S&W 638 and +P Question

[PennsyPlinker]

So I have a new, or almost new S&W 638-2. I just posted about that, but am putting this in a separate post in hopes of getting an answer. Will this thing handle +P ammo without problems? I sort of suspect that it will, but I want to be sure.

Thanks.

 

[Husker1911]

Yes. My -3 states so, on the left side of the barrel. Is your barrel also stamped ".38 S&W Spec. +P?"

 

[Bob79]

the 638-2 is +p rated

 

[PennsyPlinker]

Thanks for the replies. The barrel is not stamped for +P, which gave rise to my question, but reading on the S&W site, it appears that all their 638s are rated for +P. In fact, the Bodyguard model, which is the one I have, said +P only. Now, what do they mean by that? I can't fire regular .38s? I already know the answer to that.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm guessing what they mean by +P only is, you can't fire .357 Magnum rounds through it. (That's only a guess though)

 

[PennsyPlinker]

Thanks Archangel. That is as good an explanation as I have found so far.