Surplus S&W 10-6, 10-8

Mr. Mosin said:

Will these tolerate +P ammo, or warm to hot handloads ?

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38+P is OK for older model 10s not marked on barrel as such. I don't put a steady diet of +P through my 10-10 trade in because it's been shot a lot and I want it to last longer.

Mines a "pre-Model 10", circa 1957. I shoot +P in it without a second thought. It eats it up like it was made for it.

Yup, all day long.

Smith and Wesson officially has said that all numbered models are ok with +p 38 spc.
"“Plus-P” (+P) ammunition generates pressures in excess of the pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures may affect the wear characteristics or exceed the margin of safety built into some revolvers and could therefore be DANGEROUS. This ammunition should not be used in Smith & Wesson medium (K frame) revolvers manufactured prior to 1958. Such pre-1958 medium (K-frame) revolvers can be identified by the absence of a model number stamped inside the yoke cut of the frame."

Old THR thread about the issue
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/s-w-what-does-p-only-mean.467431/

I've never had a problem with +P loads in a model10-8 police turn in. But I got it for fun plinking and because it is a classic, so I only shoot light wadcutter and 158 grain cast loads in it. Also, mine happens to be more accurate with cast bullets. I have plenty of 357 magnum revolvers for heavier 38 special ammo.

Jeff

Shoot it til it breaks! You will try but you won't be able to do it unless you smash it on concrete several times

"I've never had a problem with +P loads in a model10-8 police turn in. But I got it for fun plinking and because it is a classic, so I only shoot light wadcutter and 158 grain cast loads in it."


That's how I approach it also. If I have a cool older revolver bought used, I use mild ammo in it so I'll put wear on it more slowly.

If it's nothing special and easily replaceable, go ahead and bang away.

Mr. Mosin said:

Thanks all. Money's tight now, so I'm debating the best bang for my buck.

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Hard to beat model 10 trade ins for most bang for the buck. I feel the same about model 64 trade ins too. I've got both. I picked up a barely shot M64 4" LE trade in last year for $300 OTD in a private sale.

Mr. Mosin said:

Thanks all. Money's tight now, so I'm debating the best bang for my buck.

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If you're looking for a plinker and/or nightstand gun, I think the final word for value is a used K frame. You get Smith quality at Rossi prices (and sometimes even lower).

Like @Tallball said though, I don't see any reason to run a bunch of +P through an old revolver if I'm just target shooting with it. If you're planning to beat on a gun with repeated heavy loads, the K frame can probably take it, but I'd rather get a GP100 and not worry about it. A friend of mine is into the whole "bear load" stuff and runs thermonuclear 357 loads through his Rugers that have literally broken lesser guns. I figure they'll run hot 38s from now until the sun explodes.

stonebuster said:

Hard to beat model 10 trade ins for most bang for the buck. I feel the same about model 64 trade ins too. I've got both. I picked up a barely shot M64 4" LE trade in last year for $300 OTD in a private sale.View attachment 870123

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Your 64 is a newer model than the one I got from AIM Surplus... and it was less expensive and it’s in much nicer shape, too!

Great find .

Stay safe.