Good ammo for my 1983 Mdl 38

[pasound]

I have a 1983 build 38 Airweight. It has become my favorite carry because of weight, good trigger, and accuracy with my HBSWC handloads, and Win 110gr Silvertips. I have four other J's which shoot well. This one is the most comfortable on my hip.

Can I shoot Federal reversed JHBWC+p in it? Remington 158gr LHP+p? Those are the loads I have in my other two regular carries - my 637-2, and my 60-15.

Seems the Federal reversed JHBWC+p doesn't exist any longer, but I do have a few boxes.

 

[deyomatic]

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot them in that gun. The word on the street is that S&W says anything with a model number is safe for +p, so anything after 1959ish.

 

[pasound]

Thanks. I was wondering about the specifics.

 

[mtime7]

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot them in that gun. The word on the street is that S&W says anything with a model number is safe for +p, so anything after 1959ish.

I thought that was for K frames? Not J

 

[ContinentalOp]

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot them in that gun. The word on the street is that S&W says anything with a model number is safe for +p, so anything after 1959ish.

That only applies to steel-frame guns. Airweights weren't rated for +P until the late 90s when S&W started using the J-Magnum frames.

You likely won't get a catastrophic failure, but +P will accelerate wear, potentially causing some frame stretching that could lead to timing issues.

Limited use of +P should be ok, but I wouldn't recommend a steady diet. Maybe shoot enough to make sure they'll shoot reliably in your gun and that you can shoot them well, then every once in a while shoot a cylinder or two to keep up. Do the bulk of your shooting with standard pressure loads.

 

[deyomatic]

Well then, I stand corrected. Thanks for the lesson, folks.

 

[SmithNut]

That only applies to steel-frame guns. Airweights weren't rated for +P until the late 90s when S&W started using the J-Magnum frames.

You likely won't get a catastrophic failure, but +P will accelerate wear, potentially causing some frame stretching that could lead to timing issues.

Limited use of +P should be ok, but I wouldn't recommend a steady diet. Maybe shoot enough to make sure they'll shoot reliably in your gun and that you can shoot them well, then every once in a while shoot a cylinder or two to keep up. Do the bulk of your shooting with standard pressure loads.

This is correct, here's the flyer that announced when they became +P rated.

To identify if they are +P rated, look for the elongated cylinder stop/frame lug.

 

[pasound]

Ok then. Until I get my mdl 38 out of the safe and check for sure, no +p in my 38. I'm fine with that. 110 gr Silvertips for now, until I find something that's better for short barrels.

 

[Rpg]

Standard old 148 gr target wc is surprisingly effective for sd.

It's also pleasant to shoot.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Ok then. No +p in my 38. I'm fine with that. 110 gr Silvertips for now, until I find something I find that's better for short barrels.

FWIW, 148gr target wadcutters are a good option for airweight snubs. Mild recoil, relatively inexpensive (current situation notwithstanding), and capable of cutting a full-caliber wound channel with adequate penetration, while mitigating the risk of overpenetration. While I rely on +P HP ammo in my +P-rated 642-1, I also keep some WC on hand as a lower recoil alternative.

Just my opinion.

 

[murphydog]

Any load that you can rapidly deliver 3-5 shots into a 4" group within 7 yards is good to go. If it is "only" a standard pressure 110 gr Silvertip, a 158 gr SWC (or for occasional use, the Speer 135 gr Short Barrel .38 + P load) that is all the effectiveness you will get out of a handgun.

 

[pasound]

I handload 148 HBWC - the 2.7 grain Bullseye and the 3.2 grain W231 classic loads I know that work. During the summer, my local Cabelas kept stocking Hornady 148 gr HBWC in 200 round boxes. I bought one every visit this covid summer/fall. I now have 5 full boxes, plus old stock from several years ago. Those, plus a 1K case of Federal primers, and 200 new, and 300 used Win .38 cases, I'm set. Wadcutters cut good clean holes, and I'm never adverse to have them loaded for self-defense.