Buffalo Bore non +P ammo

[vytoland]

i was looking for .38 special non +P ammo for my S&W J frame and came across a Buffalo Bore ad.

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

what I don't understand is, how can this ammo be rated non +P, given the velocity (850 fps) and energy (253 ft.lbs.) specs, when it is equal to or higher than some +P ammo?

what am i missing?

 

[Elmer]

i was looking for .38 special non +P ammo for my S&W J frame and came across a Buffalo Bore ad.

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

what I don't understand is, how can this ammo be rated non +P, given the velocity (850 fps) and energy (253 ft.lbs.) specs, when it is equal to or higher than some +P ammo?

what am i missing?

Different powders/primers/bullet combinations, give different pressures, even for the same weights and velocities.

Also, you will see the larger companies always being very conservative with their ratings, calling some loads +P that are right on the line.

 

[Skeeziks]

B.B. is what I carry in my old mod. 49. Except I use the 125-gr. Gold Dot load (Item: 20-E.)

Always try to remember...the velocity and/or ft. lbs. of a load does not determine whether or not it gets a rating of +P.
"+P" refers to the pressure a load develops.

 

[vytoland]

B.B. is what I carry in my old mod. 49. Except I use the 125-gr. Gold Dot load (Item: 20-E.)

Always try to remember...the velocity and/or ft. lbs. of a load does not determine whether or not it gets a rating of +P.
"+P" refers to the pressure a load develops.

how is pressure calculated? what is the cut off point between +P and non +P ammo?

 

[Erich]

Vytoland,

These guys can answer all "how" questions - look into their publications that are for sale: SAAMI | Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute

Here are listings of their max pressure levels:
SAAMI pressure specs

 

[vytoland]

thank you all for the information. i appreciate your help.

 

[Erich]

You are most welcome, sir.

 

[Gary7]

As has been pointed out, it's a pressure issue. Hornady's std 38 Special Critical Defense load is listed as 1010 fps from a vented 4" test barrel. The +P 38 Special Critical Defense is listed as 1090 fps from a vented 4" test barrel. Same 110 gr bullet used in both. What this tells me is that the standard load is right at the top of the pressure spec, while the +P is right at the bottom.

 

[ajpelz]

SaxonPig may be along with his public service announcement shortly, but to express the gist of it, lots, if not most of ammo labeled +p really is not. It is hotter than THEIR standard load, but the pressure is usually below the SAAMI standard for +p.

 

[vytoland]

SaxonPig may be along with his public service announcement shortly, but to express the gist of it, lots, if not most of ammo labeled +p really is not. It is hotter than THEIR standard load, but the pressure is usually below the SAAMI standard for +p.

thanks...............i had a feeling that the "mixture" may have more marketing in it than chemical
.