Colt Police Special

4

450mar

Inactive
Hi,

My dad passed and left me his service revolver. He purchased it in 1948. My question is can I shoot +p ammo in this revolver?
 
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I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad, 450mar (and welcome to TFL) - Please accept our condolences........

As far as +P ammo, I believe you can use it safely in that gun, but there's plenty of other effective SD/HD ammo out there today, that's been developed since +P was introduced to raise the effectiveness of standard ammo.

Google "CorBon", Buffalo Bore", "Double Tap", & other "high performance .38 Special ammo makers" (Like Hornady, etc).




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We have gone around and around on this. Some believe +P is a hot load not advisable in an older gun. I am certain through my research that +P is not a high pressure load and is fine in any quality made gun produced after around 1930 (in deference to imprecise heat treating of steel back then). You decide what you want to do.

My condolences for your loss. It's never an easy thing to lose a parent.
 
There's no such Colt model as a "Police Special".

Check the barrel for the actual name.
It may be "Police Positive Special".
If so, that was built on Colt's "D" frame which is the same small frame as used on the Detective Special.

While you "can" shoot a limited amount of +P ammo, this is an older Colt made in the days before the +P was invented, so it was never intended for +P.
If you decide to shoot +P it should be very limited, and best if you only fire a few cylinders full to get familiar with it, then shoot standard .38 ammo for practice, and only load the +P for defense use.
 
Colt made the Police Positive. Colt made the Official Police. I have never heard of a Police Special. Either way, do not shoot +p ammo in old Colt revolvers, they are not made for the battering it will give them and will quickly shoot loose. If you just gotta do it, get a Ruger and do whatever you want to it.
 
Bought in 1948, wouldn't even try...

using +p ammo. (If it was my revolver)

Best ammo will still be the 140 - 158 gr bullets, preferably the L swc type.

Post pic, we all like to DROOL!
 
The Official Police was built on Colt's medium frame.
The same frame was used on the original Trooper, Officer's Models, 357 Model, and Python, although the Magnum models got special heat treating and were much stronger guns.

A 1948 Official Police would be safe to use with +P but hotter ammo will accelerate wear.
Why wear a nice old gun when you can buy plenty of newer guns quite suitable for +P ammo.
 
Thanks Dfariswheel ....... I have two boxes of +p ammo. I think I will give them to a buddy. I agree not to add extra wear to a good old gun. Thanks for your help.
 
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