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.38 S&W Special CTG
- Thread starter mrcharlie3531
- Start date
a few questions
hello, I just joined and have been lurking and learning from y'all....
I have a very similar revolver at home, inherited it from an uncle, and have not had much luck identifying it-- no letter in front of the serial number just like this one.
My serial is 4144xx, stamped three places in it, as well as 46035 on the crane. grips are plastic, a bit lighter than the one OP has pictured... same 38 special ctg, appears to be nickel, but it looks pitted a bit under the finish. I dont have pix yet, thats why I just cobbed onto this thread.
what model is this thing? secondly, what year?
oh, another probably dumb question-- what is '+p" ? I am guessing its a different powder?
thanks for any help, and I will post a pic on an original thread as soon as possible!
t
hello, I just joined and have been lurking and learning from y'all....
I have a very similar revolver at home, inherited it from an uncle, and have not had much luck identifying it-- no letter in front of the serial number just like this one.
My serial is 4144xx, stamped three places in it, as well as 46035 on the crane. grips are plastic, a bit lighter than the one OP has pictured... same 38 special ctg, appears to be nickel, but it looks pitted a bit under the finish. I dont have pix yet, thats why I just cobbed onto this thread.
what model is this thing? secondly, what year?
oh, another probably dumb question-- what is '+p" ? I am guessing its a different powder?
thanks for any help, and I will post a pic on an original thread as soon as possible!
t
In this case, .38 Special +P is an official SAAMI industry specification for ammo. Where .38 Special ammo is loaded to a maximum peak pressure of 17,000 PSI... .38 Special+P ammo is loaded a wee bit hotter to a maximum allowed peak pressure of 18,500 PSI.
This is as set/agreed upon by SAAMI, which is recognized by the firearms manufacturers.
The thing that many folks don't understand about the magical "+p" designation is that it is a true industry standard and it is being misused or abused when it is casually tossed around. For the record, SAAMI has used this designation with only three handgun cartridges-- .38 Special, 9mm Luger and .45 ACP. Used elsewhere...is used either in error or recklessly. (a special case exists for .38 Super)
Also worth noting is that SAAMI doesn't use or recognize the "+p+" designation, even though the occasional ammunition manufacturer has used it. What's important to remember is that if it is not made to a recognized standard it certainly could be made to any standard -- or NO standard. That makes it an unknown quantity and that means nobody can be sure if it's safe or proper for your firearm.
Smith & Wesson revolvers since they began to assign them model numbers are safely rated for +P ammunition. (I think? Correction please?)
YOUR revolver bearing that 400xxx range is not rated for use with .38 Special +P ammunition.
This is as set/agreed upon by SAAMI, which is recognized by the firearms manufacturers.
The thing that many folks don't understand about the magical "+p" designation is that it is a true industry standard and it is being misused or abused when it is casually tossed around. For the record, SAAMI has used this designation with only three handgun cartridges-- .38 Special, 9mm Luger and .45 ACP. Used elsewhere...is used either in error or recklessly. (a special case exists for .38 Super)
Also worth noting is that SAAMI doesn't use or recognize the "+p+" designation, even though the occasional ammunition manufacturer has used it. What's important to remember is that if it is not made to a recognized standard it certainly could be made to any standard -- or NO standard. That makes it an unknown quantity and that means nobody can be sure if it's safe or proper for your firearm.
Smith & Wesson revolvers since they began to assign them model numbers are safely rated for +P ammunition. (I think? Correction please?)
YOUR revolver bearing that 400xxx range is not rated for use with .38 Special +P ammunition.
mrcharlie...How easy it is to detonate another +P skirmish.
That's a fine looking piece to these eyes. Looks like it would point quick and true and hit. Get into WalMart, get some of the cheap 38 Special, shoot it and get yourself back here and tell how she speaks.
Check here for the birthdate, include the good photo: http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/forum/
That's a fine looking piece to these eyes. Looks like it would point quick and true and hit. Get into WalMart, get some of the cheap 38 Special, shoot it and get yourself back here and tell how she speaks.
Check here for the birthdate, include the good photo: http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/forum/
Last edited:
Gaucho Gringo
New member
+P loadings nowadays are the standard loadings 75 years ago. Ammo used to be loaded a lot hotter in pre suefest days. All you have to do is look at Elmer Keith's loading data in the day.
Deaf Smith
New member
How come they don't make a 38 S&W + P aka 38/200 + P. I mean, someone would need the MORE POWER advantage for their 100 year old revolver, right?
Way to many old top break S&W, Iver Johnson's, H&R's, and such out there that really ARE over 100 years old.
Sure I'd love to see for my 3 inch Webley and 4 inch Colt Bankers for them to make a hotter .38 S&W round but I know there are many old cheep top break guns that might blow with such loads.
Deaf
I'd sure like to see some citations or tangible evidence of all of the lawsuits having to do with over-pressure ammunition that folks have been flipping as a "reason" for years and years.Ammo used to be loaded a lot hotter in pre suefest days.
Much more likely is that serious advancement in actual pressure measuring well beyond the old copper crusher methods are employed today that give ballisticians real proof of what is happening with these loads than a lot of the black magic of the past.
History is a wonderful thing and it has gotten us where we are, but it's a lazy generalization to claim that everything was "great in the old days" and has been mucked up by lawyers today.