Every .5 or half inch you lose about 40 to 50 fps! Being from NYC with all my uncle's and cusoins being well respected cop's swat, ICE , ECT . and with today's water down ammo. I choose to stick with +p loads in anything under 4inches. Yes I do agree that you will get quicker wearing . And I do agree that shot placement may be more difficult for others. In my edc I carry +p loads. I'm not worried about wear or shoot placement being a former Marine. I'm really interested in underwood extreme defender's 90gr+p. Though my family warns me to stick with what we know work's. Being from NYC that would be our tried and true speer gold dots 124gr+p and hst 124gr+p .Though im going to be ordering some ballistic dummys to test out some underwood ammo. I love the idea of a light carry round! Though with no police department's currently using them. Just not enough data for me! Though they look promising .
I think the 90gr are gimmicks.
And so what about the velocity loss? That extra velocity doesn’t wound; only penetration and expansion—what the bullet actually touches and destroys—does. And those heavyweights open wider and punch deeper (but not too deep, risking “overpenetration” and hitting someone downrange) than the lightweight screamers.
Additionally, all that extra velocity is going to do is cause extra muzzle flash, and-most importantly—extra recoil. Extra recoil means slower follow up shots, or less accurate follow-ups if you try and get the same split times.
As far as where you get your info…I’ve found most LEO’s to be…less than informed, let’s say, about ammo. They use what they get issued, and think it’s the best because it’s what THEY are issued. Also bear in mind—they’re running those +P rounds through 4” (give or take) or longer barrels…not micro pistols.
Carry what you like, of course, but I’m just saying that you may not be looking at all the correct data.