Do you carry a pistol caliber for self-defense or when you are in the woods hunting? Do you want to shoot a bit farther? Do you just want your pistol to have a little more power? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you should consider shooting +P ammunition. Although before you do that, you should check whether it is even safe to shoot with your gun! Today, we will learn just how to do that, and everything else you would want to know about +P ammo.
Overpressured ammunition is often referred to as +P ammunition, as in “plus pressure”. It is loaded with more powder charge than standard ammo for that caliber, giving it a larger chamber pressure. A larger powder charge creates more velocity and energy, long story short, you get a more powerful cartridge.
Although you can not just throw +P ammo into any old firearm, that is a good way to destroy it and likely take a trip to the hospital. Let’s look closer at +P ammo, and how and when it should be used.
What Makes +P Ammunition Different?
The answer to this is relatively simple, +P ammo is ammunition that is loaded to a slightly higher case pressure than the standard Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute specifications (SAAMI). SAAMI officially created a +P designation for a handful of handgun calibers but not all. These calibers include the 9mm, .38 Special, .38 super and .45 ACP.
Safety Concerns and Reliable Manufacturers
Before we get too deep into our discussion, we need to point out that not all handguns are capable of shooting +P ammo. If you’re not sure, refer to your firearm owner’s manual. You can also check to see if it’s stamped in the barrel. Only shoot +P ammo if you are absolutely positive that it can be safely fired from your gun.
Additionally, if you are going to shoot +P ammo, then purchase it from a reliable manufacturer. Winchester, Remington, Hornady, Barnes, Federal, and CCI are a few names I wouldn’t have a problem buying from. There are others of course, but the point here is: do your research if you are going to be shooting +P ammo. Don’t just buy some +P rounds from the guy at the gun show, or a reloader.
It’s worth noting here that there is no official SAAMI designation for +P ammunition that isn’t in 9mm, .38 Special, .38 Super, or .45 ACP. If you come across this in a store or at a gun show, know that it is not within SAAMI specifications. You will need to do a fair amount of research if you want to shoot it, but most would say that avoiding it altogether is a good idea. Popular offenders for this are the 380 ACP and 32 ACP, while they are marketed as +P, their chamber pressure is not regulated, and you will need to be careful using them.
If you would like to see the standards yourself, you can look at this page and download the latest specifications. You will see that SAAMI has definitions for plenty of cartridges, but only recognizes +P cartridges in the four aforementioned cartridges.
When Should You Use +P Ammunition?
If you need more energy or velocity from your gun for either target practice at long distances or self-defense from large animals, then +P ammunition is a good idea. Many 9mm owners use +P ammo in their carry guns while hunting. They can rest easy knowing that their weapons will be powerful enough to get good penetration on a charging bear, mountain lion, or wild boar. That said, there certainly are pros and cons of +P ammo.
Pros of +P Ammunition
The pros of +P ammunition are faster velocities and more kinetic energy. This translates to flatter shooting bullets, deeper penetration, and more overall power. All of these things are great if you are using your pistol for self defense on the street or in the woods, although it would be overkill and a waste of money if you are plinking on the range.
For us, the biggest pro to +P ammunition is a piece of mind when carrying a handgun for self-defense in the woods. If you can carry the same firearm, but with a lot more power, why wouldn’t you? As long as your gun is capable of shooting it and you are accurate with it, having a mag full of +P hard cast ammo won’t hurt anything except whatever is on the business end of the barrel.
Cons of +P Ammunition
While more power is a huge pro for +P ammo there are also a few cons. If you decide to use +P ammo, buy enough to practice with. If you’re shooting a compact model you will also likely notice that shooting this ammo is tougher on your hands and wrists.
First and foremost, +P ammo can make it harder to control the gun. Your gun will kick more, especially smaller compact models, which will make them harder to shoot. Therefore decreasing accuracy. If you are using it for self defense, being accurate is literally life or death. Although, the recoil is certainly manageable, and you will never be sure if you’re okay with it until you try it out on the range.
Second, +P ammo is more expensive than most standard loads. If I am carrying a load for self defense, I want to make sure it works well in my pistol before I trust it with my life. So I try to shoot at least 100 rounds before carrying it. Plenty of shooters would say 100 isn’t enough. Buying that much +P ammo is going to hurt your wallet, and I would likely buy around 200 rounds to have a minimal amount of reserve.
