Colt Police Special

450mar · May 29, 2013, 02:48 AM

Hi,

My dad passed and left me his service revolver. He purchased it in 1948. My question is can I shoot +p ammo in this revolver?

PetahW · May 29, 2013, 09:43 AM

.

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad, 450mar (and welcome to TFL) - Please accept our condolences........

As far as +P ammo, I believe you can use it safely in that gun, but there's plenty of other effective SD/HD ammo out there today, that's been developed since +P was introduced to raise the effectiveness of standard ammo.

Google "CorBon", Buffalo Bore", "Double Tap", & other "high performance .38 Special ammo makers" (Like Hornady, etc).

.

SaxonPig · May 29, 2013, 07:26 PM

We have gone around and around on this. Some believe +P is a hot load not advisable in an older gun. I am certain through my research that +P is not a high pressure load and is fine in any quality made gun produced after around 1930 (in deference to imprecise heat treating of steel back then). You decide what you want to do.

My condolences for your loss. It's never an easy thing to lose a parent.

Dfariswheel · May 29, 2013, 07:28 PM

There's no such Colt model as a "Police Special".

Check the barrel for the actual name.
It may be "Police Positive Special".
If so, that was built on Colt's "D" frame which is the same small frame as used on the Detective Special.

While you "can" shoot a limited amount of +P ammo, this is an older Colt made in the days before the +P was invented, so it was never intended for +P.
If you decide to shoot +P it should be very limited, and best if you only fire a few cylinders full to get familiar with it, then shoot standard .38 ammo for practice, and only load the +P for defense use.

jhvaughan2 · May 29, 2013, 09:29 PM

My unscientific advice:
Police Positive - don't do it
Regulation Police - OK (but why bother?)

Jim Watson · May 29, 2013, 09:33 PM

?
Regulation Police is a Smith & Wesson in .38 S&W, no +P except maybe the new Buffalo Bore niche load.

Scorch · May 30, 2013, 05:33 AM

Colt made the Police Positive. Colt made the Official Police. I have never heard of a Police Special. Either way, do not shoot +p ammo in old Colt revolvers, they are not made for the battering it will give them and will quickly shoot loose. If you just gotta do it, get a Ruger and do whatever you want to it.

450mar · May 30, 2013, 05:38 AM

Hello Dfariswheel,

The barrel reads "Official Police .38 Special" Thanks to all for your help.

jrothWA · May 30, 2013, 04:13 PM

using +p ammo. (If it was my revolver)

Best ammo will still be the 140 - 158 gr bullets, preferably the L swc type.

Post pic, we all like to DROOL!

Dfariswheel · May 30, 2013, 06:36 PM

The Official Police was built on Colt's medium frame.
The same frame was used on the original Trooper, Officer's Models, 357 Model, and Python, although the Magnum models got special heat treating and were much stronger guns.

A 1948 Official Police would be safe to use with +P but hotter ammo will accelerate wear.
Why wear a nice old gun when you can buy plenty of newer guns quite suitable for +P ammo.

450mar · May 31, 2013, 02:27 AM

Thanks Dfariswheel ....... I have two boxes of +p ammo. I think I will give them to a buddy. I agree not to add extra wear to a good old gun. Thanks for your help.

450mar · May 31, 2013, 11:00 AM

Here it is:

Webleymkv · May 31, 2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

I had it gold plated

If you wanted to give even more of that vintage look, Tyler makes their T-Grip adapter in a bronze finish which should blend well with the refinish you've done on your dad's revolver.

http://www.t-grips.com

450mar · May 31, 2013, 12:40 PM

Very nice T-Grips. Thanks Webleymkv.

DPris · May 31, 2013, 11:03 PM

You didn't seriously gold plate it?
Joke, right?
Denis

450mar · June 1, 2013, 04:27 AM

Titanium Nitride.

DPris · June 1, 2013, 11:06 AM

Sad, but it's your gun....
Denis

450mar · June 4, 2013, 11:07 AM

That is true.

Grant D · June 4, 2013, 02:32 PM

Cool...Would go well with Saddam Hussein's gold AK 47'S !!

450mar · June 6, 2013, 04:09 AM

NO .......... look what it got him.

salvadore · June 6, 2013, 07:07 AM

I have shot some skeeter type loads in my OP/ Marshal, I don't know about revolver wear, but shooter wear with factory grips is fierce.

OUCH!

jrothWA · June 6, 2013, 09:07 AM

Nice touch, did the internals get the same? How does the DA feel?

