9mm +P and +P+ 

Paul Harrell, always humble, never condescending, always thorough and so easy to appreciate. Hang tough Paul, Semper Fidelis 🇺🇸

Just a couple of comments on how defense ammunition is made and the differences between +P and +P+ loadings. In 2000, I flew to South Dakota to talk with CorBon about a job. At the time they were the only ammo maker selling +P+ 9mm to the general public. Remington, Federal, Speer, and Winchester made it, but would only sell it to law enforcement dealers. Some of this leaked out into civilian sales, usually at gun shows. I spent the day at CorBon with my friend, the late Terry Murbach, who explained to me how high performance ammunition was made. At the time, we did not have the improved projectiles we have today, so the only way we could get better performance from a hollow point was to push it faster. CorBon even had a sign over the door to the room where they made +P+ ammo that just said "Speed Kills". Terry explained to me that each ammo maker used a custom blend of powders to achieve their performance goals. It is not like reloading at home where we typically use one powder and vary the amount to push the bullet faster. These custom blends are closely guarded secrets from compan to company. 30-40 years ago, before powder science was fully developed, if you wanted better effectiveness, you pushed a standard hollow point as fast as you could, until you saw fragmentation in test media OR your pressures went too high. Some law enforcement agencies didn't mind some fragmentation, especially if they did not do traffic stops, such as the Secret Service. Two of the +P+ loads, the Federal and the Speer 115 grain rounds are from that era. The Gold Dot +P+ is 30 years old, and doesn't fragment much because it uses a bonded bullet. The Federal +P+ is 40 years old. These loads are still available because they still sell well. The other +P+ load is from a smaller boutique maker, much like CorBon was at one time. Terry shared with me that in the industy, +P generally means that the load in question does not exceed SAAMI standard pressure by more than 10%, but +P+ is anything more than 10% with no agreed upon upper limit. Depending on the maker's powder mix, you may or may not get better performance from a +P+ load than you do from +P. In the intervening years, we have learned to make better projectiles that expand at lower velocities, reducing the need to push the bullet so fast. Modern makers consider not only pressure, but they strive to meet performance targets (usually FBI standards) with the lowest pressures and velocities they can achieve, to reduce recoil and firearms wear. Most of the "major's" modern loads will result in lower velocities and pressures by design. Some smaller manufacturers, like Underwood, cater to users who feel they want the extra velocities for game hunting or other reasons, and don't care as much about recoil or gun wear. It's part of their marketing of the product. Most major makers really try to avoid having to mark their ammo as +P+ these days because they know it voids most gun maker's warranties. This is why if you encounter Speer or Federal +P+ ammo, it usually has a prominent sticker on it saying it is for LE use only. We can now get very similar performance from a modern +P load as we get from an older +P+ load. Sorry for the long comment which I know not everyone is interested in. I bring it up just to say there are reasons that +P+ doesn't necessarily get you anything more than +P these days if you are buying from a major maker. And if their target market is law enforcement, the reduced pressure and velocity is usually an intended feature, not a bug. They want both velocity and pressure to be as low as can be arranged and still perform well on the FBI test protocols.

Brilliant! "I don't always shoot +P+ ammunition, but when I do, I do it in someone else's handgun."

This video just shows the amount of care and work which Mr. H. puts into his videos for us. We thank you, Mr. Harrell !

ahhh my Friday afternoon is complete. Paul, I bought a Beretta 92FS because of you and it is a fantastic firearm.

Yet the question EVERYONE wants to know . . . Are they as good as the Hertenburger Buscadero Ticondas®?

Now I finally understand! So +P or +P+ is like +Paul Harrell or +Paul Harrell+

Another great video. I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 11 years as a member of the US Public Health Service. I had access to every area of the prison when needed. Once I responded to a medical emergency in a secure area of the facility. The room was large and was stocked with wire racks filled side to side and from floor to ceiling with case after case of Federal 9mm BPLE 115 grain +P+. That was the carry ammo of the perimeter officer and anyone that transported detainees to the hospital. That was also the same ammo we qualified with each year at annual training. I always failed my first try at qualification and had to shoot a second time. Pistols were the Barretta DAO stainless 9mm auto. I always thought the ammo was loaded pretty stiff and it became the ammo I would always buy for myself. Thanks for another superb analysis.

New Paul Harrell video? Gonna be a good day 👍🇺🇸

It's not that this was one of my favorite of your videos, it's that you are the best gun channel on all of RU-vid. I have seen and gone through countless gun channels on RU-vid and yours stands out as the best at this time. It is free from the intentional controversies that others aim for, void of racism and blind politics and it has the IQ that gets down to the fine details for refined discourse on firearms, ammunition, and expert weaponry. Thank you for doing what you do.

