+P Ammo

[DocZombie]

I have never bought/shot any +P. I have read that it shouldn't be used in older hand guns but are there any restrictions? How old is too old? Do most modern hand guns handle it OK?

[Guest bkelm18]

Most modern handguns are +p rated. Check the manual on the gun or check the gun itself. It'll say +P somewhere if it is.

[k9wh91984]

The firearm will state if it can handle +p loads. I use +p only for defensive purposes. It will not harm steel frame guns but alloy guns should only be shot with +p occasionally when testing or carrying to prevent frame cracks which can happen if a steady diet of +p is given. +p will produce more recoil but increases velocity in 9 and .45. .40 and .357 sig is already +p by default.

[Oh Shoot]

The firearm will state if it can handle +p loads....

Actually, very few firearms show +p on them for caliber designation. Unless you mean you have some that speak.

I have maybe 15 that are +p rated for .38 or 9mm and exactly none show +p on the firearm, and most don't in the manual either.

- OS

[Murgatroy]

I feed my Glock +P+.

It likes it.

[gregintenn]

Depends on the gun. Whadda ya got?

[glockster157]

Typically your 6 shot steel guns can handle +P ammo, the 5 shot guns are suspect and the older allow guns it is a no no.

[1gewehr]

A little history may help. The '+P' ammo started to appear in the 1980's. Initially, it was in .38Spl trying to get up closer to .357 performance. Teh 9mm '+P' loads cam around a few years later, followed quickly by the other calibers. My advice would be that if it was made before 1990, I would be very cautious about using +P ammo in it.

[DaveTN]

Depends on the gun. Whadda ya got?

^ This

[Jonnin]

There are also gimmicky ammo labels, for example a couple of brands try to push +p 380 ammo which there is no official word on. Take buffalo bore for example, they push a +p makarov ammo. Well, it turns out their ammo is exactly the same as what was sold in the USA about 10 or 15 years ago as defensive makarov ammo: 90 or 95 grains at 1200 fps. Most other vendors have toned down theirs to 1000 fps so relatively, the buffalo bore is higher pressure, but it is still inside the old limits and not excessive pressure ammo. Its just a gimmick to sell the stuff, and while it is good stuff, I am not sure I approve of this marketing tactic.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I have noticed this as well, a slowing down of ammo so to speak over the years. Although i can't confirm I have been told old reloading manuals had much higher charges than todays manuals. This is all probably related to liability.

Dolomite

[ttocswob]

Read "The +P Phenomenon" by one SaxonPig; more than you want to know about .38 Special +P.

(And I can't verify any of it but I found it on the internet so it must be true.)