+P Loads for 9MM S&W

[ojeda1a]

I am a new handgun owner and was wondering if the S&W M&P 9mm 4.25" barrel can handle +P type ammunition. I understand that only handguns designed to handle "High Pressure" loads have this ability so I was wondering about my new M&P 9mm. Lastly, why would one use a +P (High Pressure) Load?

 

[Arik]

Yes it can. Most modern guns that are designed with LEO/Mil in mind will handle +P and even some that werent.

More energy

 

[murphydog]

Good information above. Probably best to try several modern expanding bullet 9 mm loads and see which one(s) work best for you, your M & P and wallet - reliability, accuracy, controllability. It may or may not be a + P load.

 

[moxie]

See page 11 of your owner's manual.

Basically, +P is higher pressure which yields higher velocity. Usually 100-200 fps. Higher velocity may yield a harder hitting bullet. It might enable better expansion of hollowpoints.

With your 4.25" barrel standard pressure is probably just fine. Use of +P will probably just make followup shots more difficult.

 

[Llando88]

Welcome to the forum.

The Safety and Instruction Manual for my 2013 Full Size 9mm M&P states that +p ammo "may affect the wear characteristics" and thus may "need more frequent service".

Users employ +p ammo to yield better penetration performance, typically for self defense.

I use Speer Gold Dot 124+p hollow points for my bedside SD load. It is a bit snappier recoil than my range ammo, but I am confident it will do the job.

A good reference list of satisfactory self defense loads is in Doc Roberts thread, here:

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo

Note that several of the recommended SD loads are not +p.

 

[metricmonkeywrench]

There is another good primer on SD ammo here
Ammunition For The Self-Defense Firearm

All in all most of your ammo needs for practice and recreational shooting can be found at your local Wally World. +P as a tool has its place and specific use and when you make your final decision is made no more than 5 to 10 would be used to confirm operation and functionality but after that the only reason to shoot any more would be to replace your carry loads for "fresh".

Overall in general a steady diet of 115 or 124g is all you will realistically need to shoot to build confidence in your shooting and develop the trigger control and muscle memory. Anything more is just throwing ammo into the dirt

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

There is another good primer on SD ammo here
Ammunition For The Self-Defense Firearm

All in all most of your ammo needs for practice and recreational shooting can be found at your local Wally World. +P as a tool has its place and specific use and when you make your final decision is made no more than 5 to 10 would be used to confirm operation and functionality but after that the only reason to shoot any more would be to replace your carry loads for "fresh".

Overall in general a steady diet of 115 or 124g is all you will realistically need to shoot to build confidence in your shooting and develop the trigger control and muscle memory. Anything more is just throwing ammo into the dirt

That article is full of terrible advice. I already had an argument in a different thread about Marshall & Sanow so instead I'll point out that he uses and recommends Glaser, both blue and silver, for a bedside revolver. Glaser Silver, when fired through drywall does not break up and instead acts like a solid projectile and penetrates ballistic gel deeper than it does in bare gel.
https://web.archive.org/web/2008101...sfetcher_evaluates_9mm_Glaser_Safety_Slug.pdf

One should fire a significant number of their chosen defensive rounds before trusting them and not just 5-10. I just added an RMR to my CORE pistol and will be firing at least another magazine through it to verify functioning and that is probably far fewer than I should, but I've already fired multiple magazines without it.

 

[Llando88]

That article is full of terrible advice. I already had an argument in a different thread about Marshall & Sanow so instead I'll point out that he uses and recommends Glaser, both blue and silver, for a bedside revolver. Glaser Silver, when fired through drywall does not break up and instead acts like a solid projectile and penetrates ballistic gel deeper than it does in bare gel.
https://web.archive.org/web/2008101...sfetcher_evaluates_9mm_Glaser_Safety_Slug.pdf

One should fire a significant number of their chosen defensive rounds before trusting them and not just 5-10. I just added an RMR to my CORE pistol and will be firing at least another magazine through it to verify functioning and that is probably far fewer than I should, but I've already fired multiple magazines without it.

Be interested to know when that article was written. He mentions HK P7s, they haven't been in production a while.

I went through 100 rounds of GD 124+p in my M&P with 0 malfunctions before I was comfortable.