Sometimes "+P" means "Pulls Pressure" and sometimes it only means "Plus Price!"

My sense is still that the white box and green-and-white box ammunition is good enough for most people's needs. I tend to use the Federal white box ammunition, but I'd expect that ammunition to be similar to the others. As I look at all of these presentations, my sense is that a good center-mass shot to the chest with hollowpoint ammunition in any standard defensive caliber is likely to do the job.

Does the shooting in the background really bother anyone? You be the judge.

10:24 Princess Bride!!! Paul you are the greatest. I could watch your videos all day if I hadn't seen them all already. Your info is always practical and useful. Thank you for all the work you and your "crew" put in to make things happen. This is my favorite RU-vid channel bar none! Keep up the great work!!

I think Paul should be given Oscar. Maybe not a real size Oscar... but an award of some sort. First - he can make shooting chronograph look like an interesting process... even for long time. A second - he uses rich language. Never heard word "exorbitant" before... I have an excuse - I am Russian. But WTF??? I watched thousands of youtube videos filmed by Americans and Englishmen and none of them cared of this word!!! Yes we in Russia can not carry pistols. But I can learn a new word from Paul anyway!!!

Who else always hits the like button before they even start watching any of Paul's videos? Hands down, one of the best channels on RU-vid. Good show bud, good show.

What this showed me is that WWB HP rounds are perfectly adequate as carry rounds.

Champion of men.

Your video quality is excellent, Paul. Thanks for providing such great content.

A thinking man's evaluation of 9mm ammo. Thanks!

One of the things I find so interesting is that Paul Harrell is such a good shot that even with different types of ammo over greater distances the groups are all still really nice! And the best part was in one of his videos he said he had to remember not to shoot through the same hole that he'd already put in the targets! That is superior shooting.

RIP Paul. Ive appreciated all of his hard work and educational videos.

"I do not think it means what you think it means..." Excellent! Great video as always

For firearms and ammo education, Paul Harrell and Gunblue 490 are the only two channels you need.

Great timing Paul! I have 200 rounds of Speer GD 115gr +P+ in the mail right now! Saved me $30 so I don’t have to build my own meat target. Textbook perfect performance for the gold dot that matches its street credentials.

great info as always

only Paul Harrell can make shooting through chronograph very interesting :)

“I don’t think it means what you think it means” - classic Paul Harrell.

This is the only channel where I "like" the video first, then I watch it... Keep on, Paul. :-)

For an accurate test, we need the same gun. No problem. (Pulls out a 92FS from jacket.) For an accurate test, we need ammo from the same maker. No problem. (Pulls out ammos from 1 maker) For an accurate test, we need a bench rest. No problem. (Pulls out an Audi 5000 from jacket) God I love this channel.

The white box ammo looked fine to me.

Paul stop wasting all those Ticondas!

A Princess Bride reference? You sir, win the internet for the day.

This reminds me of when I used to fish a lot as a kid. I remember reading somewhere that many fishing lures are constructed to catch fishermen, not fish. The fact that it's the same with "fancy" ammo does not really surprise me. That's how sales and marketing departments work.

Best instructional gun channel on RU-vid! Paul is the man!

The auto-captions are spot on. Is Paul's pronunciation practically perfect? You be the judge.

At times Paul Harrell has comedic moments. His jokes are dry in delivery by design and if you’re not careful, will fly over your head. That’s what makes them super funny.

10:02 My new ringtone.

I'm viewing again because I just picked up the G45 and am retiring from daily carry the 1911. And I have seen all his videos in the last 5 to 7 years. RIP. I knew he used baseline testing and wanted the refresher. "Why I don't like hyper ammo" might be his most informative without a bunch of testing.

Thanks Paul, I enjoy all your videos learning about firearms and calibers that I never considered buying but today's video gives me info on a round I frequently use. Yeah!

Excellent as always thank you Paul!

Thats A Lot More.

Winchester white box did better than I thought it would. Great video!

Paul deserves some type of sponsorship at the very least. Step up somebody.

After decades of shooting, I find that the only caliber I can see an appreciable +P difference is in .38 Special, and then only in the 158gr LSWHP. Important to note that the Browning Hi=Power, arguably the best 9mm ever made, cannot handle +P ammunition. Great video, Paul!

Thanks for these videos. Even though this video is over 4 years old from the time I'm watching it, I had watch this a few days ago and it compelled me to go back to my Sporting Goods store and buy a variety of 9 mm Target and practice ammunitions and find exactly which one came closest to hitting where my federal HST +P 9 mm 124gr. ammo was hitting since that's what I zeroed my Hellcat OSP and holosun 407k with because I was finding other Target ammunitions we're not hitting in the same spot and I thought my zero had drifted but I found it did not, it was the target ammo I was using. I ended up discovering that Winchester 9mm NATO 124 rain came pretty close which was no surprise, and now I know to stick with that.

you could see the added recoil while firing; great video, very informative as always!

This is the best gun channel on RU-vid. Paul, you're experience and perspective is very valuable.

Yes! Relaxing in the morning with a cup of coffee, binge watching Paul's videos. I love the changing seasons, looking at the snow, the sun's glow, the rain, beautiful ridge lines, and the echoes of gun fire. It reminds me of my youth and long days shooting in the woods and fields. Reading the same "serious" disagreements in the comments about calibers etc. I'll stick with the firearms the i shoot the best, that is to say accurately with fast follow-up.

I know this is late, but thanks for this video! I try to explain this to people and you did a great job. The main thing is you must test the ammo for your individual firearm. No matter how good you think the ammo is, it just may not work in your gun.

Thank you for the video, Paul! Something for your viewers to keep in mind (and to underscore your point in the video) is that +P doesn’t mean the projectile will necessarily travel faster than standard pressure. It means that chamber pressures exceed SAAMI spec for standard pressure. We’d hope that this would translate to more velocity, especially in the same manufacturer’s loadings, but especially across manufacturers it may not result in more velocity even for the same bullet type. Years ago I did a bunch of hand loading with different powders and found widely varying results at +P pressures. You’d hope a manufacturer would pick the most effective powders for their +P offerings, but clearly not all do! I’d suspect Underwood and Buffalo Bore to be best at this. Anyway, thanks again for the instructive video. Have a great weekend.

What did we learn? We learned if you want +p or +p+, you need to stay away from big box names like remington, winchester and hornady. And go with underwood, doubletap, buffalo bore, grizzly ect

Yes! Day complete. Thank you PH

This is one of the 1st videos of yours that I had watched and I'm now a big fan. I like the fact that you get right to the point with no bullshit and have great content.

Excellent comparisons. I am surprised at the small difference between the +P and +P+. If the latter costs significantly more, then +P would be the way to go.

Thank you for all the video's you post. I watch them daily obviously it's nice to know from a professional standpoint the knowledge that you share your experiences with firearms and training wish there was a way to meet you in person and exchange stories or go to the range :)

Thanks for explaining all this Paul!

As always: substantive & comprehensive!

Maybe do this again with a carbine, longer barrel

I'm not sure how I missed this vid, but when I went to best explain/teach my wife how +p and +p+ work, I found you! Thanks, man!

I wish ammo manufacturers would use actual numbers on there advertising. A five inch “test barrel” just isn’t very accurate when compared to the actual 3.5 to 4.0 inch barrels most people use. Underwood is one of the most accurate. If they say 1300, it is.

Underwood ammo, Corbon ammo, and Buffalo Bore ammo are the only 3 ammo manufacturers that when they stamp +P or +P+ on the box they are actually being honest and I don't even question. All other brands are hit and miss on being honest when they stamp it as a higher pressure round. That goes mostly for 9mm ammo. I've noticed most current manufacturers are rather honest when it comes to .45 ACP stamped as +P pressure. At least all that I've tested.

How is it that every question I have about firearms, there is a video that answers it- THAT YOU MADE! 🤟

Great video. Thanks Paul!

This guy has the best damn chronograph I’ve over seen. Every video 0 errors. Gets a reading every time.

I watch his vids to to see what he pulls out of his pockets. I'm waiting for a live rabbit! Perhaps an Easter video. Hint Hint Paul!

I like the line “I don’t know what they mean by +p but it doesn’t mean what you think it means.”Great line Paul. I’ve been thinking about buying/shooting some of the Underwood ammo. I’d love to see some ballistics teat with it for over penetration

Double Tap +P $22.71 + Ground Shipping for 20 rounds xD At those prices , you're better off shooting the bad guy meat target TWICE with standard 9mm ....

Paul, your videos are very informative and well thought out. Thank you for what you do.

