Beretta and +P ammo

[Bushwack44]

With a Beretta 92FS, I usually shoot 115gr although on occasion I've used 124gr 9mm. Lately I'm seeing increased availability of bagged (quantity of 500 or 1,000) 9mm +P rounds. Is a +P round equivalent to using 124gr (or even 147gr)?

[TheExiled]

+p indicated a hotter load as in powder, not bullet weight

[003]

As stated above, the +P designation has nothing to do with the bullet weight. It is a measurement of chamber pressure, both 9mm and 9mm +P ammunition is available in a variety of bullet weights. At one time the “standard” and most common 9mm bullet was 115, with the NATO standard 9mm being 124. While the most common 9mm bullet weights are between 115 and 147, they are available both lighter and heavier.

9mm +P ammunition is slightly hotter that standard 9mm. The standard chamber pressure for 9mm ammunition is 35,000, 9mm +P is 38,500, or a 10% increase. Given that the Beretta 92 series was developed as a military pistol, and rated to shoot NATO spec 9mm ammunition, shooting SAMMI +P is 100% safe. NATO 9mm ammunition is loaded to about the same pressure specifications as SAMMI +P.

The SAMMI proof load for 9mm ammunition is 50,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpressure_ammunition

[Mr. Beretta]

With a Beretta 92FS, I usually shoot 115gr although on occasion I've used 124gr 9mm. Lately I'm seeing increased availability of bagged (quantity of 500 or 1,000) 9mm +P rounds. Is a +P round equivalent to using 124gr (or even 147gr)?

03 is spot on!

Enjoy that 92 FS !

[Bushwack44]

Thanks everyone for the information. But now this brings up more questions...

1. Is it my imagination or does a 124 seem to go down the chute with more gusto then a 115? I sense a bit more recoil with a 124 round (or is this my imagination).

2. If I am correct with the above, then what I'm feeling is strictly the added weight of the round. But if it was a 115 +P round, I would feel significantly more recoil then a typical 124, correct?

[003]

Please understand, I was not a physics major in college, but, I suspect most everyone has heard of Newton's Third Law of Motion,
which states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So, if you accept that Newton was correct, (which most people do) it is certainly reasonable to accept that a 124 grain bullet fired out of the same gun at the same velocity as a 115 graiin bullet will produce more felt recoil. More mass + more energy = more recoil.

Now if you feel the need for more detailed information, the internet is your friend. A bit of on line research should answer all of your questions.

[19K]

Thanks everyone for the information. But now this brings up more questions...

1. Is it my imagination or does a 124 seem to go down the chute with more gusto then a 115? I sense a bit more recoil with a 124 round (or is this my imagination).

2. If I am correct with the above, then what I'm feeling is strictly the added weight of the round. But if it was a 115 +P round, I would feel significantly more recoil then a typical 124, correct?

heavier bullets will produce more recoil, its physics, don't know exactly why but I think it has to do with the 124 grain being heavier. takes more energy to push the bullet out which translates to more energy being sent back to you.

[Nick Adams]

Either way the 92FS is one of the softest recoiling 9mms I've shot.

[JLM Ranger]

The 92 is a pleasure to shoot. Some people frown on it, but I enjoy mine. I'm running out tomorrow to find some +P.