Is 9mm Luger+P ammo safe for semi-auto pistols?

[eulogyADD]

Well I suppose it depends on the pistol, huh? I have a Springfield XD9 Sub-Compact. Well here is how the question came about. I went to my local gun shop/range to get tritium sights on my pistol. After they were installed by the gunsmith, an employee picked up my XD9 and was checking it out, telling me how much he liked these pistols. Then he took it to the register to ring me up. I asked what personal protection ammo he recommended which was COR BON 9mm Luger+P 115 grain JHP. I had done some prior research and COR BON was easily the #1 pick for 9mm. So I got them. I went to my car, and for shits-and-giggles I opened the box to inspect the rounds. The rounds were different than the ones i've seen when researching. So I went back in the store and a different guy was working the counter. I told him the rounds I bought 30 seconds ago were not the same ones I saw on the web. He told me the ones I saw were called COR BON DPX, which are an all copper round where the ones I got were actually lead cored. Well they didn't carry those anymore, so I said I will just stick with the 9mm Luger+P 115 grain JHP then. And as I was walking out the door the guy said "You know those are +P, right?" I said "Yeah, thats fine." When I got to my car again I thought that was strange because I thought "Luger+P" meant "Luger & Parabellum" which are in essence the same round. So I did some research when I got home (actually the next day, I had to watch the Penguin game) and found this about +P.

Ammunition labeled +P (for extra pressure) should be used only in steel, aluminum and aluminum/scandium alloy framed revolvers approved by the manufacturer for such use.

http://www.internetarmory.com/handgunammo.htm

So I did some more reasearch, and found post on another site of people saying they use +P all the time in semi-autos and some even use +P+.

So what do you guys think, Is +P OK? Do you use it?

[mongose99]

Most semi autos can handle +P ammo, unless specifically stated that it should not be used. It is what is use in my .45acp for personal defense and I have never had a problem. As for +P+, i have not used it before so i dont have any info for you on that

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by eulogyADD

So what do you guys think, Is +P OK? Do you use it?

yes and yes.

if a pistol won't handle +p ammo, you should sell it that girly gun and get yourself a glock.

(i'm sure the XD can handle +p as well.)

[Lucas]

I carry 115gr. +p cor bon's in my p11. Good load IMHO.

[eulogyADD]

Awesome, Thanks guys!

Its just the way the guy said "You know those are +P, right?" made me unsure.

[MTechnik]

Yes, but parts will wear sooner than old standard pressure ammo.

[JoeWilliams]

They'll kick harder, and wear on the gun faster if you shoot a bunch of them.

[ghogs nightmare]

Jus shoot'm no prb. only time its more of an issue is if its something like israeli sub gun ammo.
.
Thats really toasty, no prbs on standard +ps

[WVBob]

You can't use them in OLD guns made before 1930. Where they got the date 1930 I don't know. +P+ are fine in new guns, just a little hot.

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by WVBob

You can't use them in OLD guns made before 1930. Where they got the date 1930 I don't know. +P+ are fine in new guns, just a little hot.

Yep.

The majority of modern semis can handle factory high pressure loads without a problem. Handloading is something else entirely....be very careful messing around with high pressures there.

As far as wear and tear on the gun...yes high pressure loads are harder on the gun...but you'd probably go broke shooting that much factory +p ammo before your gun gave out.