What does the "P" stand for in "38 Special +P"?

Answer 1

The "P" stands for "pressure". +P means that the round is an overpressure load, and care must be used when firing it in one's weapon, and it should not be used on a regular basis. There are even +P+ loads available that are even more powerful than the +P loadings. If one has not used this type of ammo before, especially if you are shooting an older weapon, it would be wise to consult a gunsmith or gun dealer and have the pistol inspected for safety's sake before going to the range.

Answer 2

38 Special Plus P

Answer 3

The +P designates a cartridge that's loaded to a higher pressure-level than standard SAAMI spec ammunition. For 38 Special, the standard pressure ceiling is held to 17,000 PSI. For .38 Special +P, it's held to 18,500 PSI. That's nearly 9% higher. The higher chamber pressure means more force to drive the bullet to higher velocities.

However, one should only fire .38 Special +P ammunition in revolvers specifically marked as being able to handle +P pressures. These are .38 Special +P revolvers, as well as all .357 Magnum revolvers. One may think "Oh, what's 9% more pressure?" And sure, a bog-standard .38 Special revolver might be able to take the rare cylinder full of +P ammunition, but that ammunition exerts roughly 250 pounds more force against the frame of the revolver, and an additional ton of force against the cylinder walls. Shoot enough +P ammunition through a revolver not strong enough for it, and eventually you'll either stretch the frame enough to really loosen things up, or else you'll blow the cylinder.

Answer 4

38 Special P

Answer 5

It means it can take a more powerful than standard cartridge.
Since it's a 100 year old cartridge, and powders have come a long way, this indicates that it can take a cartridges designated that.

You'd have to check the SAMMI for what pressures are allowed - but basically you can use regular 38 specials or those designated +P in a pistol marked that. You cannot use them in a pistol not so designated.

For later rounds, there are additional designations such as +P+ which indicate even more powerful cartridges.
------------
Forgot - there are ++P also - 9mm's have similar designations (which makes sense - as it's about the same vintage and caliber).

Answer 6

Standard load just states 38 Special.
38 Special P= Plus as in more powder another words (HOT LOAD)
38 Special + P = even more powder then just P ( HOTTER LOAD)
Note not all weapons can handle the P or +P loads before shooting check with weapon manufacture to make sure other wise you can blow up your gun and hand.

Answer 7

The "P" in '+P' means: "Extra pressure."

And +P+ means: "Even more extra pressure." Make sure your .38 Special is rated for it, otherwise use standard .38 loads. Federal makes good non +P ammo for the .38 Special and the .9mm.

H

Answer 8

The +P means that more powerful powder is used and the bullet travels faster than normal loads, plain & simply. More powerful powder, not more powder. There is no such thing as .38 P or any other caliber P, it's +P or it's standard load.

Answer 9

Pressure. Without the +P designation, American commercial ammunition will comply with SAAMI specifications, and some of the older cartridges are rather conservative in their loads, in deference to the older, weaker firearms in which they may be fired. Modern firearms with modern metallurgy are often stronger and can be loaded to higher pressures, as with Elmer Kieth and his classic work on heavy loads in the 44 Spl that led to the development of the 44 Mag. If you want to shoot 38 Spl rounds in your 357, you can use the +P rounds; otherwise, make sure your revolver is rated to handle the higher pressures. I load a 257 Roberts to +P levels, and I use a slightly higher-pressure load for my 7x57, both in strong, modern actions.

Answer 10

Pressure. As in chamber pressure.

A "+P" load is one that is loaded in excess of SAAMI specifications for the basic load for a given caliber. Example: .45 ACP is loaded to somewhere around 35,000 pounds of chamber pressure, and a +P load for the same caliber might push 50,000 pounds of chamber pressure, well above the limits of the standard load.

What the extra pressure does is increase muzzle velocity, and in most cases terminal ballistic efficiency. However, +P loads exact a price for that extra performance in the form of increased wear and tear on the weapon itself, increased muzzle flash(a factor to consider if you're shooting in low light; muzzle flash from a +P load is like a flamethrower at night, I've seen some throw a two-foot fireball out the muzzle, and will blind you long enough to make a serious difference in a firefight.), and increased report(noise).

I don't use them myself, since 230 gr. standard loads in .45 will work just as well, without beating my pistol apart. In other calibers, they are more useful, such as in 9mm, where the extra power makes a big difference in terminal performance.