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Do they make .38+P+ anymore?
- Thread starter Doug.38PR
- Start date
There are bigger experts here on this one but I say that the .38+p+ are safe to fire in .357 magnum revolver's. They were If I recall designed for law enforcement use. To have more power, closer to a .357 magnum but without the supposedly negative appeal of hearing the word "magnum" in a cartridge utilized by law enforcement. So police carrying .357 revo's could still carry .38's (but with more power).
Marko Kloos
Inactive
I have two boxes of Federal Hydra-Shok 147-grain +P+ .38 Special sitting on my shelf right now. It's clearly marked (+P+), "High Velocity" and "Law Enforcement Use Only".
So yes, it does exist...or rather, it did, since I don't think Federal makes that particular load anymore.
So yes, it does exist...or rather, it did, since I don't think Federal makes that particular load anymore.
juliet charley
New member
Yes, it did exist, and no, Federal hasn't offered it for a while. It would best be restricted to .357 Magnum weapons anyway.
Too loud
I got a box of Winchester +P+ 110gr. that has 5 rounds fired from it. It is old police surplus, from Cincinnati, I think. I tried 5 rounds from a 2 inch model 15 once. I was wearing plugs and muffs both. Made a huge flash and made my ears ring. Outdoors. I decided that was enough and they are now a conversation piece. They did not hurt the gun. I would think a K frame or large frame .38 would work with them. Would naturally accelerate wear if fired constantly. Has a disclaimer on the box of no liability for use or something. Nasty little buggers. I will stick to magnums in magnums!
I got a box of Winchester +P+ 110gr. that has 5 rounds fired from it. It is old police surplus, from Cincinnati, I think. I tried 5 rounds from a 2 inch model 15 once. I was wearing plugs and muffs both. Made a huge flash and made my ears ring. Outdoors. I decided that was enough and they are now a conversation piece. They did not hurt the gun. I would think a K frame or large frame .38 would work with them. Would naturally accelerate wear if fired constantly. Has a disclaimer on the box of no liability for use or something. Nasty little buggers. I will stick to magnums in magnums!
Cor-bon used to load a 158gr LSWCHP +P+
and a 115gr JHP +P+ in 38spl..I never saw
any of the JHP's but i tried a few of the
LSWCHP's in a SP-101 chambered in 38spl.
Flatened primers and stuck cases told me
that this wasn't a good ideal.Buffalo bore
loads a couple of fairly hot 38spl's,a 158gr
LSWCHP with a gas check and a 125gr
gold dot.1000fps for the LSWCHP and 1050
fps for the gold dot,both from a 2" barrel.
and a 115gr JHP +P+ in 38spl..I never saw
any of the JHP's but i tried a few of the
LSWCHP's in a SP-101 chambered in 38spl.
Flatened primers and stuck cases told me
that this wasn't a good ideal.Buffalo bore
loads a couple of fairly hot 38spl's,a 158gr
LSWCHP with a gas check and a 125gr
gold dot.1000fps for the LSWCHP and 1050
fps for the gold dot,both from a 2" barrel.
The Winchester 110 +p+ and Federal 147 +p+ were both issued to the DEA in the past. I know of one Supervisor who carried the Winchester load in a S&W model 60 in the '70's.The Federal load was DEA and FBI issue in the mid '80's. I haven't seen either in quite a while.
The S&W 640 was a 38 rated for +P+ and was so marked on the frame. Of course now it is larger and a 357.
The S&W 640 was a 38 rated for +P+ and was so marked on the frame. Of course now it is larger and a 357.