whats with all the 124 gr. ball ammo?

Site Notices

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - whats with all the 124 gr. ball ammo?

Posted: 4/22/2021 6:35:42 PM EDT

I'm seeing a lot of vendors suddenly getting shipments of 9mm ammo, but most of it is 124 gr.

What does 124 gr. do differently than 115 gr.? I'm probably going to need to get more ammo soonish (next few months). I would really like to maintain as much consistency as possible. My carry ammo is 115 gr. All the ammo I've been training and competing with since I switched to 9mm last January (lol, what a time to do that) has been 115 gr. I've shot dozens of steel targets since I started shooting USPSA last year and I haven't had to shoot any of them twice.

So whats the deal? Should I just wait until more of what I have been shooting is available? ETA: Does it make enough difference to make a difference? Should I switch to 124 gr.? Should I just shoot them interchangeable?

Posted: 4/22/2021 7:00:38 PM EDT

[#1]

The knee action Luger, loves it.

Posted: 4/22/2021 7:00:44 PM EDT

[#2]

My experience is it doesn't seem as "snappy" as 115, but it is only a slight difference. That's about the only difference you will or won't notice.

Posted: 4/22/2021 7:36:30 PM EDT

[#3]

I carry 147 gr, but I'll shoot any weight for practice. Natchez has had an abundance of 115 gr FMJ lately so I've stacked that deep.

Posted: 4/22/2021 7:51:34 PM EDT

[#4]

I prefer 124 and 147.

115 tends to be poors ammo.

Probably doesn't work for shit when shooting through a windshield.

Posted: 4/22/2021 8:09:07 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
I prefer 124 and 147.

115 tends to be poors ammo.

Probably doesn't work for shit when shooting through a windshield.

View Quote

Right now 115 gr. is $.20 more per round at the vendors I like to buy from.

I'm a poor. I have enough ammo for the season if I don't add any more USPSA or 2 gun matches than what I'm already planning. I think I will just wait.

Posted: 4/22/2021 8:18:09 PM EDT

[#6]

US Army just switched from 124 grn FMJ w/ the M9 to 115 grn FMJ w/ the M17/M18 - partially solves the 50 yd supersonic problem. Might explain why 124 grn FMJ is showing up.

Posted: 4/22/2021 8:18:47 PM EDT

[#7]

I shoot 124 and 147 ball, and 147 and 158 HP subs.

Posted: 4/22/2021 8:22:06 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
US Army just switched from 124 grn FMJ w/ the M9 to 115 grn FMJ w/ the M17/M18 - partially solves the 50 yd supersonic problem. Might explain why 124 grn FMJ is showing up.

View Quote

I don't know what a 50 yard supersonic problem is.

Posted: 4/22/2021 8:45:07 PM EDT

[#9]

I shoot whatever I can find the most of....

cp

Posted: 4/22/2021 9:15:08 PM EDT

[#10]

124 he NATO ball is my preferred range ammo but it always costs more than 115.

Posted: 4/22/2021 9:33:35 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted: I don't know what a 50 yard supersonic problem is.

View Quote

147 grn 9x19mm from a pistol stays subsonic throughout its flight.

124 grn starts supersonic, but before it reaches 50 yds, it goes transsonic, then subsonic, introducing some wobble.

115 grn may stay supersonic for 50 yds, meaning it could be expected to be more accurate than 124 grn.

The US Army Marksmanship Team went to 147 grn some years ago for shooting @ 50 yd targets.

Posted: 4/22/2021 9:41:22 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

147 grn 9x19mm from a pistol stays subsonic throughout its flight.

124 grn starts supersonic, but before it reaches 50 yds, it goes transsonic, then subsonic, introducing some wobble.

115 grn may stay supersonic for 50 yds, meaning it could be expected to be more accurate than 124 grn.

The US Army Marksmanship Team went to 147 grn some years ago for shooting @ 50 yd targets.

View Quote

Ah shit. That makes sense. I have some 115 gr. ammo which, out of my PCC, I can shoot 5 rd. groups at 50 yards with one ragged hole but at 100 yards I can barely keep the rounds in the C-zone. I wondered why I went from about 3 moa to 12 moa somewhere between.

I'm guessing the ~50 yard shot I made in a USPSA match last weekend (off hand, shooting fast, got 2 Cs) would have been a lot more dicey with 124 gr.

Posted: 4/22/2021 9:48:15 PM EDT

[#13]

I carry 147's. Could care less about a 9gr. difference in training ammo. It will make zero difference if you are ever involved in a SD situation.

Posted: 4/23/2021 12:08:09 AM EDT

[#14]

Most recent, best deal on bulk 9mm fmj range ammo I bought was 124. Don’t know why though.

