Posted: 9/3/2002 6:29:27 AM EDT
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My wife was recently given a LNIB Model 36 in .38 Special & I was wondering whether it was safe to use +Ps in it. If not I'll probably trade it for a new Taurus. TIA&GB |
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If memory serves Smith discouraged the use of +P ammo in the older J-frames. No, the gun won't blow up, but it will wear quicker. And your hand will also wear out quicker. That was one advantage the Colt's had over Smith's in years past, you can use +P in Detective Specials. |
| It shouldn't hurt the Model 36 to run a moderate amount of +Ps through it. I caution against constant use of +Ps. I am not sure if +P loads are that much more effective than standard loads in a short barrel. It is a nice pistol and I wouldn't be ashamed to arm myself with one. Regards, Richard |
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I've got what I think is an older 36 with a 3" barrel. I did have one kind of strange thing happen: I had the screw that holds the crane (I think that's what it's called) that the cylinder swings out on loosen up so the crane and cylinder could come loose from the gun after I shot it quite a bit one afternoon. Of course the prior owners had probably not tightened the screws up on it since it was bought decades ago. I've got to get a digital camera one of these days and see what you S&W guys can tell me about it-I think the barrel is pinned and the hammer has a pointy firing pin on it that hits the primer, I'm not sure if the new ones have that. I'm glad this got brought up-I only carry this gun occaissionally, but have had trouble getting non +p rounds for it, they aren't that easy to find in the good defensive ammo. I think the only ones I found were Federal Personal Defense JHP that are ? 110 grain maybe. |
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Won't hurt your S&W to shoot a few +P's through it occasionally, 50 rounds a week, however, and it is gonna be loose as an old gate hinge after a while. The best +P load is still the 158gr. lead SWCHP. W/W's X38SPD or equalivent. Gets better velocity than most 125gr. loads, has the SWC bullet if it does not open much, and tends to expand some even at low velocity since there is no jacket to rupture first. This is the old "FBI" load that most agencies used with .38 wheelguns. Still made and still works as well as it ever did. Of course, it is still a .38, not a magnum. The guys are right...keep the S&W...you will be glad you did. |
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