I've had yea and nay opinions on this question: I have a S&W .38 Model 10/K frame, circa mid-50's. It seems to be in great shape. I've shot +P loads in it before I knew enough to inquire if this 1955-1956 revolver is stout enough to handle +P pressures on a fairly regular basis. S&W answered my email saying, "..sure, knock yourself out."(sic) On the other hand, a gunsmith said even though it is like new, a steady diet of +P may hasten the cylinder/backstrap's demise. What do you think? Play it safe and pass on +P, or go for it ?
+P O.K. in older S&W Model 10?
- Thread starter hansolo
- Start date
Radicalcleric
New member
I agree with S&W. Knock yourself out. I routinely put loads through K frame .38s that make factory +Ps look like somebody's little sister (1,405 FPS from a 4" M10).
BBad .38's
Hi, SaxonPig,
I'll take your word..after all, the 'smith @Smith&Wesson says +P is O.K. in older Model 10(Mine is 4" too, BTW).
After all, My brother has a Chief's Special J frame (tiny) that takes
.38 +P all day(kinda feels like someone hammered on my palm, though). He is retired judge and has all kinds of Police loads from LEO friends: a few WC's in the J frame really got my attention!
My 10 was an LAPD service revolver for years, so I suppose if it ain't broke yet, It should eat about anything I'll feed it. It's my favorite pistol and my primary home defense(2nd is CZ 75B 9mm).
Hi, SaxonPig,
I'll take your word..after all, the 'smith @Smith&Wesson says +P is O.K. in older Model 10(Mine is 4" too, BTW).
After all, My brother has a Chief's Special J frame (tiny) that takes
.38 +P all day(kinda feels like someone hammered on my palm, though). He is retired judge and has all kinds of Police loads from LEO friends: a few WC's in the J frame really got my attention!
My 10 was an LAPD service revolver for years, so I suppose if it ain't broke yet, It should eat about anything I'll feed it. It's my favorite pistol and my primary home defense(2nd is CZ 75B 9mm).
. Mike Irwin
Staff
General rule of thumb is if your gun is older and has the lightweight barrel, use +P sparingly.
If the heavy barrel, you can run a lot of +P through it.
Will +P cause the gun to wear faster than standard pressure ammo? Yes.
If the heavy barrel, you can run a lot of +P through it.
Will +P cause the gun to wear faster than standard pressure ammo? Yes.
Radicalcleric
New member
Tater- Must have been a defect in that gun.
I gather some of you are suspicious on my velocity claim, but I chronographed it, no guessing, and I have witnesses. Used 110 grain JHPs fired from a 1960s vintage M10 with the skinny barrel.
The load produced a lot of muzzle flash, but recoil was actually less than 158 grain factory loads. I believe bullet weight effects felt recoil far more than does velocity. The cases ejected OK, and the primers looked fine. I think that a good revolver can handle .38 Special loads that are much hotter than are available from the manufacturers. Because there are so many older, junk guns still around, they keep pressures low for liability reasons. Just look at the specs on +P loads. They don't even equal the 9MM Parabellum in power and the 9 has a much smaller case capacity.
The biggest problem was that this load shoots really low and is almost unusable in a fixed-sight gun unless you want to modify front sight for this load only.
I gather some of you are suspicious on my velocity claim, but I chronographed it, no guessing, and I have witnesses. Used 110 grain JHPs fired from a 1960s vintage M10 with the skinny barrel.
The load produced a lot of muzzle flash, but recoil was actually less than 158 grain factory loads. I believe bullet weight effects felt recoil far more than does velocity. The cases ejected OK, and the primers looked fine. I think that a good revolver can handle .38 Special loads that are much hotter than are available from the manufacturers. Because there are so many older, junk guns still around, they keep pressures low for liability reasons. Just look at the specs on +P loads. They don't even equal the 9MM Parabellum in power and the 9 has a much smaller case capacity.
The biggest problem was that this load shoots really low and is almost unusable in a fixed-sight gun unless you want to modify front sight for this load only.