Talk to me about +P ammo

[AddyLO]

I've been looking for info on whether my handguns are rated for +P ammo but can't find a thing. I've got several boxes of Speer and Corbon but don't know whether I should use them.

For example, I read a forum comment that Springfield does NOT recommend putting +P through their XD9SC. I went to both the Springfield site and several of the ammo makers and don't see anything to substantiate this one way or the other.

How is one to know what is recommended and what is not? I would try the "shoot it and see" approach but I'd rather not risk damaging a perfectly good weapon on "testing". Surely someone has this type of information somewhere!

All advice welcome! TIA



p.s. - Sorry if this has already been discussed (over and over). It's kinda tough to search on the term "+P".

[chamberc]

+P exceeds SAAMI pressure standards.... it should really only be used in guns rated for +P. Note that MOST Corbon ammo is NOT +P...

[Excaliber]

I've been looking for info on whether my handguns are rated for +P ammo but can't find a thing. I've got several boxes of Speer and Corbon but don't know whether I should use them.

For example, I read a forum comment that Springfield does NOT recommend putting +P through their XD9SC. I went to both the Springfield site and several of the ammo makers and don't see anything to substantiate this one way or the other.

How is one to know what is recommended and what is not? I would try the "shoot it and see" approach but I'd rather not risk damaging a perfectly good weapon on "testing". Surely someone has this type of information somewhere!

All advice welcome! TIA



p.s. - Sorry if this has already been discussed (over and over). It's kinda tough to search on the term "+P".

The quick and sure answer is to contact them.

[AddyLO]

Very true, and I will do that. Thanks! But I'm surprised this type of info isn't more readily available from either the gun or ammo manufacturer.

Hmmm... I may be stuck with four boxes of ammo I'll never use.

[USA1]

Springfield will probably tell you don't use it and that it may void your warranty.

Personally, I wouldn't use it in a polymer gun unless states in the manual or on the gun that it is rated for +P ammo.

[G26ster]

Very true, and I will do that. Thanks! But I'm surprised this type of info isn't more readily available from either the gun or ammo manufacturer.

Hmmm... I may be stuck with four boxes of ammo I'll never use.

The recommendation against +P should be clearly stated in the owner's manual for each gun. If you don't have one, they are often available on-line for download. Just Google
_________owners manual, and see.

[Pawpaw]

It might be helpful to let us know what make & model handguns you're talking about. Someone on here might have experience with +P loads in the same weapons.

For instance, I have run a fair amount of CorBon 9mm +P through my Ruger P89 and my Sig P239 without any damage or indications of increased wear.

I'm now using Speer Gold Dot 9mm +P+ ammunition in my Hi-Point carbine.

This is only my opinion and it's worth exactly what you paid for it.

[Salty1]

I run enough +P through my guns to make sure they will reliably feed it. I do not want to spend $1.25 plus per round to poke holes in paper. If 50 rounds of +P ammo is going to damage my gun then I picked the wrong gun to own..... If a self defense situation arises as long as it goes bang everytime I do not care what damaged is caused to it....

[.30calSolution]

Even though some guns don't clearly state that they are +P rated it should be fine to run a couple mags through them. I've run plenty of +P rated ammo through guns that didn't state they were +P rated in the manuals. Most of the time when I called the manufacturer the answer I received was dependent upon the person I was speaking to. Some would so, "no not at all" and others would say "a couple hundred rounds in it's lifetime wouldn't hurt it but don't make a habit of shooting +P ammo".

Your mileage may vary, but from my experience and from the experience of many others, it's not enough to blow your handgun to bits on the first try.

[HD76]

I had the same question. Found an answer for it awhile back on the xdtalk forum.

This is from Tom at S.A from March 2006:

Reply from Tom Macke from Springfield re. Winchester Ranger 9mm 127+p+ (RA9TA):

Quote:
Due to the fact that our entire line of
XD pistols features fully ramped and supported barrels,
using +P and +P+ ammo will not damage your gun.
However, we do recommend that you make sure the ammo is
American made and is in new condition, not re-loads.
If you are planning to use +P or +P+ ammo, we recommend
that you fire it extensively at the range before relying
on it for concealed carry or self defense. Although +P or
+P+ ammo will not damage your XD, a steady diet of this
higher power ammo may decrease the service life of the
barrel & firearm.

Thanks, Tom

Link to original thread. http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/ammo-can/1 ... xd-sc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rifleman55]

Very true, and I will do that. Thanks! But I'm surprised this type of info isn't more readily available from either the gun or ammo manufacturer.

Hmmm... I may be stuck with four boxes of ammo I'll never use.

Have you read the owners manual? The manual for my lcp says not to use +p ammo and so does the manual for my Springer micro compact.

[AddyLO]

Note that MOST Corbon ammo is NOT +P...

According to their website, all three of their 9mm self defense loads are Plus P.

[baldeagle]

Sig lists approved ammo right on their website. Springfield has this note in their manual (pdf) for the 1911-A1 Ultra Compact:

Note: 1911-A1 Ultra-Compact Pistols are designed to use standard pressure ball ammo and self defense loads. +P ammunition is not recommended in pistols shorter than 5 inches. Use only clean, dry, original, high-quality, commercially manufactured ammunition.

The XD manual (pdf) does not mention +P ammunition, but it does have this note:

Use only fresh factory ammunition such as Winchester®, Remington®, or Federal®. DO NOT use handloads, reloads, or remanufactured ammunition in your Springfield firearm. Only shoot cartridges of the caliber engraved on the barrel. DO NOT use shot cartridges or any ammunition which is loaded with a frangible projectile or any ultralight weight projectile at elevated velocities, or any wooden or plastic projectile.

You could infer that to mean that it's OK to use +P, since they don't expressly forbid it as they do for the 1911-A1, but you could also infer that to mean that you should not use +P because they haven't expressly approved it. I would contact Springfield and ask them for the official policy.

[.30calSolution]

I think that it is probably safe to assume that most firearm manufacturers like to keep their butts covered legally when it comes to +P or +P+ ammo. Think about it this way, if they never really say where they stand on shooting ammo that is 22%+ higher pressures than the ANSI/SAAMI specifications then they are in the clear should anyone have a KB. But, if they go out and tell people yeah it's fine to shoot +P/+P+ ammo and something happens, they are in deep doo doo.

So, I'm thinking most of them don't like to advertise the use of higher pressure ammunition just in case it comes back to bite them. Atleast, it makes sense to me.

[Pinkycatcher]

I'm about to shoot some +p+ through my G19. I figure the manufacturer of the ammo (federal) would not risk their reputation and put out on the general market ammo that in the short term harms some of the most popular high quality guns. I don't plan on shooting it every day, just a magazine to make sure it cycles, and then for my carry ammo.