confused with ammo

C

copahi

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Bought a used S&W for my wife. I dont know mayor details about the gun. On the barrel, the script: 38 special, airweight. The barrel 2" long, wooden grips, 5 shots. Is there anybody to help me with the correct ammo?. We need it for self defense but Im afraid is not for +P. In that case, what ammo to choose?
Thanks
 
confused about ammo

With little information on model number etc. SOOT ONLY STANDARD LOADS for practice! It should be OK to use +P ammo for defense. Carry the +P and use it to protect yourselves but, shoot very little through it, other than a few rounds to get familiar with the recoil.
 
Cophai,

What's the first half of the serial number, including any letters before the numbers. You'll find the serial number either on the butt, or when you flop the cylinder out in the cut under the barrel.

S&W certified their snubbies for use with +P ammo sometime in the 1990s, so the only way to know for sure is by date of manufacture.

You may want to consider a set of rubber grips by Hogue or Pachmayer, as the S&W snubbies can be a handful to shoot with heavier bullets or +P ammo.
 
I will look for more details ( serial, etc) Meanwhile, How do you catalog for this use the Federal Hydrashock PD38HS3? Could it be Ok or too much pressure?
 
Suggest trying different NON +P loads, of weights from 125g to 158g, using JHP's.

Might start with Winchester 130g SXT, Hornady 140g XTP, and 158g offerings from Georgia Arms.

(My wife has a S&W 38 Special Airweight Bodyguard.)
 
Hi, Copahi,

Unless your wife is an experienced pistol shooter and used to small guns, start out with the lightest load you can find (usually target wadcutters) until she gets used to the gun. If you start with something with a lot of noise, muzzle blast and recoil (whether +P or not), you may just turn her off on that gun and maybe guns in general. So start easy; a .22 would be better, but if a .38 is all you have, go light at first.

Jim
 
Bear in mind that +P denotes PEAK pressure up to 10 percent above SAAMI specs for that cartridge.

And +P+ (not a SAAMI term) denotes an indeterminate higher PEAK pressure.

Neither +P nor +P+ have any direct bearing on bullet energy or performance.

Easy to have a bullet and case combo that gives poor bullet performance at extremely high PEAK pressure with one powder and outstanding performance at standard PEAK pressure with a different powder.

+P and +P+ are indicators of how much stress is placed on the gun, they are NOT indicators of how hard the bullet is being pushed.

Shop your ammo by performance. Velocity, wt, expansion, accuracy, consistancy etc.

Sam
 
I would like to second the idea of starting off with wad cutters or semi-wad cutters. The advantage is that they will be much easier to manage while she gets used to shooting the pistol and are still a viable SD round. In addition, they will give very clear holes in the target, easy to see and so help improve her shooting. The J framed pistols are a handfull anyway and one of the more difficult pistols to learn to shoot accurately. Start with what will give her the best chance for improvement.
 
Copahi

The info you requested.

SKU: 161602

Type: Revolver
Model: 37
Caliber: .38 S&W Special +P
Barrel Length: 1-7/8"
Capacity: 5 Rounds
Action: Single , Double
External Safety: N/A
Hammer: .240" Semi-Target
Trigger: .312" Smooth Target 1-7/8"
Grip: Uncle Mike's Boot Firing System: N/A
Front Sight: Serrated Ramp Rear Sight: Fixed Notch
Frame: Small Finish: Blue
Over all length: 6-5/16" Weight: 15.0 ounces
Material: Aluminum Alloy / Carbon Steel
 

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Thanks a lot. Usefull info. May be some differences, because mine is wooden grips and 2" barrel. Im requesting info to S&W too, cause Im not finding the script +P neither in the frame, nor in the barrel
 
copahi, learn all you can about the revolver

More knowledge is a Good Thing. But also listen to the good advice on this thread. +P is not a big issue, learning to shoot well is a big issue, and using a good quality round that you can shoot comfortably is a good place to start.

Buy a bunch of ammuniton and shoot, shoot, shoot.

-Jorah
 
Cophai,

Your revolver was made in late 1975 or early 1976. No way is it OK for a steady diet of +P ammo.

A few rounds now and again, but not a steady diet.

Stick with a good-quality standard pressure load.
 
On average, the early aluminum-framed snubbies are the "weakest" snubs made.

The 148grain lead wadcutters are the mildest .38Spl loads you'll generally find, and will be both the easiest to shoot in that gun, and the easiest ON the gun. I would do most of my practice with that.

As to carry and shooting small amounts of +P, the Winchester "white box" 110grain +P isn't too bad. Some other 110+Ps (esp. the Cor-Bon) are VERY hot, and will beat the gun up more than, say, the Winchester 158grain lead hollowpoint +P. That latter load is actually a decent carry choice for that gun, although I'd shoot very few in practice first.

You should make sure your specimen is in good shape:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57816

You can also use the "checkout" to monitor the gun after doing a bit of +P testing (5 or 10 rounds at a time tops).
 
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