Posted: 4/23/2021 12:40:43 AM EDT

[#15]

Right now I shoot just about any 9mm ball I can get, it's gonna be an expensive data if you're picky. I have a decent stash but it's all over the place - 115 ball, 124 ball, 115 aluminum case blazer, I think a few boxes of Wolf steel.

Fwiw I've never noticed a consistent difference in recoil impulse from 115 -> 124gr. 147gr feels noticeably less snappy but unless it's a +P defensive loading it all feels the same to me.

Posted: 4/23/2021 12:55:00 AM EDT

[#16]

Not tech, not necessary.

Posted: 4/23/2021 12:56:01 AM EDT

[#17]

124 is the nato load. And considering most of the ammo incoming is imported from nato countries well you get nato loads

Posted: 4/23/2021 9:18:33 AM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted: Not tech, not necessary.

View Quote

It's also the new Army load.

Posted: 4/23/2021 9:48:27 AM EDT

[#19]

I shoot it all. I like 147 for the suppressed pistols.

Posted: 4/23/2021 9:58:18 AM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

It's also the new Army load.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted: 115gr is the poors

It's also the new Army load.

exactly

Posted: 4/23/2021 10:07:55 AM EDT

[#21]

I rarely shoot any unsuppressed 9mm anymore so I try to buy 147 or 158

Posted: 4/23/2021 10:23:40 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not tech, not necessary.

View Quote

Attached File

Posted: 4/23/2021 10:26:54 AM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/274809/ben-grogan-car-675x450_jpg-1915667.JPG

View Quote

What's the story on this picture?

Posted: 4/23/2021 10:29:25 AM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

What's the story on this picture?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/274809/ben-grogan-car-675x450_jpg-1915667.JPG

What's the story on this picture?

1986 Miami FBI shootout.

Posted: 4/23/2021 10:34:41 AM EDT

[#25]

What exactly is the new version of M882 Ball? Is the duty load still a ball round?

Posted: 4/23/2021 10:53:14 AM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted: What exactly is the new version of M882 Ball? Is the duty load still a ball round?

View Quote

M1152 - 115 grn flat tip FMJ.

M1153 - 147 grn hollow point, for special purpose use.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2019/4/23/m1152-m1153-the-army-s-new-9-mm-luger-loads/

Posted: 4/24/2021 9:47:26 AM EDT

[#27]

Virtually all of my 9mm fixed sight pistols shoot POA/POI with 124gr ammo. Not a single one will do it with 115gr.

Steel plate matches, etc will have a better result with 124gr ammo as well. When I become King, I'm banning 115gr ammo as well as .40 cal.

Posted: 4/24/2021 9:46:41 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
Virtually all of my 9mm fixed sight pistols shoot POA/POI with 124gr ammo. Not a single one will do it with 115gr.

Steel plate matches, etc will have a better result with 124gr ammo as well. When I become King, I'm banning 115gr ammo as well as .40 cal.

View Quote

We'll assassinate you w/ a Luger.

Posted: 4/24/2021 9:52:26 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
So whats the deal? Should I just wait until more of what I have been shooting is available? ETA: Does it make enough difference to make a difference? Should I switch to 124 gr.? Should I just shoot them interchangeable?

View Quote

Unless you're shooting some kind of precision bulls-eye, you'll never tell the difference. IDPA, tactical training class, etc. at 20 yards and less, POI is too close to tell a difference, at least with most pistols. YMMV.

Posted: 4/25/2021 7:47:21 PM EDT

[#30]

I read years back,that the 115 gr.loads was a USA thing.
Almost all EU loads are 124 gr.That's what they shoot over there,we
are just seeing more of it here due to the shortage.

That's my take anyway.
But,been wrong before,was married twice.

Posted: 4/25/2021 9:37:34 PM EDT

[#31]

I prefer 158 but often settle for 147

Posted: 4/28/2021 10:56:09 AM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
I prefer 158 but often settle for 147

View Quote

As do I. 158 Especially in the longer barrel suppressed guns like my 8” mpx and 10” AR.

Posted: 5/6/2021 11:57:41 PM EDT

[#33]

None of my 9mm pistols or my AR 9 really cares and I can't tell the difference. I usually buy whatever is available.

I do notice that the Euro 24 grn bulk is a little bit more accurate then the American 124 grn bulk.

Posted: 5/7/2021 5:05:54 PM EDT

[#34]

Probably as simple as a bunch of bullets showing up or in inventory. People get a whole lot less picky the worse things get. I’m trying to standardize on 147’s for everything.