unclenunzie
Contributing Member
I picked up this 1991 model 640 no dash 38 special in January '22. Because it is not specifically rated for +P ammo I have not fired it with my preferred loads: Speer 135 gr +P, Winchester ranger 130 gr +P. This is not one of the early 640s that was marked inside the cylinder window "tested for +p+".
S&W recommends standard pressure only so that's what I bought for it: Hornady Critical Defense 110 grain FTX, Norma 158 Gr JHP, and some Federal "train and defend" 158 gr LSWCHP.
My question to the good folks of this forum is if this were your 640, would you go with the +P loads or stick with the standard loads as recommended? Secondarily, if you have any experience with the standard loads performance I'd love to hear about it.
S&W recommends standard pressure only so that's what I bought for it: Hornady Critical Defense 110 grain FTX, Norma 158 Gr JHP, and some Federal "train and defend" 158 gr LSWCHP.
My question to the good folks of this forum is if this were your 640, would you go with the +P loads or stick with the standard loads as recommended? Secondarily, if you have any experience with the standard loads performance I'd love to hear about it.