Is +P in 9MM still viable?

[davidjinks]

The only rounds I've carried in 9MM have been 124 +P, 115 +P+ and 127 +P+.

The majority of that has been 124 +P in Speer GDHP.

I'm getting down to the last of my carry ammo and I'm wondering if just going standard pressure across the board is a good choice.

I may be changing out to Federal HST in either 124 or 147 grain standard pressure. The tests I've seen and the reading/research I've been doing has this round as a solid choice in either standard or +P pressure.

[gaijin]

+P 124 gr. HST is a favored carry load as well as standard pressure 124 gr. GD, in my 9mms.
They are both, certainly "still viable" in my book.

[VALG17]

Why wouldn't it be viable? What do mean by the word "viable"?

[davidjinks]

Synonym: Practical

Given the fact +P suffers slightly more recoil and sometimes less penetration.

Does the +P offer anything more than standard pressure?

Maybe chill a bit with your responses.....


Why wouldn't it be viable? What do mean by the word "viable"?

[WillBrink]

The only rounds I've carried in 9MM have been 124 +P, 115 +P+ and 127 +P+.

The majority of that has been 124 +P in Speer GDHP.

I'm getting down to the last of my carry ammo and I'm wondering if just going standard pressure across the board is a good choice.

I may be changing out to Federal HST in either 124 or 147 grain standard pressure. The tests I've seen and the reading/research I've been doing has this round as a solid choice in either standard or +P pressure.

Been discussed at length in other threads BTW. Maybe a mod et al has a link for you.

[gaijin]

Actually I prefer standard pressure with the 115 and 124 GD.
This in part due to the firearm used (T and C series BHPs) and because penetration has been better in gel than the +P version.
Expansion is better/greater with the +P GDs, however I’ll take better penetration in this case.
The HST +P’s are probably the gold standard in 124’s.

[1168]

I carry standard pressure Ranger T 147, and I do not feel that more P would be better. It does well in FBI protocol testing, and is widely used by LE. My backup choices in case Ranger T is unavailable are also standard pressure 147’s.

I also don’t think there is anything “wrong” with +P 124 and 147 Gold Dots. Some bullet designs appear to need the extra velocity, but not Gold Dots or HST. 115 gr bullets I don’t know much about.

+P is viable, I just have no need for it, and my carry ammo matches my practice ammo in recoil.

[davidjinks]

I've read a whole mess of threads here and on other sites.

It seems like a 50/50.

Edited to add: I'm not seeing a huge difference in split times when it comes to +P vs. standard pressure.

I do however notice a difference in felt recoil and how the sights track.


Been discussed at length in other threads BTW. Maybe a mod et al has a link for you.

[BuzzinSATX]

From my amateur research, all I can determine is that when all thinks are equal in a good JHP, the +P may have less penetration. And mostly, the differences are maybe 50-100 FPS. Seems to increase expansion which reduces the penetration.

I do not stock much SD ammo personally, and only have a few hundred rounds of quality JHP, mostly HST, GD, and Critical Duty, some +P, some standard, so I'm not really tied to any brand or bullet at this time. But I am becoming intrigued by the "extreme defender" round offered by Underwood. It is fast and light for caliber, and from the tests I have seen, offers extremely consistent penetration at around 18 inches in ballistics gel.

I am also looking at the Hornady XTP projectile rounds offered by Underwood and others. Less expansion, good penetration.

Just food for thought...

[yoni]

With today's hollowpoints they all perform very close to each other. They are so close that I can promise you that your selection in what ammo you use will not determine the outcome of any shooting you might be in.

As someone that for years was forced to carry ball ammo, I always find these threads humorous. We took what we had and went out and shot terrorist with it and made it work.

I will not in some tactical situations after the first magazine in the pistol and 1 more mag of hollowpoints the rest of my ammo is very hot ball ammo. Reason being is if I haven't solved the problem by then, I will want max penatration as the bad guy will be behind some type of cover.

[davidjinks]

I've used ball as well. .Mil issue and all that jazz, so it's what we got.

I wouldn't hesitate to use ball if that's the only thing I could get. However if I can maximize the ability to put lead in a target, keep lead in a target, rinse and repeat until no more lead is needed, I'll take whatever I can get.

In regards to your first sentence...if they perform very close to each other then is it worth having the extra recoil/muzzle velocity when using +P ammo?

I'm guessing not.....


With today's hollowpoints they all perform very close to each other. They are so close that I can promise you that your selection in what ammo you use will not determine the outcome of any shooting you might be in.

As someone that for years was forced to carry ball ammo, I always find these threads humorous. We took what we had and went out and shot terrorist with it and made it work.

I will not in some tactical situations after the first magazine in the pistol and 1 more mag of hollowpoints the rest of my ammo is very hot ball ammo. Reason being is if I haven't solved the problem by then, I will want max penatration as the bad guy will be behind some type of cover.

[yoni]

When I moved back to the USA, I had a love affair with .357sig and converted a Glock 35 . Then as time went on and the big companies loaded it to lower pressures and as a result lower velocity I went with a small company that still loaded it hot. But they had issues with quality control so I went back to 9mm.

I started with +p and carried it. But then I really started looking at how different ammo performed and as a result looked at what I was using once again.

So I have now settled on 147 grain ammo, which works for me for my EDC.

However here is where life gets messy for Synagogue I have a different pistol and use 124 +p ammo, backed by NATO 9mm ball. This way the RMR is sighted in for rounds that are closer together in terms of accuracy and point of impact than if I went 147 grain backed by NATO ball.

I like the 147 because every once in a while I carry a Hi Power and since I own it I don't want to batter it and I think penetration matters more than max expansion.

[Pilot1]

I like the 147 because every once in a while I carry a Hi Power and since I own it I don't want to batter it and I think penetration matters more than max expansion.

I have a MK III BHP, that I sometimes keep loaded for HD. I believe the cast frame is stronger, so keep it loaded with 130 grain Hornady Critical Defense which is +P. If your BHP is a T, or C series, or pre MK III, then you are wise to use standard pressure. Although even my M III rarely gets shot with anything but my relatively light to mid range reloads.

[yoni]

For what it is worth we shot the 9mm loaded for subgun out of our Hi Powers and we shot them into junk in no time. So I baby my own Hi Powers one is a full house custom from C&S and the second is Special Ops from Novak. Then I have a clone as my beater Hi Power.

[davidjinks]

Thanks for all the posts so far everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas.

[SeriousStudent]

Synonym: Practical

Given the fact +P suffers slightly more recoil and sometimes less penetration.

Does the +P offer anything more than standard pressure?

Maybe chill a bit with your responses.....

Perhaps you should chill with yours? You started a thread asking for information, the poster was trying to clarify what you wanted.

Merry Christmas indeed.