9mm +P+ Ammo and Kahr P9

[45shooter]

Is it okay to use 9mm +P+ ammo in the Kahr P9 pistol?

My current carry ammo for my Glock pistols and Sig 226 is Winchester Ranger-T 127gr JHP +P+ (RA9TA) so I have a lot of this ammo. I would like to test fire this ammo and would like to use it as my carry ammo in the Kahr P9.

 

[geronimo509]

my MK9 says its rated for +p but I have no idea about that one

 

[Deer Hunter]

I doubt the Ranger-T is really +P+.

9mm SD loads are sometimes loaded as "+P". In Europe, they're simply called 9mm. In the US, that distinction is made when talking about the difference between high-priced SD offerings and run of the mill plinking ammo.

+P+ denotes SMG ammo, which is hard on even the best built handguns.

 

[gazpacho]

It is my undestanding that at this time it is not desirable to require service from Kahr.

I wouldn't put +P+ thru a P9. If I wanted more power, I'd just upgrade to a 40 or 45.

 

[usp9]

The original Kahr K9 was in fact labeled in the manual for +P+. Kahr removed that recomendation for a reason. Bearing in mind that the K is more robust than the P, one should avoid SMG ammo, besides, it would possibly void your warranty and increase the probability of a failure.

 

[saltydog452]

I've shot enough high velocity ammunition through my mags and my P9 and K9 Kahrs to have some expectation of reliability.

Cor-Bon and Federal 9BPLE, both in 115 grain JHP flavor, function just dandy.

They function just as well in my BHPs.

If limited use of high velocity ammunition breaks my pistol, I'll just have to get another. They're machines and are not going to last forever.

I have not fired gazillions rounds of the spiffier ammunition though.

Range ammo is generic 115 ball.

You didn't ask, but spiffy Hydra Shock ammo is in my Commanders. I imagine a slide will eventually crack with the Hydra Shock.

Warmish loads are in the K frames also. They aren't good for longivity either.

salty

ps.

I don't know, but I think, that some of the 'ratings' are motivated by advertising rather that a realistic description of the product.

The Federal 9BPLE sounds kinda wimpy when fired and tosses the brass in a neat pile about 10 feet back at 4 o'clock. It is rated at +P+.

The Cor-Bon 115 Plus P JHP sounds more authoritative and flings the brass with mucho gusto somewhere to my right. The Cor-Bon is rated at +P.

No chronograph, just WAG/speculation about slide velocity.

sd.

 

[Seven For Sure]

The bullet weight and velocity is more important than +P or +P+. Speer Gold Dot +P's I carry are 124 @ 1230. Federal hydra shocks I use for practice (got a great deal on a bunch) are 124 @ 1170 and designated +P+. The recoil is noticeably less with the Federal load. I have shot these from my P9 and it shows zero wear other than being carried. I've got about 3.5K rds. through it and have never had a malfunction when I was firing it. A friend had a stovepipe once when I let him shoot it. I believe it was operator error, probably limp wristed it.

Many Kahr owners carry the Winchester 127 +P+ SXT which is 127 @ 1270. I have fired a few mags of this load through my 9mm Kahrs but prefer the 124 +P gold dot.

The above velocities are from 4" barrels so don't expect as much from the P9.

 

[NG VI]

I don't know, but I think, that some of the 'ratings' are motivated by advertising rather that a realistic description of the product.

The Federal 9BPLE sounds kinda wimpy when fired and tosses the brass in a neat pile about 10 feet back at 4 o'clock. It is rated at +P+.

The Cor-Bon 115 Plus P JHP sounds more authoritative and flings the brass with mucho gusto somewhere to my right. The Cor-Bon is rated at +P.

No chronograph, just WAG/speculation about slide velocity.

I think you are right, the 9BPLE, for all the loving it got from people who like light-fast loads, doesn't feel very heavy in recoil to me. It actually feels like it has less recoil out of my CZ PCR than standard pressure 147 grain HST, despite most people's comments that a bullet like the 147 or 180 should feel softer than a lighter, faster bullet like the 115+P/+P+/124+P/155 loads. I don't know why this is, but I also notice less recoil in my .40 pistols using lighter bullets, except the 165 HST at 1140 feet per second, that one can be a little hairy.

 

[robriboflavin]

Not exactly the same, but I have shot a couple of boxes of Ranger 115 gr +P+ in my P9 with no ill effects. But it wasn't all that pleasant to shoot either, so I went back to the 115 silvertips (recommended by Kahr IIRC)