Plus P or not

[HughD1]

I bought 10 boxes of this from Midway last week. My understanding is it is made from Italian components but loaded in an American factory. It is not marked +p but purports to push a 130 FMJ at 950 feet per second. I have no way to chronograph it or test it’s pressure. You folks who reload, is it possible to get this velocity out of a standard pressure load? Thank y’all in advance for your knowledge!

Hugh


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[Rpg]

Sure!

All it takes is a long enough test barrel or a test chamber and barrel without the gap between cylinder and barrel found on revolvers.

The velocity info on the box isn’t very helpful.

 

[John Patrick]

I happen to have a Lee 2nd Edition (current) reloading manual sitting next to me on the couch. There isn’t any 130gr jacketed bullet data in the standard pressure 38spl section but there is 140gr jacketed XTP data. About 60% of the powders listed achieve 900+fps with standard pressure.

For a 146gr jacketed bullet about half of the powders listed achieve 900+fps.

Unknown barrel length, but the data is in the handgun section.

It seems it would be easy to achieve 900fps with a 130gr jacketed bullet staying within standard pressure.

 

[SWFan27]

950 FPS is normally getting into +P range.

 

[38SPL HV]

If it is made in Europe it’s made to CIP specs which I believe has a slightly higher MAP for 38 Spl coupled with a longer test barrel and you will see a higher velocity. Have fun shooting them up.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Fiocchi is a respected brand name, company has been around for many years. Back in the 1970s Smith & Wesson sourced ammunition from Fiocchi under the S&W trade name.

 

[smoothshooter]

I bought 10 boxes of this from Midway last week. My understanding is it is made from Italian components but loaded in an American factory. It is not marked +p but purports to push a 130 FMJ at 950 feet per second. I have no way to chronograph it or test it’s pressure. You folks who reload, is it possible to get this velocity out of a standard pressure load? Thank y’all in advance for your knowledge!

Hugh


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Iy may be loaded either here or in Italy by Fiocchi.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Don’t understand the question.
If I had some, I would load up in 38-357s and shoot away.

 

[stansdds]

I take it that you are planning to shoot it in what appears to be a S&W Target Masterpiece. If the revolver has a model number stamped into the yoke recess in the frame, then, per S&W, it is safe to use +P ammo. Now, is that Fiocchi ammo really +P? Don't know, but it is likely full power, but not quite over the line that separates standard ammo from +P. Most U.S. made 38 Special ammo is actually well under the maximum standard pressure limit as defined by SAAMI. European ammo, however, is usually loaded to or very close to the maximum safe limit.

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

I would shoot all of it in the gun pictured without a second thought.

 

[epj]

950 FPS is normally getting into +P range.

But not necessarily with that light a bullet. Like others have indicated, it’s unlikely that it will get that velocity from that gun. If it were a 158 grain bullet getting 950 from a 6” barrel, then yes, it would be a +P load.

 

[scooter123]

If you look at the reloading data for 38 spl. with Vihtavouri 3N37 you'll get the impression it's a magic powder due to the projected velocity. For instance Vihtavouri lists that 10.2 grains of 3N37 will push a 158 grain Gold Dot to 999 fps., which seems borderline impossible. There is no magic involved, it is simply due to Vihtavouri using an 6 1/2 inch test barrel.

BTW, I have personally found 3N37 to be an ideal powder for 38 special and for fast 9mm loads. There is absolutely no hint at all for position sensitivity with this powder and the burn rate seems to be a perfect fit for 0.355-.357 bore handguns.

 

[gwpercle]

Looks like the perfect excuse to buy a 357 magnum or a model rated for +P 38 Special .
I would shoot them in my heavy barreled model 64 ... It has +P stamped right on the barrel .
Save that fine Target gun for Target Loads !

You need a new +p 38 or 357 magnum ... Yeah , that's the ticket !

Gary

 

[murphydog]

I believe it is perfectly safe for two reasons.

I think the box would have to be marked + P for liability reasons if it were loaded as such.

As noted above, the revolver in question appears to be a model stamped (4 or 3 screw) model 14, perfectly safe for any factory .38 Special.

My guess is the OP will try it and find it recoils about the same or less than a standard pressure 158 gr load. Let’s see the groups!

 

[HughD1]

The revolver in the picture was made I believe in early 1958 and is not model marked. The ammo has loaded in the USA on the box. I have other revolvers I can shoot it in but was going to ask for an opinion before shooting any in it. It was on sale for what is now a decent price is the reason I bought it. First foreign brand ammo I have ever bought.

Thanks Hugh


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[HughD1]

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[ispcapt]

I just checked my Hornady reloading manual which tends to be a bit conservative. It doesn't list loading for 130 gr but it does 125 and 140.
950 fps isn't near max loading.
S1500 shows a max velocity of 1000 fps for 125 gr and 950 for 140 gr.
All the various power listings for both 125 and 140 show 900 fps and faster. Again, Hornady books tend to be conservative on their loadings and it doesn't go into +P ranges.
You're good with that load. Not even close to +P loadings for 130 range bullets.
Every 130 gr factory load I've ever found has been on the soft shooting side. Even the military ammo and I've run bunches of that stuff.
Additionally it's probably not likely Fiocchi is actually getting 950 even out of your 6" barrel. Maybe in a non-vented test barrel.

 

[tops]

The revolver in the picture was made I believe in early 1958 and is not model marked.

I wouldn't be afraid to shoot it in my 1953 "J" frame. Larry

 

[chief38]

In my personal experience Fiocchi ammo has always been loaded a bit hotter than most American brands of equal bullet weights and calibers. 950 fps is not going to do any harm, however I can tell you that if you want better accuracy you are better off sticking with 158 grain lead bullets. 130 grain FMJ will usually shoot a bit too high. While you should be able to adjust the sights, I don't really care for and never liked 130 grain FMJ .38 special ammo in any brand. They were originally designed for the US Military that always used FMJ bullets. Certainly not the most accurate (poa=poi) nor are they the best for self defense - actually pretty poor IMHO.

After shooting them out, you might want to get yourself some 158 grain LSWC ammo for target work and there is a plethora of great SD ammo from Buffalo Bore, Speer and Federal. Other than to go bang bang at the range, I see no real advantage to the 130 gr. FMJ - other than sometimes you can pick them up cheap.

 

[Nevada Ed]

For years, the Winchester company list it's 125 +P at 945fps.