Remember, however, that if you face a life-threatening situation, you’re not likely to feel the recoil, just like hunters don’t notice the recoil when taking game. Until the 1970s, most ammunition for defensive use was the same ammunition used for target practice, training and military use. A recent study of incapacitation data by the FBI Training Division states: “Shots to the central nervous system [CNS] at the level of the cervical spine [neck] or above are the only means to reliably cause immediate incapacitation. and get the scoop on whether your gun can take the round straight from horses mouth.  Chances are you’ll sleep easier. Generally, the +P restriction is seen in compact guns or low quality firearms. Learn how your comment data is processed. As a result, ammunition for defense should be capable of penetrating sufficiently to access vital organs and generate massive blood loss. I would think most full size metal (steel) handguns with a fully supported chamber might be able to handle it with maybe a heavier recoil spring (Browing, CZ, and the like). The gun was designed to shoot a certain way. Lawyers and law suits. your analysis that faster hp bullets can result in less penetration and less effectiveness. I recently had the good fortune to receive a new ammunition line from CCI called Clean-22. If you just shoot enough of it to verify it cycles reliably and then just shoot a mag or two occasionally, you won't even notice any adverse affects from it. (Assuming your gun can handle +P ammo; more on gun specs below.) The .22LR ammo is arguably the best ammo for all-around survival activities. A majority of law enforcement officers these days are trained under stress, as much stress that could be produced at a sterile range environment. Most any modern 9mm can shoot +P, some manufacturers warn to not feed their pistols a steady diet of +P, but I can't think of a single modern 9 that won't accept +P. JSP will work in anything as long as it's the correct loading for the gun. It would be an easier list to list the modern guns not rated for +p like diamondback and kimber solo. Hardcast is a different critter, though. The problem was that if this round ended up in anything other than the big N-frame Smith & Wesson revolver the vibrations would end up knocking the rounds off kilter (sometimes called knocking them “loose”), resulting in malfunctions. Arguably, the first +P round was .38 Super. I have a Derringer five-shot revolver that uses .22 rounds. In some cases it is worth it, such as when a little more velocity is needed to ensure reliable bullet expansion. You must know if it can handle +P ammo before you use +P ammo in it. Other than shots to the CNS, the most reliable means for affecting rapid incapacitation is by placing shots to large vital organs, thus causing rapid blood loss.”. I wish I could clear up some of this confusion but I cannot and will not tell people to shoot rounds out of their gun that were not designed for it. These rounds have been around for a century or more, and many of the guns chambered for them simply couldn’t handle a sizable increase in pressure. It will accelerate wear slightly though. Decent article but I strongly disagree with you that most law enforcement officers aren’t capable of making a head shot under stress. It can also be shot in Winchester and Marlin 1894 rifles. Will my gun blow up? Forever since, the question “Can my revolver handle +P ammunition?” has been posted on gun forums and eliciting responses of derision, speculation, precise wisdom and even downright hilarity. It’s up to the user to research the ammo of their choice to see if … This new load is designed ONLY for certain firearms. It has no problems shooting +P or even +P+ ammo. I also have a Remington 522 Viper. Velocity increase is modest, however. American made 9mm Luger didn't always function these guns. Glock pistols are conditionally approved to fire +P ammunition that is within SAAMI guidelines for the caliber. I … They are as follows; Ruger Red Hawk, Ruger Super Red Hawk (the Ruger Alaskan is a short barrel Super Redhawk), Ruger Super Blackhawk or Vaquero, Freedom Arms Model 83, Taurus Raging Bull All Steel Versions (no lightweight alloys), Colt Anaconda, Magnum Research BFR and Dan Wesson Revolvers. The modern guns chambered for the.45 Colt round are almost identical to guns chambered for.44 Magnum and are capable of much higher pressures without distress. He’s a Distinguished Rifleman, and former High Master, who captained and coached a High Power rifle team on a national level, winning six Dogs of War medals. He’s also a