+P Loads for older Model 60

mballai

I just put a deposit down on a circa 1980 S&W Model 60 Stainless Snubby in rather nice shape. My much newer model 60 3" is designed to handle the +Ps, the older ones weren't from my understanding. Do you think a limited amout of +Ps, a few in practice and then if I need to use the gun in self defense would be ok? I'd mostly shoot target loads for practice, just a cylinder of +Ps once in awhile to make sure I shoot them well enough.

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nunn

Though the older Smiths were not rated for +P ammo, use of same will NOT blow up the gun. Extensive use will eventually loosen the gun up, as I suspect it will for the later +P rated guns as well.

Your plan of using the hot loads sparingly while practicing mostly with the lighter stuff is a good one.

My PD issues +P .38 Special ammo for off duty and backup revolvers. I use that ammo in my non +P rated Bodyguard and it is still nice and tight.

Actually, the J frame guns are probably LESS likely to be damaged by hot loads than the bigger guns. Notice how little of the barrel extends through the frame? Notice how the cylinder locking bolt notches are between the chambers? Not so with larger guns.

SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net

mballai

Great. I was almost under the impression that S&W and maybe other makers largely conceded to the use of +P because people were using them anyway as defensive loads. I don't know what they actually did internally to permit the heavier load.

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mballai

Finally got to shoot my new old snubby. Definitely needed to practice so I did 100 plus rounds each session on two consecutive days. My hand hurts a bit even with the Hogue rubber grips (rubbed some skin off my thumb) but I finally seem to be keeping most shots in the rings and more and more in the black.

The +Ps aren't noticeably more difficult to shoot. One really needs to hold these little guys rock solid. I've never really mastered the long trigger pull--great practice in trigger control.


Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

Nighthawk

The factory told me do not shoot plus P loads in mine and that was a quote no do not. I cant tell anyone what to do but if it was my primary carry gun mine would be loaded with plusPs. But if you look at the ballistic charts theres not that much difference in the two. It seems to me with the 9mms and the .45acp is the two calibers that really benefit from the loadings. Because of the lower grain bullet weight,and the little extra velocity.

Good Luck.

Rugster

Edited by - rugster on 05/31/2002 14:01:18