What does this mean (caliber)?

Question

I've heard of .38 caliber, but what exactly is .38 P? Where can I find this ammunition and which manufacturers make it?

Also, if I were to go to a hunting/sporting goods store, what would I look for on the packaging to identify this bullet? I'm just wondering since I'm soooooo new to all things guns...

Thanks

Answer 1

i assume you mean .38 special p+. it contains more gun powerful and is more powerful. a lot of gun stores  carry it just call your local gun store and ask an employee there they should be able to help. most companys make it, its pretty common.

Answer 2

caliber - the measurement of the diameter of the bullet/barrel

i.e. 9 mm the projectile is 9 mm in diameter

.22 is 22/100 of an inch in diameter.

a +p round has extra gunpowder for a higher muzzle velocity. Make sure you check the owner's manual of your firearm before using +p rounds some guns are not able to shoot them.

Answer 3

I suspect you're talking about 38 Special cartridges. One of the things you'll want to learn quickly is that the bullet is only the chunk of metal in the front end of the cartridge. 38 Special is an old cartridge. Older revolvers (and a few new ones) can only withstand the pressures of the standard cartridges, and the box will be labelled "38 Special." It'll also have the weight of the bullet listed, as there is a variety, and the type of bullet. You'll want to familiarize yourself with the different shapes and construction that you can choose in a bullet.

In the US, almost all cartridges are regulated by a group called SAAMI, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' institute. They make sure your cartridge is exactly correct dimensionally. They also regulate the pressures of the cartridges. Standard 38 Special cartridges produce a maximum average pressure of 17,000 PSI when they go "bang." Newer, stronger revolvers can withstand higher pressures, are loaded with a little more propellant, and the cartridges labelled +P generate pressures in the range of 18,000 PSI, too much for old revolvers, but safe in some modern ones. You'll have to check your owner's manual to see if they're safe in your particular handgun.

Answer 4

38 +P is a short hand way of saying "38 special at slightly higher than standard established safe shooting pressures"

remember, 'caliber' is just how wide the bullet is, and that really isn't enough information to fully describe what is going on, but people often use short-hand and state just the caliber when they are referring to the most common cartridge of that type.

So anyways, long long long ago, back before cartridges were even invented, back in the 1850s, people were using 36 caliber cap and ball revolvers.  Later, rather than hand-pouring in gunpowder, jamming a lead ball on top and sticking a percussion cap on the end, technology improved. I cut out a lot of irrelevant details I was about to include about how 36 morphed into 38 just think of them as the same) Anyways, as far back as the 1880s, people were using 38 longs and 38 shorts in revolvers.  By the time 1901 rolled around, people wanted a bit more power, so they took the 38 long and gave it a slightly longer case.  They could have called it the 38 extra long I suppose, but they chose to call it the 38 special instead, and introduced it in 1902

Well, we have improved the power of our gunpowder a lot in the past 106 years, and we also have improved the strength of our steel.

Still, some one might have their great great gandpappy's old 38 special from 1903, and the ammo companies have to make 38 special ammo that is safe to shoot in 100 year old guns.

But modern guns are a lot stronger, it sucks that we are limited by making sure the few 100 year old guns can safely shoot the same ammo.  That's where +P comes in.  It is higher pressure ammo using fancier new gunpowders to make the bullet fly faster and hit harder.  It wouldn't be good in a real old gun, but it works just fine in any revolver made since the 1970s or so.  Many manufacturers make it.  Simply look through their listings of 38 special ammo and look for ones that are denoted as +P

Answer 5

The .38 Special is a medium-bore defensive revolver.  The ammo is .38 Special and +P and +P+ .38 Special ammo is designated as 'extra-pressure' loads.  You ask your ammo vendor for them.  However, your revolver may not be rated for +P or +P+ ammo.  If it is a lightweight or older revolver it is probably not rated for +P ammo.  Unless you know for fact that your revolver is rated for this ammo, or if it is a .357 Magnum that you are shooting .38 Special ammo out of DON'T use +P ammo.  There is quality none +P ammo on the market that will serve you well.  Consider the Federal 110 grain Personal Defense Hydra Shok loads instead. Winchester Silvertips are also good.  Ask your ammo dealer.

Good luck.

H

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DUE-DATE AND #4!  Best Wishes!

H

Answer 6

If your pistol is rated for +P rounds, most of the manufacturers produce .38 Special +P and they can be commonly found at the larger sporting goods stores such as Sportsmans Warehouse, Cabellas, Gander Mountain, etc....

They will be marked as such with a +P after the caliber.  

Answer 7

+ P means it has extra powder in the casing and the .38 is the diameter of the bullet

Answer 8

the caliber is the diameter of a tube. in guns it refers to the barrel.

Answer 9

The +P in .38 Special +P, means that the round is loaded for a higher chamber pressure than standard .38 Special rounds.  +P ammo is available at most gunshops.  +P+ ammo is loaded to an even higher chamber pressure than +P ammo, and is generally only available to military and law enforcement; however, there are many civilians who manage to get their hands on it (lol).

The higher chamber pressure created means more energy and a higher velocity most of the time and makes the round more powerful. As in the case of the .38 Special, it is like getting a "supercharged" .38, without having to buy more expensive .357 ammo.  because .38's can be fired out of .357 guns, it makes the .357 gun very versatile, as it allows .357 gun owners to shoot .357, .38 Special, .38 Special +P, etc., all out of the same gun.  Not all .38 Special guns are rated for +P ammo though, so you should check to make sure before using it.  Older .38 Special guns, and guns with aluminum frames can cause serious injury if the chamber pressure gets to high.  Most newer .38s are rated for +P though.        

Answer 10

I think its how strong the guns shoot.

Answer 11

+ P means higher amount of powder in the shell alot of people who have 357s use them for target practice instead because of price of magnum shells

Answer 12

Wicked good discussion of your question is found here:  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliber

you should also look up ammunition and firearms for further information.

The + in a plus P means higher chamber pressure - which also means higher velocity of the round exiting - USUALLY this means also that the bullet will strike the target with more energy...  not always.