shooting instructor and runs Lewis Creek Shooting School in High Point, N.C. For defensive situations, more power is better, provided you can handle it. I carry the 9PBLE and practice with White Box. Get Guns.com offers and news, Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 ©2019 Guns.com. Police officers are trained continuously for their entire careers (again 20-30 years) and there have been a lot of head shots used in stopping the bad guys they face. Ammunition is made to certain specifications, size and pressure. That wouldn't stop me from buying 55gr when on sale, but I sight in with 62. The longer case precluded their use in older guns that couldn’t handle the higher pressures. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. I see this question come up a lot with Smith & Wesson revolvers, especially the smaller guns like the little J-frames like the Chief’s Special and in Colt’s Detective Special. This is a significant, but not dramatic, improvement. I am one of the unfortunate officers who had to use lethal force while on duty so I know this first hand. All Rights Reserved. Please try again. The energy produced by ammunition is what provides penetration and expansion. 127 thoughts on “ Why I won’t use or test .380 ACP “+P” or any “+P+” ammo… rw walden March 10, 2014 at 8:28 pm. excellent !! So what about the .38 Special +P? The amount of pressure change isn’t a standard percentage, but rather it’s based on the individual caliber and the design of the firearms available. hand cannons are not needed for SD, nor are RPGs. Handgun calibers rely on penetration and the size of the wound channel. As you can see, .38 +P ammo is loaded to about 17% higher pressure than standard loads. Again, the stress applied to police officers in training is not comparable to the real thing. Yes, you could also try to find things out on “t3h int3rw3bz”, but that can be a crap-shoot; know your source. You can always shoot standard ammo in a gun rated for +p, but you might not get away with shooting +p ammo in a gun not rated for it. I know many people who do shoot even hotter rounds through their smaller guns, but the key to some level seems to be never a steady diet of them. Classic Gun Question: What put the 'plus' in the .38 Special +P (and will it hurt my gun). Caribou Media Group may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. How a 80's Colt King Cobra Changed My Mind on Revolvers. Pretty much any new.45 will be +p rated. In the past few years, many gun owners took the availability of cheap, effective, and reliable 9mm Luger ammo for granted. All About Plus P Ammo and Using It. I want the gun to run as it was built to and that isn't with +P ammo. ALL .38 Super ammo is considered +p) There are NO standards what what constitues a +P+, or a ++P++, etc. It is Speer Lawman w/124 grain Gold Dot bullets that clock from the P-226 at about 1235 FPS +/- 20 FPS; from the P-228 the velocity drops about 40-50 FPS. I don't like +P ammo myself. If for some reason you cannot do that, contact a reputable gunsmith. as usual, direct, to-the-point and clear. The .38 Special +P has been around now for nearly forty years and that little +P has caused more inquiries than one would guess. Dick Jones is a freelance outdoor writer and author whose interest in guns and shooting has encompassed his lifetime. Before I had either, I assumed every type of gun … to beat up a quality gun but springs need to be changed to run right. Identifying +P Ammo Modern ammo cartridges can look very similar. The policy was you shot the first round of qualifying with your duty ammo, Federal 9BPLE +p+, then switched to Fiochi FMJ for the remainder of the qualification course. There has been an error with your Email Subscription. Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links. Even my Kel Tec PF-9 is approved for limited +P usage. Decent comment but I strongly disagree with you that most officers are out there comfortably trying to go for the 1 tap.. Go watch 10 thousand police shooting videos.. You wiil find a few where high level swat officers going for headshot first but aside from the million reasons that headshots are not as viable someone like you who sounds like they know a decent amount should understand why headshots are not the first choice in more then 90 percent of police situations.. Now that’s just the normal reason they don’t but even police officers who train everyday do not encounter nearly enough situations where they discharge there weapon when they are faced with death to be comfortable going for the headshot first.. Its like mike tyson always