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Old 01-07-2018, 05:55 PM
johnt671 johnt671 is offline
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How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ?  
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Default How can I tell if ammo is +P ?
I have an SD40 and at least at this point I don't want to fire + ammo. I'm new to this term and always shot what the military gave me. I guess it must be marked on the box if it's +P but I want to be sure. Thanks
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Old 01-07-2018, 06:07 PM
sodacan sodacan is offline
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Marked on the box and on the case head. For me, +P rounds are a waste of money. Just my opinion folks. Don't get your panties in a wad. I'm not looking for debate.
Last edited by sodacan; 01-07-2018 at 07:52 PM.
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Old 01-07-2018, 06:11 PM
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How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ?  
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Usually, but not always, marked on both the box.....and the headstamp on the cartridge case.


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Old 01-07-2018, 06:20 PM
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There is no SAAMI +P spec for .40 S&W ammunition. Your SD40VE fires .40 S&W ammunition, and I recommend using only SAAMI spec ammunition in it. There some loaders using a bogus (+P) designation and all that tells me is that it exceeds SAAMI limits.
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Old 01-07-2018, 07:05 PM
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How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ?  
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SAAMI only lists 4 cartridges for the +P designation.
9mm Luger,38 Special,38 Super Automatic,& 45 Automatic.
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Old 01-08-2018, 11:06 AM
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And in the case of .38 Super, I think all of it is considered +P, mainly just to distinguish it from the older .38 Automatic cartridge which is dimensionally identical, but loaded to a somewhat lower power level for use in older pistols.

Unless you need +P for serious self-defense purposes, it is a waste of money to use anything other than standard non-+P loads for routine recreational shooting or practice. There are also some +P+ loads, best avoided by most. +P+ loads are loaded beyond any SAAMI pressure limits.
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Old 01-08-2018, 11:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnt671 View Post
I have an SD40 and at least at this point I don't want to fire + ammo. I'm new to this term and always shot what the military gave me. I guess it must be marked on the box if it's +P but I want to be sure. Thanks
If it is factory ammo marked, and marked +p on box, I would not use it. There is no SAAMI spec for 40 SW +p. If it is marked +P it is either over pressure, or a scam and I would not use it. There is no way to determine if a cartridge is +p by looking at it, you would need to do pressure testing and that would only tell you about that one cartridge. Avoid it. Be Safe,
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Old 01-08-2018, 11:37 AM
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The only caveat to identifying + P rounds would be for reloaded ammo; it may be reloaded into standard stamped cases. Standard pressure .40 S & W already operates at 35K psi and has been shown to be plenty effective for social situations (not to mention punching holes in paper) so avoiding + P is a good idea, as noted above.
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Old 01-08-2018, 12:37 PM
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The only +P ammo I load, buy or carry is 38 spl. +P. I think 40 S&W is fine as it is in it's regular pressure.
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Old 01-08-2018, 01:15 PM
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On one ammo site I read where Buffalo Bore was short on cases and was using mixed +P and +P+ cases for their hot loads.
Just a heads up.
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Old 01-08-2018, 01:24 PM
johnt671 johnt671 is offline
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How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ? How can I tell if ammo is +P ?  
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Thanks for the learning experience to all.
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