No offense to your gunsmiths at the shooting range,
but most of them are like the Gander Mtn. type "gunsmith"
who really only reblue and change parts. Their true practical
knowledge of smithing, mechanics, and ammunition
in my experience of them have been rather limited.
I once had a "gunsmith" at Gander Mtn. send my
1950s vintage S&W 19 flying down a metal table
because he was messing around with something else
and acted like he didn't know what he had when he hit it with another gun box. He then offered me $125 bucks for it at 80% condition and I flat out asked him if he knew what he had and what he was doing-
he didn't.
To answer your question about ammo, lead bullets wear the barrel
less than a jacketed bullet. +P will generally increase wear,
we are talking many, many thousands of rounds. Most of us don't shoot our snubs that much to hurt them. Mine eats +P+ too.
+P is not that hot. Period. I practice with +P in my J frame simply because I believe in shooting with what I carry. It is still tight and
to answer the next question it is not "+P rated." Being rated for it does not mean much. Smith and Wesson says you can shoot +p in any model numbered K frame. That is not beacuse a 1955 pre Model 10 M&P is weaker than a 1958 Model 10, it is CYA by S&W because unless the general public can read a model number they won't be able to differentiate between a 1910 M&P and a 1960 M&P with a number.
Same goes for the J frames- ANY 38 ammo on the shelf now will not hurt a J Frame Smith.
S&W used to sell their own brand of ammo that could be used in any of their guns. I have shot some of their hollowpoint loads in my J and let me tell you they make modern 38+P feel like wadcutters. They were hot to say the least. Also, Elmer Keith put 500 rounds of 38-44 (near 357 loads, 158 LRN at 1100FPS) through a first year prod. J frame with no damage at all. +P of today is nothing to worry about in your J Frame.
Just my 2 cents, but your "P rated" J frame will outlast you with general maintenance even if you shot only +P. Many S&W revolvers out there have 50k rounds through them and are still good.