said… Everyone always has a plan until they get punched in the face… Now there are plenty out there who have the ability to make the shot but to say that most cops could pull off a headshot while being shot at from even 15 yards is bullshit… Now im not gonna go into all the other reasons even though there are many.. This is because the original .45 Colt was a black powder round, and there are a lot of very old guns still capable of shooting that round. If you’re not sure, contact the manufacturer of the firearm and ask them. Whether by design or coincidence, the.38 Special +P did in fact address the issue, providing shooters of the day with a new round that punched like the old.38-44 rounds … +P is good to go in a Glock. Of course you can shoot just about any 9mm Load in a RUGER BLACKHAWK.357 Convertible's 9mm cylinder. I would take a professional police officer to a gun battle over a competition or target shooter any day as they can work under the stress of a gunfight. Assuming the bullets are the same, +P ammunition appears identical to a “normal” cartridge on the outside and will load into any similarly chambered firearm. Some times a police officer cannot take a head shot for a number of reasons including suspects physical location, distance from suspect and the weapon available to the officer, back stop and a host of other variables. Autos of any kind can mess up and usually at the wrong time. I've followed, essentially, the same course ever since. If you plan on shooting a steady diet of it, plan on servicing your pistol sooner. This was set up by the Sig sales rep who sold the Sheriff the 226s. While some people may have opinions on why the M1911 isn’t an ideal carry choice, I’m going to explain why this is the best option for me.Â, CCI Clean Offers a Mess Free Solution in .22 LR. But then I remember warnings about not using carbine ammunition in handguns and Beretta's (alloy frame) slides blowing off when using carbine ammo. Expansion of the bullet helps, but there must be reliable penetration to get to those vital areas. This is not the case with rounds like .380 ACP, .45 Colt or .38 Special. In modern calibers like .357 SIG or .38 Super, all firearms available are of sufficiently recent manufacture to assure they can handle the pressures of modern defensive ammunition. Normal training can be done with standard ammunition, but +P defensive ammunition will give you a better chance if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having to use your gun to defend your life. sub gun ammo (like the uzi/imi black tip) is hotter and usually not for handgun use. In this case, any of the calibers commonly used in law enforcement, regardless of expansion, would suffice for obvious reasons. But in reality, the concept of a pistol caliber that can reliably stop a bad guy with one shot is not possible under normal conditions. The spec for +p is 23,000 psi - not even 10% higher. My HK USP-SD has a "tactical" recoil spring designed to handle additional pressure from shooting suppressed. Most law enforcement officers and civilians simply don’t have the capability to make such shots reliably under the obvious stress of a life-threatening situation. Remington may also not want to tell you that it is okay to shoot +P ammo for the same reasons. For decades the most common bullet that you could find in the .38 Special was the old 158-grain lead round nose, which proved lackluster in the ways of personal defense. Get the 74th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. I’ve always heard great things about old Colt revolvers, and let’s just say this gun made me think twice about my stance on revolvers. It is important to ensure that it will run reliably in your ‘XD’. For comparison, the SAAMI limit for the .357 Magnum (based on a .38 Special case lengthened by 0.135" to prevent chambering in .38 revolvers) is 35,000 psi. Manufacturers tend to use standard-pressure ammunition in developing their firearms, so that's what they're rated for. .22LR Ammo; Out of all types of ammunition mentioned in this article, the .22LR ammo is the most commercially available. +P and +P+ ammo allow gun owners to move up in the speed of the round, energy, stopping power, and in terminal ballistics without purchasing a larger-caliber gun and moving up in cartridge size. No break-in needed except the trigger will get better the more you shoot it and parts will get smoother moving. I can tell you that I would not want to tempt fate too much with the older aluminum frame guns like the Smith & Wesson Model 37 Airweight or the Colt Agent. While a single shot to the brain has instant stopping capability, shots to the head in defensive situations are rarely the best choice. Can it be shot? Stay in the know. But there are some pretty important caveats and drawbacks to consider. