially does not get shot with anything below what's presently rated as +P rounds. Steel-framed gun, offset bolt notches, short forcing cone protrusion into the cylinder window - the only thing that could get hurt by a 20,000 PSI round would seem to be the hand of a less-than-rugged shooter.
Don't rely on what we say, though. Contact S&W with the serial number if you want the official story. You should do whatever makes you comfortable after you research the issue, though - perhaps all the Model 36s that I've shot/owned have been exceptionally strong ones.
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38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
The gun will take more "+P" than will your hand. Often, folks seem to forget that Smith recommended the OLD steel J-frames for .38-44 HD loads, which were FAR hotter than modern +P. Will hotter ammo accelerate wear? Of course. Will it break your gun with a few rounds? Of course not. Just be sensible, instead of yielding either to internet hand-wringing or boasting.
David Sinko
Member
Any steel framed J Frame .38 Special revolver with its offset cylinder stop notches is safe for use with ANY .38 Special +P loads on the market. My "weak sister" Model 64 is a K Frame six shooter with the stop notches directly over the chambers and is significantly weaker than any J Frame Model 36. In spite of this, my 64 will handle any +P+ ammo on the market. The +P designation is definitely overrated.
Dave Sinko
Dave Sinko
Will Carry
Member
I asked the same question when I bought my model 36. I carry Federal Personal Defense 110 gr hydrashocks in my 36, It's a standard pressure round but delivers about the same muzzle energy as a +P round. According to MidwayUSA around 244 ft/lbs (probably less for snubbies). That is equal to a lot of +P loads. Which tells me that this round is pretty hot. For practice a shoot the standard 130gr MCs or lower pressure rounds, like a wadcutter or even cowboy loads.
I like my Chief's Special. I use it as a primary carry in warm weather with a 380 as a back up.
I like my Chief's Special. I use it as a primary carry in warm weather with a 380 as a back up.
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Will Carry
Member
Mine doesn't say +P. It was made in 1977. However, they are made the same way now as in 1977. I don't think they case harden the trigger and hammer any more. If a Taurus M85 can handle +P then a Smith and Wesson model 36 can too, it's just that I like the standard pressure rounds. The difference in stopping power are no that significant in a snubby, but I understand wanting the most power you can get.
stiab
US Veteran
I wonder when that was, because here is an old add for a K frame that doesn't even recommend using the 38-44 ammo. To eliminate any confusion, the "Super Police" load mentioned in the ad is the old and slow 200 grain bullet, not the 38-44 load.
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This is just my opinion. So take it for whatever it is worth.
It seems there are three schools of thought on this issue:
1) No problem
2) No way
3) Why bother?
Admittedly, I fall into the third school of thought. As already posted, there are non +P rated self defense loads that have proven quite well. I can't see any reason to shoot +P loads through anything that doesn't have +P engraved on the barrel.
However, if you feel you must carry +P, then just get a second revolver. There are quite a few "cosmeticly challenged" Model 36's available for a resonable price when compared to the price of a case of +P .38spl ammo. Just pick one up and shoot +P through it to your heart's content. You will also have the benefit of doing your own, hands-on testing of the durability of a J-frame using +P ammo.
If the twenty or so rounds of +P that you fire each year through your carry Model 36 are going to hurt it, then you really don't want to be carrying that for your self defense handgun.
Any how, that's just my $0.02.
It seems there are three schools of thought on this issue:
1) No problem
2) No way
3) Why bother?
Admittedly, I fall into the third school of thought. As already posted, there are non +P rated self defense loads that have proven quite well. I can't see any reason to shoot +P loads through anything that doesn't have +P engraved on the barrel.
However, if you feel you must carry +P, then just get a second revolver. There are quite a few "cosmeticly challenged" Model 36's available for a resonable price when compared to the price of a case of +P .38spl ammo. Just pick one up and shoot +P through it to your heart's content. You will also have the benefit of doing your own, hands-on testing of the durability of a J-frame using +P ammo.
If the twenty or so rounds of +P that you fire each year through your carry Model 36 are going to hurt it, then you really don't want to be carrying that for your self defense handgun.
Any how, that's just my $0.02.
I carry the BB 158 grain +p load in all my j-frames, three 36s and a Model 60. It is too expensive to shoot a whole lot of it, but I made sure all of them shot to point of aim, and I refresh the ammo by shooting what's in the gun and replacing it once a year. I don't really believe the "major" manufacturers' +p ammo would loosen a steel-frame Chiefs with thousands of rounds. It ain't really much--probably really about standard pressure. The BB stuff is pretty hot feeling, but it really feels better in my j-frames than in my K-frame guns.
WyoStillhunter
Member
I am of the "Why bother?" mind. At the range I can justify employing my M36 I see no advantage in +P ammo. It's a great little pistol but not easy to master, even with standard ammo.
