What is the difference between grains?

[frankiejoe577]

How do I know what grain bullet I want for a Glock 19 9mm?

115grain, 124grain, 147grain

What are the differences?

[roc]

1 ounce = 437.5 grain

heavier the grain, slower the bullet. other factors have to do with the shape, material and jacketing of the bullet.

[frankiejoe577]

So I should do 115 Grain for Target practice and
147 for self defense?

[roc]

depending on what you want to achieve. generally smaller and lighter bullets will go faster, flatter and penetrate further into or even thru the target. If you are target shooting, lighter grains are good. If you are trying to stop a person or a charging animal, you want a bigger hole upon impact and leave the bullet in the body of the target. That also is what hollow point shape bullets do as they expand upon impact causing more trauma in the target.

[Hans Gruber]

So I should do 115 Grain for Target practice and
147 for self defense?

You should train with the same weight bullet that you plan on shooting for SD ideally. The recoil impulse can vary quite a bit depending on the ammo you're shooting.

Of course, in these times, shoot what you can get your hands on

[roc]

Clay, Bill... Clay.

Get it? Hans Gruber!!

great handle.

[supermario]

Ive noticed that 147grain and 124grain shoot better out of 9mm carbine. I have had malfunctions shooting 115grain out of carbines but I havent ever had malfuntions out of a pistol.

[roc]

You should train with the same weight bullet that you plan on shooting for SD ideally. The recoil impulse can vary quite a bit depending on the ammo you're shooting.

Of course, in these times, shoot what you can get your hands on

yes, heavier bullets will give you harder recoil as well. if you are target shooting under 25 ft, which is probably the effective range of most combat pistols, the flatter trajectory of a lighter bullet wont make a noticeable difference so practice what you are going to use for self/home defense if you can.

[joelukehart]

115 grain is the most common and is supersonic. 147 grain and heavier are subsonic and are commonly used with a muzzle suppressor. I have also noticed my Olyarms 9mm AR likes 147 grain.

[LesGrossman41510]

what about for .40 caliber?

most grains i see at the store and at the range are 180 grain, is that appropriate?

[roc]

what about for .40 caliber?

most grains i see at the store and at the range are 180 grain, is that appropriate?

i shoot mostly 165 and 180 as they are in the mid to high range for 40 cal. they have a muzzle velocity of around 950 to 1100 fps and has a pretty controllable recoil. A lot of people talk about the sharp recoil of the 40sw but I dont really think it is much of an issue.

[Dangerous1]

I'd go with the 147gr every time.

[nick]

what about for .40 caliber?

most grains i see at the store and at the range are 180 grain, is that appropriate?

I've had better accuracy with 180gr bullets, and that's what I buy these days. 165gr produced a noticeably snappier recoil.

[B Strong]

depending on what you want to achieve. generally smaller and lighter bullets will go faster, flatter and penetrate further into or even thru the target. If you are target shooting, lighter grains are good. If you are trying to stop a person or a charging animal, you want a bigger hole upon impact and leave the bullet in the body of the target. That also is what hollow point shape bullets do as they expand upon impact causing more trauma in the target.

True in the first part of your statement, false for the underlined portion.

Heavier projectiles, even at lower velocities, penetrate deeper into living targets. Without adequate penetration, expansion is useless. You have to get deep enough to damage the body's supporting structure to stop a threat. Soft tissue trauma doesn't stop animals or humans.

Out of my 19, Winchester OSM 147 grain ST's are very accurate, will penetrate deeper than 124 +P HP's, and that's what I use in that particular piece for carry.

[Midian]

Clay, Bill... Clay.

Get it? Hans Gruber!!

great handle.

Hans....bubie! I'm your white knight!