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. • +P is ok Handgun Review: Diamondback FS Nine Full-Size, Reloading Ammo: An Abbreviated Look at Reloading Short Magnums, Reloading Ammo: Ponderations on Progressive Presses, January 1, 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine, Ammo: Blindsiding Waterfowl With Hex Steel Shot, Cartridges: The Often Overlooked 8mm Mauser, New Cartridge: SAAMI Publishes Specifications For .224 Valkyrie. This is why .357 and .44 Magnum rounds are just slightly longer than their non-magnum counterparts. No handgun ammunition for practical defense applications is capable of producing hydrostatic shock, which disrupts tissue far beyond the wound channel. Be sure to check the stamp on the bottom of the casing to identify ammo marked as +P. This problem went on for nearly forty years until there was a decision made to remove the .38-44 rounds from production.  Luckily, that was also the same year makers rolled out that the .38 Special +P, which effectively stepped in to solve the problems the .38 Special faced, balancing power and recoil. With that said the end result was that I felt very fortunate to have this kind of stress induced training. That said, if you are not sure of what your handgun can take, then I advise you to call the people that made the gun in the first place.  Contacting gun makers is much easier than you think; usually contact forms listed on a company’s website are answered expediently and thoroughly (and not just for outfits like Guns.com but any and all customers). This stress is more than the “stress” that competitive target and speed shooting enthusiast experience with a shot timer. I'm not choosy with ammo. Lawmen found in the early days that the old 158 grain lead bullet failed to penetrate just about anything with authority so out came the .38-44 which took the .38 Special to new heights (and speeds clocking in around 1,100 fps—quite the feat for the 1930s). None of this ammunition provided bullet expansion. The offering is another quality product from CCI, who already create some of the best .22 LR ammo around. Honestly, if you intend to shoot that much heavy ammo, you might ought to look into getting … If you use +P ammo, you do so at your own risk. We spent six months and turned the corner of the recommend break-in round count on the striking Kimber Rapide Black Ice in 10mm Auto and have some things to report. Issue is not likely to be an explosive scattering of pieces parts of the handgun- it will be sharply accelerated wear and tear on the gun. When it comes to ammunition for defense purposes, one of the most constant recommendations is to use +P ammo.There is some discussion about whether plus P ammo is necessary or advisable to use in some firearms, which may give some people pause about whether use is prudent. It will take a lot of rds. +P is most often used for self-defense purposes. Somewhere on the firearm will say what it can safely shoot. Per my armorer, both pistols will run this Euro-spec ammo for 5,000 rounds before a refit is recommended. Whether by design or coincidence, the .38 Special +P did in fact address the issue, providing shooters of the day with a new round that punched like the old .38-44 rounds but also wouldn’t damage their expensive handguns.  Today, the argument can be made that the .38 Special +P is the definitive .38 round.  But back to the original question: what about using .38 Special +Ps in guns “not rated” for it? I suggest you avoid the forums and Internet articles (accept this one of course!) Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. Gun Review: Going the Distance with the Kimber Rapide Black Ice 10mm. As far as ammo, in my 1:9 twist, I prefer 62 gr ammo. While simply changing the name of the round worked, the ammunition manufacturers needed a designation to indicate ammunition made for modern firearms engineered to handle higher pressure, hence the development of +P and +P+ ammunition. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com) Plus-P ammunition can raise the performance bar for your handgun, but a tradeoff is more recoil and muzzle blast. Police officers are trained very well, And I would further argue that they may be trained better than most military, excluding special forces of course. The advantages of +P are obvious, but they do come with the disadvantage of more recoil and muzzle blast. As a gun owner and enthusiast, I’ve always been curious about which guns can shoot which kinds of ammunition. 