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38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:14 am
by fortyshooter
Have read where the .38 Special +P brass is supposed to be stronger,heavier than plain 38 Special. Also read where in modern brass made today there is no difference...the +P head stamp is just for the higher load designation.
So I grabbed a few of each and knocked out the primers and a quick clean. All brass was Winchester brand and weighed them.
Result was 64.8 gr. for 38 Special and and 66 gr. for the 38 +P those two being same OAL 1.140
Measured wall thickness was same as measured with dial calipers at .010.
So is that 1.2 gr of additional +P weight really doing much or just a variance in weight from manufacture?
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:16 am
by Vaquero
No clue forty, sorry.
RP
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:19 am
by BigAl52
Forty I assume you did but you didn’t say. How many cases did you check weight on
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:27 am
by Ojaileveraction
I think you would need to use the same manufactures to compare and need a large sample for statistical accuracy.
But I don't think it's the brass that makes it P+. Just like I don't think they make .357 mag brass stronger. It's the firearm beefed up to handle heavier loads.
Just my opinion, I maybe wrong.
fortyshooter wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:14 am
Have read where the .38 Special +P brass is supposed to be stronger,heavier than plain 38 Special. Also read where in modern brass made today there is no difference...the +P head stamp is just for the higher load designation.
So I grabbed a few of each and knocked out the primers and a quick clean. All brass was Winchester brand and weighed them.
Result was 64.8 gr. for 38 Special and and 66 gr. for the 38 +P those two being same OAL 1.140
Measured wall thickness was same as measured with dial calipers at .010.
So is that 1.2 gr of additional +P weight really doing much of just a variance in weight from manufacture?
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:34 am
by Rifletom
The Starline site mentions there is no difference between .38spl/.38spl+P. Same strength. +P is for load designation only.
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:48 am
by fortyshooter
All measured brass was Winchester but the date of manufacture might not be same.
I did measure a Nickel plated Speer +P case and it was 66.9 gr. but also longer at 1.146
I have this 5 lb. coffee can full of .38 Special and some +P brass just sitting around all of it shot once and thinking about using them
with my MB 180 load but slightly reduced given the shorter length. Got to use them.
While plinking I can alternate between the Special and Mag so as to keep any carbon ring to minimum.
I have the S&W M 66 revolver to shoot these as well. Any Special cases with the factory crimp line around the case will be tossed.
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:06 am
by Grunt67
According to experts, on the subject, there is no difference. I traded for a S&W 38 Special +P, for my better half. I plan on reloading it when I get enough brass. I won't be loading +P tho, due to the extra recoil. Hard on her hand. Not a safety issue.
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:26 am
by BigAl52
Its all that chrome on the plus P Forty. You know that chrome makes it weight more and go faster
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:46 am
by Mistered
No difference - same brass.
The only difference is factory +P brass usually has it on the headstamp but that's the only difference.
Re: 38+P vs 38 Special brass?
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 7:50 pm
by runnin n gunnin
The head stamp is only to identify the round as +P with factory ammo. Back in the day, the +P was a nickle casing and the 38 special was brass.
No difference. I have a barrel full of brass from the 70s in both 38 special and +P and load them both for either 398 special or +P'
Have I confused the issue enough? You are good to go to load up the +P.