Third, not all guns can shoot +P ammo. Even in makes and models that can shoot it, they will experience more wear and tear. You may even need a stiffer recoil spring and guide rod. Just make sure to buy the right make and model for your gun.
Lastly, +P ammo doesn’t always penetrate further than standard loads. You really won’t know exactly how it will perform unless you test it. The average joe will not be able to do much more than shoot a watermelon and see how much one load explodes it over the other. So you will need to trust the label.
Is There a Big Difference Between Standard and +P Ammo?
The best way to demonstrate the difference is by comparing two rounds made by the same manufacturer. One round is +P and one is standard. For this example, we chose Remington as the manufacturer and picked their popular 115 grain Jacketed Hollow Points since they have a standard and +P round with the same bullet design and weight.
| Cartridge | Muzzle Velocity (fps) | Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) |
| Remington 9mm Luger 115 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point | 1145 | 329 |
| Remington 9mm Luger +P 115 GR Jacketed Hollow Point | 1250 | 399 |
| 9.2% Increase | 21.3% Increase |
This is a pretty nice example showing a 21.3% increase in energy over the two rounds, but an average increase across most manufacturers and calibers is around 10 to 15%. That means this round is super hot, and you can imagine just how much damage it could do to a pistol not rated for +P.
Now the real question is, is there a big enough difference between the two to matter in a self-defense situation? If you don’t shoot your carry pistol all the time, and the excess wear and tear isn’t a real issue, then a 21.3% more power with just a cartridge change sounds like a deal to me.
Other Options
If you own a caliber that does not have a SAAMI specification for +P ammunition then don’t fret. There are other options, like buying a bigger caliber gun. This is probably the most exciting option but we realize that not everyone wants to spend that much. Luckily there is another option, find a full power load that reaches the upper bounds of the SAAMI specifications.
Plenty of manufactures produce their ammo on the lower end of that spec, which saves them money, but makes the round slightly less powerful. Underwood ammo is a good example of a company that doesn’t do that. They produce some powerful rounds that are still within SAAMI specifications for non +P rounds like a 10mm.
If you are concerned about four-legged predators, you may want to shoot full-power or +P rounds designed for penetration. Consider using hard-cast bullets in heavy weights. I like to carry 10mm ammo loaded with 200-grain hard-cast bullets for predator defense.
Other than that, you can choose to shoot something like Hornady Critical Defense. These rounds are made specifically for self defense, and do a bit more damage than a full metal jacket. Jacketed Hollow Points are also great, the more expansion you can get in your target, the more damage you are going to do, regardless of the speed or energy numbers on a box.
To Beef up the Recoil Spring or Not?
Many people who shoot +P ammunition from stock semi-automatic handguns find that their springs are too weak. The same can be said for shooters using full-power 10 mm rounds. One of the easiest identifiable symptoms of a weak recoil spring is bullet casings being ejected into the stratosphere. In other words, much further than 8 feet. If this happens, then you likely need a stronger spring.
A stronger recoil spring will also reduce wear on your handgun. If you want to upgrade your recoil spring but aren’t sure which one to get, then consider purchasing the model-specific Wolff Recoil Calibration Spring Pack. Remember, you will also need a gun model-specific guide rod if you don’t already have one that will work.
That said, if you don’t shoot a lot of +P ammunition, then you probably don’t need to buy new recoil springs and a guide rod. These items are for people who shoot +P ammo more often. Keep in mind that you should always follow your manual for your specific handgun. If you aren’t sure about making a modification to your firearm, you should talk to a professional gunsmith.
Parting Shot
Ammunition with a little extra kick has its place. Although for most people, +P ammo isn’t absolutely necessary. Nevertheless, it can be fun to shoot. As long as it’s safe to use in your gun, and bought from a reputable source, then go ahead and blast away!
In our opinion, +P ammo should be saved for woods carry and defense against wild animals when extra stopping power might be needed. The extra penetration and kinetic energy may be just enough to stop an angry boar or bear when a standard load wouldn’t have cut it. If you do plan on carrying +P ammo at some point, make sure you practice with it first.
