Model 12-2 .38
- Thread starter rogo123
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Use the search function to read the whole story. One forum member ran over 5000 rounds of plus p ammo through his model 12 with no damage or accelerated wear.
I shoot wadcutters and mild target loads at the range. YMMV
I shoot wadcutters and mild target loads at the range. YMMV
Alk8944
US Veteran
Standard pressure .38 Special loads ARE just under +P.
A 12 Airweight..........?
Depends a lot on when it was made since the metals improved with age around the 70's . Pre-war are best
served with standard loads but can handle a few of "Todays" +P loads for a test run and SD use if needed.
Just that the light weight guns do not handle the heavy recoil with the stock wood grips well.
Depends on if it is "Special" or just a gun..............Aluminum or steel cylinder ?
Depends a lot on when it was made since the metals improved with age around the 70's . Pre-war are best
served with standard loads but can handle a few of "Todays" +P loads for a test run and SD use if needed.
Just that the light weight guns do not handle the heavy recoil with the stock wood grips well.
Depends on if it is "Special" or just a gun..............Aluminum or steel cylinder ?
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It depends on what your goal is and your desire to preserve your model 12. Standard pressure loads will put less stress on the gun and the terminal effects are not all that different from +P, meaning you'll not turn it into a 99% one-shot stopper with a high-pressure load. If you're just interested in pushing the pressure limits of the .38 Special, a steel frame .38 or .357 may be a better choice.
If the goal is a good defense load, sparing use of the 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel will do the trick as well as any .38. Hope this is helpful.
If the goal is a good defense load, sparing use of the 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel will do the trick as well as any .38. Hope this is helpful.
That 4" barrel will help you in getting higher velocity in your
loads and keep the pressure down a little more than if you had a snub nose.
You can gain 90fps with some powders as I learned with all my testing, which
is a big thing with a 38 special.
Most all bullets and loads should give good accuracy with that
longer barrel and the extra weight will help reduce the recoil a
little bit more.
Glad to hear you have a steel cylinder, have fun and stay safe.
loads and keep the pressure down a little more than if you had a snub nose.
You can gain 90fps with some powders as I learned with all my testing, which
is a big thing with a 38 special.
Most all bullets and loads should give good accuracy with that
longer barrel and the extra weight will help reduce the recoil a
little bit more.
Glad to hear you have a steel cylinder, have fun and stay safe.
All Model 12's are air weights - this was S&W's designation for the alloy frame version of the standard Model 10. There are no alloy cylinder Model 12's. Model number designations started in 1957, but S&W discontinued the alloy cylinder guns in 1954 because they couldn't handle standard .38 Special loads. The pre-Model 12 alloy cylinder guns shouldn't be fired at all.
What "metal improvements" in the 1970's are you referring to?
OFT II
US Veteran
My usual load for all my 38s, including my Model 12, is 5.2 grains of Unique with a cast 158 grain SWC. It's nipping at +P velocities.