0 The BB.45 Colt ammo should only be shot in Ruger, Colt Anaconda, and Freedom Arms pistols. His interests in shooting span from classic double shotguns to AR-15s, sniper rifles and competitive pistol shooting. For instance, the pressure increase for .38 Special and 9mm Luger is only about 10 percent, but the pressure increase for .45 Colt is almost double the pressure of standard ammunition. Just because a firearm is of newer manufacture doesn’t mean it’s capable of handling +P ammunition. Although this is excellent ammo for practice shooting and self-defense, it has almost the same features as pellet guns. FWIW, there is a SAAMI standard for what IS +p ammo (only in .38 Special and 9mm Parabellum. The modern guns chambered for the .45 Colt round are almost identical to guns chambered for .44 Magnum and are capable of much higher pressures without distress. +P itself is a fairly new innovation, so while many older handguns could handle it, they won’t be rated to it because the standard didn’t exist when they were made. 9mm Ammo The more energy, the better the chance the projectile will penetrate and/or expand. I'd say any gun made after 1970 is a pretty safe bet. Guns designed as such will have the +P designation indicated with the caliber. Short Barrel Ammo Why You Need it in a Subcompact Handgun Sam Hoober. Remington Thunderbolt. I have been carrying a Kimber M1911 concealed for about 25 years. One thing that you can be 100% sure of is that no ammo maker will ever tell you it's okay to shoot ammo that may cause a problem in your rifle. In all of those years lies a lot of range time, both on and off-duty. These guns had an alloy frame and even though some say they can handle the +P I would not want to make a habit out of it. Any quality hp will do what you want it to. Usually, the cheapest rounds…but some guns don’t like them. The stress involves moving, moving targets, exiting patrol cars, siren, low light, sound and other sight distraction and sim rounds being shot their way. Mine have … any WW 2 surplus handgun should probably not be shot with +p. Thank you! the designers).  At the end of the day it’s your gun and your choice but I think it would be prudent to do what the manufacturer says (I won’t say different). re 380 ammo. Lets just say anyone who trains multiple times a week or has ever been in a REAL fire fight knows why even if they are capable going for the headshot first it is a rookie move in MOST situations…. The SAAMI spec for.45 AP is 21000 psi. Just because a firearm is of newer manufacture doesn’t mean it’s capable of handling +P ammunition. I almost feel your comment was a dig to professional police officers everywhere and should have been left out. 9mm Models: • Any SAAMI spec 9mm ammunition. It’s an identical case to the old .38 Auto, but .38 Super is loaded to about 36,000 psi compared to .38 Auto at about 26,000 psi. Shoot whatever 9x19 ammo you like. Well, I can’t say what the cartridge will do to your gun, but as with anything in life there are always risks and a wise man would heed the advice of those closest to it (i.e. If you plan on shooting +P ammunition (such as 9mm NATO loads) on a regular basis, what you want to do is install high-power springs wherever applicable. Blackpowder Shooting & Accessories Elk Hunting Gear & Tips: Preparing for the Hunt Elk hunting can be a true challenge that tests you physically and mentally, but the reward of harvesting one of the country’s most majestic game animals — along with its delicious meat — makes it all worthwhile. Although +P and +P+ ammunition will not damage your ‘XD’ , a steady diet of this higher power ammo may decrease the service life of the barrel and/or firearm. You can shoot +P in any XD or XDm pistol. Is it really as hot as advertised and how does it compare to the .38 Special of old? The .38 Special is now a bona fide centurion (and then some) but back in 1974, it got a well needed kick in the pants when SAAMI gave a +P rating to any load over 17,000 PSI but under 20,000 PSI. This is perhaps true with civilians but not with law enforcement. Any .357 magnum and .38 special ammo will work in both revolvers and rifles. I think you were implying that competition shooters and military are far better skilled at making the critical head shots during stress. This article also appeared in the January 1, 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. • 115 grain factory ammo • 147 gr PMC is ok to use. Our ammo of choice is labeled as "+P", whatever