What makes +P a +P?

Wikipedia FTW

Manny

Make sure your firearm can handle +P ammo before you shoot it. Some can handle a steady diet, some once and awhile,some never. You risk a Kaboom and damaging your gun or youself if you don't know what your gun can handle.

It's a combination of bullet weight and amount of powder that will equal the greater amount of pressure.

Amount of powder or type of powder (faster burn) will generate increased pressure loads. Reloading manuals have all sorts of tables for different brands of powder and max amount of said powder.

Older guns (mostly) were not designed for +P loads. Stick with standard pressure loads for them. Some way old guns will not take standard pressure and need reduced pressure loads.

You can also get +P+ loads that are beyond the standard high pressure loads.

Uechi said:

Make sure your firearm can handle +P ammo before you shoot it. Some can handle a steady diet, some once and awhile,some never. You risk a Kaboom and damaging your gun or youself if you don't know what your gun can handle.

Click to expand...

My .38 is made for the +P rounds, my 9 is not. I have fired several +P rounds through my .38, what a kick!
I appreciate the advice. :thumsup
I thank you all for the answers!! :drinks

I have some 9mm +P+ that was given to me, believe it's Winchester and don't even know the weight. Now I am afraid to try it. I have a Sigma 9VE and HiPoint 995 carbine. Might try it thru the carbine. I think it would void the warranty on the Sigma.

Tennessee said:

I have some 9mm +P+ that was given to me, believe it's Winchester and don't even know the weight. Now I am afraid to try it. I have a Sigma 9VE and HiPoint 995 carbine. Might try it thru the carbine. I think it would void the warranty on the Sigma.

Click to expand...

My thoughts are if the Owner's Manual says no, then I don't. I figure they made the weapon so they would know. Hasn't failed me yet.

Back in the late 70's, we had a field investigator who threw +P 38's through his non +P rated model 60 at every range session.

The gun held up just fine. Don't recommend a steady diet of them for practice but at least the Smith revo's could hold it together for limited use even when they weren't rated for +P way back then.

Now you can buy Buffalo Bore ammunition that's +p in velocity and punch with higher foot pounds of energy like +P without worrying about pressures in non +P rated firearms.

Brownie

Sgt.Ducky said:

I can't seem to find any info on what the manufactures do to make a round a +P round. Is it the amount of powder or the kind of powder? If someone knows, I am curious.
Thanks

Click to expand...

It is a 10% increase in pressure over the standard SAAMI load.

I have a Taurus 85 .38 special that I will ocassionally shoot 135 grain +Ps in. It "technically" isn't rated for +Ps, but I called Taurus and one of their tech guys said that it is okay to shoot them every once in awhile. I keep it loaded with +P for SD purposes, and I shoot a couple rounds every range trip, just to be familar with the increase recoil. And man does it kick more than normal load FMJ .38s.

Tennessee said:

I have some 9mm +P+ that was given to me, believe it's Winchester and don't even know the weight. Now I am afraid to try it. I have a Sigma 9VE and HiPoint 995 carbine. Might try it thru the carbine. I think it would void the warranty on the Sigma.

Click to expand...

I don't know about the Hi Point, but your Sigma should be able to handle +P+ 9mm just fine.

deadeye

You may be right, but I'm still wary. I showed it to a local gun dealer. He said that when he ordered it for the local cops, the manufacturer made them sign a waiver in case of damage to the weapons. I have had some tell me it should be ok for a very limited use, no steady diet. Should be a good self-defense round. Maybe I'll save it for the BGs.

deadeyedick said:

I don't know about the Hi Point, but your Sigma should be able to handle +P+ 9mm just fine.

Click to expand...

Directly from the Smith and Wesson M&P manual;

"Plus-P-Plus (+p+) must not be used in Smith and Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated."

+P ammunition is ok by them though. It just says not to use +p in k-frame revolvers made prior to 1958.


Manny

If you want to fire +P+ in a 9mm, buy yourself a 357Sig. :rolf

Brownie

brownie said:

If you want to fire +P+ in a 9mm, buy yourself a 357Sig. :rolf

Brownie

Click to expand...

:rolf

No kidding!

Remember the 115gr 9BPLE load????? I think Federal still makes that little beast.

Personally, I don't see any reason for +p+ in a modern 9mm load. The older hollowpoint designs/materials may have needed the extra juice for reliable expansion, but I don't know that it's necessary any more.

to +P or not

I figured this is best place to ask rather than start a new thread:

Should I use +p hollow point ammo or non +p?
I have a SW M&P 9mm compact for self defense.

I have fired both, and honestly didn't feel a very noticeable difference.

I wonder if this will be a simple answer or a deep and complex thread of possibilities opcorn

Thanks,

For self defense, I'd use +P. Might as well have all the firepower you can get from the caliber.