+P shot in my 1949/50 S&W M&P 38 spc.

[joeq]

Isn't Buffalo Bores 158 Gr LSWCHP+P essentially a copy of the 38/44 load?

 

[336A]

Yes, but they are able to acheive those velocities through the use of a special non-canister powder. The ammunition is still within the SAAMI specified 20,000 PSI rating of traditional +P ammo though.

 

[336A]

Wcwhitey is that a copy of the excerpt I posted a while back? I have the current edition of the pistol and revolver handbook. Going off of memory (as I don't have it in front of me) some of the powder charges may have changed/dropped. However they still list the same charge weight of Unique in the newer manual that I have as they did in that one for their 158gr bullet. It makes the .38 SPL speak with authority

 

[Eb1]

IMO if you wanna shoot a .38 SPL at 1150 fps with a 125 grain bullet. Just shoot a 9mm, or shoot .357 magnum if the revolver is your forte.

 

[wcwhitey]

336A, it might be, I forget where I got the link. I have the manual, same one I started loading with in the 70's. My loads haven't changed from the loads in that manual. I still shoot 5.0 gains of Unique w/158 SWC in every .38 Special I own. It represents what the .38 Special was designed to do, launch a 158 grain bullet at 830/850 fps. That is what most are regulated for. Although that load is probably just borderline +P by todays standards it is still far more powerful than any factory loaded 158 SWC/RNL you can buy currently. Current factory RNL loading barely get 780 fps from most 4" revolvers forget about any 2", pretty anemic.

All calibers have been downloaded from their original configurations. Try to find a real .44 Special loading. .357 Magnum is right where the .38/44 left off not the 1600 fps barn burner it was designed to be. Same for .44 Magnum. Not sure if it is liability from the ammo makers or not.

 

[terry_p]

I have a M&P that was made in the mid-50's and I exchanged e-mails with a technical support rep at S&W and he told me pretty emphatically not to shoot +P in my revolver so I don't.

 

[Guillermo]

Terry

You would get a different answer if you were to ask him what pressure your M&P was rated to handle.

That rating is LESS than +P generates

Of course in order to REALLY be safe you should probably only shoot cartridges with no powder, only propelled by the primer. That way the gun will never be stressed and it will last forever.