[MP40Fan]

I read in another post that the M&P 9 manual states that you are NOT supposed to shoot +P+ ammo?!?!?! What the hell was S&W thinking?? Isn't this the king of 9mm loads? Isn't this the load that I read on Law Enforcement forums is the greatest of 9mm? Please tell me the poster(s) were misinformed?



Damn, so much for the M&P 9c, I will have to wait for the .40 to come out and match its bigger brother.

 

[matt7184]

I don't even care for +P let alone +P+ ammo in 9mm. I carry RA9T 147gr regular pressure personally. I prefer heavier loads and am not worried about modern 9mm expanding compared to other calibers.



I suspect that it is also for safety. I do not believe there is a SAAMI spec 9mm +P+.



Here is a decent chart to give you an idea of the pressures for various loads:

http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm

 

[raz-0]

Ok, SAAMI provides specifications for a round. For some rounds that have the headroom in their deisng, they will spec a +P pressure rating that is hot. +P+ only means that the ammo manufacturer decided to NOT adhere to any SAAMI pressure specification for the round. It could be anything from 2% over +P pressure to insta-kaboom. I don't think any manufacturer professes to support +P+ ammo as they wouldbe comitting themselves to adhere to some QA schedule that CANNOT be defined.



It's their way of saying if you blow it up, and bits of yourself with it, it's your problem.

 

[JB426]

Good post raz-0.



Two other rounds that seem to be excellent in tests are the Federal HST in both 124 gr. and 147 gr. There is also a 124 gr. +P but I haven't seen any tests for it. The two standard pressure rounds would seem to suffice if you didn't want to use +P.

 

[BSTOCK]

I always email S&W if I am not sure if a weapon can tolerate +P ammo. I give them the model # and SN. The standard answer is +P ammo is for occasional use only. Otherwise shooting the BG with it is OK but don't wear it out at the range. I recieved this reply about my CS9, 5906 etc.

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

In all of the S&W Owners manuals I have read, S&W says not to use +P+. I assume this probably applies to most, if not all, or their revolvers and pistols.

 

[SeaSoldier]

A steady diet of +P+ will wear out any 9MM prematurely. I use 115-124 grain standard pressure to train and a 124-127 grain +P for carry.

 

[MrApathy]

no saami standard for maximum pressure in regards to 9mm +p+.

9mm p is 35,000 psi. 9mm +p is 38,500psi.

+p+ since no standard exist the psi could be 38,501psi or it could be 46,000psi.



9mm brass is very strong but when you go beyond standard P the safety margine goes down.



most guns built around 40sw will shoot 9mm +p all day long without any advanced wear.



its possible to handload ammo and maintain standard pressure and get velocity and mimic expensive defense ammo the savings can be considerable.



managed to break a S&W 40ve with full house 40sw loads using standard pressure. slow burning powder with 180gr bullet stout recoil that can leave your hand bruised. bullet flies 1125-1175fps. locking block pin snapped in half but the gun was fine except for a little trouble with the slide lock. pin is a pitb to replace glad I dont have more glocks,sigma's or M&P. steyr is a much superior design in that regard.

 

[Effyouess]

In my owners manual for my S&W 686p it states to never use +p+ ammo in any S&W handgun and that's a .357 L frame revolver. I'm sure +p ammo should be enough to do the job.

 

[DixieThunder 24]

Ok dumb question, but I'm still new and learning many things. Whats +p and +p+ ammo? What makes it different than the other rounds?

 

[ShipWreck]

Higher pressures - more gun powder inside the case.



+p is more powerful but follows a standard. +p+ can be almost whatever someone feels like loading. Too risky.

 

[jtaliani]

+p+ can be almost whatever someone feels like loading. Too risky.

+1! I would never put that stuff in any of my guns!