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Author Topic: 38spl +P load?  (Read 620 times)

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Offline murphdog

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38spl +P load?
« on: March 07, 2012, 03:46:16 PM »
This is probably a dumb question, but I don't know so I better ask.  Can a +P load go into any 38spl case?  Or do they make specially designed cases for the +P loadings?  Thought I'd better ask before I load some.  These are for use in a handi rifle, so I know the action can hold the pressure, as long as the case can. 
Duane
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Offline Jason F

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2012, 03:57:07 PM »
Same brass just just more powder for +p load
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Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2012, 10:43:35 AM »
I have Federal 38 +P and Rem 45 auto +P head stamped brass. I would think they are made a little stronger for a heavier load.
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Offline kynardsj

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2012, 11:26:37 AM »
Murphdog, do you have a particular load in mind ? I have loaded +P loads for years and never paid much attention to which brand of brass it was. I have an Airweight S&W 38 that I just shoot regular 38's in but for use in my 357's I have developed a great +P load. No pressure signs, no cracked brass, just a bad a** 38 special. If interested shoot me a PM and I'll share it with you. It would work great in your rifle.
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Offline jedman

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2012, 12:17:17 PM »
  I have seen 38 spl with the + P headstamp, but any 38 case in good condition will be OK loaded to + P pressure.  No Problem.        Jed
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Offline mdi

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2012, 12:28:23 PM »
Like the fellers above said, you'll be ok loading +P in regular 38 Special brass. In the mid '80s I was curious about +P brass vs standard 38 Spec. brass so I weighed about 20 of each, and at that time the +P brass was heavier (don't remember how much heavier, but that was over 25 years ago!). At the time I figgered the cases were heavier because of thicker walls. This all came about because I was loading some DEWCs deep in 38 Special cases and those loaded in +P cases wouldn't chamber because of buldged sides. I don't think that is true today as my +P and regular brass weigh the same (perhaps most +P were nickel plated which made them weigh more?) and I've had no trouble deep seating wad cutters in any brass. I believe today the +P headstamp is for identification of a higher pressure load, not to be used in older, light frame revolvers...
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Offline murphdog

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2012, 05:46:51 AM »
I'm always amazed at the knowledge available on this site.  Not only do I get a general answer to my question, but mdi gives us detailed results of his own independant research into the differences between +P and regular brass.  Thanks for the info guys. 
Duane
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2012, 06:10:42 AM »
If you want to shoot +P loads but cannot find +P brass, you could just trim .357 brass back to .38 special length as that's basically got the thicker head and web to handle the pressure.
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Offline bilmac

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2012, 12:09:23 PM »
Back in the day the Feds. bought special contract law enforcement loads that were hotter than +P. They called it +P+ and it was head stamped that way. Over the years Winchester and Federal both had contracts to make it. I weighed some of this brass and found that Winchester and Federal had opposite approaches to the brass. Winchester was heavier than normal 38 sp brass, which was expected, but the Federal was lighter than normal.I guess they decided that lighter brass meant more case case capacity and less pressure.

I commonly load ammo to +P pressures, I don't have any guns that aren't chambered for 357. When I make these loads I always use these +P head stamped cases just as a means to identify them. One type of hot loads goes exclusively in Winchester brass and a different load always goes in Federal cases. I don't put any other loads in those two head stamps.
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Offline ButlerFord45

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2012, 03:04:16 AM »
Quote from: mdi on March 08, 2012, 12:28:23 PM
...today the +P headstamp is for identification...
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Offline gypsyman

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2012, 04:03:23 AM »
It depends on the company that makes the brass. If you go to the Starline website, they have a notation that states that their 38 and 38+p brass is identical. It's just stamped different for the person reloading. I believe that with the firearms made now days, you could shoot +p without to much difficulty. I just wouldn't recommend it on a steady diet, as the recoil, especially on the small 5 shot revolvers nowdays, as it could get quite snappy. I can handle the recoil on a large gun like a .44 better than a light weight little gun. 
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Offline frgerald

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Re: 38spl +P load?
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2012, 11:31:32 AM »
I have 200 rounds (2 boxes of 100) Remington +P that I found on sale recently at Wally world and they all have +P on the brass.
Gerald
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