+P/+P+

[Waingro]

What does +P mean?

What does +P+ mean?

I've heard it on the forum, if you search the whole form is shown pretty much. What does it mean? I know it has something to do with the ammo.

[Shane916]

What does +P mean?

What does +P+ mean?

I've heard it on the forum, if you search the whole form is shown pretty much. What does it mean? I know it has something to do with the ammo.

Ammo indeed.

Straight from Wiki

+P — Plus P (10-15% overpressure)
+P+ — Plus P Plus (20-25% overpressure)

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

[M. Sage]

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

Handguns need to be rated for it in order to use it safely. Example: Some .38 spl revolvers are rated for it, you can use .38 spl or .38 spl +p. If it's not rated +p, you can only use regular .38 spl, not the +p stuff.

[odesskiy]

As compared to SAAMI specs.

[Waingro]

Thanks guys.

[elenius]

As I understand it, 38 spl +P is an official SAAMI spec, whereas +P+ is not. I don't know whether all the other +P's (9mm, 45 auto, etc) are official or just hotter than max.

[M5police]

Isnt +P+ close to NATO spec ammo?

[-hanko]

As I understand it, 38 spl +P is an official SAAMI spec, whereas +P+ is not. I don't know whether all the other +P's (9mm, 45 auto, etc) are official or just hotter than max.

Correct; there are no saami specs for +p+.

-hanko

[-hanko]

Isnt +P+ close to NATO spec ammo?

You'd have to cross check the +p+ number for the particular ammo...it varies depending on the ammo.

-hanko

[cobra198]

Hmmm, I was wondering about the +P and +P+ also. Thanks for the info!

[Shotgun Man]

Yeah, I remember I was looking into this +P issue a while back.

A lot of people on the internet recommend it as a good self-defense round, say, in a CJH 9 mm.

I am concerned about over-penetration and believe in an urban setting where my neighbor's house is close to mine, it is too penetrating.

I don't know if I'm right, but I don't think I need them.

[M. Sage]

Yeah, I remember I was looking into this +P issue a while back.

A lot of people on the internet recommend it as a good self-defense round, say, in a CJH 9 mm.

I am concerned about over-penetration and believe in an urban setting where my neighbor's house is close to mine, it is too penetrating.

I don't know if I'm right, but I don't think I need them.

Anything that can kill a person is a potential danger to your neighbors. The odds of actually hitting a neighbor? Really low.

IIRC, +P is more recommended for shorter-barreled handguns, to get the bullet up to speed. Might be wrong on that, though.

[CSDGuy]

Another way to look at this is that +P is a SAAMI spec. It's just hotter than the normal SAAMI spec for that round. +P+ can be WAAAY hotter than SAAMI spec and may be dangerous in your pistol. Or not. +P+ can be anything from just barely over a +P spec to blowing up +P rated guns, but will do OK in a submachine gun. There is that much variability and only the manufacturer of the round decides what their +P+ pressure will be.