637-2 and 642-2 Diets

[Pef]

I tried searching but did not find a thread.

Among my Smiths I have a 637-2 and a 642-2. I use these as carries. I usually practice with +P loads, as I want to be very familiar with the shooting dynamics if I ever am in the unfortunate situation that I need to use the gun to save my life.

Over the last year I've put about 800 +P rounds through my 637-2 and I've notice no damage. Tight lockup, no endshake - just like it was new. Some have opined that these airweight models are "fine for occasional +p loads." I'm not recoil sensitive with +P's in these revolvers, and I would prefer to keep shooting +P's for practice. Also, my range has several airweights that have had thousands of various loads through them and they appear to be fine.

Is the "occasional +P diet" grounded in fact, or is it the result of people who are skeptical of non-steel framed revolvers? It seems odd that Smith stamps a big +P on the barrel if the gun can only handle the loads on occasion.

Thanks

 

[Old cop]

There is no way to really know, but I shoot plenty of +P through my 442 (no dash - '92) and it is fine. My opinion, FWIW, is that these guns will outlast us if we take good care of them.

 

[everReady Rob]

I agree, to say a product is capable of +P and not only have the engineering to support that and to not have many, many thousands of rounds to test the product would be bad business. Most of us on this forum are well aware of the pride that S&W take in its reputation. And besides that it would just be stupid on many levels.

There will always be those who think that if its new, its not as good. I understand the major weakness in my statements is the infernal internal lock.

Nobody's perfect.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Unless I'm mistaken the "occasional +P" idea came from a time before the airweights were specifically rated for +P. Extensive shooting of +P ammo in one of those older airweights would cause the frame to stretch, eventually sending the gun out of time. By restricting one's shooting of +P to limited amounts, one could get the benefit of carrying and maintaining familiarity with +P while extending the service life of the gun.

I do believe that even with the current crop of +P-rated airweights extensive shooting of +P ammo will wear out the gun faster than with a steel frame, but it's going to take much, much longer to reach a failure point than in a non-+P-rated airweight.

I don't worry about it. I train with my carry gun (a 642, btw) regularly. If I wear it out I'll see if S&W will replace it under warranty or just buy a replacement if they won't. It's a tool to me.