[LarryNH]

Hey Folks,



I have had my MP .45 for a couple of weeks and really love the feel and function of this gun. Quickly becoming my favorite. 600+ rounds through it already and no issues besides needing more time to shoot it.



Some of my semi auto guns purchased in the last few years have stated that +p ammo should not be used with some saying it will void warranty. I am one that just loves the feel of a potent round going off which is why I have so many magnum revolvers and really enjoy my 10mm's with DoubleTap ammo. I also would like the hardest hitting "safe" round in my gun if I needed it for self defense.



I have used Magtech +P 185 grain rounds along with standard .45 loads in all of my guns with no ill effects thus far and many rounds down range. I don't go after the +P+ rounds and won't be using them. The manual for the M&P does not say "don't" use +P so I am assuming it would be fine as with my other handguns.



Anyone seeing abnormal wear or parts breakage from +P ammo in their M&P.45's?



Have a great day



"Live Free or Die"

 

[josh]

I use Federal Tactical HST 230gr. +P's in mine with no issues what-so-ever.

 

[MTech]

Supposedly it says don't use +p+... everybody has said +p is fine several times.



So with that inmind listen to the Doc!

The following loads all demonstrate outstanding terminal performance and can be considered acceptable for duty/self-defense use:



9 mm:

Barnes XPB 105 & 115 gr JHP (copper bullet)

Federal Tactical 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)

Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P JHP

Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)

Winchester Partition Gold 124 gr JHP (RA91P)

Winchester Ranger-T 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)

Federal Tactical 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)

Federal HST 147 gr JHP (P9HST2)

Remington Golden Saber 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)

Speer Gold Dot 147 gr JHP

Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr JHP (RA9T)



.40 S&W:

Barnes XPB 140 & 155 gr JHP (copper bullet)

Speer Gold Dot 155 gr JHP

Federal Tactical 165 gr JHP (LE40T3)

Winchester Ranger-T 165 gr JHP (RA40TA)

Winchester Partition Gold 165 gr JHP (RA401P)

Federal HST 180 gr JHP (P40HST1)

Federal Tactical 180 gr JHP (LE40T1)

Remington Golden Saber 180 gr JHP (GS40SWB)

Speer Gold Dot 180 gr JHP

Winchester Ranger-T 180 gr JHP (RA40T)



.45 ACP:

Barnes XPB 185 gr JHP (copper bullet)

Federal HST 230 gr +P JHP (P45HST1)

Federal Tactical 230 gr JHP (LE45T1)

Speer Gold Dot 230 gr JHP

Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr JHP (RA45T)

Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr +P JHP (RA45TP)



Notes:

-- Obviously, clone loads using the same bullet at the same velocity work equally well (ie. Black Hills ammo using Gold Dot bullets, Corbon loads using Barnes XPB bullets, etc…)



-- Bullet designs like the Silver Tip, Hydra-Shok, and Black Talon were state of the art 10 or 15 years ago. Modern ammunition which has been designed for robust expansion against clothing and intermediate barriers is significantly superior to the older designs. The bullets in the Federal Classic and Hydrashok line are outperformed by other ATK products such as the Federal Tactical and HST, as well as the Speer Gold Dot; likewise Winchester Ranger Talons are far superior to the old Black Talons or civilian SXT's.

 

[carlson1]

Smith and Wesson says if +P+ is used in ANY of their guns it voids the warranty. It is on their web site and in their manual. Something I do not understand :roll:

 

[matt7184]

Smith and Wesson says if +P+ is used in ANY of their guns it voids the warranty. It is on their web site and in their manual. Something I do not understand :roll:

Because when you run above SAAMI specs the gun can blow up... :roll:



http://mp-pistol.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=6712

 

[LarryNH]

Thanks for all the info. Folks.



I don't plan on going higher than +p factory rounds which sounds safe.



