357 vs. 38 (n00b content)

[cactusbass]

what are +p's?

[Ubermcoupe]

+p & +p+ are ways of designating "hot loads" or extra pressure loads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpressure_ammunition

[Kodachrome]

Sometimes they are just trimmer.
Don't have to be big and bulky for little 38 s.

[cactusbass]

So for hot loads does that increase the charge of the load? Like could I potentially be shooting .38 rounds that would cause as much recoil as a 357 round?

[scarville]

So for hot loads does that increase the charge of the load?

Yes. The max pressure for a 38 spl is 17,000 PSI. The 38 sp +P is 20,000 PSI. The 357 is 35,000 PSI.

Like could I potentially be shooting .38 rounds that would cause as much recoil as a 357 round?

Not likely. A 357 can be loaded down to be equivalent to a 38 but, AFAIK, a 38 cannot be loaded up to 357 performance. Even if you loaded a 38 spl to 357 pressures (not advisable) I doubt you would get true 357 performance.

[Oceanbob]

Great answers Tarn_helm...!....Good information is always welcome.

Thanks.
Bob

PS I smile at that $55 price for a new wheel gun..

You are referring to .38-only vs. .38/.357-magnum, right?

Maybe .38-caliber-only does not need to be quite as strong as a .357-magnum/.38 revolver.

So it might be cheaper.

Also, decades of both military and police duty-issue weapons were .38-only because of fears of overpenetration, concerns over costs in terms of cartridges and guns themselves, and to a lesser extent weight (additional costs caused by small weight increases add up quickly in realms measured in large quantities--pallets and plane loads).

The pre-Model 10 Smith and Wesson revolver, formerly known as the "Military and Police" was chambered in .38-only for decades.

A .38 can be a very effective round, esp. if loaded hot with 148 grain lead semi-wadcutters or Buffalo Bore's standard pressure (non +P) 158-grain LHP.

If buying a new gun, I would buy a .357/.38 rather than a .38-only.

It is better to be able to scale up in power when necessary.

And I do not have to be concerned over the issues that might worry an administrator of a police or military organization.

That being said, I love my pre-model 10 M&P the most out of all my burners!

[Dogblast]

Good info California ... Im always open to the Ways of the West..

[RedFord150]

....any thoughts on good brands?

Ruger and S&W are the top choices for a new revolver.
If shopping for used, Colt and Dan Wesson should be added to the list.
I have had bad luck with Taurus and I am not impressed at all with Charter Arms or RG. I would personally avoid these 3 brands.
Good luck.

[Kodemonkey]

If you are looking for a home defense/range gun, I would look at a 357 for the reasons above. However, snub nosed 357s are kind of a waste in my opinion. The powder is still burning after the bullet has left the barrel. In other words, a lot of flash, a lot of noise, a lot of recoil for only an incremental gain in ballistic performance.

Now, out of a 4" or 6" barrel? That's a whole different beast. Definitely manageable, and maybe one of the greatest home defense calibers out there. With hollow point ammo, It's a heck of a round.

I personally have a S&W 686P. It's my only wheelgun. It was my first gun to own, and it will be the last gun I sell. If I could only have one handgun, this would be it:

[esartori]

^ that is a beautiful gun. I want a 4 inch 686p so bad. It might be my next purchase if I don't get a good 9mm first.

[Kodemonkey]

^ that is a beautiful gun. I want a 4 inch 686p so bad. It might be my next purchase if I don't get a good 9mm first.

Thanks. That's a 4". I sent it to S&W performance center for a combat action job. They put on the FO sight for free at the same time. The action is a dream. I take it occasionally to IDPA and I still marvel at it. Anyone who knows guns picks it up and it never fails to bring a smile across their face. Then they feel the SA break and the eyebrows go up. It's not my everyday shooter, but there is a sort of a communion when it comes out of the safe. Newer shooters love it shooting 38 special. My neighbor brought his 9 year old daughter out shooting for the first time and it was by far her favorite (and she was the most accurate with it as well). The gun is way more accurate than I am.

[XDRoX]

Nice 686 KM!
Is it a pre-lock? Just curious. That grip is bad ***.

For those of you that don't know the 686 is one of the best revolvers ever made.

[cactusbass]

What does "pre-lock" refer to?

[XDRoX]

What does "pre-lock" refer to?

Smith's made nowadays have locks on them that take keys. Older ones do not. I'm not sure of the date when they switched over. Can't tell whether his 686 has a lock form the pics which is why I asked. The lock is on the other side of the gun.

[Kodemonkey]

It's a modern one with a lock. But I have had zero problems with it and I have hammered at least 3k of full house 357 mag rounds in it. Don't let the lock detract you... Yeah it breaks up the lines on the gun and there is definitely some hatred towards the lock, but it hasn't bothered me any.