My Family Time involves Paul’s Classes! ❤️🇺🇸🥇👍

One of those guys who you can instantly tell knows what they're talking about

Terminal ballistics is what matters most to me, after reliabity of course and I've noted that many of the +p+ loadings have adverse affects such as fragmentation and excessive expansion that reduces required minimum IWBA/FBI heavy clothing penetration. The federal 9BPLE 115+p+ and Speer Gold dot 115 +p+ don't penetrate well. The 115 gold dots in general is their worst offering , but the 124 gr gold dots in +P are excellent as well as Underwood loadings. The 147 gr gold dots do well at +P or +P+ such as boutique loaded Underwood offerings but the recoil is substantially increased in those loadings. The Underwood 124+p+ is pretty good but does lose penetration due to excessive expansion again. The Winchester Ranger 127+P+ does very well too in duty sized guns but doesn't expand in most guns under approximately 4 inch barrels consistently. Personally I like 124+P gold dots in 4+ inch barrels and standard pressure 124 HST in short barrels from all the data I've seen.

Great video Paul. Also I really appreciate your discipline in safety , both obvious and subtle.

My favorite firearms channel on RU-vid. Keep up the good work Paul.

It makes me shiver to see that snow, we gather a sprinkling of snow every other year down here. And having said that, I must say that I, along with the rest of your viewers, appreciate the efforts you put into presentations. Thanks for sharing your insights! And put on gloves and a hat! LOL!

Please tell your friend that loaned you the pistol, thanks from all of us :)

Man i always fall asleep watching your videos. It is a compliment. Here i am 3 in the morning trying to cram this video in with the droopy eyes. See you later this afternoon.

All my loads became +P+ after watching this video.

I swear, Paul's jacket is like a clown car! It holds way more than anyone would ever expect!

Grocery store must have been out of pig ears. Great video!

I normally do not like snow but seeing this is so refreshing it’s around 90 degrees here and the humidity is 100 working in the garden I almost passed out so looking at this is wonderful. I recently retired my 45acp for a 9mm and I am super picky about my ammo I am currently loaded with 124 grain HST second on list is Golden Sabre plus P Bonded thanks for showing this video very informative .

That is a lot of information. You take all the guesswork out with your videos and meat target demonstrations. Thanks a lot for all the info.

0:08 the Chad power stance

Great info, Paul.

The +P and +P+ are out of stock everywhere except Double Tap Ammo and they're gouging people.

Beretta 92 was made for 9mm NATO which has 10% more pressure, also SMG ammo which has really hard primers. It can handle +p just fine

A +P+ presentation Paul.

The +P just means "Profit" to the manufacturer.

If you want to shoot high pressure 9mm ammo in a Beretta 92 you have two choices 1. Shoot someone else's Beretta 92fs or 2. Buy a Beretta 92 Brigadier!

I really enjoy to see him shoot every round very thorough. I'm glad he didn't just condense the video to 30 seconds that would be boring. I really appreciate the fact he is kind enough to share his knowledge and experiences. along with scientific research and lack of opinion unlike most of the egotistical RU-vidrs whose opinions seem to be all that matters. its almost criminal not to appreciate unbiased information. RU-vid is a better place with Paul Harrell!!!

Could you do a comparison between 9mm 115 grain +P vs 124 grain +P

My current daily duty/carry load is actually a 125gr DoubleTap TAC-XP load, in .40 S&W (M&P40). Now the round it's self is a solid copper projectile rated at 1,425 FPS. They make several others, including 180gr, 165gr, 155gr custom loads in Gold Dot all available on their website. Going by my personal experience with mail-order "hyper" ammunition and whether or not it's worth the money, I can tell you with absolute certainty that DoubleTap is the MOST consistent with their ballistics data. In fact sometimes the rounds will actually achieve performance better than what's advertised. One reason for consistent behavior, is because all DoubleTap loads are HAND LOADED using a bench press. I've tried Underwood, let's just say they were more reminiscent of Hornady than anything else. What the Hell Hornady? That new "FBI" 9MM load, 135gr +P Critical Duty has virtually no stopping power. I don't care how barrier blind their new pud load is, if it doesn't expand it's more or less pointless for duty carry IN MY OPINION. My number one choice has always been Speer Gold Dot, up until the exposure to the 125gr TAC-XP of course. :)

I'm investing some money in Paul's local butcher/grocer.

Paul, I love your vids. Very scientific.. One of the reasons I bought my Beretta was because it will eat +p and +p+ ammo all day long... Outstanding vid my friend,,,

Where all the pistols we're being shot through the chrony, was painful to sit through. So much so, that I skipped the first 9minutes of this one. Tough love Paul. Great channel.

Hornady always has weak velocities

This is like the bob ross of gun channels

Yep exactly! I always tell people if you’re going to use fmj to practice, at least get the same grain weight as to your carry ammo. To find the same grain and velocity fmj as to your carry would of course be best. But hp will still travel differently then a fmj.

Excellent video as always