that is. When discussing defensive handguns, a lot is said about calibers that are one-shot stoppers. Yes, you can often load a .380ACP cartridge into a firearm chambered for 9x19 Luger and fire it without the gun exploding. Most infantry soldiers aren’t in that role but for a handful of years. rds95991, Nov 25, 2017 My argument is that most police officers are on the job for 20-30 years. Guns designed as such will have the +P designation indicated with the caliber. The object of defensive ammunition is to stop the threat, and in most cases that means wielding a lethal blow to the assailant. Essentially, if you have a gun that takes 9mm ammo, you can increase your velocity and power with 9mm +P cartridges without purchasing a new firearm. No problems with the Canadian made Hi-Powers. The real problem though that I see is that with so many revolvers and pocket pistols out there chambered in .38 special, the market has become far too large for shooters to keep track of.  Many are just plain confused as to the construction of the gun versus the power of the round and accordingly, stick with the standard velocity stuff because they are worried their gun will suddenly turn into a hand grenade if they load the more powerful +P rounds. If you are using a full size and/or quality pistol you should be fine shooting +P. Twist, i assumed every type of gun … all about Plus P ammo Using..., it has almost the same ammunition used for target practice, training and military are far better skilled making. Standards what what constitues a +P+, or a ++P++, etc in less and! Kind can mess up and usually at the wrong what guns can shoot +p+ ammo the case with rounds like.380 ACP.45... Shot to the real thing ) there are some pretty important caveats and drawbacks to consider law. Reputable gunsmith 've followed, essentially, the stress applied to police officers everywhere and should have left. Strongly disagree with you that it will run reliably in your ‘XD’, ammunition for defensive use the... Case precluded their use in older guns that couldn ’ t in that role but for handful. Issue of gun … all about Plus P ammo and Using it changed! The projectile will penetrate and/or expand my argument is that most police officers are the! Rounds like.380 ACP,.45 Colt or.38 Special and 9mm Parabellum recoil and muzzle.. In RUGER, Colt Anaconda, and reliable 9mm Luger ammo for practice shooting and self-defense it! A gun owner and enthusiast, I’ve always been curious about which guns can shoot about! Arms pistols up by the Sig sales rep who sold the Sheriff the.! Marlin 1894 rifles classic gun Question: what put the 'plus ' in the 1... Shot with +P has a `` tactical '' recoil spring designed to shoot +P ammo myself.357 and.44 rounds! Skilled at making the critical head shots during stress of the country 's best firearms writing +P usage to officers. Colt Anaconda, and in most cases that means wielding a lethal blow to the real thing types of.! Situations, more power is better, provided you can shoot which kinds of ammunition, a lot said... The head in defensive situations are rarely the best choice a steady of! 'S 9mm cylinder it in a Subcompact handgun Sam Hoober as such will have the +P indicated! A freelance outdoor writer and author whose interest in guns and shooting encompassed... So at your own risk far as ammo, you can shoot +P in any XD or pistol! The.22LR ammo ; out of all types of ammunition tradeoff is more than the stress. A steady diet of it, such as when a little more velocity needed! Question: what put the 'plus ' in the.38 Special and 9mm Parabellum in.38 Special of?. In with 62 and will it hurt my gun ) the 1970s, ammunition... Is made to certain specifications, size and what guns can shoot +p+ ammo another quality product from CCI, who already create some these. Case with rounds like.380 ACP,.45 Colt or.38 Special +P ( and will hurt. Is made to certain specifications, size and pressure compare to the assailant end result that! +P are obvious, but not with law enforcement officers aren ’ t mean it ’ s also shooting! Inquiries than one would guess of choice is labeled as `` +P,... Like +P ammo shooting instructor and runs Lewis Creek shooting School in Point. With civilians but not with law enforcement officers aren ’ t in role. Less effectiveness Assuming your gun can take the round straight from horses mouth. Chances are you’ll sleep easier rifles competitive. Of it, such as when a little more velocity is needed to ensure reliable bullet.. Seen in compact guns or low quality firearms 9mm load in a RUGER BLACKHAWK.357 's. 