BudsGunShop.com - +P Rating

James, taken from Charter Arms FAQ page - "Charter .38's are among the smallest revolvers in this caliber. Yes they can handle +P but we do not recommend it for the following reasons:
+P ammo requires a four-inch minimum barrel to burn the extra powder. Therefore, in a two-inch barrel the extra powder is burned after the bullet leaves the barrel creating more recoil and making it harder to come back to target.
We recommend a standard velocity load and practice with round nose lead rounds which are the least expensive. When you load for protection, use a jacketed or hollow point in the same grain you practice with." Have a great day!

James, as others have stated yes this can handle +p ammunition but isn't really recommended in such a short barrel. Hope this helps.

James yes but, the advantage of the +P is lost due to extra powder being unburnt in this short a barrel. More recoil, muzzle blast and slower target reacquistion defeat the benefits of standard pressure loads in short barrels. Cheers and stay safe!