[Wangstang]

So, I just picked up a flawless 442 for $200 with a fobus paddle holster and two boxes of ammo. One of the boxes was +p ammo.

The question is this, how do you know if you gun will safely shoot +p?

I was told by the previous owner that he contacted S&W and they told him that any gun with a serial number higher than 9600 was good to go with +p ammo. I emailed S&W tonight and I am waiting to hear back from them, but I was curious to hear what you guys had to say. I did a search and it seemed rather inconclusive.

Wes

[SnWnMe]

Practice a little with Plus P, practice ALOT with non Plus P. Load up with +P.

Your 442 will not blow up if you ran a boxful of +P once in a great while.

[38Mike]

Mine is a 442-1, and it's rated for +P...

[SteelyDan]

Kinda curious about this, too. I also have a 442-1, and after buying it I tried to find out how it was rated. I think I found two sources that said it was +P rated, and one that said it was not. So I've mostly practiced with regular ammo and only a few +Ps. If I were carrying it, I'd use +Ps.

[38Mike]

I don't have owner's manual with me now, but, I'm thinking there's a chart in it that lists all the models and what ammo to use......I do use standard pressure for practice with a few carry loads ( 158gr lswchp +P ) thrown in; no troubles yet :)

[Maddock]

So, I just picked up a flawless 442 for $200

You found a great deal! Congratulations.

[JohnBT]

I asked 2 S&W reps about +P and they said the 442-1 was rated for it. Heck, I thought I got a pretty good deal at $310 for one that was about a month old or so.

John

[Wangstang]

Here was my email to S&W:
I have a 442 but the barrel doesn't have the +p at the end. I have been told that all of the pistols made after 96 are fully capable of shooting +p and that the +p on the end of the barrel was a cosmetic addition to the pistol's design. Either way, I am curious to know if this pistol can shoot +p ammo safely. The following info is on the gun:
B*C97** (not actually *, I don't post full #'s)
Mdl.442
099
Thanks,
Wes


Here is the response from S&W:
Hi,
We would only recommend occasional use in this revolver.
The gun was manufactured in 1994
thanks
kf

So, I just emailed the following message to them:
Thanks for the quick reply. I have posted the question I posed to you on an internet message board and in less than 12 hrs I had 10 replies asking for the same info I requested. Because of this I would like to know if there is/are any marking(s) on the 442's that can take +p all the time which I can post so that there is a clear answer out there for owners. The rumor on one of the boards is that if the Model number is stamped as "442-1" then it can take +p ammo with out any issues but if it is stamped with just "442" then occasional use of +p is the way you should go.

Note, that the 10 replies includes another site.

So, Hopefully I will have an diffinative answer for you all soon.



As for JohnBT:

I asked 2 S&W reps about +P and they said the 442-1 was rated for it. Heck, I thought I got a pretty good deal at $310 for one that was about a month old or so.

John

As you can see from what S&W said, this pistol was made in 1994. Of course if you look at the gun it looks like it just came out of the box other than a small(ball point pin tip size) spot on the frame where the black finish has been worn from the holster it was in when my friend was using it as his back up as a Sheriff's Dept. in Ga.

Back with an answer soon I hope,
Wes

[Wangstang]

Well that was damn quick, here is the response:
Sorry no there is not. We have to check the manufacture date of each gun
thanks
kf

Now, I don't know if this is a protect them on liability or to push you to just buy the new gun, or if this is true. I would assume that there would be a sequential order to the serial numbers and hence I could be told all pistols made with XXXX number or higher are good to go with +p, but, perhaps there are multiple manufacture sites and that would explain the three letter prefix to the numbers.

Wes

[Wangstang]

I emailed S&W to ask if the guns were produced in and numbered in a sequential manner so that there would be a sequential cut off point.

Here is the answer:
No they are not, all of our models just run together. Whatever is being manufactured that day becomes the next serial number.

Wes