+p+ ammo safe for older pistols?

[moecomputer]

I got a Sig P6 9mm (surplus West German police issue version of the p225), and also a box of some Federal Classic 9mm +p+ Hi-Shock JHP. Since the pistol is about 30 years old, I was wondering if it's safe or acceptable to fire these rounds in it. The gun fires flawlessly and is in great condition. Thanks :]

 

[Hostile Amish]

Maybe, but I wouldn't trust it. I don't shoot anything +P or +P+ if the gun is over 20 years old, personally.

 

[Ben86]

I doubt it on the +P+ the +P maybe.

 

[moecomputer]

eeek so I suppose that I should save the box until I get another 9mm gun :banghead:

 

[Ron James]

If it were mine, based on what I know about the so called +P and +P+ ammo, I owould shoot it untill the cows come home. If, and only If it were mine, I wouldn't even break a wrinkle worring about it. 30 years old, heck . thats still just a baby as far as firearms go.

 

[CWL]

Trade it to a buddy who owns a newer 9mm for a box of non +P+ JHPs, that way you'll both be happy.

 

[moecomputer]

It cost me $25 to buy that box a few weeks ago, and I thought that was expensive...but the local gun store is charging $30 per box of 9mm ammo now! Just hope it wont be a problem for the gun's reliability if i'm just going to save the +p+ ammo for defensive purposes only...just don't want it to blow up in my face while i'm trying to stop a threat...

 

[RyanM]

It's probably safe enough to go through a single box. It's very unlikely to actually be dangerous to you, but you won't be doing the gun any favors. Still, you're very unlikely to notice any excessive wear unless you run a whole lot of +P ammo through it, especially with a well built gun like a SIG.

IMO, anyway, +P ammo is pointless. If you want more power, move up to a bigger caliber! Also, IMO as well, modern standard pressure 147 gr ammo in 9mm is as good as it gets in that caliber (I'm a big proponent of heavy weight Remington Golden Sabers in 9mm and .40, though they're merely average in .45).

 

[loop]

Pressure specs for +P in 9mm are 3,500 PSI higher than for plain Jane 9.

+P+ is even higher. I don't recall +P+ even being available 30 years ago. Maybe it was, but I've never been a fan of 9mm so I don't know for sure. However, the SIG was built to handle standard pressure loads. It probably is not dangerous, but you certainly won't be doing the longevity of the gun any good.

RyanM is right. +P is pointless. If you want more power shoot another caliber.

He's also right about 147-grain Golden Sabers. When I have owned 9s they were the only bullet I'd load. They were more accurate and expanded more reliably than anything else I ever tested. Whenever I loaded them to velocities higher than 930 fps they always expanded.

 

[afvoo52]

I believe most of these were W.German police guns, what ammo did they use? I assume ball ammo and I wonder if it was NATO ball which is higher pressure than standard 9mm?

 

[kanook]

There is a picture floating around the interwebs showing the two types of sig P6 feed ramps. One version works really well with american style hollowpoints, the other can be really picky. It turns out the german police used hollowpoints with a plastic roundnose cap in them to aid in feeding and improve expansion, much like fancy american rifle ammo.

contact sig and ask them. if they say yes and it goes wrong, you can send it back and say I did what you said was fine. I have found that 115grain is the most accurate in all the ones I've shot. granted it was factory loads and every gun shoots a little different as do the shooters.