S&W 13-2 .357 using "+P .38" Safe?

**FJR86** · May 22nd, 2011, 06:03 AM

I recently received some +P .38 Special and was wondering if it is safe to run in my S&W 13-2 .357 magnum revolver?

I assume it should be okay to run in limited quantities?

I will be feeding it with a steady diet of standard .38 special with the occassional .357 loads since I've read a lot about K-frames not holding up well to the .357 magnum.

**brian** · May 22nd, 2011, 06:47 AM

they hold up to 357 just fine, so long as you stick to 140grain and above bullet weights.
you will notice the forcing cone has a milled flat in the 6oclock postion, to clear the frame. that area is prone to cracking if large amounts of lite, fast loads are used.
+p loads will be just fine in it, all day long. they are only a touch hotter than 38spl, and not really even close to 357 mag loads.
example.
140 grain xtp bullet.
38spl, 940ft/s
38spl +p, 1121ft/s
357, 1997ft/s.

**Evil One** · May 22nd, 2011, 08:24 AM

Keep in mind... .38 special +P loadings are within the pressure ratings of the ORIGINAL .38 special loads.
Modern .38 sp loads are downloaded from what they originally were.

Jim

**Steve_NEPhila** · May 22nd, 2011, 09:07 AM

Let us talk about pressure, as it is the most important factor in how a weapon can "handle" a loading. .357 Magnum operates in the 35,000 PSI range, which is very high for a handgun cartridge. The .38 special runs at around 17,000 PSI while the +P .38 special operates at about 20,000 PSI.

You have a revolver rated to operate at 35,000 PSI, pushing 20,000 PSI .38 special +P loads is well under the operating range for that handgun. You can shoot that revolver with +P loads for the life of the revolver and be confident. However, machines need maintenance... no matter how well built a revolver is built it will get endshake and may go out of time after extensive use.

**cephas** · May 22nd, 2011, 10:25 AM

Yes safe. Practice with my .357 is done with .38"s, +p or plinking loads. Since the .38 case is a tad shorter than the .357 I give the cylinders a good cleaning after extended use.

**Valorius** · May 22nd, 2011, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by FJR86

I recently received some +P .38 Special and was wondering if it is safe to run in my S&W 13-2 .357 magnum revolver?

I assume it should be okay to run in limited quantities?

I will be feeding it with a steady diet of standard .38 special with the occassional .357 loads since I've read a lot about K-frames not holding up well to the .357 magnum.

You can shoot .38+P in a .357 magnum until you're blue in the face, it won't hurt anything.