What Is +P Ammo & Should You Use It?

Defining +P Ammunition and SAAMI Pressure Limits

The discussion opens with a concealed carry setup and a look at Hornady Critical Duty 9mm ammunition in 135-grain standard pressure and 135-grain +P. +P is described as a higher-pressure loading within SAAMI guidelines. For 9mm, standard pressure is cited at about 35,000 pounds per square inch, while +P is about 38,500, roughly a 10% increase. The host notes that this higher pressure produces higher velocity, which in turn can improve terminal effect. The plan is to compare standard and +P 9mm on the range, focusing on recoil and measured velocity rather than ballistic gel performance.

Pros, Caveats, and Firearm Compatibility

The host states a preference for +P 9mm for self-defense, emphasizing that higher velocity can improve penetration and hollow point expansion through various barriers. However, several cautions are raised. Small concealed carry pistols such as the Glock 43, Springfield Hellcat, and compact SIG Sauer models can feel harsh with +P, especially for shooters with smaller hands or lower recoil tolerance. Standard-pressure 9mm is still considered fully capable for defense. The video also mentions +P+ ammunition, which is not regulated by SAAMI and may exceed what many pistols are rated to handle. Viewers are advised to confirm with the firearm manufacturer that their specific handgun is approved for +P, and to be especially careful with any +P+ loads.

Range Test: Recoil Comparison in 9mm Pistols

At the range, the host uses a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm to compare recoil between standard 135-grain Hornady loads and 135-grain +P. With three rounds of standard pressure, recoil is described as soft and typical for 9mm. Switching to three rounds of +P, the shooter reports a noticeable increase in felt recoil, estimated at about 20–25% more than the standard load, though not as dramatic as prior experience with .40 S&W duty +P ammunition. The test is repeated with an older Gen 2 Glock 9mm training pistol. Standard 135-grain rounds in the Glock feel snappier than in the M&P, and the +P rounds again show an estimated 20–25% increase in felt recoil over the standard load in that platform.

Velocity Testing with a Chronograph

Next, the host conducts velocity testing using a chronograph. Ten rounds are loaded: the top five are standard 135-grain 9mm, and the bottom five are 135-grain +P. Firing the standard-pressure rounds first, the readings cluster around 1,000 feet per second, with very consistent velocities across all five shots. The host notes this consistency and attributes it to Hornady’s quality control. After starting a new chronograph session, the +P rounds are fired. Each shot shows an increase of roughly 50 to about 80 feet per second over the standard load, averaging in the 60–75 feet per second gain range. The shooter also reports that the +P rounds feel distinctly snappier while shooting over the chronograph.

Interpreting Results and Choosing +P or Standard 9mm

In closing, the host compares the recoil and velocity data. The measured velocity increase for 135-grain +P 9mm is about 60–75 feet per second over standard pressure, which aligns with the observed 20–25% increase in felt recoil. This is contrasted with earlier .40 S&W duty experience, where +P loads felt significantly more violent and likely produced a larger velocity jump, though those .40 loads were not chronographed in this video. The host reiterates that higher velocity generally improves terminal performance, but the tradeoff is additional recoil that may affect accuracy for some shooters. Standard-pressure Hornady defensive 9mm is described as excellent, and the choice between standard and +P is framed as a personal decision based on shooter size, recoil tolerance, and firearm platform.