Switching from 124gr to 115 or 147

R

Roland Thunder

New member
I am thinking about switching from loading 124gr 9mm's to 115gr or 147gr. This is mainly because my LGS, who sells reloading supplies has both 115 and 147.

Most things being equal, what difference, shooting wise, am I likely to see between 124 and 115gr or 124 and 147gr.
 
With handguns, the short and rigid barrel and muzzle flip from recoil means heavier bullets impact higher and lighter ones lower until you are shooting far enough that gravity, acting over the longer time of flight of the slower heavy bullet, drops it enough to reverse that; perhaps at around 100 yards or so, at a guess. You'd have to try it to see.

The heavy bullet will leave much less powder space, so the maximum muzzle energy you can get from it will be lower, and powder charge variation will be a bigger percent of the whole charge, making charging precision more important. Perhaps around 20% difference for both.
 
One difference will be a different recoil impulse. Lighter bullets tend to have 'snappy' recoil, and heavier bullets tend to have 'pushy' recoil. This is largely a function of the usual velocities bullets achieve. Lighter bullets go faster, and heavier bullets go slower. The faster acceleration of the lighter bullets contributes to their 'snappy' recoil.

I'm not sure why Uncle Nick is correlating powder space and muzzle energy. The reality is that when bullets of different weights are loaded to the same internal chamber pressure with the same powder, muzzle energy is generally less with the heavier bullet. It's largely a function of the typical velocity one can get with particular bullets weights, and that the mathematical formula for muzzle energy (kinetic energy) favors velocity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_energy
 
Your LGS doesn't have 124's most likely because they're the most popular. 124 is a really good weight for 9's. I've shot 115's and 147's too.

Yes, at normal pistol ranges, the heavies will impact the target higher. Yes, the heavies' recoil is more of a push and less of a snap.

Yes, there is less case space with the heavies, and your pressure increase per given charge weight increase will be more.

But, heavies tend to yield more consistent ammo. Consistent in both accuracy and velocity variation. In general, I like heavy bullets. Oddly enough, in 9mm however, I like 124's. They just seem "right" for the chambering/caliber.

All that said, I've made lots of great range shooters with all three weights.

More info would be good. What's your loading purpose (range ammo, defense, 300 yard sniping :D, etc.)? What propellants do you have?
 
Felt and actual recoil will be more with a 147. Less with a 115. A 124 will be oddly, in the middle. The weight of your pistol matters most.
A 115 at 1155 fps out of a 2.0 lbs. pistol has 3.8 ft-lbs of recoil energy. A 124 at 1157 FPS has 4.4 ft-lbs. A 147 at 1000 FPS has 4.6 ft-lbs.
The muzzle blast will go up too. Not enough to matter much though.
In any case, if your local shop does carry 124's I'd go elsewhere if it's possible. Partial to cast 121 grain TC's and Bullseye myself.
 
Contrary to t oheir, let's use practical numbers with the same powder so things aren't totally distorted and misleading.

From the Hornady loading manual using accurate #7 powder and all loads at the maximum speed for that powder, 2.5 pound gun:

115 grain bullet, 1200 fps, 8.6 grains #7 = 3.77 ft lbs recoil.
124 grain bullet, 1150 fps, 7.9 grains #7 = 3.85 ft lbs recoil.
147 grain bullet, 1000 fps, 6.7 grains #7 = 3.83 ft lbs recoil.

When pushed to weight-typical speeds, there does not seem to be much difference in recoil force.

Muzzle blast, might be highest with the light bullets, if it is a function of powder weight.

If the bullets are pushed to the same power factor (for competition) with the same gunpowder, the lighter bullet has more recoil. http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/power-factor-recoil-bullet-weight-gives-edge/
 
I suggest the 147 as that is what I use and like the best. (since you asked ;))

As noted recoil will be about the same with any of them.

I like the way the 147's feel and I favor sub-sonic rounds for defensive use.
 
I have found the 124 gr to be the most accurate across all of my 9mm platforms. The 147 gr have the least recoil but there can be stabilization issues with shorter barrels.
 
I carry the 124, but shoot the 115 for practice/fun. I can't tell any real difference when shooting. For me, the 115 is simply cheaper. In my Glock 19, point of impact [for defensive shooting] is about the same as well. For larger calibers, the bullet weight seems to have more affect on felt recoil [for me], but with the 9, it's more about the charge.
 
+1 cheaper

I'm with Watson on cheaper. Per 1000, most 115's of any variety sell "for a few dollars less" ( that sounds like a movie title, sorta). A high volume shooter, over the course of loading and shooting for say a year, could maybe save enough to buy what? I dunno, maybe 500-1000 primers? Or maybe 2-3 match fees?
 
Why not order bulk from somewhere in the great Internet? You could pick the weight and style you want. Jacketed, plated, coated or plain lead are always available in whatever weight you want if the LGS doesn't have what you want. My mailman gets a steady workout carrying boxes with a couple thousand bullets from the street to the front door on a regular basis.
 
Why not order bulk from somewhere in the great Internet? You could pick the weight and style you want. Jacketed, plated, coated or plain lead are always available in whatever weight you want if the LGS doesn't have what you want. My mailman gets a steady workout carrying boxes with a couple thousand bullets from the street to the front door on a regular basis.
Click to expand...

I usually do but the last time I bought some from my LGS, the price was about the same and I didn't have to wonder when they were going to show up on my doorstep
 
I like Berrys Bullets they will ship direct, free if order is over $75. They have 124/125 gr ball and HP in stock. Check out their 9mm hybrid HP: plated, then Swagged, cutting through the plate and lead. This is the same construction as Speer Gold Dot.
https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/bp-9mm-356-124gr-hhp
$31.71 for 250.

I just realized I loath buying bullets at a LGS. Prices are not good, "what is in stock" seems to be permanent limitation, and I prefer to comparison shop on the internet for known brands (Berrys, Hornady, etc). Also, bundling purchases of bullets, powder, brass and primers reduce shipping costs. The last time I bought primers it was 5,000.
 
Roland, I think of myself as an average shooter and an average reloader. I have been loading 9mm for 2 different guns for about a year. I have used Berry's and Xtreme plated bullets in 115gr and 124gr weight using 3 different powders and to be perfectly honest at 7 to 15 yards I cannot differentiate one from the other. Not in felt recoil or point of impact.

The guns in use here are a Taurus PT92C which has a 4" barrel and an XD Mod2 4.0 full size. I have come up with a load for both the 115gr and 124gr that works equally well in both guns and is pleasant to shoot.
 
Both Berrys plated hybrid and Hornady XTP are available in 9mm 147 gr HP. They have been abailable for over 5 years.
Conversly, I have not seem 147 gr FMJ.
I have carried 147 gr HP, and would do so again.
They are subsonic, and are said to work well in suppressed SMGs.
But my preference will be 124 HP at 1150+. However, I rarely see them as factory loaded ammo.
 
When the LGS couldn't get/ didn't have any 9 mm bullets , not that too long ago, I solved that problem with a Lee 2 cavity bullet mould.
I now have 5 moulds from 105 grains to 147 grains in three different nose profiles,
one is even a hollow point . I make whatever I want and it's not rocket science.

Being the master of your own bullet supply ...ROCKS !
 
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