Gun owners are always on a quest to find the most effective defensive firearm and ammunition. When you’re carrying concealed, you want to defend yourself with the most effective ammunition available.
What’s High-Velocity Ammunition?
It’s also know as overpressure ammunition and you can find it by looking for +P on the box. It’s loaded to a higher pressure than other standard ammunition.
This results in higher velocity, increasing the overall speed with which the bullet leaves the gun. Common calibers featuring +P ammunition are 9mm Luger, .45 ACP, and .38 Special.
High-velocity ammunition is commonly used for defensive handguns. The increased power can definitely work in your favor because a faster bullet reaches deeper areas of the target.
Are there any downsides to using high-velocity ammunition?
Due to the increased power of +P ammo, you don’t want to use it in cheaply manufactured or older handguns. Research your handgun’s ability to support high-velocity ammunition before you load up.
Using +P ammo in a gun that’s not built to accommodate it can result in serious injury, not to mention a broken gun.
More powerful ammunition can increase stopping power, but causes more recoil and muzzle blast as a result. Before you carry concealed with high-velocity ammo, take it to the firing range and decide if you’re comfortable with these effects.
Should I use +P ammunition for concealed carry?
That decision is really up to the shooter. The best way to determine that is to practice firing with both standard pressure and high-velocity ammunition to determine if it can be comfortably fired.
The increases in velocity are minimal across the board, but they are increases nonetheless. As with many things in the world of concealed carry, it’s up to the carrier to decide what they’re most comfortable shooting.
