Found a great use for +P ammo

**Shao** · 03-10-15, 06:26

So, I keep my .45s stoked with 230gr HSTs. I had recently come into a trade that I couldn't pass up - 250 rounds of 230gr .45ACP +P HST for $100 (my buddy bought them then realized that his gun wasn't +P rated). I don't like to feed my guns +P so I had an idea. When I was a kid I would load a tracer round as the last two rounds in my mag so that I could get a visual indicator of when I was about to run out. Well - that didn't work too well. But the concept was solid. So I've been loading the the last two rounds in my high-cap .45 mags with the HST +P so that I can get tactile feedback on when I'm due for a reload.

I practice a lot with HSTs so the +P should be very distinct when fired. Anyone else do anything similar? It makes a lot of sense to me.

**Firefly** · 03-10-15, 08:18

Im just a guy on the internet but here are some thoughts:

That seems a bit counterproductive and not very practical. If, God forbid, you do get into an armed confrontation; you won't know what the difference in rounds is. Moreover, you will not care. It will be fast, dynamic, and only gross motorskills will be in play. Assuming you have trained, you will most likely run the gun to the point all ammo is expended or failure. You will then rely on trained gross motor skills to reload or perform a remedial action drill. If you are in a sustained fight, and there is a surcease behind cover, then you will do a reload in battery and if there are rounds left; retain partially loaded magazine.
Tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, and adrenaline dump comes into play. Provided you are just johnny on the ball, you will still shake. Fear has nothing to do with it. Once you dump, you shake. All of these sympathetic physiological things occurring will not be conducive to feeling if a round has more or less recoil or not.

Even if you shy from constantly using +p ammo(which isn't a bad idea. It can wear on a gun)....whatever you carry you should practice with.

You may gain more from merely practicing controlled groups and reload drills. Muscle memory trumps anything cognizant. Fact.

Good luck with whatever you try. Hopefully you find something that works.

**samuse** · 03-10-15, 08:19

Nope. I practice with practice ammo.

All my HSTs are +p.

**Crow Hunter** · 03-10-15, 14:22

Just another guy on the internet but I would think that if you are actually in a self defense shooting and you are focusing on the recoil characteristics of your weapon you are doing it wrong.

**Guns-up.50** · 03-10-15, 14:33

Originally Posted by Crow Hunter

Just another guy on the internet but I would think that if you are actually in a self defense shooting and you are focusing on the recoil characteristics of your weapon you are doing it wrong.

In a you or them situation, you wont notice the recoil difference. I agree +p has more recoil but , i cant tell the difference most of the time in training. Let alone coupled with the pucker factor.

**sjc3081** · 03-10-15, 14:37

You won't feel the recoil if you fire in defense and you will also not hear the report of firing. Stupid idea.

**sevenhelmet** · 03-10-15, 15:12

Agree with others, loading a different ammo as a "low ammo warning" probably won't be as effective as you think. I've never once heard a professional pistol instructor recommend this even as a technique, and I'll bet there is a reason for that.

My advice would be to try it with a dynamic drill and see how much of the time you can actually tell while switching targets, moving, shooting from behind cover (braced?) etc.