Bullet weight in 9mm

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Macs675

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Hey guys so I had a couple questions for those more experienced in this.

I've always bought "whatever's cheap" in 9mm so generally 115gr. Since I've started with IPSC at my club I've been trying to look at load data and understand what will shoot how.

Can someone give me a basic run-down on the different bullet weights and their application? I bought 124gr TMJ wolf reloads and it is definitely noticeably less snappy than 115gr american eagle. I don't want to run Lead RN 135gr through my guns unless as a last resort, so will 147gr or even 160gr loads be precise? I've seen some guys shoot 147s all over the place.

On a somewhat related note, I kept having to double tap some of the steel to get it knocked over with 124gr which was really surprising. Is that bad shot placement or should I go for a weightier round?
 
As I don't reload 9, I look for, buy, shoot and compete with the cheapest (non-lacquered) I can find and can tell no appreciable difference.
Is one 9mm really "snappier" than another? Meh.. It's only 9mm...
 
The theory is that the 147 has less felt recoil.

I have quite a few 9mms and have found that I have to try a variety of ammos in each to find what it shoots best. The range of accuracy between best and worst ammo is huge.
 
Macs675 said:
Hey guys so I had a couple questions for those more experienced in this.

I've always bought "whatever's cheap" in 9mm so generally 115gr. Since I've started with IPSC at my club I've been trying to look at load data and understand what will shoot how.

Can someone give me a basic run-down on the different bullet weights and their application? I bought 124gr TMJ wolf reloads and it is definitely noticeably less snappy than 115gr american eagle. I don't want to run Lead RN 135gr through my guns unless as a last resort, so will 147gr or even 160gr loads be precise? I've seen some guys shoot 147s all over the place.

On a somewhat related note, I kept having to double tap some of the steel to get it knocked over with 124gr which was really surprising. Is that bad shot placement or should I go for a weightier round?
Click to expand...

A lot of guys that compete in action shooting such as IPDA or IPSC use 147 gr. with light powder loads. You can make power factor and still have very light recoil using a heavier bullet like 147 gr. that delivers great accuracy. This allows you do do follow up shots more quickly and results in better scores.

Typically lighter bullets have heavier powder charges and thus more recoil.
Examples From Hodgdon reloading data:
Using 115gr. SPR GDHP bullets and CFE Pistol powder Min. Load is 5.3 grs. to max 5.9 gr.
Using 124 gr.BERB HBRN TP bullets and CFE Pistol Powder Min. Load is 4.9 gr. to max 5.5 gr.
Using 147 gr. HDY XTP Bullets and CFE Pistol Powder the Min. Load is 3.7 gr. to max 4.2 gr.

I realize these are not the same bullets, but it give a good representation of the same powder but with different weight bullets, and there is no similarity of the recoil of a round using 3.7 gr. and 5.3 gr. of the same powder.
 
When I first got my HiPower, I tried a few different bullet weights with it.
The 115 gr rounds seemed to flip the muzzle up the most, and the 147 gr the least.
If I remember correctly, the 125 gr loads shot the best groups.....
YMMV

Stan
 
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