 

[McE]

+P gives you better numbers to look at.
More velocity
More energy
More wear on your gun
More time between shots
More bragging rights

I think there are no upsides to it. When I look at 45acp HST standard alongside +P, they use different bullets. The +P has shorter skives so the bullet doesn't expand at the expense of penetration. Maybe they found shooting the standard bullet at speeds faster than it was designed for resulted in less than optimal penetration while expanding too soon and too much.
So what's the point? Both bullets perform identically, the +P has a design to compensate for its higher velocity. So with no difference to the recipient of the bullet, shooting +P isn't about terminal effect, it's marketing/ego-boosting/talking point fodder. Just my opinion, others will disagree and rationalize after the fact. +P sounds better, now to search for reasons that it might be better.

 

[neorebel]

There is no benefit to shooting +P rounds. The bullet just goes faster and if you use them for self defense it gives too much penetration.

 

[Arik]

Nope +P has never been shown to work. [emoji53]

More wear on your gun? What gun? How much wear? That box of ammo is really going to cut the lifespan of the gun waaaay down...if shot like a squad automatic rifle

 

[hardluk1]

Most all quality +P HP do NOT penetrate more but does expend more and may penetrate a little less . If you want to use a +P load ,do so . If you can check your split times with a range timer take advantage of that to let you know if +Ps work well for you . If in a double stack m&p a +p load can be fine but in a smaller lite and thin shield +P loads may be more than you can shoot well . Different people have different issues with handgun control .



In uspsa production shooters have a choice of 9mm mior or 9mm major or larger in regular production handguns . To make major power they have the meet a power factor of a 160 . That would be a 125gr bullet at 1280pfs or 147gr at 1150fps and that's a +P+ load and the shooters do manage to firer at a very quick pace . Its all about your grip control and skills .

You decide what you use for ammo .



The older standard for law enforcement is a Winchester or federal +P+ 9mm that goes back 25 or 30 years .

Shoot what you can control well shooting double or triple taps .

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

In uspsa production shooters have a choice of 9mm mior or 9mm major or larger in regular production handguns . To make major power they have the meet a power factor of a 160 . That would be a 125gr bullet at 1280pfs or 147gr at 1150fps and that's a +P+ load and the shooters do manage to firer at a very quick pace . Its all about your grip control and skills.

There is no major for Production. Everybody is scored minor. 9 major is only legal for Open and Revolver. Limited, Limited 10, and Single Stack require 0.4" or larger bullets to make major.

USPSA scoring is extremely generous from a defensive pistolcraft point of view, even for minor, and the serious competitors, especially in Open and Limited, are using pistols inappropriate for carry or duty.

Shoot what you can control well shooting double or triple taps .

You should plan for things to not necessarily go perfectly in your favor. Carry what you can Bill Drill well weak-hand only.

 

[ojeda1a]

Thank you all for your advice and input. You are all very knowledgeable and helpful. I greatly appreciate all of it. There is so much more to ammunition & pistols than locking, loading & firing at a target but that is pretty much what my intention is. Obviously HD/SD is important but I feel confident with my new 9mm whatever I do choose to load for HD/SD, it will do the trick. I just want to shoot straight and improve everytime I go to the range so if the time ever comes I will be ready and able to protect family and home. Thank you all again and be safe!

 

[hardluk1]

So what ?? Have they changed the rules again !! I shot when 40 and 45 was legal in production and minor power was used more than not guys still shot major . Heck when I started shooting match's in the early '80s it was ispa I think then changed to uspsa and major was 175 back in the early days so forget the 9mm then . Don't know when they nuttered the power levels . Most of use did not take the minor PF seriously . Just fun shot .

So look at it this way then . Guys do shoot major in m&ps and in OPEN class . The same basic pistol used buy the mass's buy , not always some hand built custom . The same pistol that also comes in 40sw .

Its not something special to shoot the run of the mil +P factory fodder or even +P+ enough to be sure your handgun will run reliably and a few mags once in a while stay stay in touch with your carry ammo.

Reviewing rules of current leaves me wondering if I would shoot uspsa today but they do now offer a production optic for a vision challenged shooters .

Just let common since prevail on using high dollar ammo .

Your last line is up to each persons ability .

After scanning the uspsa rules I'm not sure I would even shot that groups matchs but they do or will offer a production optic division so the vision challenged shooter can still play .

 

[Kanewpadle]

Watch both videos.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lGqdMdbir0[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld5jpsaDjbA[/ame]

Federal HST is widely considered to be one of the best choices. As you can see, there isn't much difference. So do you really need a +P round?