9mm Grains ?

BC Guy

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The three Grains I see for 9mm are 115 , 124 and 147 FMJ

For every day target practice what is the size that would be used , Any difference in accuracy in the 7-20 yard range ?

Thanks

Dave

PS I hope you dont all get tired of my questions Thk
 
I've noticed very little to no difference between factory 115 and 124 grain 9mm. POI is the same out of my Shadow as well (At least, within the margin of error created by my ability to shoot the thing). Buy whatever's cheaper.

I started loading 124 grain, and switched to 147 because people said it would translate into less felt recoil. Again, no significant difference in felt recoil or POI. Same fixed sights, no adjustment necessary. I'm still loading 147s as it works out to sliiiightly less $ per round (The extra cost of the bullet is more than offset by the savings from having to run less powder) and because the guy I buy my bullets from always has 147s. CamPro just came out with 158 grain 9mm projectile. I have a little sample bag of them sitting around, might try them some time.

I do a lot more 'action' shooting (Steel Challenge, 3-Gun) than slow precision shooting though if that makes any difference. Others might have different experiences, but I find them all to be fairly similar.
 
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I prefer 147 first 124 2nd, and I never buy 115. I would recommend 124

Neither are more or less accurate, but they shoot differently in different guns. The poi does change in my Glocks between 124 and 147 and so does the recoil slightly. I have to adjust my aim between the 2
 
115 is louder and snappier.

I’d buy 124. Never 115.

I currently reload 147, and I can feel the difference between my own 124 and 147 loads with similar power factors (I use TG).
 
For target practice within 20 yards I would buy whatever is on sale. Accuracy gains between bullet weights won't compare to accuracy gains developed through practice. Generally, people who shoot a specific weight do so because it shoots POA or the gun favours a particular weight. When you load you can make almost any weight work through load development.
 
124, for most pistols and most shooters seems to be the weight of choice. I load my NZ85 light for PPC (light enough that some other pistols will not cycle reliably) and point of aim is also point of impact. I have just loaded 100 with Campro 124 hollow points at the suggestion of a range operator that often hosts PPC. These hollow points cut a neat center hole and are easy to score compared to the rips and tears of round nose. Time will tell.
 
I concur with the opinions above. I prefer 135 and 147 gr bullets.

A "grain" is a unit of weight. Like "gram" or "ounce" and is used in the same way in a sentence.

So your heading question would have been better asked as "What bullet weight for 9mm?"

As a newbie, you can ask questions almost too fast for us to answer. But no problem. Better to ask than to learn the hard way.

But I learned lots of lessons the hard way. That is why I remember the lessons so well. An expensive education.

I can tell that your next question is "Why the dumb arbitrary weights like 115, 124 and 147?

The answer is found in a loading manual in metric units. Those bullets are actually


6.5 grams - 100 grains

7.5 grams - 115gr.

8.0 grams - 124 gr.

9.5 grams - 147 gr.


and for rifles

8.5 - 130

9 - 139

10 - 155

11 - 170

12 - 185

13 - 200

14 - 215

13 - 200
 
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I concur with the opinions above. I prefer 135 and 147 gr bullets.

A "grain" is a unit of weight. Like "gram" or "ounce" and is used in the same way in a sentence.

So your heading question would have been better asked as "What bullet weight for 9mm?"

As a newbie, you can ask questions almost too fast for us to answer. But no problem. Better to ask than to learn the hard way.

But I learned lots of lessons the hard way. That is why I remember the lessons so well. An expensive education.

I can tell that your next question is "Why the dumb arbitrary weights like 115, 124 and 147?

The answer is found in a loading manual in metric units. Those bullets are actually


6.5 grams - 100 grains

7.5 grams - 115gr.

8.0 grams - 124 gr.

9.5 grams - 147 gr.



Thank you I really appreciate the time taken to post the info for me

I'll wait a bit before I ask how the powder charge works into all this :)

Dave
 
Powder charges.

Heavier bullets work better with slower powders.

And light bullets are better with faster powders.

Best accuracy is usually found with a fast powder loaded to medium speed.

A fast powder fills less than half a case, so it is possible to double charge the case.

If you do this you get to choose a new pistol....
 
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