+P in 45 ACP

[686fan]

I'd like your opinions on whether +P is necessary in 45 ACP for self-defense. I like what I've read about Winchester Ranger T 230 grain JHP. The +P seems to have about 10% more velocity than the standard load. I know that +P can cause more wear & tear on the handgun. I have a Glock 21. Personally, I'm leaning toward the +P. I've always thought that for self-defense, higher velocity was a good thing.

Thanks for your thoughts.









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[MichiganScott]

10% is going to be around 80fps with a 230gr bullet. Do you really need an additional 80fps? It's always going to leave a .45 caliber hole, expanded or not.

However, you may have to shoot a second time and I will bet the shot to shot times will be slower with +P.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I'd like your opinions on whether +P is necessary in 45 ACP for self-defense. I like what I've read about Winchester Ranger T 230 grain JHP. The +P seems to have about 10% more velocity than the standard load. I know that +P can cause more wear & tear on the handgun. I have a Glock 21. Personally, I'm leaning toward the +P. I've always thought that for self-defense, higher velocity was a good thing.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Not necessary in my opinion.

 

[M29since14]

There was a time when .45 factory loads were getting a little weak, some not even breaking 800 FPS, but I think the Winchester Ranger loads are not that way. If the standard pressure loads are somewhere around 850-875 FPS, I would be fine with them.

I no longer have a G21 but when I did I remember using a box or two of Ranger +Ps in it. Don't recall any trouble at all. I still have about two boxes left and I have used them a time or two in my M&P45. What little testing I have done with it, it seems to shoot them very well.

When I buy more, I doubt I will order the +Ps, but if it happens that they are all I can get, I would not be unhappy. They are pretty good .45s, from what I have seen. Unless you plan to shoot a huge amount of them, I doubt they are going to do a G21 much harm, but that is JMHO.

 

[colt_saa]

+P for me

Remeber velocity is squared in the energy equation.

 

[Dragon88]

The extra energy of +P cannot be ignored. As mentioned above, even 100 fps in the energy equation makes a significant difference. That said, I mostly use standard pressure ammo in my 45s. A good 45 ACP SD load at standard pressure is very powerful, and I prefer the controllability that it gives me over +P. The only carry combination I have ever tried that I was uncomfortable with was +P Rangers in a Kimber Ultra Carry II. That was down right painful to shoot, and not very controlable at all!

Remember, you can't miss fast enough to win. Pick a load that allows you good performance and the confidence to make hits on target.

 

[125JHP]

+P loads have noticeably more recoil, so you might want to figure that into your follow up shots equation. Maybe put the +p at the bottom of the mag as an indicator that its time to swap mags.

 

[crofoot629]

Bigger and faster is always better in both bulllets and guns.

Emory

 

[mbliss57]

I carry Speer 200gr+P in my 4513TSW no rail. Higer velocity = more energy to the 2nd power . E + M*V*V

 

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

Your Glock can shoot any factory loaded ammo including +P loads. And unless you are a competition shooter and burn up multiple thousands of rounds of +P a month through your Glock, you should see no appreciable wear on your gun for numerous decades.

 

[mkk41]

Not sure if a 230gr bullet can be driven fast enough , even at +P pressure , for reliable expansion in anything but ballistic gel.

I used to carry the original Remington 185gr SJHP+P. It was a smoking hot round and the bullet had a big hollow cavity , deeply scalloped jacket and would expand voilently. It had a good record in actual shootings.

 

[Dann Fassnacht]

I carry the Speer 230 grain Gold Dot HPs in my 4506, and in no-way do I feel undergunned by not having a +P load in my pistol...A big, heavy HP works fine for me.

 

[BUFF]

My department issues the Federal 230 gr. bonded Plus-P. I carry an aluminum frame Colt Commander. There isn't a huge amount of recoil difference between them and Federal red box 230 gr. FMJ.

Do they expand on human targets? Yes, they do. So did their predecessor round, the Hydra-Shok.

 

[mag318]

There are so many good non +P loads in 45 acp that the slight velocity gain weighed against the slower recovery time make +P loads not necessary IMO. HSTs, Gold Dots, Hydro Shoks and PDX1s to name a few all have a great track record even out of short barrels. Go with what you're comfortable with. The only +P load that I do like in this caliber are Corbon DPXs.

 

[DR505]

Not sure if a 230gr bullet can be driven fast enough , even at +P pressure , for reliable expansion in anything but ballistic gel.

This^^^^^^. The extra small bit of velocity is not a huge factor for performance, but can be an issue for follow up shots, noise, blast, recoil, etc.

The fact of the matter is that a pistol is a poor choice for a defensive weapon anyway...I was always taught to use my pistol to fight my way to my rifle.

 

[DWalt]

If you can't do the job with a .45 ACP standard FMJ ball round, you should be using a shotgun. No problem, I suppose, in using them in your carry gun while carrying, but I would avoid shooting very many in practice for economic reasons alone if for no other reason. Recovery for follow-up additional shots will be impaired if you use +P.

 

[Checkman]

My department issues the Federal 230 grain +P HST JHP to the officers who carry the Glock 21 and Glock 30 (detectives). I am one of a few who have opted to carry the G19 in case you're wondering. Anyway we have had a couple officer involved shootings since the switch to the +P 45. It did it's job - no problems.

 

[LimaCharlie]

A Glock will handle +P rounds with no problems. I have a G20SF 10mm and shoot the Buffalo Bore +P+ ammo with no issues.

My normal carry gun is a 1911. I carry the Winchester PDX1 230 grain in them because they are at the top of the standard range for energy and work well in all of my 1911s. Shooting a steady diet of very hot +P in a 1911, can cause premature wear, cracked frames, and cracked slides.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What a shame the marketing weenies have so convinced so many shooters you must have more velocity to make ammo any good. I guess data for the .45 Auto with over 100 years of stopping a man size target is made up. Oh yeah, and the +P costs more too so it must be better!

 

[HotRoderX]

I say just stick with standard rounds. I am not a huge fan of +P my self. To me the extra recoil does not justify the real world difference a 100 our so FPS is going to make.

Has there been any real world evidence to prove that +P ammo stops a threat in fewer shots?