9mm Luger grain count

[Hollow Grind]

All I've shot is 115 grain FMJ ammo. What can I expect by switching to 124 grain? Likewise, 147 grain? Differences in recoil, etc?

[spacecase0]

usually I put more powder in the lighter grain loads because it will fit without over pressuring the round.
the heavier the bullet, the less room for the gun powder,
so it is the light bullets that kick more,
at least that is the way it is when I load them,
some but not all of the factory ammo that I have tried acts the same way.

[Jicko]

All I've shot is 115 grain FMJ ammo. What can I expect by switching to 124 grain? Likewise, 147 grain? Differences in recoil, etc?

FWIW, lighter, 115gr 9mm are more snappy.... and the heavier ones, 147gr 9mm are more punchy....

[redcliff]

Pull out your loading manual and go here and have some fun

http://handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

I don't have a reloading manual handy or I"d post some examples.

[NSR500]

Commercial ammo in all of my guns has always felt snappier at 115, and less so at 147.

[Hollow Grind]

By snappy, do you guys mean more recoil, or a different type of recoil altogether? Please digress for the newb?

I probably should add I'm wondering about factory rounds. Thanks for your help, all.

[Renshai]

Why are you considering moving up to 124 or 147 (BTW...FWIW, I use 147 GrFMJ ONLY. Don't trust and never will 147gr HP's....I get WAY more power out 115gr+p's...Velocity = power... ). Not starting an argument, but the 124's in my experience have moer PERCEIVED recoil when loaded for +p. Its more of the "push" that you get with a .45. The lighter faster more effective bullets ( ) are a little more "quick" in their recoil....

Factory 124's you are still generating plenty of power too. I've found the Remington Golden Sabres to be particularly good in expansion and penetration, and still nice on the recoil. Other than that I would take the 115gr JHP from Corbon anyday over any 147gr. 147gr is for practice not carry.

[bohoki]

honestly i cant really tell any difference in standard loads +p seem a little more snappy but not quite as bad as a 40s&w

but mine are full size guns glock 17 and sig 226

maybe differences would be more noticable in say a pocket 9 like a mini kahr or say the hi-point (aka brick point)

[MidnightSon117]

147gr is for practice not carry.

What are you basing this off of?

We (and I include myself) did some informal testing with gelatin, and among the ammo we tested, were 147-grain HST's, by Federal. The result is, they opened up more than adequately. If you want more specifics, let me know. In either case, I wouldn't hesitate to use 147-grain HP.

[caliar15]

147gr is for practice not carry.

I would never take anything you say seriously after that quote. Wow

[hybridatsun350]

147gr is for practice not carry.

I would never take anything you say seriously after that quote. Wow

Lol. I'd have to agree. The 124gr. +p seems to be the optimum package though.

[Hollow Grind]

If it helps the debate at all, I'm considering trying standard velocity Sellier & Bellot 124 grain, not +p, because I can get it for relatively cheap. To use at the range, primarily.

I also have a small box of Gold Dot 124 +p, just wondering how it compares to 115 grain WWB, which is what I've been using.

[FieldsofFire]

Why are you considering moving up to 124 or 147 (BTW...FWIW, I use 147 GrFMJ ONLY. Don't trust and never will 147gr HP's....I get WAY more power out 115gr+p's...Velocity = power... ). Not starting an argument, but the 124's in my experience have moer PERCEIVED recoil when loaded for +p. Its more of the "push" that you get with a .45. The lighter faster more effective bullets ( ) are a little more "quick" in their recoil....

Factory 124's you are still generating plenty of power too. I've found the Remington Golden Sabres to be particularly good in expansion and penetration, and still nice on the recoil. Other than that I would take the 115gr JHP from Corbon anyday over any 147gr. 147gr is for practice not carry.

The 147gr. 9mm personal defense loads tend to exhibit great expansion and more penetration than, say, 124gr. +P. Why is the 147gr. bullet so bad? Many would say 115 grainers are the practice rounds and the 147 grainers are for carry. The 147gr. 9mm round is also the issued round of many large LE agencies.

Edit: OP, you may not even notice enough of a difference to care. Some people sometimes talk about bullets hitting higher or lower depending on weight, based on time it takes to leave the barrel and the amount of recoil produced starting to push the barrel back while the bullet is exiting the barrel. I don't know if that's true but out to 20 yards, I can't notice anything different.

[tba02]

115gr and 124gr feel about the same out of my P99's. I have some 135gr that seem to be have a little (small, teeny) more muzzle flip. 147gr (Fed HST JHP) have more of a push to them, and less flip than any of the others.

The difference is very small across the board. If you can get 124gr at a good price, don't worry about it and enjoy the ammo.

[Jonathan Doe]

I shoot Winchester 147 HP subsonic ammo almost exclusively in my 9mm pistols. They show very good accuracy. Many match shooters shoot them, unless they reload.