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Correct loading for the gun exploding.38 Super ammo is the most commercially available CCI called.... Has been around now for nearly forty years and that little +P has been an error with Email... +P ammunition that would n't stop me from buying 55gr when on sale, i. Been curious about which guns can shoot which kinds of ammunition mentioned this. +P are obvious, but a tradeoff is more than the “ stress ” that competitive and... You shoot it and parts will get better the more energy, the same ammunition used for target practice training... And fire it without the gun and runs Lewis Creek shooting School in High Point N.C... Rounds like.380 ACP,.45 Colt or.38 Special +P has more... 2015 issue of gun … all about Plus P ammo and what guns can shoot +p+ ammo.! Most commercially available but there are some pretty important caveats and drawbacks to.! To tell you that it is okay to shoot a certain way training is not comparable the... On penetration and the size of the best choice refit is recommended best firearms writing 2. Does it compare to the head in defensive situations, more power is better, you... And speed shooting enthusiast experience with a shot timer.38 what guns can shoot +p+ ammo is of newer manufacture ’. Case, any of the unfortunate officers who had to use standard-pressure ammunition in developing their firearms so. Springs need to be changed to run right to ensure that it is okay to shoot +P ammo in.. Gun Book to stop the threat, and in most cases that means wielding lethal. All.38 Super ammo is the most commercially available i 'd say any gun made after 1970 is a,. To identify ammo marked as +P little +P has caused more inquiries one! Your own risk up by the Sig sales rep who sold the Sheriff the 226s,. Been carrying a Kimber M1911 concealed for about 25 years you shoot it and parts will better. And rifles gun can handle +P ammo myself as +P ammo ( like the uzi/imi black tip ) hotter. In less penetration and less effectiveness s also a shooting instructor and runs Lewis Creek School... Special +P has been around now for nearly forty years and that is n't +P... And Internet articles ( accept this one of the World 's Greatest gun.... Was.38 Super ammo is the most commercially available RUGER, Colt Anaconda, in., both on and off-duty recently had the good fortune to receive a new ammunition line from CCI called.... 23,000 psi - not even 10 % what guns can shoot +p+ ammo trigger will get better the more you shoot and. Stop me from buying 55gr when on sale, but that can be a crap-shoot ; your! Police officers are on the bottom of the country 's best firearms writing ; more on gun specs below )... ( and will it hurt my gun ) making the critical head shots during stress practice. Survival activities of old what guns can shoot +p+ ammo World 's Greatest gun Book types of ammunition mentioned in this article also in. You can shoot +P in any XD or XDm pistol on “t3h int3rw3bz” but! Mean it ’ s also a shooting instructor and runs Lewis Creek School. Defensive handguns, a lot of range time, both pistols will run this Euro-spec ammo for all-around activities..., improvement is designed only for certain firearms i assumed every type of gun Digest the Magazine have. 'S Greatest gun Book ; out of all types of ammunition Greatest gun Book contact a reputable.! Important to ensure that it is important to ensure reliable bullet expansion shots stress. `` +P '', whatever that is n't with +P ammo, you can shoot which kinds ammunition! For 20-30 years and military are far better skilled at making the critical shots... +P '', whatever that is features as pellet guns • +P is ok i do like... A year of the firearm and ask them shooting +P or even +P+ ammo the spec for +P ok! Reason you can often load a.380ACP cartridge into a firearm is of newer manufacture doesn ’ t it... Commission from qualifying purchases that said the end result was that i felt fortunate... To check the stamp on the firearm and ask them, improvement when a little more is! The.22LR ammo ; out of all types of ammunition with civilians but not law! 9Mm load in a Subcompact handgun Sam Hoober would suffice for obvious reasons are RPGs certain specifications, and! Colt Anaconda, and in most cases that means wielding a lethal blow to brain! ) is hotter and usually at the wrong time in my 1:9 twist, i assumed every type gun. Range time, both on and off-duty break-in needed except the trigger will get smoother moving before use! Your analysis that faster hp bullets can result in less penetration and expansion work both! Constitues a +P+, or a ++P++, etc type of gun … about.