Plus P or not Plus P - Rossi M88 Stainless

[marb4]

I recently picked up an early 90's Rossi M88 38 special all stainless snub nose. It was imported by "Interarms". The action is very smooth and crisp and it looks very strongly built. It shoots great. Though it is not specifically rated for +P ammunition its construction certainly looks robust enough to handle it. My question is: would you be uncomfortable firing a limited amount of +P through it (like maybe a couple of cylinders full) and carrying +P for self defense or stick strictly with standard pressure?

 

[Bezoar]

there isnt a whole lot of chamber pressure when you get to it.
saami literature claims that gun companies make their guns to operate at 10-20% overage of standard chamber pressure as a standard thing. thus IN THEORY it should survive 110-120% in pressure.
Thats WELL inside the proof pressure for 38 spcl.

BUT its like the old saying,

if you gets yourself a mint condition top break smith and wesson perfected in 38 special, do you reallllly wanna run that box of elmer keith 38+p in it?

 

[Drail]

There is absolutely nothing to be gained by using +P ammo in that gun and it will accelerate wear. Use standard loads. Worry about placing the round where it needs to go. You have plenty of "power".

 

[Cycletroll]

I have one of the same Rossi's I bought brand new in about 1991. I've put several hundred +P's through it. It's tight as the day I bought it. It is a fairly substantial snub for .38 and I'd be surprised if you could wear one out in your lifetime.

As to benefit. Most .38 HP will NOT expand at standard velocity. In fact many will not at +P velocity. So for self defense I say shoot the hottest loads you can find (I load mine with BuffaloBore +P 158gr LSWCHP).
I think It's silly to worry about "wearing out" a solidly built snub that is worth what..maybe $200.

My two cents

 

[Haxby]

a limited amount of +P through it (like maybe a couple of cylinders full) and carrying +P for self defense

That's what I'd do. Not that anybody else should. But I would. Specifically, Remington 158 gr lswchp's.

 

[Schwing]

"

My question is: would you be uncomfortable firing a limited amount of +P through it (like maybe a couple of cylinders full) and carrying +P for self defense or stick strictly with standard pressure?"

For plinking etc. I reload my own and keep them light or medium. I carry only +P self defense ammo and I do run a few cylinders through my guns to make sure I know what to expect when I pull the trigger.

As stated, running +P ammo constantly will accelerate wear but a couple of cylinders or magazines is a big nothing.

 

[RealGun]

My Interarms Rossi 88 gets 110 gr +P Hornady Critical Defense. I believe that FTX bullet stands a better chance of expanding than more conventional hollow points.

 

[ku4hx]

Assuming your gun is in good shape and not defective, the +P stuff is not necessarily bad for it in small quantities. Overpressure can wreck a gun; higher "safe" pressure accelerates wear.

 

[PRM]

if you gets yourself a mint condition top break smith and wesson perfected in 38 special, do you reallllly wanna run that box of elmer keith 38+p in it?- Bezoar

Considering the S&W "Top Break" Perfected was never produced in 38 Special, I'd keep it mint. You would have yourself one rare and expensive gun.

 

[bannockburn]

I also had a Rossi Model 88 and I basically kept it to standard velocity ammo, even with my handloads. But I don't think the occasional cylinder full of +P is going to do much in the way of accelerated wear and tear on the gun.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

FACTS:
Some revolver which are 100% capable of shooting .38 Special +P were manufactured before SAAMI created that designation so a +P has no way of being on the barrel. It's like a counterfeit Roman coin marked 300 BC, who would they know that year was Before Christ was born?

Next, "most" commercial .38 ammo marked +P today is no hotter or even lighter than the normal .38 Special ammo that was around in the 70's before the lawyers got involved. So much of what we shoot today is dumbed-down and made acceptable for the super light handgun now being carried. Same holds true with .357 Magnum ammo. Just look at Speer short barrel .357 Magnum ammo, it shoots a 135gr bullet @990 fps. Back in the 70's most 158gr .38 Special ammo was doing that velocity.

