Will '+P' ammo mess up your handguns?

Most modern handguns are rated for +P ammo. That being said, on a EDC gun I would make sure that the it fed the SD ammo reliably, then practice with factory, or in my case reloaded ammo.
The real worry is finding indicators of
high pressure in your brass. Bulging brass and pierced or flattened primers
are all indications you’re asking for trouble.
A case blowout can ruin your day and your gun and in some cases injure yourself.

Even Steel framed 10mm 1911s can show signs of battering if they shoot a great deal of high pressure rounds, however aluminum alloy framed guns will show signs of battering sooner than steel framed pistols. The key here is to spring them correctly to minimize battering.

Not sure this was helpful.
In any event...Good luck.

 

Yes, +P handgun ammo will wear your pistol quicker than standard ammo.
All of this depends on the gun and caliber you’re shooting.

A .45 ACP does fine with standard pressure ammo in a defensive role.
+P is much harder to control, or to shoot rapidly and accurately.
The 10mm is a handful with standard pressure ammo. +P 10mm has to be at nearly anyone’s upper limit with a defensive gun.
The 9mm will benefit from +P in defensive ammo generally.

A Flat Bottom Firing Pin Stop is a good idea with hot(ter) ammo in a 1911, in addition to proper springs for the ammo you’re shooting as Dre said.

 

A steady diet of (most) everything in life, is probably not a good thing. Everything in moderation is the key...

 

My gun seems to prefer +P, functions flawlessly thus far

 

Alexy, The type of bullet used does not usually matter. What we are referring to here is the amount of energy in the round. There are standard power rounds and then there are +P and even +P+ rounds. Some revolvers are for use with .38 Special some are rated for .38 Special +P.

Are you going to join us for the 1911 Addicts Shoot West down in New Mexico on October 5? It is only about 200 miles away! https://www.1911addicts.com/threads/addicts-shoot-west-oct-5.72939/

 

Well as general rule there is no exception to the law of physics!!! THAT is what +p is all about. It is over the standard pressures as prescribed by the industry and there is NO standard.

That being said---on my weapons I carry in my vehicles they carry +p+ 9mm Win LEO Ranger T. I do not shoot those a great deal and they are in Legion 9mm Sigs so it is of no concern.

The others semi auto's are built guns most in 10mm some in 38 super and a couple now in 9x23 which is the King of pressure. When my 10mm's are built I specifically request and insist btw that the weapon be made to function with Underwood full power loads buy bullet name and weight (exception being 9x23 win). That specific ammunition is used and the builder decides the mainspring and recoil spring rates to function WITH THAT AMMUNITION. Have absolutely no idea if it will work with Hornady or Remington etc. less than full pressure loads because I do not use them.

No doubt shooting higher pressure ammunition is going to get the mass moving faster BUT much of that can be mitigated. Downside is ammunition that functions at a lower pressure MAY not be reliable any longer.

There is no free lunch with +p in the long run.

 

No I haven’t said anything about Glocks as this is a 1911 forum.
Although I own and shoot Glocks, those questions should be raised in GlockTalk forum or Glock itself.
I will say this about Glock 9mms.
They are notorious for having loose unsupported chambers and will bulge brass with standard
ammo. I will not shoot +P ammo in my Glock 19 with a stock barrel. I prefer Lone wolf or KKM
barrels if I plan on carrying high performance ammo.

 

I’m not saying anything of the sort.
Again. I said what I would do in the case of shooting +p ammo.

You need to contact the MFG, for recommendations concerning your guns and your shooting habits.

You’re asking for absolute answers
to questions filled with variables outside of anyone’s control but your own.

That said....
I’m out!

 

Most new manufacturer owners manuals reference the use of high power and +P ammunition in the information supplied with the firearm. If at all in doubt about if your particularly gun is capable of handling the +P loads I would recommend a call to the customer service Dept of said manufacturer for the most reliable instructions of it’s use in the firearm in question.

 

Why practice with +p ammo? Seems expensive. I know for a fact, that every Colt I’ve owned, has had a reference to +p. They don’t recommend a steady diet due to accelerated wear on the pistol.

I’ve taken that and applied it to all of my guns. I do carry +p and I do make sure the gun works with it. I don’t however, practice with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Springs

Replace springs much more frequently if a steady diet of +P is used

 

Running hot(er) ammo is like boosting the HP on your car's engine with a turbo or supercharger. It will run just fine when properly tuned, but it's not going to last as long because the higher pressures and temperatures accelerate wear. Just my $0.02