.38+P's in .357 Revolvers. Question(s)

[twyacht]

Just a question, or three, regarding performance and pressures (SAAMI), firing .38+P rounds in a Rossi M971 .357 Magnum.

The pressures seem very much in the safe zone:

http://www.handloads.com/misc/saami.htm
17,000 for .38
20,000 for .38+P
35,000 for .357 Magnum

.38 Special +P    158 gr (10.2 g)    1,000 ft/s (300 m/s)    351 ft·lbf (476 J)    20,000 PSI
.357 Magnum    158 grains (10.2 g)    1,349 ft/s (411 m/s)    639 ft·lbf (866 J)    35,000 PSI

Yes the .357 Magnum was/is/and will be on the "short list" for a proven SD round.

However, with bullet technology advancing rapidly, making better ballistics all around, would:

A .38+P seem practical as a SD round in a "nightstand" pistol, just to get less recoil, are there any other factors?

In a full size frame with a 4" barrel length, does it even matter?

Given energy, but harsher recoil, especially at a 3:51 a.m. scenario, what are some other options?

I have a variety of SD pistols, but prefer a revolver for simplistic reliability at home, long-term storage factors, (no mag spring wear, etc...), it just works. Middle of the night, things that go "bump", grabbing my .357, gives me no hesitation.

Just interested if someone here, has fired +P .38's in their .357 and had good results. I have fired standard .38's for practice in my .357, but interested in other opinions/experiences.

Thank you.

tw.

[ericire12]

All this from a man with a Glock in .45 acp

[twyacht]

All this from a man with a Glock in .45 acp

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but something about keeping those "poor" mag springs compressed for a while, even though I rotate mags, .....

I was just curious.

[ericire12]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but something about keeping those "poor" mag springs compressed for a while, even though I rotate mags, .....

I was just curious.

Dont over think it.

[GUNS-R-US]

It works great! esspacailly with the 4in bbl. Lots of BG's have met their fate from the business end of a .38! In my 340PD their the only thing I can shoot with reliable hits. the .357mags just kick to much the 2nd to the 5th may or may not hit the target. But with .38+P+ I'm usually 5 for 5.

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

It works great! esspacailly with the 4in bbl. Lots of BG's have met their fate from the business end of a .38! In my 340PD their the only thing I can shoot with reliable hits. the .357mags just kick to much the 2nd to the 5th may or may not hit the target. But with .38+P+ I'm usually 5 for 5.

Solution here is .357 for the first, which will probably either do the job or be a wild miss, and then 5 .38s. POI shouldn't differ that much at ten to twenty feet.
FQ13

[GUNS-R-US]

Solution here is .357 for the first, which will probably either do the job or be a wild miss, and then 5 .38s. POI shouldn't differ that much at ten to twenty feet.
FQ13

That might actually work. I'll have to take it to the range a few times to try it out.

[PegLeg45]

Years ago I had a Taurus M66 .357 that I kept in my truck console. I loaded it with 4 rounds of .38 spl +P and 2 rounds of .357 magnum. I staged the cylinder so the magnums were the last 2 rounds. I figured if the first 4 +P's didn't take the BG out, the last 2 would either kill him if they were hits......or, deafen, blind, and scorch him enough to give up if I missed.

I really liked the recoil and accuracy of the +P's in the .357 revolver. I still do the same with my .44's.

[Timothy]

Two words......."night blindness"..

I'm able to shoot at my local range until almost dark.  A few cylinders of full load mags at dusk is quite a way to get someones attention.   

I've downloaded my snubby to .38 +p on the nightstand.  I normally carry .357's during the day but it is hard to get two shots near each other on the follow up.  Practice is getting tough as I can't find practice loads in .357 anymore and have to shoot HP's...

[shooter32]

I've shot +P loads in my .357 with no problems at all.