Using +P ammo in an LCP?

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If the manual says don't use +P ammo, then don't use +P ammo.





Also, shooting +P through a gun like that wouldn't be pleasant, although as pocket CCW you probably wouldn't be shooting it a ton, although some guys do.

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I shot plenty of +P through my old Taurus TCP, never a problem

I doubt that +P ammo will ruin your LCP, but you risk having the warranty voided if something happens while using it. I guess it depends on what's more important to you

There really isn't a SAAMI standard IIRC for +P 380. Its a marketing thing. You are not going to get a lot out of a "+P" in a 380 moreso with a short barrel like a LCP. I'd stick with std ammo. My idea of a +P 380 is called 9mm parabellum.

Follow the manual instruction. I have looked into this though I don't own a Ruger LCP yet and one cannot use +P ammo in it.

It's best not to, and really unnecessary IMO because you really don't gain much but a bunch of extra recoil and muzzle blast. They likely won't destroy your LCP after shooting a box full, but they will cause accelerated wear for sure.

I stick with 90 grain speer gold dots in my LCP. They open up surprisingly well and are LCP friendly.

I would love to be able to get a little more punch out of the .380 round, but if its gonna mess something up, i don't want to risk it.

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Have you shot a full box of .380 through you ruger yet? Didn't you think it snapped enough?

Jeff Quinn at Gunblast shot Buffalo Bore through his LCP with no problems. He also shot glasser and
Cor Bon as well.
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-LCP.htm

The muzzle blast and recoil can be silly with +p ammo. LCP is hard enough to hang onto as it is. That plus the manual saying NO should be enough to discourage it's use.

Personally, I don't want to subject my gun to that much mashing of parts. Yes, the gun will most likely shoot them just fine, however, one would assume the gun will also wear prematurely and doing so would go against the factory recommendation! If there is any possibility that shooting +P loads could be dangerous in any way, shape or form, it is not worth the risk!

When I see the damage inflicted by regular .380 loads, I'm satisfied with that.

I am a firm believer that shot placement is the key to success no matter what it is someone may be shooting.

Don't do it!! Follow the manufacturer's manual- I don't care what Jeff Quinn does- don't shoot +P through the Ruger LCP.
Manufacture's manuals are written for many purposes, one, safety.
Follow the manual.

First I want to make it clear that I would follow the manufacturer's recommendation. That said I totally disagree with those that say going to something like a Buffalo Bore '+p' round in a .380 doesn't buy you much. In my P3AT (the gun that Ruger copied in my opinion) a Magtech Guardian Gold 85 grain JHP achieved 859fps and 137ftlbs of muzzle energy. A Hornady 90 gr XTP got 617 fps and 76 ftlbs muzzle energy. With Buffalo Bore +P 95 grain JHP I chronoed 1059 fps and 237 ftlbs of muzzle energy. That certainly is a notable difference. Buffalo Bore really does push their '+p' to the limits and I like the edge. Personally I don't see why you would replace the Keltec with a Ruger. Since there is no SAAMI designated +P for .380, Ruger is saying that their LCP will not handle SAAMI upper limit pressures all the time, every time. The P3AT eats everything I feed it and is completely reliable, and Keltec will tell you that anything SAAMI goes.

Follow the manufacturer recommendations, but the '+p' designation as far as Buffalo Bore goes ensures good penetration and proper HP expansion from these short barreled micro compacts.

As for choosing one of these ultralights in the first place you open the door to control and cycling issues with any sort of limp wristing. My P3AT has pretty good muzzle flip and is a lot to hold onto. That said I shoot it a lot to make sure I maintain a strong grip and maintain control through multiple rounds.

kokapelli said:

Jeff Quinn at Gunblast shot Buffalo Bore through his LCP with no problems. He also shot glasser and
Cor Bon as well.
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-LCP.htm

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It should be noted that the Gunblast review does not specify that the Buffalo Bore ammo shot was +P. Buffalo Bore also makes standard pressure ammo in these bullet types. Yet given the velocities he achieved it certainly must be. The standard pressure BB 100 gr HC is rated 975 fps on the box flap. Gunblast saw 1110 fps. He was at 400 ft elev. I am at 7500 feet elev. and saw 1059 fps from a little lighter bullet.

I'm surprised that Ruger says stay away from +p ammo. Pretty much all there pistol/revolvers are tanks. I agree if you want more power go to a bigger gun.
Right now Kahr and Kimber are making a 9 mm that's not much bigger than most 380s.
And,NO I don't work for or hold stock in either company.

Hornady Critical Defense were designed to expand at normal pressures .i used the 9s in my kahr i use them now in my p95 and my 38 special snub. if i had a .380 that's what i'd try

It bears repeating...........

GRIZ22 There really isn't a SAAMI standard IIRC for +P 380. Its a marketing thing. You are not going to get a lot out of a "+P" in a 380 moreso with a short barrel like a LCP. I'd stick with std ammo. My idea of a +P 380 is called 9mm parabellum.

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As GRIZ22 said, there is no SAAMI spec for ".380 +P". Any manufacturer, reloader, or remanufacturer could cram as much powder as he wants into that little case and call it "+P".

It is pure marketing hyperbole.

highlander 5: ....I'm surprised that Ruger says stay away from +p ammo....

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It's not surprising at all.......there is no SAAMI spec for .380 +P. You could stuff C-4 into that case and call it +P and no one can prove you wrong. Ruger knows that SAAMI has not (and likely never will) approve a spec for .380 +P. They don't want some fly by night ammunition maker pushing the envelope and blowing up their guns or causing excessive wear and tear resulting in warranty repairs.

Sounds to me like the Lawyers at Ruger have wisely said "No + P" as there is no standard for .380 +P that is recognized by SAAMI

SAAMI standard is 21500 psi max for .380 acp.

I've read reports that the BB 380 +P is around 25000 psi. That is a fairly big jump.

On the other hand, the BB .32acp +P (again NO recognized SAAMI standard for .32 +P) doesn't appear to be any hotter than S&B or Fiochi standard pressure rounds.

Hornady Critical Defense were designed to expand at normal pressures .i used the 9s in my kahr i use them now in my p95 and my 38 special snub. if i had a .380 that's what i'd try

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Its also tested out of a 4" barrel. Its gonna be going A LOT slower out of an LCP.

It is pure marketing hyperbole.

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I ASSume the +P designation indicates the pressures are getting closer to or are at SAAMI max. most of the ammo out there today is VERY watered down.