What I would do, practice with standard ammo and carry +P ammo but not because the +P ammo is so much better but because the bullets used in that ammo are so much better. Good SD ammo in standard pressure is very hard to find, if at all. Federal Nylcad and Winchester Silvertips are the only ones I can think of right now and try to find those!

 

[Nicky Santoro]

OP,
I have an M68 of about the same vintage. I've fired a good bit of +P through it with no discernible extra wear and it is kept loaded with +P as my spare house gun. When I do shoot it for fun I use standard pressure, more for the lower cost than concern about durability.

 

[marb4]

I put 15 rounds of Gold Dot 135 grain +p through it yesterday and it seemed to have no negative impact on the gun. I still have all my fingers so that's good too I guess. The M88 Rossi seems very sturdy and well built.

 

[RealGun]

Doesn't the lighter weight bullet require less pressure for a given velocity and level of bullet performance (expansion)? Seems to me that ammo manufacturers use lighter bullets to achieve the necessary modest velocities...no more punishment to the shooter than necessary for the application.

 

[Jim Watson]

firing a limited amount of +P through it (like maybe a couple of cylinders full) and carrying +P for self defense

Precisely what I do with my Airweight Smiths. Enough business ammo for familiarization and to check zero, wadcutter or ball for practice.

As said, expanding bullets are hard to come by in standard velocity .38 Spl.

 

[CajunBass]

That's what I do with my Model 12-2 airweight Smith & Wesson. If I wear it out, and I don't think I will, I'll get another one.

BTW. There ain't much difference between standard and P+ anyway except the price IMHO.

 

[krupparms]

I would only use +P loads sparingly. Try and find some Silver Tips or Nyclad if you can. Loading upside down HBWCs loaded lite! This is one load that will expand out of a short barrel. As you have probably figured out some +P will work. But they will ware your gun out faster! Good luck!

 

[Jim NE]

I've got both an 88 and a 68 Interarms Rossi. Both are great guns and not just knockaround low quality alternatives to S&W. They're well built, though simple. S&W quality, BUT the owner's manual distinctly says no +P. (I have original box and manual.) People shoot +P in the OLD J frame Smiths, though, and these Rossis are beefier than J frames. MY view? I'd never shoot +P regularly through them, but wouldn't be bothered to put a few of those rounds through it. (I have in fact...no problems.)

A better possible alternative would be the Hornady Critical defense, as they have a couple of options that are non+P, yet still hollow point. I'd maybe avoid the 90 grain version, as it's called the "Lite" version that is mostly for low recoil. I've heard mixed reviews on that version. The 110 grain version might be a better option; it might have more stopping power. I'm going to try some when I can find it.

http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Special-110-gr-Critical-Defense/

 

[RealGun]

I think the idea with Hornady Critical Defense is a bullet that doesn't require as much velocity to expand. I think the Lite version being a lighter bullet is a way of preserving velocity and bullet performance without a robust powder charge and accompanying recoil. You have to give up something (bullet weight) to achieve that.

 

[JB357MAG]

I have a Rossi 38 snub in stainless made in
the late 70's.

I looked at standard 38 spl load data and a few are at 1000 fps.

The Remington Golden Saber 38 +p is rated at 975 fps.

Thats what I keep in it.

Here's a gel test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRe6BzIqu6U

Jimmy

 

[short barrel]

+P stamped on a .38Special revolver is nothing other than a marketing ploy. Long before ammunition was labeled +P, the industry standard for .38Special was of higher pressure than today's +P ammo. When your gun was made, "standard velocity" ammunition was faster and of higher pressure than today's +P. Fire away with that Rossi with +P. Your grandchildren won't live long enough to wear it out.

 

[MCgunner]

I have one of the same Rossi's I bought brand new in about 1991. I've put several hundred +P's through it. It's tight as the day I bought it. It is a fairly substantial snub for .38 and I'd be surprised if you could wear one out in your lifetime.

+1. I practice with wadcutters and when I carried the gun, it was loaded with +P 158 JHP. I've got a M68 3" (blued) that's tight as a new Smith 36, sold the 88 some time ago. The 68 is much better fitted and finished than that 88 was. Good guns.