Train with what you carry. But what about +P loads?

[Sheepdog1968]

One solution is to buy a range gun identical to your carry gun. That way you can do whatever you want with the range gun and not worry about the one you carry. Also, a 22 similar (or a 22 slide for the range gu n) will allow you to practice things with more shooting.

 

[susieqz]

thank you, drail. i've been trying to make that point forever.

 

[onelastshot]

If the adrenalin rush of using a firearm in self defense is anything similar to hunting, most people don't even recall the shot, let alone the recoil. In short you're simply too focused on your target and the recoil goes unnoticed.

The only two key issues I can think of is checking to make certain POI is the same for both target and self defense loads; just as important if you're carrying a semi-automatic, make certain that the self defense loads cycle properly.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If the adrenalin rush of using a firearm in self defense is anything similar to hunting, most people don't even recall the shot, let alone the recoil

For every shot you fire in anger, you'll fire thousands in practice. And there you will notice the recoil. So you have three choices:

1. Shoot hard-kicking ammo in practice and develop flinching and jerking.
2. Shoot soft-kicking ammo in practice and carry a gun that doesn't shoot to the sights -- and which will definitely surprise you when the chips are down.

Or

3. Don't practice.

 

[Ironicaintit]

1. Shoot hard-kicking ammo in practice and develop flinching and jerking.

Not necessarily. I like recoil!
Is that unusual? My dad was the same way, and so is my little bitty wife for that matter (she does have her limits though)
I roll my own, and practice with what I carry.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

What I had in mind was the itty-bitty scandium revolvers in .357. Fire a full 50-round box of full charge .357s in one of those and if you LIKE the experience, my hat's off to you.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Itd be easy to lie and say i love doing that....but i havent ever fired a tiny scandium framed revolver. Smallest i have is a stainless sp101 and its still a fairly hefty piece.
But now im intrigued! I might hafta go get my hand on one.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I bought a 101 for my daughter -- she doesn't like shooting .357s out of it, but I can tolerate them.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Yup, "mine" is actually my wifes. She can handle it with 357, but doesnt much care for it.
38+p is about as hot as i can get her to practice with.
I have .380s that kick harder than it does!

 

[Deaf Smith]

My Glock 26 eats 'plus p' like it was candy.

So no problemo.

Deaf

 

[gamestalker]

I exclusively reload, carry, and practice with +P, but the key word here is reload.

As far as the availability of +p reload data, it is abundant. Hodgdon has plenty of published +P data, so that's a non issue.

Can't help you with recommendations of where to buy factory ammunition, I don't shoot it.

If it were me, and it was at one time in my life, I would buy an inexpensive single stage press, some dies, and the necessary components and begin rolling your own. The savings alone is just icing on the cake. But the best part is having the ability to tailor your loads to your liking, shooting the very best ammunition obtainable, and the ability to shoot more are the real advantage, IMO.

I can get bulk jacketed bullets for .07 - .10 each, which works out to under $6 per 50 round box of +P at the low end, and about $6.50 on the upper end. And my carry rounds run about $15 per 50, that's for a good JHP, XTP, or Nosler, Gold Dots are about $1 or $2-ish more for a 50 count batch. All said and done, I could practice with top quality JHP's for less than or close to the same as what it costs for a box factory el cheapo junk.

GS

 

[mavracer]

Get Nato spec ammo if you're that concerned it's very close to +p spec but IMHO there just isn't that much recoil difference between 115 std pressure and 124 +p to matter.

 

[Thermactor]

Train with what you carry.
Use Federal 9BPLE. $16 for a box of 50. 9mm +P+ hollow points that expand to .60 inches, fly at 1300-1400fps and have a 94% 1-stop shot street record.

 

[ku4hx]

My simple solution to this "problem" is to practice with AND carry standard pressure loads.

+1 My stuff matches the ballistics of standard pressure loads and for SD I stoke my guns with factory standard pressure. It's been that way for decades and I see no good reason to change.

 

[golden]

I did it with a glock and a sig

Charged,

I used to carry either a GLOCK (a 19, then a 17) or a SIG 226 before my agency went with the .40 S&W.

We were required to qualify 4 times a year with our carry ammo which was FEDERAL +P+ 124 grain Hydra Shok and were issued standard pressure Hydra Shok to practice with.

I still shot some +P, which is what I like to keep in my house guns, for familiarization. In between, practice with ball.
I did not notice any problems with that method.

Jim

 

[biohazurd]

Im not a fan of +p loads except in a .38 snub. In a full powered centerfire loading (9mm, .40, .45) with modern designed hollow points standard pressure ammunition is quite effecting without excess flash and recoil. Now in shorter barreled handguns the difference between +p and standard pressure is more noticeable but you are adding a <deleted> ton more recoil to an already recoil heavy package which slows down follow up shots and could cause a lesser experienced shooter to lose accuracy. To each their own....