What's the deal with .38 Special range pick-up brass marked "+P"?

[WVGunman]

Obviously, this stuff was +P ammunition when it was new. My question is: would this brass be built any differently/stronger than .38 Special brass that is not marked +P? Was the only difference the powder charge in these cases, and not their construction? I'm going to start handloading my own .38 Special rounds soon, and wondering if I should use brass specifically marked as +P for the hotter stuff.
I tried weighing and comparing both types, but couldn't reach any conclusions. Almost all these cases so marked are Winchesters, though I've found a few marked Hornady and CBC also.

 

[hanno]

Same brass, different load.

From Starline (makers of excellent brass):

"38 SPL+P has no difference from the standard 38 SPL, other than headstamp designation for load segregation. This is due to the fact that our standard case design will handle +P pressures with no problems."

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/38-SpecialP-Brass/

My question to Winchester and their response:

Question:

Are .38 Special and .38 Special +P cases made to the same specs?
That is, is the +P marking on the case only for identification to
distinguish the hotter load?
Thanks,
Gary

Answer:

Gary,

The cases are exactly the same, only the head-stamp is different.

Best Regards,

Technical Services Dept.

 

[Average Joe]

The brass is the same, just marked +p to let you know its a hot round.

 

[redbullitt]

Yep, helps keep those factory loaded rounds from finding their way into non plus p guns. OR at least cover their butts in such an event I think.

I use both interchangeably.

 

[rcmodel]

Not always the same from all manufactures.

I have some old Remington +P brass that is much thicker in the case web then standard .38 Spl. of the time.

It is like shorter .357 Mag brass compared to standard .38 Spl. Brass.


What Starline says is likely correct for a Starline brass.
But it is certainly not correct for every brand of +P brass.

Only way to be sure in look inside it and see if it appears to have a thicker case web.

And you can weigh it on your powder scales.

If it is noticeably heaver, it is thicker somewhere.

rc

 

[hanno]

rcmodel,
Not just Starline.

Winchester .38 Special brass and .38 Special +P brass are exactly the same. This is per Winchester.

Won't speak for the rest but for these two, the brass is identical except for the headstamp.

 

[rcmodel]

It could be that my .38 brass dates to the mid 1970's when +P loads first came out.

They were indeed real +P pressure back then, and I do believe the brass was thicker.

Not so much anymore.

Today's +P brass could very well all be the same as standard from every manufacture.

I don't know, as I haven't bought any new factory ammo or .38 Spl brass in my life.
And won't live long enough to ever need to again now.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

.38 Spl brass thicknesses are all over the place.

I do like to segregate the +P cases for +P loads, but only for easy identification if I lose the sticky note in the load box.

 

[Reefinmike]

as the others have said, same stuff. A lot of the fancy +p nickel plated stuff has a fairly heavy cannelure grove crimped into the brass where the base of the bullet would be. not really sure why considering you wont see setback in a revolver, just a possibility of bullets pulling out. anyways, I set these cases aside because that case crimp junks up softer cast boolits.

 

[zxcvbob]

It might be thicker, or it might be the same. You can kind of tell by how much force it takes to resize it. Usually it's the same as regular (thin) .38 brass -- not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Sky King]

I just sort by manufacture and load em up. Don't look for standard or +P.

 

[CZ9shooter]

In most cases, a +P stamp on brass means nothing. Yeah, some brands are might be thinker than others, but you get that variation with standard brass too.

It is the gun's chamber that contains the pressure, not the brass.

 

[Walkalong]

The case head is where the brass has to contain pressure. As long as it is up to the task then next is the chamber strength. All case walls have to do is expand and hold the chamber walls. They don't have to be very thick to work for .38 Spl, even +P .38 Spl.

 

[kerreckt]

No difference in the brass. I have loaded and shot both can't find any difference. As far as, the loaded rounds, there seems to be a great deal of variation. I have concluded it is all just marketing.

 

[Sunray]

"...just marked +p to let you know it's a hot round..." More about the workies in the factory than the end user.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just like said above, there is no difference at all between .38 Special brass and those marked +P. Also like mentioned above, I also like to segregate the brass marked +P for the loads I build to +P pressures just for identification if by chance the load card gets lost.

 

[RussellC]

Same brass, different load.

From Starline (makers of excellent brass):

"38 SPL+P has no difference from the standard 38 SPL, other than headstamp designation for load segregation. This is due to the fact that our standard case design will handle +P pressures with no problems."

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/38-SpecialP-Brass/

My question to Winchester and their response:

Question:

Are .38 Special and .38 Special +P cases made to the same specs?
That is, is the +P marking on the case only for identification to
distinguish the hotter load?
Thanks,
Gary

Answer:

Gary,

The cases are exactly the same, only the head-stamp is different.

Best Regards,

Technical Services Dept.

Not all Starline apparently: As to .45, they claim there is a difference:

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/45-Auto-P-Brass/index.cfm

I believe the site states its only a headstamp difference there was in the 9mm, none it that rounds volume either. I bought the .45 +P when they had no regular, then noted...

Russellc