New Revolver, little help please?

[SilverFire]

Okay, I received from my father a revolver as a gift. It's an old one, he's carried it for over twenty years as his backup.

The gun is a Charter Arms off-Duty .38 Special.

The serial is 108xxxx.

I've researched it in several places, and some say +P is fine, others say it's not.

Is this gun capable of running with +P like he said, or should I swap out to standard load?

Currently it's got Speer .38 SPL+P JHP rounds in it.

He also had a gunsmith grind off the thumb pull for the hammer, giving it a smooth draw from a pocket or ankle holster. *Personally, I wouldn't have done that...but meh)

Be forewarned, I'm not that knowledgeable with revolvers, my main experience is shotguns, rifles, and the occasional semi-automatic handgun.

 

[Floppy_D]

Back here in this thread >clicky< it seemed that the conclusion was that it is a great gun assuming it is a Charter Arms and is not a Charco, and that sticking to standard pressure 38 is probably a good idea, although many carry +P.

Best o' luck!

 

[SilverFire]

Thanks, but the thread references the undercover model. Are the Undercover and Off Duty the same?

 

[Chester32141]

I'd use standard target rounds for practice and +P for Defensive use ... Chances are if your dad carried it for backup and says it will fire +P he knows what he's talking about.

My Charter Arms revolvers are excellent guns ... They are about 20 years old.

Chester

 

[SilverFire]

Yes, most would assume he would know what he's talking about...but I kindof got leery of taking advice from him when he didn't understand the difference in standard .223 and 5.56NATO loads.

He's a very intelligent man, and knows a great deal about his guns, but there have been a few times that I've questioned what he's said and come up with different answers through research.

 

[rdrancher]

I believe if it has (or had) a hammer spur, it's an Undercover model. I could be wrong though - The newer Off Duty model is an enclosed hammer type but I seem to remember an old stainless steel exposed hammer spur version called the Off-Duty too. Someone else with more knowledge on the subject will most likely weigh in.

I have a mid 70's version that I carry sometimes. I load it with Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158gr LSWCHC's.



rd

 

[Floppy_D]

I could be wrong, but I believe if it has (or had) a hammer spur, it's an Undercover model.

That's what I thought, which is why I linked that thread.

Maybe a pic to let us know?

 

[Fred Kenpo]

If it's twenty years old, I'd be a little nervous about +P, but it wouldn't hurt as self defense rounds, just don't put too many through it. Use the standard .38.

 

[kmrcstintn]

wait a few weeks and start hunting local bang-bang shops to see if they can order Federal 125gr Nyclads (non +p) for ya; it is being reintroduced for 2009 and back in its heyday it was the golden standard for non +p hollowpoint defense loads