115gr vs 124gr practical differences in training

[amphora001]

I acquired around 500rds of 115gr 9mm rounds. My self defense rounds is the Federal HST 124gr. Ideally I should practice with 124gr at the range, but ammo are hard to come by. How much trouble should I go into finding 124gr ammo if 115gr are much easier to acquire? Am I really going to be a better shooter if I shoot with the same weight bullet? Interested in people's opinion.

[the86d]

Load it (115gr) HAWT?

[BajaJames83]

Are the 124gr HSat regular or +P?

For training you are fine with the 115s not much different unless the 124s are +p

[tawadc95]

I have no good answer for this but I use 124gn HST for EDC ammo and my reload with a 115gn shoots same poi, that's by I settled on my load.

[Cowboy T]

"Optimally", yes, you're right. However, what's much more important is marksmanship practice, preferably under some kind of stress. It's your training that's going to save you, and the more you practice, the better able to defend yourself you'll be. That means muscle memory and the right mindset. Developing those means time on the trigger.

So, if 115gr is easier to get, then get that and practice with it. The 115gr rounds aren't going to be *that* much different from the 124-grainers. In an actual self-defense situation, human beings default to the level of training that they've mastered. So, you'll go on that auto-pilot, defend yourself, and won't even notice the extra 9 grains.

Example: my wife shoots .38 Special. I developed a light load for her using a 105gr cast bullet (actual weight about 108-110 grains). She practices with it frequently. She shoots her DA revolver "cowboy style", just naturally. Hey, it works for her. Her marksmanship is naturally good, and she will rather quickly make the paper bullseye disappear. So, I applied a little bit of stress to kinda-sorta simulate an "oh-crap" situation. She hates getting yelled at; it stresses her out big-time. Therefore, I timed her and started yelling at her, drill-instructor style (she knew I would do this beforehand, and why). I saw her tighten up and go into stress mode...and her training kicked in. Her shooting was just a little more raggedy at 10 yards...but she "killed" the "bad guy" quite nicely, and her marksmanship was almost as good as in the un-stressed situation. So, we're adding that to her training. She doesn't like it...but like Muhammad Ali, she accepts it as helpful to save her bacon someday if need be.

[amphora001]

"Optimally", yes, you're right. However, what's much more important is marksmanship practice, preferably under some kind of stress. It's your training that's going to save you, and the more you practice, the better able to defend yourself you'll be. That means muscle memory and the right mindset. Developing those means time on the trigger.

So, if 115gr is easier to get, then get that and practice with it. The 115gr rounds aren't going to be *that* much different from the 124-grainers. In an actual self-defense situation, human beings default to the level of training that they've mastered. So, you'll go on that auto-pilot, defend yourself, and won't even notice the extra 9 grains.

Example: my wife shoots .38 Special. I developed a light load for her using a 105gr cast bullet (actual weight about 108-110 grains). She practices with it frequently. She shoots her DA revolver "cowboy style", just naturally. Hey, it works for her. Her marksmanship is naturally good, and she will rather quickly make the paper bullseye disappear. So, I applied a little bit of stress to kinda-sorta simulate an "oh-crap" situation. She hates getting yelled at; it stresses her out big-time. Therefore, I timed her and started yelling at her, drill-instructor style (she knew I would do this beforehand, and why). I saw her tighten up and go into stress mode...and her training kicked in. Her shooting was just a little more raggedy at 10 yards...but she "killed" the "bad guy" quite nicely, and her marksmanship was almost as good as in the un-stressed situation. So, we're adding that to her training. She doesn't like it...but like Muhammad Ali, she accepts it as helpful to save her bacon someday if need be.

Thank you! very well said.

[EWastigmatism]

Many including myself as=re smart asses here, but thoughtful and responsible answers can be found. I also appreciate the answer and perspective even though I did not ask this question.

[BillSmith]

Not directly answering the true nature of your question, I have had tighter groupings of my HD 124 gr. rounds fired, than my bulk buy 115 gr.

Therefore, not worried that my practice with 115gr. is hindering my ability, albeit based on limited sample size, to put HD rounds on target.

YMMV

[tabascoz28]

I have been trying to test the same thing. I don't compete or shoot for tight groups but from what I've seen it won't turn those dueling tree paddles if you knick the side of it just the same. I got those 124g high-tek coated stuff because they were the same price as jacketed 115s I used to get before 2020.

[amphora001]

Finally went to the range with 115 and 124gr. The 115 feels livelier. But in terms of grouping at 10 yards it made no difference.

[amphora001]

This was about 80 115gr rds and 50 124gr rounds hehe

[therealnickb]

Unless you're practicing with adrenalin in your system, I doubt it will matter. Just my 2 Pennys.

[tabascoz28]

This was about 80 115gr rds and 50 124gr rounds hehe

I did something like that at my last CCW qualification and the teacher smirked at me and said he didn't think I needed to do the rest of the battery of testing...

therealnickb Unless you're practicing with adrenalin in your system, I doubt it will matter. Just my 2 Pennys.

There has been few times when I have had true adrenalin in my system and that was a trip. I've tried jumping jacks, pushups before taking shots but the fear/flight sensation is totally different. I couldn't even hold on delicately to a coin my hands were shaking so much.