is it o. k. to shoot + P factory loads in this revolver.

I have bought allot of 38 Specials specifically for destructive tests. I have turned ~4 into bags of part from splitting the cylinder and breaking the top strap. I have wrecked a few more, so they are no good anymore, with bent frames or loose cylinders.

I have modified quite a few 38 specials to shoot 357 mag ammo.


My opinion is that you are not going to slit the cylinder and break the top strap with +P ammo.

You may get a loose cylinder with +P ammo, as you might get a loose cylinder with any ammo.

I have lots of 38 specials that I have shot for years with 357 mag loads + 8 more grains of powder, and they are still tight.

You don't know when the cylinder will get loose, and the S&W revolvers have a real problem with this. The Colt Police Positive design I have never been able to shoot loose.

Vines, the model 10 is a K frame gun as I recollect. It should be good for +P loads but perhaps not on a regular basis. If you have the 2" barrel it might not be a lot of fun anyway!I have one that I had modified for Bianchi Cup shooting by Frank Glenn. It shoots extremely accurately!
Peter.

Which M-10 do you have? Is there a dash and a number follwing "M-10" stamped on the frame inside the yoke? S&W used to say that 38 Spl. +Ps are OK in any steel frame revolver with a model number (like the M-10). I have shot a lot of +Ps through 5-shot S&Ws like the M-36 and M-60 with no problems.

The problem is with the early guns before they started putting M#s on them in the 1950's. They started making them in 38 Spl. in about 1902 - you wouldn't want to shoot +Ps in one of those.

armadillo, my mother gave it to me on my 16th birthday, now i am 45 the gun looks brand new, only shot about 250 to 300 times, nickel plated M-10

quote:

Originally posted by vines:
armadillo, my mother gave it to me on my 16th birthday, now i am 45 the gun looks brand new, only shot about 250 to 300 times, nickel plated M-10

Sounds like it would be OK for +Ps. If the serial number on the bottom of the butt starts with a letter or letters, it was made after WWII and should be fine.