Bullet weight (9mm)

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phatns2pid

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Is there any appreciable difference in performance between different standard bullet weights for 9mm? I'm thinking I'd like to use 147 gr rounds, since they should reduce (or possibly eliminate?) sonic crack.
 
Off the top of my head, I believe my WinClean 9mm rounds are 124 gr and Federal Personal Defence ammo is 112 gr. I don't notice a big amount of recoil difference between the two so I couldn't see a heavier bullet having that much of an effect, it'd more be on the specific powder load. LR
 
If you are handloading for it with 147 grs and stick to the faster powders, you will notice a difference in the report and might find it less of a distraction.
 
Maybe just get a box of 115, 124, and 147 and feel the difference, eh?

For the record, I'd be shooting my selected density in WinClean, regardless of which I chose. No handloading or anything like that.
 
Factory loaded JHP is pretty scarce on the ground...
But, if you check around, some dealers will have factory JHP ammo in stock.
Don't bother with LeBaron's, but contact Williams Arms, Ellwood Epp's, etc...
If you reload, it's fairly easy to find sources for JHP bullets...Montana Gold,
Remington Golden Sabre, Hornady XTP, etc.....
 
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Different bullet weights will have a different POI at 25m, other then that, the lighter bullets will have less recoil then the heavier ones, but you may not even notice it.
If you wear hearing protection when you are shooting, you won't notice any difference in the report.
 
I found that the 124gr groups better out of my G17. 115's seemed to be all over the place, 147's weren't bad but 124's were the best as far as grouping went. Couldn't tell you why, but that's my experience.
 
I've shot 115, 124, and 147gr out of my Glocks and Smiths and have never noticed a significant difference in feel or POI.

Shoot whatever you can find cheapest, my $.02.
 
Newton's Law

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, the heavier the bullet weight, the more the recoil.
The main difference between heavier and lighter bullets is length, mostly.
A longer bullet will bite into the lands and grooves more because it has more surface in contact in the barrel. A lighter bullet will be the opposite.
A heavier, longer bullet should, theoretically, better stabilize in flight and should be more accurate that a lighter, faster bullet.
There are of course other factors to consider...
 
a 147 grain bullet loaded to the same power factor will have less "muzzle flip" than a 125 grain bullet therefore will feel softer and will be easier to keep sights on the target.
 
I mixed up some 115 and 147gr. in a mag to see if there was a difference. The lighter bullet has a snappy recoil where the heavier bullet is softer with less muzzle flip.
 
After shooting 115 and 124's I have settled on a HS-6 3.7Gr 147Gr CMJ load shooting around 900FPS. Recoil is nice and managable and it burns clean and runs perfect
 
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