386PD .38 +p

[Johnnymiz]

so, I bought a gun which i think is sort of rare and pretty cool.
it is a 386PD in .38 special. not .357... .38 special.
i got it for, what i think, a very good price.
i think people missed it as i was the only bidder at the very reasonable starting price.
7 round L frame
at 17 ounces, it only weighs 0.7 ounces more than my 432UC.
the rep at S&W that i spoke with about it didn't think it was very rare. but i have never seen another for sale.
made in 2008 and it looks unfired
the question.. do i use it as intended when i bid on it, as a hiking gun (no big bears where i live so 38+p is fine), or save it in its current condition?

 

[joebuck]

I've seen one other for sale. Is rare but I have no idea why S&W made it in .38 special only. Almost all 386PD's were .357. Never cataloged in .38 only so maybe for foreign sales? They are great guns. Just load it with the hottest .38 you can find and have fun.

 

[haywood]

I’d carry that bad boy. I had a 7 shot 357 snub that I damaged and couldn’t replace it. I miss it a lot. I’d love to have a 7 shot lightweight 38 for carry.

 

[Johnnymiz]

i can't imagine why they de-rated an L frame to .38 special, but +p is probably all i would ever want to put in a gun this light anyway.
weight-wise, it feels like a plastic toy compared to my 4 inch 28-2.

I intend to do just that.
i have some buffalo bore low flash on the way.
now i need a holster for it.

 

[Beju]

i can't imagine why they de-rated an L frame to .38 special, but +p is probably all i would ever want to put in a gun this light anyway.
weight-wise, it feels like a plastic toy compared to my 4 inch 28-2.

I intend to do just that.
i have some buffalo bore low flash on the way.
now i need a holster for it.

That's pretty much how I feel about it.

Can't imagine I'd want to shoot much .357 Magnum in a 17 oz revolver, at least not without some bulky rubber wraparound grips like Pachmayrs or the old Uncle Mikes OEM grips.

A .38 Special cylinder also means you won't have the cylinder fouling issues that come with shooting a lot of .38 Special (especially lead ammo) in a .357 Magnum cylinder.

 

[Johnnymiz]

no fouling is great.
also, i asked the S&W tech about any ammunition restrictions with the titanium cylinder and he said that there is no 38 special ammunition made that could hurt it.. so no worries there.
i am pretty stoked about it.

 

[Beju]

Since S&W makes .357 Magnum chambered titanium cylinders, you'd probably be fine with non-SAAMI spec stuff like +P+ .38 Special.

Less fouling may be even more important with a titanium cylinder, as they have a reputation for not standing up to rough cleaning methods as well as steel.

 

[Johnnymiz]

Beju, i am sure you are right on both counts

 

[Lou_the_welder]

It looks new to me! Look into Mpro7 cleaner. I use it on all my guns, including the scandium/ titanium.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Cool find!

Can you share a picture of the box label?

.

 

[Johnnymiz]

Here ya go

 

[stansdds]

Historically speaking, there have been two reasons for S&W chambering a revolver made for 357 Magnum in 38 Special. First, for sale in countries where 357 Magnum is outlawed, but 38 Special is allowed. Second, some law enforcement agencies that want the features of a 357 Magnum S&W revolver, namely the fully shrouded ejector rod, but do not want to issue a "magnum" caliber, so they specify it be chambered in 38 Special. For these special orders, there are often more produced than ordered, so the overrun gets sold on the U.S. civilian market.

 

[M29since14]

Very nice! I didn’t know any of those were made. I always wanted a 386PD but never saw one to buy and never bothered to order one. Congrats on your new revolver. No doubt in my mind that, in your shoes, I’d use it “as intended.”

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun! Before this post, I would have said this gun did not exist, but here it is.

A letter of authenticity for this one may be enlightening as to where it was shipped. Per the label, it was boxed and ready to go on the 290th day of 2005, or October 17. Thanks for sharing!

 

[MajorD]

By the time these were made, pretty much all law enforcement in the United States were using autos, so I doubt a police order. Overrun of foreign sales model seems most likely and I agree a letter is worth the trouble.

Also just for the heck of it, try chambering a 357 and see if it will fit the cylinder. I have seen posts here talking about the 38 special guns built on 357 platforms often still chambering the 357, S&W only changing the caliber mark but not the cylinder construction/ chambers on these limited run guns

 

[ImDrRich]

But why did they move up size to an L-frame? Wasn't J-frame in .38spl adequate?

 

[Johnnymiz]

The S&W tech i spoke with said 2008 when i asked him when it left the factory.

I will try and see if a .357 fits.

 

[Johnnymiz]

But why did they move up size to an L-frame? Wasn't J-frame in .38spl adequate?

Or.... if they wanted duty size in .38, why didnt they just issue the 315NG?

 

[joebuck]

Just never use anything but a toothbrush to clean the face of the cylinder. No brass or steel brushes. I use Hoppe's Elite as a cleaner. You should have a lot less trouble since its only .38 Sp. Don't have to worry about the cylinder face erosion issue I bet.
I would carry the Buffalo Bore 158GR LSWCHP in it. Great round and powerful for a .38.

 

[Johnnymiz]

I specifically asked the tech about ammunition and cylinder erosion. He said that all 38 special is safe