BudsGunShop.com - Plus P only?
-
-
Does the .38 special ammo have to be plus P?
6 Answers

All Guns Ship Free!
Email Us
login modal
shopping cart
Does the .38 special ammo have to be plus P?
it is the same ammo to the same specs just some companies mark it +p and some don't the 38 super was made from the 38 APC ammo It was basically a 38ACP +p round (called 38 super) In 1974 the industry added the +P headstamp to the .38 Super to further distinguish it from the lower-pressure .38 ACP. Most current ammunition manufacturers label ammunition for the Super as .38 Super +P"
No Matthew. One can find 38 special that is not +P rated. Most you see in stores these days, though, is +P. Federal had (had - as in past tense - they've discontinued it) a .38 special round called "Nyclad". It was a hollow point round made of softer-than-usual lead and to prevent barrel leading they covered the bullet in a layer of nylon. The softer lead allowed the bullet to expand more than 'normal' hollow point bullets. It was actually fairly popular with .38 fans, but they too (.38 fans) began to dwindle, and Federal discontinued the round.
Matthew, no Sir. The +P rating is to signify that the pistol can readily handle +P loads. You can shoot the most cream puff of 38 Special loads no issue whatsoever. Also, in such short barrels, +P is going to give you a lot of increased muzzle blast/recoil that are disproportionate to actual velocity gains.
ALL 38 Super is +p ammo "In 1974 the industry added the +P headstamp to the .38 Super to further distinguish it from the lower-pressure .38 ACP. Most current ammunition manufacturers label ammunition for the Super as .38 Super +P"
No it can be standard factory target ammo. Common 38 special bullet weights are 125 grain to 158 grain. You can find plenty of +P or +P+ 38 special ammo for self defense purposes.
As a whole our 4+ million customer's know more about firearms than we do. If you have a general question about a product we highly recommend that you first try out our customer Q&A feature. More often than not you will receive multiple answers to your question in minutes.
For the best customer experience using Live Chat, we recommend using Google Chrome.
Enter your email address to receive our best deals and other store updates.
Copyright © 2003-2026 BudsGunShop.com
All Rights Reserved. (NW1)

Sign up for Bud's Gun Shop text alerts and never
miss an exciting deal or important update.
By providing your number above, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs (e.g. cart reminders) to the mobile number used at opt-in from Bud's Gun Shop on 82124.
Reply with birthday MM/DD/YYYY to verify legal age of 21+ in order to receive texts.
Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg frequency may vary. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel.
See our terms & conditions
& privacy policy.
We appreciate you signing up
for special deals.
View our terms & conditions
& privacy policy.
Matthew, first you want to make sure your revolver is rated for +P ammo. If it is then you can shoot any variety you would like, standard pressure or the +P. Just keep in mind a steady diet of +P adds to the "wear and tear" on the handgun. If you're shooting it out of a .357 Magnum handgun, fire away all you want.