38 Super +P
Hi All,
Please help a novice. Is the 38 Super +P just a more powerful round for the 38 special, or is it a different caliber? I've got an old .357 magnum, S&W model 65, I like to plink with when camping in southern OH. I love to shoot those light .357 Corbons but don't like the price. I'll shoot a few of those then plink with some cheap 38 special ammo. I think the 38 supers are cheaper than the .357's. Are they almost as powerful as the .357's? Are they OK to shoot in my .357?
Please help a novice. Is the 38 Super +P just a more powerful round for the 38 special, or is it a different caliber? I've got an old .357 magnum, S&W model 65, I like to plink with when camping in southern OH. I love to shoot those light .357 Corbons but don't like the price. I'll shoot a few of those then plink with some cheap 38 special ammo. I think the 38 supers are cheaper than the .357's. Are they almost as powerful as the .357's? Are they OK to shoot in my .357?
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Is there a difference between 38 Super and 38 Super +P ,or is it to differentiate it
from 38 Automatic?
My SAAMI reference book is 25 years old and doesn't show a +P.0 -
38 +P is not as powerful as a 357mag. It between your 38 Special and 357 Mag. From what I know you should be able to shoot 38 +P out of your 357. The 38+P case is a tiny big longer than your regular 38. Same bullet though I believe.
I am sure the guys with a lot more experience with wheel guns on here can give you more detail.0 -
Hello if I read your post correctly 38 SUPER is for a semi auto most are on a 1911 type pistol it is rimless onlt thing the same is first part of name as a 38 special 0 -
Nice snag Perryshooter. The .38 super +p denotes for semiauto actions that are strong enough to handle the +P loads. Early versions of this particular pistol could not handle the juiced up loads, so like the .45 long colt,.44 special, ect. manufacturers have to be careful to note if the loads are for older arms or guns of newer design, stronger steel. In this case the .38 super, as Perry says is a different cartridge entirely. You can shoot .38 special+P
in any revolver designed for .357. .38 special+P should be same length as .38 special, but is a hot load, and only in guns capable of handling it. Even then, if a .38 spec. gun, will be tougher on it.0 -
Sorry guys, brain fart. [xx(] 0 -
The .38 Super is not a rimless,cartridge,it's semi rimmed.I shoot them from a heavy .357 revolver like a S&W mod 28 without any problems.The accuracy is not as good as a .38 spl. or the .357 mag.as the bullet dia. is slightly smaller.
The only reason I've been shooting this is I sold the .38 Super and had some ammo left over.I would only do this with a HEAVY FRAMED .357 Mag no .38 spls.as the Super is high pressure.
[:)]
When a worm wants to relax,does he go fishing?
ATF,Eagle Guns0 -
I stand corrected the case is semi rimmed .405 as compared to 38 special rim of .440 both with a base of about.380 however lenght is just about 1/4 inch shorter on the super . I guess I am an old FXXX but i dont like shooting any cartridge that is not designed for that gun. 0 -
Thanks a lot to all who replied. This is the best place to find out whatever you need to know about firearm topics.
I think I'll just stick with the 38 specials and the .357's, plenty of enjoyment to be had there anyway.
Just out of curiosity ATF, could my S&W model 65 handle those cartridges? My guess would be no, I don't think it's a heavy frame magnum.0 -
Just for kicks, I tried to chamber some different brands of 38Super Auto +p in my GP 100; there's no way to get them into the chambers! I'd have to really want them in there, because they go in about 1/4" past the bullet base and catch. Maybe that "heavy framed S&W" has some really loose chambers!
"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID0 -
You can shoot 38 super +P in a 357 revolver but accuracy lacks a bunch. the 38 super is size .356 which means its bounching from side to side in your barrel. Like I said it will work but not well.
Down Zero0 -
Hi gobucks,
I agree with Perry Shooter and others on this. Do not even think about shooting the .38 Super in your .357 pistol.
The .38 Super is distinctly different from the .38 Special. As already pointed out the .38 Super is .356 caliber and the .38 Special is .357 caliber. The .38 Super was designed by Colt in 1929 to improve on the .38 Auto. The Thompson submachine gun was even chambered in this round for a while.
The .38 Super found a niche in IPSC competitions because it offered the right amount of power and was used in 1911 type pistols.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]0
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