Question about 9mm Bullets

R

RugerSteve

New member
I am looking at trying different brands of coated bullets. My questions are:
1. Is there really a reason for choosing 115 or 124gr? Which is your choice.
2. Is accuracy any better RN vs FP?
3. I am looking at some Bayou Bullets. The 115 are RN with a groove, the
124 is FP and has no groove. Since you are not roll crimping 9mm,
Why would you want a bullet with the groove, since it is a coated bullet
and bullet would not need the groove for lube.
 
1. Yes, for my CZ-75, which seems to cycle better with the heavier bullet. (edit to say, not only does my CZ work better with a 124 grain bullet, but so does every other 9mm I put my reloads through. And, the CZ prefers a hotter load, so I load hot and my friends all like shooting my reloads more than their factory ammo, as the guns seem to cycle more crisply.)

2. At the distances you normally shoot handguns, the difference in accuracy would only be because of the particular gun you're using, how it reacts in your hand as it cycles, and the brand of ammo used. All things being equal, they should both offer adequate accuracy.

3. This is a question for some of the more seasoned reloaders. But I would guess that the projectiles with the crimp groove (if indeed it's a crimp groove you are describing) might be lead bullets for a revolver round like .38 special/.357 mag. Are they lead? Are they .355 or .357? Are you mistaking the cannelure for a lube ring?
 
1. I like 124gr. No particular reason.

2. RN is better for feeding but possibly has slightly less bearing area. FN could be better in accuracy, but not much.

3. Most coated bullets come from the same mould as plain cast bullets. That's why most of them still have the lube grooves.

-TL
 
1. Is there really a reason for choosing 115 or 124gr? Which is your choice.
Click to expand...

I prefer 124's. They seem to align better with fixed sights. Plus, I think they tend to be more accurate.

2. Is accuracy any better RN vs FP?
Click to expand...

Probably not. The advantage of flat points is that they emulate hollow points; so you can get a feel for how the gun will feed hollow points.

3. I am looking at some Bayou Bullets. The 115 are RN with a groove, the 124 is FP and has no groove. Since you are not roll crimping 9mm, why would you want a bullet with the groove, since it is a coated bullet and bullet would not need the groove for lube?
Click to expand...

It's not a crimp groove. It's a lube groove. But. . .there's no need for a lube groove. It's just that the mold used was for a lead bullet that needed one. It's not uncommon.

If it were me, I'd get the 124's. I don't care for 115's.
 
I like 115 grain because they're the cheapest, by far. My last batch of bullets came from Cabelas: $63.99 per 1000 bullets, and free shipping. I bought 200,000 bullets. I love Berrys 115 grain plated bullets.
 
My CZ's and Sig prefer the loads I've settled on for 125's over 115's for some reason. Like a poster said above- they seem to settle closer in to the sight alignment. And, I like the SWC's purely for the clean holes they produce in paper which I guess is a preference I learned from when I shot Bullseye competition.

Why you'd want a bullet with a groove with a coated bullet? My guess is that's what the molds have, and the producers likely had the molds before coating got popular. Plus, if less bearing surface (of a grooved bullet) gives results customers are happy with, no reason to change bullet behavior just because you're by-passing lube for a coating.
 
Accuracy not really, the 124gr would have a little more bearing surface on the side of the bullet for the rifling to grab onto. The flat nose would have even more bearing surface than the round nose in either size.
The accuracy would be close to the same but the point of impact (would be lower in the 115gr), rifle twist, and action in most 9mms is optimized around a 124gr bullet not a 115gr. So the 124gr is usually going to work a little better in most 9mm than the 115gr does, but there are always exceptions.
 
115 gr. Hornady jacketed RN is what I'm currently using only because it's all I have in inventory at the moment. I may try some 124 gr when it comes time to restock but all my handguns seem to like the 115 gr RN. I've never had any feeding issues and the accuracy seems more than adequate for plinking at the range.
 
I know the Kimber Solo does not like 115s, I load 124s, Flat points make prettier holes in paper. Long ago FP had some claim to better knock-down than RN if you could not use hollow points. I loaded FP for years but have gone back to RN. Somewhere on the page is a very interesting pictorial on how a round actually feeds. It is worth finding. I'm stuck home for awhile, I might go find for you later.
 
I typically stay with the 115 gr. FMJ from Precision Delta. Primarily for the quality and price. If I need a larger bullet, I will use a .38 Special or up it to a .45 ACP handgun. :)
 
My own experience suggests, all other considerations being equal, the longer the bullet, the more of it that engages the rifling of the barrel, the better the accuracy.
So, for this example, the 124 grain flat point should be an improvement over the 115 round nose.
If it feeds well, of course.
To add to the confusion, my own choice would be neither of the above, but rather the 147 grain flat nose, .357 in hard lead.
Always found it the most accurate and reliable in every 9mm tried.
 
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A side question? I tend to believe the best weight/style bullet for any particular gun is the one the gun was designed to shoot. But, wasn't the original 9mm round, way back when, using 124 gr, RN ammo? Any historians?

FWIW; my choice for 9mm has been 124-125 gr. with an occasional 147 gr load...
 
I have always typically used round nose 115 grain plated bullets. but I'm now reloading my own and want to try other options. the guns I am using in 9mm, are a Glock 26, Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact, and a Ruger SR9c. I have never had any feeding issues or stove pipes, so I hope I have no feeding issues using the 124fp.
 
You shouldn't, don't know about the Bersa, but the Glock and Sr9 will usually run anything you can find to put in it no matter what it is.
What OAL are you using in your 115 gr loads?
 
I like heavy bullets for target use because they ate usually only a couple dollars more per thousand, yet it saves a lot of gunpowder over the long run. Plus heavier bullets are running lower velocities, keeping lead out of my barrel and giving it a better lifespan as well. Look at the difference in powder loads between a 115 and a 147 and you'll see the money saved on powder catches up quickly
 
1 I use 124 grain bullets ( I like the heavier bullet )

2 I use RN because they feed better.


3 Grove doesn't matter because you taper crimp a 9mm.
 
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