+P for .38 S&W revolver

[Commander Crusty]

I have a model 637 Airweight with traditional exposed hammer. A 30 round qualification shoot left me barely able to use my right hand for a week. Of course, I DO have week hands. Now I shoot full wadcutter target loads or other standard pressure ammunition. My carry load is the low recoil standard pressure Federal Hydro-Shocks. I don't imagine this is a powerful round, but I do know I can shoot it.

Testing showed me that I shoot the .38 literally as well as a .45 officer's model all the way out to 25 yards. (Of course, I WAS shooting full power hollow points in the .45! But then again, it weighs almost 3 times as much so it SHOULD be controlable.)

 

[Commander Crusty]

I have a model 637 Airweight with traditional exposed hammer. A 30 round qualification shoot left me barely able to use my right hand for a week. Of course, I DO have week hands. Now I shoot full wadcutter target loads or other standard pressure ammunition. My carry load is the low recoil standard pressure Federal Hydro-Shocks. I don't imagine this is a powerful round, but I do know I can shoot it.

Testing showed me that I shoot the .38 literally as well as a .45 officer's model all the way out to 25 yards. (Of course, I WAS shooting full power hollow points in the .45! But then again, it weighs almost 3 times as much so it SHOULD be controllable.)

 

[Commander Crusty]

I have a model 637 Airweight with traditional exposed hammer. A 30 round qualification shoot using 125 grain +p ammunition left me barely able to use my right hand for a week. Of course, I DO have week hands.

Now, for practice, I shoot full wadcutter target loads or other standard pressure ammunition. My carry load is the low recoil standard pressure Federal Hydro-Shocks. I don't imagine this is a powerful round, but I do know I can shoot it well.

Testing showed me that I shoot the .38 literally as well as a custom .45 officer's model all the way out to 25 yards. (Of course, I WAS shooting full power hollow points in the .45! But then again, it weighs almost 3 times as much so it SHOULD be controllable.)

 

[Monster Zero]

Even if it IS rated for +P, don't shoot a lot of +P in it because of the wear factor. Shoot just enough of it that you know that you can. Shoot practice ammo when you practice and then shoot one cylinder of your +P stuff before you leave the range. Save money on ammo that way too.

 

[hoptob]

Best answer I've seen - http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/530103904/m/3481091842

Mike

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a model 637 Airweight with traditional exposed hammer. A 30 round qualification shoot using 125 grain +p ammunition left me barely able to use my right hand for a week. Of course, I DO have week hands.

Commander Crusty,
Are you serious? Did you hand really hurt that much and for that long? I own, shoot and carry a M638 and M642 which are the same exact weight and grip length as your M637. I shoot 50 or more +P rounds at least once a month for practice and I don't feel any pain during or after the shoot, none at all. I'm a little surprised you feel so much pain from a 15oz .38 Special revolver. I've heard some complain about a 12oz Airlite .357 Magnum after shooting full power Magnum rounds but don't remember anyone saying what you are about the 15oz Airweight .38 Special.

 

[S&Wfan]

Willy,

Take the time to carefully read this thread and you'll see why.

Sure, you CAN shoot +P in an Airweight . . . I have too before . . . but you'll stretch the frame and ruin the guns if you do it a lot.

As I stated above, I load my Model 37 with .38 Special 148 grain wadcutters. I didn't mention this above, but those totally flat front wadcutter bullets cut a core of wound channel out as they tear through a person or animal . . . making an efficient blood channel . . . and the hole doesn't naturally close itself back up well, like with round nose bullets.

Thousands of bad guys have taken a permanent dirt nap via the 148 grain wadcutter bullets.

In my steel framed Model 36 though, I use the classic FBI load . . . the legendary 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollowpoint +P .38 Special load.

Both the airweight and steel frame S&W J frame revolvers came regulated to hit at point of aim with 148 and 158 grain bullets too . . . and we all know that accuracy of bullet placement is most important!

BTW, here's the 5-shot accuracy of my Model 36 with 148 grain wadcutters (at ten yards, standing and unsupported) INTO a 1" black square target: