Georgia Arms 115gr Gold Dot Hollow Point +P+

[Confederate]

I'd like to order more of this ammo, but I'm not sure my S&W 659/5906 is up to digesting it. Some have suggested that I'll run into problems if I shoot too much of it. Yet the 659/5906 is one of the toughest 9mm pistols I know of with stainless steel frames.

Has anyone ever fired this ammo in a Smith 659/5906 and, if so, have you run into any problems? Would it be advisable to get a more powerful recoil spring to dampen the extra power. I also believe some companies sell a recoil buffer that absorbs the impact. I worry about the thing causing malfunctions, though.

 

[outerlimit]

In an all steel gun I wouldn't worry too much about it once in awhile, but you will cause accelerated wear if you continue to fire excessive amounts of +P+.

There are no SAMI specs for +P+, but the commercial loads tend to run around 5%-15% higher pressure than +P ammo.

Subgun ammo such as Hirtenberger NATO L7A1 is notorious for being 15% above +P or higher and should not be fired through a handgun.

 

[Confederate]

There are a number of mitigating factors with the 659, such as its steel frame; however, even a steel-frame gun can have problems if the slide is pummeled against the frame repeatedly. A recoil buffer for the Smith & Wessons is about ten bucks and lasts about a thousand rounds. But it's one more piece that can fail or get in the way if the gun is being used for defense.

Chances are, a stiffer recoil spring would absorb the extra power, but you have to go with a Wolfe calibration kit (which goes for about thirty bucks). These include a couple of increased power springs and a couple of reduced power springs. But even without the kits, the factory springs are fairly robust. Functioning is the most important aspect, followed by increased wear. Probably the best bet is to go with a recoil buffer and see if it functions reliably.

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