Is +P ammo worth it for self-defense?

+P is loaded hotter for more velocity and energy, at the cost of more recoil, more flash, and more wear. It is most worth it in mild rounds like 38 Special, where +P meaningfully wakes up a snubby. In modern 9mm, standard-pressure premium hollow points already meet FBI standards, so +P is optional and mostly a preference-versus-controllability call. Only use +P in a gun rated for it, and make sure you can still shoot it fast and accurately — a softer load you control beats a hot one you do not.