For any who don't realize what a load that is way over pressure (like maybe some of the +P+ rounds) can do to a firearm. I was shooting with a guy who just thought he knew way too much. He ended up double charging a .38 special round with bullseye, I think that is what he did, and when he fired it in his Chiefs Special he blew the cylinder completely in half and the top strap of the frame blew right off. No one was hurt but the top strap of the gun was never found. He was very lucky and he never shot again, which I think is a very good thing for him and others who might be near him.



Have a good day all.



"Live Free or Die"

 

[Steelshooter]

My first thought is you don't really need +P. Use a 200 grain .45 instead with less risk to your pistol. Having said that if you want to use +P I would use it for CCW and occasionally to test out but certainly not all the time.

 

[MTech]

Smith and Wesson says if +P+ is used in ANY of their guns it voids the warranty. It is on their web site and in their manual. Something I do not understand :roll:

There are SAAMI specs for +P loads, but there are no established specifications for +P+. Since there are no definitive guidelines per SAAMI, most if not all manufactures won't warrant their products for +P+.

 

[JBP55]

Try any from the list posted by MTech.

My preference, HST or Ranger T.

 

[bam-bam]

Hi Larry, I'm just up the road from you in Gonic. I'm thinking of joining Major Waldron's. Where do you shoot? (Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread.)

 

[LarryNH]

My Gun Club

Hey Bam-Bam



I shoot at Chester Rod and Gun on 102 in Chester. Real nice club with very nice people. This club has everything I would want in a shooting club from sporting clays, to a 150 yard max rifle range, to indoor and outdoor pistol ranges. Pin shoots a few times during the summer which is what I am practicing for lately. I have never done pin shoots but I think it will be a blast.



The club had S&W down for the second year last month to demo their line. Smith and Wesson brought many different guns from .22 to their .500 magnum and we could shoot any guns they had there. Like a kid in a candy store, I shot many of them.



The most exciting handgun they make is their .460 magnum with a 5" barrel. IMO What a cannon!



I also shot the M&P in 9mm, .40s&w, and the .45. After shooting all three I ended up buying the M&P45 with thumb safety. It is quickly becomming my favorite handgun. Feel is excellent and mine has run every type of ammo flawlessly. Mine is an r series serial number in the 5xxx range so I am thinking that Smith may have addressed the complaints I have read about. It shoots to POA and no issues at all with function.



I live directly accross from a huge sand pit but unfortunately they have many "No Trespassing" signs so I drive the 15 miles to the club to shoot.



Have a great day.



"Live Free or Die"

 

[bam-bam]

Wow, I didn't realize Chester was that close. Sounds like a nice club, but 150 yds is a little short for me. Last I knew Waldron's was 300.



You will love pin shooting, I highly recommend it. Years ago I used some heavy 9mm handloads in my Beretta 92 which were just barely enough to knock the pins off the 4 ft table. 45 ACP is perfect for pins. I bet the M&P45 would make an excellent pin gun: accuracy, low recoil, and plenty of "umph". Can non-members shoot pins at your club?



I've only been able to put 150 rds through my M&P45, but I've had no issues. I have some Rem Golden Saber +P loads I've been wanting to test, which is what drew me to this post. I bought the "dangerous" M&P45--no manual safety, no mag safety. I'm comfortable with that after owning Glocks.



Since discovering the M&P's, I can never go back to the "plastic brick" feeling of a Glock!

 

[LarryNH]

Pin Shoots

Hey Bam



I think they allow non-members. I will check it out and send a post when they announce the next one for anyone who is in range of the club and interested in putting their M&P's to a test of skill and speed.



I am practicing with my M&P 45 and a sweet Witness Elite Match in 10mm. I am going to try both when I do go. I hear that power is very necessary to get the pins off the table in 1 hit and the M&P with +P ammo has such a nice light recoil feel with plenty of "smack" it could be just what the doctor ordered for pins.



One reason I like the M&P with the thumb safety is that I can use it or take it out. Thus far it is in. We'll see what I do in the long term.