May 29, 2013, 02:48 AM	#1
450mar Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Posts: 18	Colt Police Special Hi, My dad passed and left me his service revolver. He purchased it in 1948. My question is can I shoot +p ammo in this revolver?

May 29, 2013, 09:43 AM	#2
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad, 450mar (and welcome to TFL) - Please accept our condolences........ As far as +P ammo, I believe you can use it safely in that gun, but there's plenty of other effective SD/HD ammo out there today, that's been developed since +P was introduced to raise the effectiveness of standard ammo. Google "CorBon", Buffalo Bore", "Double Tap", & other "high performance .38 Special ammo makers" (Like Hornady, etc). . Last edited by PetahW; May 29, 2013 at 08:22 PM.

May 29, 2013, 09:29 PM	#5
jhvaughan2 Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 87	Which Police? My unscientific advice: Police Positive - don't do it Regulation Police - OK (but why bother?)

May 30, 2013, 05:33 AM	#7
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Colt made the Police Positive. Colt made the Official Police. I have never heard of a Police Special. Either way, do not shoot +p ammo in old Colt revolvers, they are not made for the battering it will give them and will quickly shoot loose. If you just gotta do it, get a Ruger and do whatever you want to it. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

May 30, 2013, 04:13 PM	#9
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	Bought in 1948, wouldn't even try... using +p ammo. (If it was my revolver) Best ammo will still be the 140 - 158 gr bullets, preferably the L swc type. Post pic, we all like to DROOL!

May 29, 2013, 07:26 PM	#3
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	We have gone around and around on this. Some believe +P is a hot load not advisable in an older gun. I am certain through my research that +P is not a high pressure load and is fine in any quality made gun produced after around 1930 (in deference to imprecise heat treating of steel back then). You decide what you want to do. My condolences for your loss. It's never an easy thing to lose a parent.

May 29, 2013, 07:28 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	There's no such Colt model as a "Police Special". Check the barrel for the actual name. It may be "Police Positive Special". If so, that was built on Colt's "D" frame which is the same small frame as used on the Detective Special. While you "can" shoot a limited amount of +P ammo, this is an older Colt made in the days before the +P was invented, so it was never intended for +P. If you decide to shoot +P it should be very limited, and best if you only fire a few cylinders full to get familiar with it, then shoot standard .38 ammo for practice, and only load the +P for defense use.

May 29, 2013, 09:33 PM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	? Regulation Police is a Smith & Wesson in .38 S&W, no +P except maybe the new Buffalo Bore niche load.

May 30, 2013, 05:38 AM	#8
450mar Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Posts: 18	Hello Dfariswheel, The barrel reads "Official Police .38 Special" Thanks to all for your help.

May 30, 2013, 06:36 PM	#10
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	The Official Police was built on Colt's medium frame. The same frame was used on the original Trooper, Officer's Models, 357 Model, and Python, although the Magnum models got special heat treating and were much stronger guns. A 1948 Official Police would be safe to use with +P but hotter ammo will accelerate wear. Why wear a nice old gun when you can buy plenty of newer guns quite suitable for +P ammo.

May 31, 2013, 02:27 AM	#11
450mar Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Posts: 18	Thanks Dfariswheel ....... I have two boxes of +p ammo. I think I will give them to a buddy. I agree not to add extra wear to a good old gun. Thanks for your help.

May 31, 2013, 12:40 PM	#14
450mar Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Posts: 18	T-Grips Very nice T-Grips. Thanks Webleymkv.

May 31, 2013, 11:03 PM	#15
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	You didn't seriously gold plate it? Joke, right? Denis

June 1, 2013, 04:27 AM	#16
450mar Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Posts: 18	Titanium Nitride.

June 1, 2013, 11:06 AM	#17
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Sad, but it's your gun.... Denis

June 4, 2013, 11:07 AM	#18
450mar Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Posts: 18	That is true.

June 4, 2013, 02:32 PM	#19
Grant D Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2011 Location: Brazos County, Texas Posts: 1,038	Cool...Would go well with Saddam Hussein's gold AK 47'S !!

June 6, 2013, 04:09 AM	#20
450mar Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Posts: 18	NO .......... look what it got him.

June 6, 2013, 07:07 AM	#21
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I have shot some skeeter type loads in my OP/ Marshal, I don't know about revolver wear, but shooter wear with factory grips is fierce. OUCH! Last edited by salvadore; June 6, 2013 at 07:18 AM. Reason: because

June 6, 2013, 09:07 AM	#22
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	PUUURDY! Nice touch, did the internals get the same? How does the DA feel?