+p ammo in a S&W 442?
- Thread starter boomstik45
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Guillermo
member
they will not answer the real question, which is "what is the maximum cylinder pressure that your revolvers are rated for"
We have shown, repeatedly that the pre-plus P ammo was the same pressure as today's +P.
To think that a pre72 cannot handle +P is to say that it can't handle the box of ammo that was purchased with the gun.
ArchAngelCD said, "I gave my opinion but no advice. I'm done here because everyone will believe what they want to believe..."
...which is exactly the truth as we are all dealing in opinion, personal and subjective observation, and deduction. As Guillermo notes, S&W is unlikely to answer the specific question about cylinder strength, so once everyone has stated their opinion (multiple times), further debate becomes fruitless.
In the end, everyone does what seems right to them.
...which is exactly the truth as we are all dealing in opinion, personal and subjective observation, and deduction. As Guillermo notes, S&W is unlikely to answer the specific question about cylinder strength, so once everyone has stated their opinion (multiple times), further debate becomes fruitless.
In the end, everyone does what seems right to them.
boomstik45
Member
Good God....why did I ever ask this question?
Traded the 442 for a Taurus pt1911 with four mags...straight up. Back to .45 (where I belong).
Up next, I'm trading one of my Remington 870s for a Taurus 441 in blue steel with a 3" barrel. That'll satisfy/cure my "shorter" barrel revolver disease and I won't be worried about +p, marketing conspiracies, or anything else....holy guacamole, man....
Traded the 442 for a Taurus pt1911 with four mags...straight up. Back to .45 (where I belong).
Up next, I'm trading one of my Remington 870s for a Taurus 441 in blue steel with a 3" barrel. That'll satisfy/cure my "shorter" barrel revolver disease and I won't be worried about +p, marketing conspiracies, or anything else....holy guacamole, man....
boomstik45
Member
BTW....the guys who talked about steel framed Smith and Wessons from half a century ago....NOT AT ALL in the same league as a small, lightweight, titanium/scandium/***-ever gun. So that didn't help at all. I get that old steel guns will do fine with +p ammo or whatever you professors of pressure decide is actually +p ) )....but again...that won't help a person with a gun that is made out of a different material by folks who are more concerned with some phony legislation-driven "safety" measures than they are making a good, long last revolver these days.
Glad I let the gun go. I'll buy one that has a stamped barrel, or will stick with small autos...or full steel snubbies.
) )....but again...that won't help a person with a gun that is made out of a different material by folks who are more concerned with some phony legislation-driven "safety" measures than they are making a good, long last revolver these days. Glad I let the gun go. I'll buy one that has a stamped barrel, or will stick with small autos...or full steel snubbies.
boomstik45
Member
Gary A....LOL....it was quite the discussion, I tell ya. Y'all had me going with that one. Very entertaining.
I'm looking forward to the Taurus 441. I'll be getting it tomorrow.
I'm looking forward to the Taurus 441. I'll be getting it tomorrow.
boomstik45
Member
And by stamped, I mean stamped +p. Or I'll get a .357 mag snub.
And no airweight .38 special is gonna HURT me with hot ammo. I'm too young, strong, big, and stubborn. Give me another 20+ years, then we'll see if I'm recoil sensitive....until then, these size 15 ring-wearing meat beaters will tackle anything I can lay my eyes on. 5" S&W .460 was probably the worst I ever fired as far as handguns go. I'd like to try a S&W 329 PD to see if all the fuss is worth it....
And no airweight .38 special is gonna HURT me with hot ammo. I'm too young, strong, big, and stubborn. Give me another 20+ years, then we'll see if I'm recoil sensitive....until then, these size 15 ring-wearing meat beaters will tackle anything I can lay my eyes on. 5" S&W .460 was probably the worst I ever fired as far as handguns go. I'd like to try a S&W 329 PD to see if all the fuss is worth it....
Guillermo
member
True
but this Cobra, made of alloy, used to be blue. Countless thousands of rounds of "+P" later it locks up tight and is very accurate.
Why? Because +P is the same pressure as the rounds it was designed to shoot. Same thing with an Airweight
OrangePwrx9
Member
This discussion wasn't wasted. When the NY paperwork clears, I'll be picking up a S&W Model 37 with pinned barrel and alloy frame. Looks like new and I'd like to keep it that way. Would also like to shoot it enough to develop some skill with it. I had the same question Gary was asking.
Since I reload, about any level of power is available. The range ammo will most likely be bevel base wadcutters over 3 grains of Bullseye or 3.5 gr. of Red Dot. These are starting loads from my '78 reloading manual.
Since I reload, about any level of power is available. The range ammo will most likely be bevel base wadcutters over 3 grains of Bullseye or 3.5 gr. of Red Dot. These are starting loads from my '78 reloading manual.
Just for the record, the info I posted in my post #39 is a summary of a conversation I had with a S&W design engineer back around 2003 when I inquired about S&W offering a titanium cylinder revolver like the 342 chambered in 9mm.
I guess I must have asked the right questions at the time to be connected with someone who actually knew the facts and was willing to explain them to me.
I guess I must have asked the right questions at the time to be connected with someone who actually knew the facts and was willing to explain them to me.
boomstik45
Member
Guillermo,
For what it's worth, I appreciate all that you've written in that regard.
For what it's worth, I appreciate all that you've written in that regard.
Guillermo
member
REALLY!!!
I thought most people hide under computer desks when they see my posts!!!
All kidding aside...I appreciate the kind words. But know that SaxonPig is "da man" on the subject.
I have logic and experience. He has logic, experience and empirical data.
Plus, he is smarter than me.
Guillermo
member
Your kind words are appreciated Gary A
Guillermo
member
if that is the case, j-frames built prior to 1974 are not rated for regular .38 ammo
Guillermo
member
that looks like an alignment issue
There was a problem with that specific gun. I saw a Model 19 (357 Magnum) split the barrel with a factory 146 lead target load. There was a problem with the gun, not the ammo. Since 1982 S&W has had sporadic problems with guns blowing up, or barrels blowing off, and it's not the ammo doing it.
G keeps saying it: Before 1972 (or 74, I lose track) standard, run of the mill, regular old 38 Special ammo was routinely loaded at 20,000 - 21,000 PSI. All of the gun owners back then shot this ammo without concern. Including owners of alloy framed revolvers. Then the lawyers moved it and it all changed. Then 16,000 became the new standard and 18,000 was "+P" and everyone forgot about the fact that every 38 Special gun made since 1899 was designed to use 21,000 PSI ammo.
In 1955 Elmer Keith wrote of shooting 38/44 loads (158@1240) through a lightweight (alloy frame) Chiefs Special. The recoil was severe, but the loads caused no harm to the gun.
Again, everyone should do what makes him comfortable. I know that +P is a mild target load.
G keeps saying it: Before 1972 (or 74, I lose track) standard, run of the mill, regular old 38 Special ammo was routinely loaded at 20,000 - 21,000 PSI. All of the gun owners back then shot this ammo without concern. Including owners of alloy framed revolvers. Then the lawyers moved it and it all changed. Then 16,000 became the new standard and 18,000 was "+P" and everyone forgot about the fact that every 38 Special gun made since 1899 was designed to use 21,000 PSI ammo.
In 1955 Elmer Keith wrote of shooting 38/44 loads (158@1240) through a lightweight (alloy frame) Chiefs Special. The recoil was severe, but the loads caused no harm to the gun.
Again, everyone should do what makes him comfortable. I know that +P is a mild target load.
Guillermo
member
This is the money shot
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