Using +p+ in a Beretta Nano

9610 Views 6 Replies 7 Participants Last post by onacoma, Mar 11, 2013

SwatMedic338

Discussion Starter · Mar 11, 2013

Have a Beretta Nano. Some have had issues, I have not and the gun works as advertised. The gun can fire +p and +p+ although with the disclaimer that reads.....

"The extended use of +P or +P+ ammunition may decrease component part service life expectancy. "

So here is my question...what are we talking about in terms of what exactly is extended use?

300 rounds? 1000? 2000?

I use standard rounds at the range for plinking (200-300) then my last 40 rounds or so are +p+ because that is what I load when I carry and I want to be proficient with both the weapon and my carry ammo. Are those 40 rounds every 3 weeks going to turn my Nano into a paperweight in two years?

Is there an industry standard for such "extended use"? Any guidelines? Am I looking at replacing a couple components down the road or rendering the gun inoperable or damaged?

Any insight welcomed.

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Fallschirmjäger

· #2 · Mar 11, 2013

If I recall, there is no SAAMI specification for +P+ ammunition, it can be slightly more pressure than +P or it can be dangerously, wildly more pressure than +P.
What you're asking would seem to be if a manufacturer will commit to a concrete answer about something they have no control over and cannot reliably estimate.

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high pockets

· #3 · Mar 11, 2013

It's lawyer speak for, "It may handle it, but we are not responsible for any damages that arise from it's use."

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GhostMaker

· #4 · Mar 11, 2013

Years ago when I was doing ammunition testing for my department I was privy to data from a variety of sources. One of these, which was actually made public, was from the U.S. Border Patrol. Back during the push to transition police departments over from revolvers to semiautos, the Border Patrol was under intense pressure to transition to the then new 9mm's on the market. The Border Patrol's Firearms Training Unit determined that the 9mm was most effective in the +P+ power levels (which was no real shocker). They did feel that pushing service weapons to the +P+ pressure levels was "asking to much" from the 9mm platforms of the day, which consisted of the S&W 5906 (a stout, stainless steel pistol) the Beretta 92F, and some others. I kind of have to agree. From what I saw consistent use of these loads could cut the effective life of 9mm's in half, according to data.

Extended use is a catch-all phrase for not knowing exactly how many rounds it will take to damage your pistol. If it were me, I would stay within the +P realm to protect the service life of the handgun and possibly you, should it produce a catasthopic failure.

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Snatale42

· #5 · Mar 11, 2013

i would never use +P in a sub compact

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zonker1986

· #6 · Mar 11, 2013

+P+ out of a Beretta Nano? Are you trying to hurt yourself? :gah:
Standard pressure 9mm's are snappy enough out of these small pistols....not interested
in pushing the envelope to see just how much torque it will take to blow one up.

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onacoma

· #7 · Mar 11, 2013

SwatMedic338 said:
"The extended use of +P or +P+ ammunition may decrease component part service life expectancy. "

Is there an industry standard for such "extended use"? Any guidelines? Am I looking at replacing a couple components down the road or rendering the gun inoperable or damaged?

Any insight welcomed.

Here is my questions you; Why would you want to spend the extra money on +P+ ammunition when out of a 3.07" barrel you'll only burn ± 50% of the powder charge in the cartridge before the bullet leaves the barrel? You get one great muzzle flash!

At least with a +P cartridge you burn most of the powder charge and if you can find Speer Gold Dot short barrel ammo you get a low muzzle flash!

We use the +P+ in the MP5s with a 8" barrel which burns all of the powder charge! I personally use the +P+ in my Beretta CX4 carbine. But I would never use the +P+ in a barrel shorter than 4.45" (HK P30L)

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