Model 36 and Plus P Ammo

jimmyj

jimmyj

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Hi:
I was just advised that my excellent condition 1968 era S&W Model 36 is unsafe to fire Plus P ammo in?
This "Expert" also said this era S&W quality manufacture was below normal plus the barrel cylinder gap was unsafe?
He offered to trade a Russian 9mm for my "Unsafe" revolver.
Should I???
 
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jimmyj said:
Hi:
I was just advised that my excellent condition 1968 era S&W Model 36 is unsafe to fire Plus P ammo in?
This "Expert" also said this era S&W quality manufacture was below normal plus the barrel cylinder gap was unsafe?
He offered to trade a Russian 9mm for my "Unsafe" revolver.
Should I???
Click to expand...

What is his area of expertise?
Swindling nice guns out of nice guys for Russian Junk?
 
Jimmy-

First, how's your eye surgery doing?

Next, the concensus seems to be that the Model 36 that recent is safe with Plus P, but will loosen up sooner if you shoot it a lot. Only quite recent J-frame guns are really warranted to shoot Plus P ammo. In the Model 60, about which I asked the company, suffixes from -4 onward are especially heat treated and have internal modificarions to the yoke screw, etc. to make them last longer if fired a lot with higher pressure loads.

But for occasional use and for defensive carry, I'd say you're good to go. THIS APPLIES ONLY TO STEEL FRAME GUNS.

It is true that S&W quality control has vacillated and the Vietnam years produced a lot of guns out-of-time, etc. Bangor-Punta owned S&W then, and their QC was perhaps the worst until maybe now. But many of the guns were just fine, although re-timing was often needed.

Unless the bbl.-cylinder gap really does look too wide, the gun is probably fine. The Russian gun is certainly worth far less.

Tnis man is trying to cheat you, and he's probably lying.
 
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Jimmy, Obviously you are unaware on the dangerous position you've put yourself in. (dangling participle).

Just send the 36 to me and I swear I'll never let it see a box of bologna. Balony!
 
I have a Pre Model 36 and my gunsmith told me to fire all the 158 grain ammo I wanted in it but to stay away from the 125 grain +P's as they could damage the revolver. He said I could shoot just enough +p's in it to determine the POA and then carry them but he also said not to shoot a lot of them.
SWModel36newgripsLeft.jpg
 
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Hi:
The eye surgery went ok, but still have a lot of "Floaters" in my vision.
The "Gentleman" telephoned me in reguard to my classified ad.
1. My revolver only cost $68.00 new
2. How much did I have into my revolver?
3. Then the sales pitch----------
4. After all the negatives about my revolver, he stated that he wanted it for his wife??
5. Also stated that he builts custom M1911s using the chinese Norico frames. charges $2000.00 up for his "Customs".
 
Looks like you have this guy's number, Jimmy.

As far as the +P issue goes, the Model 36 is tougher than it gets credit for. The bolt locking notches on that little five shot cylinder are between the chambers, not directly over them as on the larger frame gun. There is also very little of the forcing cone end of the barrel extending into the frame opening.

I used to qualify quarterly with my Model 36 dash nothing with the dreaded +P+ Hydra-Shoks, and it is as tight as ever.
 
Jimmy, this guy knows what that 36 is worth in TN.

I see them with the worst wear you could imagine selling at shows for 350 and nice examples for 425 and up.

He just wants to steal that gun is all...
 
I have a pair of old Model 36's that I bought back in 1983. One was NIB and the other a Police Trade in made in 1960. Both are still functional and reliable. No way am I going to put +P ammunition through them.
 
SC_Slowhand said:
I have a pair of old Model 36's that I bought back in 1983. One was NIB and the other a Police Trade in made in 1960. Both are still functional and reliable. No way am I going to put +P ammunition through them.
Click to expand...

I have one (Model 36) from the early 60s and another from the early 70s. I imagine I have shot 500-600 rounds of +p through each of them over the years, including some of the early Super Vel stuff.

I bet mine are still as reliable and functional as yours are.;)

They are both loaded with Buffalo Bore's Heavy .38 special +p 158 grain gas checked hollow points, as is the early 70s Model 60 that's in my pocket right now.
 
my 36 is a 1970 mfg. i have put a couple of +p's through it just 'cuse... it didn't blow up or anything else.did i risk damage to my favorite j frame, maybe. i'll put all the +p stuff through my 360 pd airlight, as long as it's not "lighter than 120 gr. bullet".
 
Never ends

I'm always amazed that people think they can't shoot .38+P's out of an ALL STEEL revolver.

Model 36's are not lightweight alloy guns (ala Mod. 37), shooting +P's will not hurt your steel 36.
 
Former NYPD and DEA and present Gunsmith/Gun Shop Owner.[/QUOTE

Mr. Jimmy, now you know as well as I do that a retired cop/federal officer would never tell a lie or try and take advantage of someone;) So what you need to do with that unsafe old revolver is cut the barrel off and remove the trigger so it can never be used in any unsafe fashion again. Now if you don't have the ability to do the Aforementioned just pack it off to me and I will, for a Nominal fee take care of that old unsafe revolver.
Click to expand...
 
I don't like +P in J frames. I have a 642 and never shoot +P. I do shoot +P in my model 10-5 snub nose. I use a low recoil 110-125gr for carry in the 642. I'm an old school old fart. I love S&W revolvers.
 
He's not the former DEA guy that stated, while standing in a Middle School auditorium, "I'm the only one here professional enough to handle this here .40", was he?
 
All concerns over the use of +P ammo is based on the notion that it is some sort of hot load. It is not. Factory +P is loaded well below maximum allowable pressure. There is no standard on +P+ so individual manufacturers can load it to any pressure they choose. But +P is below max and should not cause any problems at all in a well made gun in good condition.

Do what you want with your gun, but in my opinion mainstream factory +P is a mild target load. It's a 125 at 925 FPS (I've tested some that ran as slow as 890) from a 4" barrel. Hot? Hardly.
 
If anybody runs down....

If anybody runs down what you have and calls it 'unsafe', but offers to buy or trade it, you are getting took.

When he goes to sell the same gun it will be an example of the best year that S&W has produced guns ever.
 
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