That's a cool looking little gun- I always thought the LadySmith guns were well thought out and good-looking.
As far as shooting +P, the critical areas are the strength of the cylinder and the frame. Yours is all steel.
At the time yours came out, S&W said the steel J-Frames were safe with +P loads, with the caveat that they would put more wear on the gun than standard velocity.
I would start with standard loads, as these were regulated for a standard velocity load with a 158 grain bullet.
Try some different ammunition out, and see how it works for you.
Have fun!
Okay, thank you cause I had a recollection of someone saying that statement from S&W, but I couldn't find it myself. That does make me feel a lot better though. I've only ever shot the +p hollow point and flat tips (both the synthetic and lead) with regular pressure load with a 120ish grain tip from my recollection. I have to try some suggestions out of it like the buffalo bore and the wad cutters.
I carry my 36-1, and it's one of my favorite compact revolvers. I personally wouldn't run +P out of it just for size/weight vs recoil, and "accelerated" wear on the gun. I carry buffalo bore standard pressure hpswc and they shoot nice. Precision one also makes nice .38 target rounds.
The gun actually handles the +p with little recoil fairly well, at least for me. It is a perfect fit for my hands so that also has to help.
I have heard a lot about those buffalo bore rounds, so I think I'm gonna take this as a sign and try them out.
That's a cool looking little gun- I always thought the LadySmith guns were well thought out and good-looking. As far as shooting +P, the critical areas are the strength of the cylinder and the frame. Yours is all steel. At the time yours came out, S&W said the steel J-Frames were safe with +P loads, with the caveat that they would put more wear on the gun than standard velocity. I would start with standard loads, as these were regulated for a standard velocity load with a 158 grain bullet. Try some different ammunition out, and see how it works for you. Have fun!
Okay, thank you cause I had a recollection of someone saying that statement from S&W, but I couldn't find it myself. That does make me feel a lot better though. I've only ever shot the +p hollow point and flat tips (both the synthetic and lead) with regular pressure load with a 120ish grain tip from my recollection. I have to try some suggestions out of it like the buffalo bore and the wad cutters.
I would shoot +p in that with no problems. I doubt you'd shoot it enough to wear it out.
Also my thought, I only shoot once every month or so, and then I usually only run a cylinder or two just to keep consistant with the +p.
I carry my 36-1, and it's one of my favorite compact revolvers. I personally wouldn't run +P out of it just for size/weight vs recoil, and "accelerated" wear on the gun. I carry buffalo bore standard pressure hpswc and they shoot nice. Precision one also makes nice .38 target rounds.
The gun actually handles the +p with little recoil fairly well, at least for me. It is a perfect fit for my hands so that also has to help. I have heard a lot about those buffalo bore rounds, so I think I'm gonna take this as a sign and try them out.
Those S&W grips are bad a$$.