9mm 147gr vs 115gr Question

[NoHeavyHitter]

How come the 115gr is more suitable for Dangerous and Large games, while the 147gr is only good for Medium games? I thought the heavier bullet would be more suitable for larger games.

I believe that the 147gr load is sub-optimal due to the heavy bullet taking up too much space in the shell - depriving it from holding more powder. The 147gr load is optimized more for suppressed firearms.

I personally favor 9mm in 124gr offerings (when I'm buying "new").

[SandHill]

Paul Harrel did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErofxN3F52s

That was real interesting tenex! I came away feeling that Paul Harrel's experiment sort of confirmed my hunch - that the spectacular performance of the penetrators in ballistics gel in terms of wound cavity is unlikely to be replicated in flesh. The bear skull video was pretty cool too - they penetrate all right!

Might buy some if they weren't so dang expensive. $1.50 per round?!

[OCEquestrian]

LA Sheriff's Dept has first hand experience in thousands of shootings and top professionals/experts researching ballistic/shooting data from LE data bases nationwide ...they issue the Federal 147gr HST.

[Shumba]

LA Sheriff's Dept has first hand experience in thousands of shootings and top professionals/experts researching ballistic/shooting data from LA data bases nationwide ...they issue the Federal 147gr HST.

Orange County Sheriff's Dept. issues .40 &W Federal 180gr HST for their standard issue Glock 22.

They are now transitioning and trading out the G22 for the new 9mm Gen 5 Glock 17 MOS. They issue Federal 147gr HST for the 9mm.

[Carcassonne]

Where did you get the idea and/or who told you that any of those are for shooting any size game?? Game meaning hunting animals.

...

If you look at the bottom of the pictures, you can see some icons under "Ammo ID System". The colored ones are what Underwood claims they are good for.

https://www.underwoodammo.com/collections/handgun-ammo/products/9mm-luger-p-147-grain-hard-cast-flat-nose?variant=18785691598905

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[Title1guy]

I couldn't find the article, but I do recall reading the account of a guy in AK that killed a brown bear with a 9mm loaded with Xtreme Penetrators. I "think" that is where Underwood is getting the balls to rate that ammo for dangerous game.

But, I'm with the guy in the video. I wouldn't count on it killing a bear. It might do it, hell, Eskimos have killed Polar bears with a .17 Rem., but I surely wouldn't call a .17 Rem a dangerous game cartridge.

There was a guy that killed a grizzly with Buffalo Bore 147grain hardcast.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=388

Underwood has recommended to me their 115+p 9mm for general 9mm woods carry that doesn't include grizzly habitation.

[AFTII]

There was a guy that killed a grizzly with Buffalo Bore 147grain hardcast.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=388

Underwood has recommended to me their 115+p 9mm for general 9mm woods carry that doesn't include grizzly habitation.

Yea, I saw that article. But, like the guy on the video, I recall a brown bear defense with Xtreme Penetrators. I was actually salmon fishing in AK around the time when his video came out, so its possible I heard the account up there.

In any event, if you talk to the folks at Underwood again, ask them what criteria they used to list 9mm Xtreme Penetrators as suitable for dangerous game? It's kinda irresponsible. Perhaps its a mistake?

Karamojo Bell killed over 800 elephants with a .275 Rigby (7X57 Mauser) but no one would recommend that caliber for elephants these days. It took brass balls, an astute knowledge of elephant anatomy and great, consistent, aim to pull off that feat. Surely, no one is stupid enough to recommend a 9mm pistol to hunt elephant, rhino, cape buffalo, lion or leopard? Those ARE the Big 5 dangerous game animals on the planet.

[SomeGuy75]

“Xtreme penetrator”

I think I just found my new nickname...

Hey Kes, how do I change my screen name???

[OCEquestrian]

A 9mm handgun for defense against dangerous game in the field/ lower 48? Really? Specialization is not just for insects and if you have to carry "just a handgun" (no rifle/shotgun) ...S&W 629 classic 5"

[gumby]

Orange County Sheriff's Dept. issues .40 &W Federal 180gr HST for their standard issue Glock 22.

They are now transitioning and trading out the G22 for the new 9mm Gen 5 Glock 17 MOS. They issue Federal 147gr HST for the 9mm.

I retired from there in '06. We went to the 40 from the 9 after 2 OIS involving 3 suspects. None of the bad guys went down with the 9, shotguns were used to stop the fight. Hopefully these modern 9's work better.

[Title1guy]

Their 147g +p hardcast, unlike the 147g +p+ FMJ, is rated for large and dangerous game, which would be similar to the BB; but I wouldn't want to be the beta tester for that theory.

[Kokopelli]

If you are attacked by a T-Rex and all you have is a 9X19, use what you’ve got. The 9mm would not be my first choice but it has worked.

From: https://www.americanhunter.org/artic...th-9mm-pistol/

My pistol was loaded with Buffalo Bore 9mm +P Outdoorsman 147-grain FN hard-cast loads that have a muzzle velocity of 1100 fps.

[CWL]

147gr 9mm ammo was developed to reliably work in submachine guns like the Uzi and HK MP5. They needed a heavier bullet to work the bolt.

Anything more about 147gr is marketing bs.

[OCEquestrian]

147gr 9mm ammo was developed to reliably work in submachine guns like the Uzi and HK MP5. They needed a heavier bullet to work the bolt.

Anything more about 147gr is marketing bs.

I disagree, the 147 gr bullets, all other things being equal, consistently achieve better penetration than the 124gr and most certainly better than the 115 gr. And less "over penetration" . Ideally, you want the billet to remain in the target to dump all its energy in the threat.

[gumby]

I disagree, the 147 gr bullets, all other things being equal, consistently achieve better penetration than the 124gr and most certainly better than the 115 gr. And less "over penetration" . Idea;ly, you want the billet to remain in the target to dump all its energy in the threat.

Agree 100%