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Millionhorns wrote:

Silent Professional wrote:Don't recommend +P for polymer framed small handguns or alloy framed handguns. A good quality steel gun handgun, while heavier, should be able to consume a steady diet of +P loads with no damage to the handgun.

So, wait wait wait, Some of y'all above said that +P ammo is not good for small, polymer frame guns. I have a 9mm, springfield XD Subcompact (obviously poly). Would ya'll suggest to not use +P ammo in it? I just bought some and was going to go the range today or tomorrow to shoot it and, potentially, carry it. Should I not? I'm about to go pull out the manuel now

Your XDsc should be just fine with +P ammo. The small poly handguns mentioned are guns like the KelTec P3AT and PF9, or Ruger's LC9 or LCP, etc. Most of these guns will wear out very fast with use of +P ammo.

The greatest danger of using +P ammo is accelerated wear on gun parts.

Blowing up your gun, bursting your barrel, and all the other "bad" things that are commonly associated with the use of +P ammo are urban legends. A heavy diet of +P ammunition will result in shorter service life of your gun. In most cases, a limited use of +P is OK in any gun.

The proof ammunition that the manufacturers test fire the gun with before shipping the gun from the factory are at least double the pressure of standard pressure ammo. +P is about 10-15% higher pressure.

To answer the question of why there is +P ammunition - - - It's not for improved accuracy, it's not for greater lethality, it's for better terminal performance. Handgun ammunition is, in the big picture, rather weak in it's performance especially when compared to rifle and shotgun ammunition. Plus P is an attempt to even the playing field. There is also a benifit to users of semi auto handguns the +P ammo will make up for a less than ideal grip or, dirt when you are fighting for your life.

I carry +P in all my guns that +P ammo is available for but, I practice with standard pressure ammo and only fire a limited amount of +P just to assure myself I can hit with it.

+P is a SAMMI standard, +P+ is not. The use of +P+ ammunition is risky in any alloy framed gun or any light polymer framed gun.