I'm new to reloading and newer to this community. I have only reloaded for .380 and .38 special so far.
I'm curious about the effect that +P ammunition would have on a revolver not designed for its use. I can understand the effect +P ammo would have on a semi-auto pistol: Increasing the slide velocity and battering the moving parts into each other faster than the design intended.
I'm having a harder time understanding what happens to a revolver when +P ammo is used. I'm not talking about double-charged ammunition or similar gross overpressure situations.
I've read speculations about frames stretching but little in the way of first-hand information.
I guess the reason I'm curious is that some years ago, my friend and I each had a .38 special. His was all steel with thicker cylinder walls than mine. It was a Taurus and NOT rated +P. Mine was a Ruger and had (has... I still have it) +P printed on the side of the barrel. I can't figure out what +P would have done to my friend's revolver over time.