[imabballer]

I have asked this a couple times before in other threads, and have gotten VERY mixed responses. Some say it's fine, some say it's fine in small doses (which would be my intended use), some say it wouldn't hurt it but the bullets might jump crimp, and some say not to shoot them b/c it can hurt the alloy frame. So I decided to just ask one more time to see if anybody that has shot them out of a S&W 642 or spoken to buffalo bore about it might want to weigh in. I have been looking at getting a box of them and shooting a couple cylinders full to check function, and then use them strictly for carry, and practice w/something else, but I don't want to hurt my favorite little revolver. And again, I'm speaking of the Buffalo Bore heavy .38 special 158gr +P.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[skoro]

I don't know about a few BB +P rounds hurting your 642, but they'll darn sure hurt your hand. ;)

I like Buffalo Bore ammo... in my 4" k-frames.

[csmkersh]

Since your 642 is a newer model than the 442, it's a +P rated revolver. Starting over 5 years back, all S&W's j-frames became +P rated, even the alloy frames.

[SAWBONES]

Perfectly OK.
Don't let anybody tell ya different. It won't hurt the gun. Or your hand, unless you're a nancy-boy. ;)

[marsche]

My 642-2 is stamped +P on the barrel.

[Rexster]

All ammo hurts your weapon. +P hurts it more. Weapons will wear out, sooner or later.

[mtngunr]

+P rated just means the gun won't blow up with +P ammo, even a fair amount of it....the manufacturer's warranty expressly declaims any normal wear and tear...and shooting much +P will certainly put extra wear and tear on the gun....a fair amount of it.

[TBT]

I wouldn't worry about it unless you are planning on several hundred rounds a month at the range.

[CallMeIshmael]

I have a 642-1. I bought it fairly soon after it was introduced long before internal locks were even thought of. It bears serial number CAR9451 and is stamped with .38 SPL on the barrel. No +P. The owner's manual warned against firing +P loads through it. Since this is an aluminum framed gun which outwardly resembles the current 642s I wonder if anybody knows if the alloy has been changed and/or whether S&W was just being overly cautious? I have fired +Ps and +P+s out of newer J-framed centennials and find them to be quite a handful, not enough to hurt but more than enough to let you know you're not firing standard .38 cal. standard pressure loads. I am wondering if it would be advisable to fire 110g +P Corbon DPWs through it. Anybody know?

[Arrogant Bastard]

Load it with 5 158-gr +P rounds.

Shoot 4, and examine the 5th to see if it's jumping crimp.

I wouldn't recommend regular practice with it, as it's more expensive and puts more wear and tear on your revolver -- Perhaps every so often shoot a few mixed in with your standard range ammo so you are familiar with the difference.

If you're concerned, shoot the standard pressure BB 158-gr LSWCHP round.

[Gary A]

CallMeIshmael - when the 642-1 came out, I purchased one. Shortly thereafter, Taurus began agressively marketing their newly redesigned Model 85s as being rated for +P. Wasn't long, Smith and Wesson began doing the same thing. Being in the same boat as you, I called them and was told that, even though they had not marketed it as such, that a 642-1 was, indeed, built on the newer J-magnum frame and that it was rated for plus P. In other words, they had done the upgrades as a result of building the J-frame magnums but did not change their marketing until Taurus beat them to the punch. (This was the old ownership.) I'm sure if you call them they will tell you that any 642 with a -1 or -2 is plus P rated. Sometimes it makes me wonder how much of the plus P marketing is based upon technological design and how much on marketing, figuring few people will shoot enough plus P to hurt the guns.

[ArchAngelCD]

It won't "hurt" your M642 but it will accelerate the wear like any other hotter ammo would. I didn't want to wear out my M642 too soon so I bought a Stainless M640 to do most of my practice with. I run 50 to 100 rounds through the M640 at the range and then shoot 15 or 20 rounds in the M642 before I leave. It works for me...

[Avery Goodschott]

I'm not concerned about the Buffalo Bore hurting my 642 - but the regular is good enough for me

[The_Shootist]

...I find that BB flavour kinda stout in my SP 101. I shoot/carry the "standard pressure" .38 spl SWCHP from BB and find that thats enough for me. Shooting the +P version would likely be a vaguely unpleasant experience out of my 642 I think. :scrutiny: