[bg226]

I looked through several gun manuals and found nothing about +P/+P+ ammunition.

I would like to use only +P or +P+ ammunition. Which 9mm handgun would provide the best support for +P or +P+ ammunition?

Thanks.

[sgt127]

Any quality gun chambered for .357 Sig..... +P+ will eventually beat up any 9mm. If you want that kind of performance, you are far better off getting a gun designed for that hot a round.

[otomik]

just about any current NATO military 9mm handgun

Browning Hi-Power, especially the newer Mark III
Beretta 92 series, especially the Brigadier or Elites
SIG P226, especially the newer ones with forged slides
CZ-75 series
Glock 17 and 19

you also want to get some extra power recoil springs from Wolff Gunspings and find which is the strongest that still works reliably. Though I do agree that a .357SIG might be what you want as the current ne plus ultra of fast nines.

[Newton]

H&K USP 9mm full size

Glock 17

[JDGray]

Not to be a smart ass, But ya might check out a 357 Magnum, GP100 or SP101:)

[cookekdjr]

1. Any CZ. It's what they are made for.
2. Ditto the 9mm Glocks. Mine shoots +p+ like its spitting out bb's. No recoil, no malfunctions. No noticeable wear-and-tear. Just gobbles up +p+ like it's candy.
3. HK's are all designed for +p+ ammo.
4. I hear the Beretta is fine too, but I do know less about them than the others.
5. I've heard of several folks using +p+ ammo in FN Hi-Powers without a single problem. The SAS loves theirs, from what I hear.
6. Sigs will generally be ok, but I have heard that the p226 slide will crack with too much +p+ use. Should be fine for many thousands of +p loads, though.

By the wayI considered the .357 SIG before I bought my G19.
Between the two, 9mm is the way to go. You can find 9mm loadings that closely mimic the .357 SIG, and you can find cheap ball ammo, too. You can find submachine gun loads that push 1500fps with a 124gr slug, and a number of other interesting military surplus loads.
You can find 9mm ammo everywhere, from hardware stores to Wal-Mart. Its everywhere, and it is cheap as dirt. Cheaper than anything short of 22lr.
I found the choice of 9mm over .357 SIG to be a no-brainer for me. A p229 in .357 SIG would be fun and powerful...but I see no real advantage over my G19 w/+p+ ammo.
-David

[sgt127]

I agree with everybody that suggests any good quality 9mm will stand up to a bunch of +P+. And, 9mm is cheaper. However, I read literally into the statement by the OP when he said he wants to shoot ONLY +P and +P+. Based on that, I can find cheap .357 sig practice ammo for less than +P+ 9mm. If it were a case of shooting cheap, the 9mm is unquestionably the way to go...and you have the ability to shoot hot stuff through it whenever you want to. Or, can afford to. I think if I wanted +P+ performance out of a .357 bullet all the time out of an autoloader, I would go with the .357 Sig. I think we are generally in agreement here...(And, I don't own a .357 Sig!)

[gudel]

H&K USP 9mm

+1. It says that in the manual too ;)

[bg226]

The HK USP manual confirms that it is built to handle +P loads.

Good enough for me. :D

[Walt Sherrill]

Lots of modern firearms can handle +P. +P+, however, is a crap shoot, as I don't think there's really a SAAMI standard that conforms to that, and what you get is what you get -- but maybe not what you want.

I'll ask the unasked question: why beat up yourself and your gun with +P or +P+, when a gun designed for a hotter load (like, perhaps, a compact 10mm, or a solid .40) makes a lot more sense...

[BevrFevr]

that does what you want it too do at standard pressures?

Why hotrod and beat the hell out of a gun. Also +P+ can mean anything so anybody telling you a gun will handle it with ease just ain't loading hot enough.

If 9mm and 9mm +P ain't good enough move up to .357 or .40 or maybe even .50AE.

I think +P+ is a PP thing. If it ain't big enough for the job find one that is.

-bevr

[bg226]

I'll ask the unasked question: why beat up yourself and your gun with +P or +P+, when a gun designed for a hotter load (like, perhaps, a compact 10mm, or a solid .40) makes a lot more sense...

IMO, the recoil from 9mm +P is less than .40 S&W. It is more controllable.

[The Reverend]

CZ
Glock
XD
Beretta

[MCgunner]

RUGER P89!

[sjc 3081]

SW 5906 all steel pistol

[hksw]

Hi-Point C-9/C-9 Comp are also rated for +p+.

[Dave Markowitz]

Ruger P-89 or P-95.

[CAnnoneer]

I'd only shoot such with a Ruger KP89.

Any other platform would make me nervous with such loads.

[mete]

The HK USP was first designed for the 40S&W so it will handle 9 +P+ without a problem ....BTW The HK P2000 and P2000sk are being discontinued ...To be replaced by the P30 [P3000 ] maybe ?

[10-Ring]

+P or +P+??? I'd go HK USP 9 or USPc 9

[myusername]

I've had a p89 for years. you can't kill this thing and it will feed anything you put through it. Will handle hot loads without any problems.

[Big Mike]

5906, Beretta 92, CZ75, USP9

[Falconeer]

I believe the Sigs are rated for +P in the manual as well. +P+ is a marketing tool, not a specification. SAMMI doesn't publish specs for +P+ like they do for +P.

I CCW a P229 in 357 Sig. As for ammo costs, I carry 125grn Gold Dots and reload my practice ammo. Let's hear it for 125grn Montana Gold (http://www.montanagoldbullet.com) FMJs!! :p

[cookekdjr]

I believe the Sigs are rated for +P in the manual as well. +P+ is a marketing tool, not a specification. SAMMI doesn't publish specs for +P+ like they do for +P.
Generally, people say +p+ when they mean the pressures exceed SAMMI +p specs.

[AK103K]

If your planning on ONLY shooting the +P, +P+ 9mm, than you would be better off going with the 357SIG. Your practice ammo will be at the same power level as your carry ammo, for the most part, and all of it will be cheaper than +P+ 9mm.

You also get the advantage of still being able to push it even hotter, as most comparisons of +P+ 9mm and 357SIG are based on the standard loading of the 357SIG, which is available even hotter with some ammo. The +P+ 9mm can get close, but its still chasing the 357SIG, even at its best.

Another advantage is, you can get a 9mm barrel for most 357SIG guns, which allows you to have some more options. You cant go the other way with the 9mm.

[MCgunner]

If I was lookin' at .357 Sig, I'd just buy a .40. Similar energy levels with heavier bullets.

Your practice ammo will be at the same power level as your carry ammo, for the most part, and all of it will be cheaper than +P+ 9mm.

Not in my case. My carry +P stuff costs me about $5 a box if I load Winchester bullets, maybe 8 dollars with my favorite Hornady 115 grain XTPs.:D

[beaucoup ammo]

"Like steel-framed Kahr 9x19 mm pistols, the P9 is rated for +P and +P+ ammunition. Trigger pull on our sample was excellent, having about 3/8" of effortless take-up, followed by a smooth, steady pull of 6 3/4 lbs. over a distance of about 1/2". On the last shot, the slide stop locks the slide open.
Recoil, while manageable, was particularly sharp, especially with +P ammunition. Accuracy, as can be seen in the accompany table, was quite good for a pistol of this size. Function firing was with a variety of Federal, PMC and Winchester ammunition. Following Kahr Arm's recommended 200-round break-in period, we experienced no malfunctions of any kind."

[beaucoup ammo]

"I realize that the original post was about +P & +P+ ammo in 9mm pistols in general, but the specific pistol in question is the Kahr P-9.

The original Kahr K-9 was specifically built for +P ammunition. Unless I'm sorely mistaken, the P-9 is as well. **Note: It IS.**

One of the advantages of a polymer framed pistol (I know-heresy!!) is its ability to imperceptibility flex during recoil, allowing the use of intense loads, and/or making recoil seem "softer".

Kahr pistols were designed from the ground up to be CCW pistols, carried with the most potent ammunition available, and when they came into existence (speaking specifically to the 9mm here) +P ammo was it. Keep in mind that 9mm standard pressure is 35,000 cup, which is the same for .357 magnum.

If you have any doubts about +P or +P+ ammo in the P-9, I'd suggest a quick call to Kahr and ask them-who better to tell you if the pistol is so rated than the manufacturer?"

My KAHR P9 has breezed through 100's of rounds of +P+ and just begs for more!

Note: Check the Archives here at THR for most any question. It's like "The Bible" for fire arms!

[RON in PA]

One thing to consider is the life expectency of your gun. As you go from standard pressure through +P to +P+ you reduce the total number of rounds your gun will shoot. Most major manufacturers say in their manuals that shooting +P is OK but advise against +P+ because there is no standard for that ammo.

[New_geezer]

Ruger P89 - It may not be sexy but it is solid as can be and a relative bargain to boot.

[iShootStraight]

Two questions: Why do you NEED +p+??
What is this gun used for?

[steveracer]

If I were going to run ONLY +p and +p+, I would go with 5906. The VA Beach PD had these and ran Ranger +p+ for years and years before somebody MADE them get Glocks. Their Smiths went into one of the buyback programs, and I got to handle a dozen or so. These guns were shot extensively with really hot ammo, tens of thosands of roudns, and they all looked new internally. Get one, and feel confident that it will do the job. Plus, Smith will fix it for free for life.
I prefer other pistols for carry, as I don't like the slide mounted safety, but you may not care.
Steve.

PS: these are going for $300 in Excellent condition.

[MAGNUMMAN]

RUGER P89!!!

[JohnKSa]

Ruger or Glock

[XLMiguel]

I've put some +P thru my Kahr P-9. No problem with the pistol, but it ain't fun or easy on your hand/wrist in such a lightweight gun. FWIW

[Shipwreck]

I would say the HK USP - Hell, not too long ago, people were shooting 45 super thru their stock USP 45s. So, the 9mm version can handle the +p+ I would be safe to say.

[otomik]

9mm +P+ versus .357SIG
That's an interesting question, Fiocchi 158gr subsonic, Winchester +P+ 127gr. Ranger T's and 115gr. Gold Dot Double Tap screamers and the like really show the versatility of 9mm as a well developed international standard.

[Longbow]

Ruger P series or Glock 17.