S&W K frame (Model 15) capable of .38 Special +P?

[USSR]

My favorite .38 Special load for use in my Model 686 is a Lyman 358429 ahead of 5 grains of Unique. No problem with this +P load in my .357, but what about my friend's Model 15?

Don

[subsonic]

The 15 should be capable of factory level +P, but I wouldn't try to make a .357 out of it or shoot "Keith" .38s in it. Stick to book loads.

[fecmech]

The Model 15 will last longer than you will! The load of 5 grs. Unique and .358429 is not +p, it is a max standard pressure load of 16700 C.U.P per the Lyman cast bullet handbook third edition.

[MtGun44]

That (with HP 358429) is my carry load in a 342, ulta light J frame, not a problem.

Bill

[USSR]

The load of 5 grs. Unique and .358429 is not +p, it is a max standard pressure load of 16700 C.U.P per the Lyman cast bullet handbook third edition.

Thanks. My Lyman 49th Edition lists 4.2 grains as a Max load.

Don

[redneckdan]

It will handle +p loads just fine.

[MT Gianni]

I have worn a K frame Mod 14 out by DA shooting PPC. The hand and ejector faced needed to be replaced and retimed. DA shooting puts a lot more wear on than SA slow fire. They are not making any more k frames and mine stay away from heavy loads but that is a long ways from a +P 38 load.

[fecmech]

I have worn a K frame Mod 14 out by DA shooting PPC. The hand and ejector faced needed to be replaced and retimed. DA shooting puts a lot more wear on than SA slow fire. They are not making any more k frames and mine stay away from heavy loads but that is a long ways from a +P 38 load.

You must have shot a lot of PPC! I shot PPC "back in the day" and after about 50K rds I sent it back to S&W only because my 14-3 never had a gas ring on the cyl. That meant pulling the cylinder off to clean the crane which was a PITA about every 200 rds. Anyhow I don't know if they changed out my ejector and hand at the time but they did turn the barrel in 1 turn and recut the forcing cone all for the princely sum of $43. in 1993. Since then I've shot somewhere north of 20K more rounds through it( mostly SA) and it's still going strong. Whoever did the work at Smith was good because the gun is more accurate now than it was new! Love those K frames!

[Frank]

Check with S&W on the +P. You can always remind them later what they told you if something happens.

[Larry Gibson]

I carreid a M15 (actually 2 of them, a 5" and a 4") as a duty revolver for 7 years when I was an LEO. We carried +P ammuntion and shot a lot of it. The S&W reps said it wouldn't phase the M15s and it didn't. I also shot a lot of PPC, TRC and IPSC with mine and never had a problem. I also was the department armorer and never found any that suffered from +P ammo use. Many suffered from officer abuse though......

I still have the 5" M15 as we were allowed to buy them when the department went to the 4" M15s. Mine has had who knows how many thousands of rounds through it. I regularly use a +P load of 6.5 gr Unique under a soft cast and HP'd 358156 for hunting/shooting jack rabbits and rockchucks. The M15 keeps on shooting just fine.

Larry Gibson

[USSR]

Thanks guys. Wanted to share my ammo with my friend, but didn't want to give him something that would strain his revolver.

Don

[MtGun44]

Warm load, but not going to beat it to death. I would use a lighter load for everyday
plinking, but that is a good one for self defense loads.

Bill

[9.3X62AL]

I have a Colt OMT that dotes on #358429 atop 4.5 grains of Unique. This enables 825 FPS +/- from the 6" barrel, boolit weight 163 grains. A 5" S&W Model 10 runs these about 800 FPS, and they go right to the fixed sights. These results seem close to standard pressure ballistics. I don't think you'll strain any good-condition K-frame S&W 38 Special with 5.0 grains of Unique under a 150-165 grain cast boolit.

[Char-Gar]

The Smith and Wesson line of 38 DA revolvers underwent a change in heat treatment of the steel in 1957. Revolvers made before that time are not recommended to 38+P use. Revolvers made after than date are.

However occasional use of +P ammo won't damage your revolver, but regular use will result in premature wear.