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Posted: 4/12/2013 7:17:46 AM EDT
Picking up my first 9mm soon, need to know what reloading components to start stockpiling. So I'm curious what weight projectile do you shoot and why?
This will generally be used for plinking, though I plan to load up a a couple mags with HD loads. |
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I mainly shoot in matches, where speed and accuracy are king. I shoot 147's out of a heavy Sig 226 X5. The heavier bullet is slower to accelerate, which gives the gun a slower, softer recoil impulse. This allows me to follow the front sight easier, and the sight moves less and falls back on target quicker.
Uses less powder too! (Although the bullets cost more.) |
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Whatever I can find on the shelf.
I usually carry 124 or 147gr JHP's. Target with 115 or 125'ish lead just for cost savings. I don't do competition, just want the most muscle memory practice for the money. |
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147s over 3.5 of bullseye. I shoot suppressed and want subsonic.
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I shoot a G34 for USPSA and 3 gun... the 147s (I shoot Delta Precision FMJs) are considerably more accurate than the 115s due to the longer bearing surface... I shoot Win Super Field at about 930fps...by considerably, I mean 1/2 the group size than promo 115s
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Quoted:
147s over 3.5 of bullseye. I shoot suppressed and want subsonic. This |
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124gr LRN. They fly and feed fine for me. I've had 147gr tumble on me at minor power factor in some guns. The flat nose profile can refuse to climb the feedramp with some 1911 mags. 124 gr is cheaper too.
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With quality 147 standard pressure, you can get great terminal performance out of self defense rounds, with the speed and accuracy mentioned above.
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I used to always shoot 147 in my 9mm's mostly moly coated lead. After several years of this, I have moved to 124 gr hp's . From my experience the 115, and 147's offer too great differences in felt recoil. I have found the 115 is too snappy, and jumpy, while the 147 is almost too sluggish. For me it is all a feel , and sight tracking thing. After shooting the 124's now it seems to offer the best of both. With the 147's I used solo 1000 powder, and with the 124, I have settled on titegroup.
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I used 147 for my suppressor. Mostly use 115 target practice. USN Seals use 147 grain.
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For self defense, 147gr. I have loaded 90, 100, 115, 124, 147, and 158 grain bullets for various purposes. My "standard" load is 147gr.
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Quoted:
I mainly shoot in matches, where speed and accuracy are king. I shoot 147's out of a heavy Sig 226 X5. The heavier bullet is slower to accelerate, which gives the gun a slower, softer recoil impulse. This allows me to follow the front sight easier, and the sight moves less and falls back on target quicker. Uses less powder too! (Although the bullets cost more.) This. For putting bullets FAST into the COM of a target, nothing beats the 147 loaded over a very fast burning powder (like Solo 1000 or Titegroup) to about 875 FPS. In competition, we often use JHPs because they are considered slightly more accurate and because compared to FMJs, they are very close in price. For carry, the 147grn Gold Dot (which is an ELECTROPLATED bullet) is a popular choice. Try comparing 147s to 115s using a timer. You will see what we are talking about. |
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My first choice is 124g because my Nano cycles better with it. Other than that, whatever is cheap for me.
SD ammo is Federal 115g hollow point (The 98P stuff that LE used throughout the 1990's) because I subscribe to the "Faster is better" attitude when it comes to 9mm. |
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Lately I buy whatever I can find. My current pet load is 124gr plated flat point over 5.6 of power pistol.
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115gr for range ammo 'cause that's what (used to be ) is commonly available.
135gr for carry ammo 'cause that's what the stuff in stock (Hornady Critical Duty) was when I was at the store. :-) |
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Quoted:
With quality 147 standard pressure, you can get great terminal performance out of self defense rounds, with the speed and accuracy mentioned above. What he said. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I mainly shoot in matches, where speed and accuracy are king. I shoot 147's out of a heavy Sig 226 X5. The heavier bullet is slower to accelerate, which gives the gun a slower, softer recoil impulse. This allows me to follow the front sight easier, and the sight moves less and falls back on target quicker. Uses less powder too! (Although the bullets cost more.) This. For putting bullets FAST into the COM of a target, nothing beats the 147 loaded over a very fast burning powder (like Solo 1000 or Titegroup) to about 875 FPS. In competition, we often use JHPs because they are considered slightly more accurate and because compared to FMJs, they are very close in price. For carry, the 147grn Gold Dot (which is an ELECTROPLATED bullet) is a popular choice. Try comparing 147s to 115s using a timer. You will see what we are talking about. |
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Reload 124 gr. ball over Power Pistol for practice, carry 147gr. Gold Dots.
124 is usually pretty easy to find in bulk, and I choose 147gr. Gold Dots based on the research I have done. They work well in my firearm. |
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124 gr. After testing all three weights, this is the one that gets me POA = POI.
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Your weapon might tell you what it likes too.
But for me, it doesn't matter, as long as it goes boom. I used to like the 147's most, but they're less available, in my experience. 115 fmj is the most common for practice. So I've shot a lot of it. And right now, it's whatever you can get your hands on anyways. |
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124gr HST is my gun's favorite load, but these days it's whatever can be found at MSRP.
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147g hollow points for ccw. Pretty much any grain bullet that is cheap and reliable for the range.
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147s.
Ranger T for work and self-defense, lead for everything else. |
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This week I ran speer lawman 115, 124 & 147 through the g34, g19 & m&p 9. I also ran a box of 115 magtech and herters lastly for fun. The heavy speers did perform better group wise, I was on target after recoil very quickly which was a pleasant suprise.I spend a lot of practice time with a suppressed .22 in my home range.
Find what works for you if you can find it on the shelf then conduct your own tests. Don't go wild blasting through your ammo, just fire a mag or so, pull the target and mark it with yardage, bullet grain, type, weapon, date, weather and anything else to compile data to narrow down what works for what gun. I didn't make this stuff up, I learned it from the intelligent people on this site and for the most part it will help you become a better shooter. Or you can just blast away like all the other dumb asses that are at the range to show off their goodies and waste their two boxes of tula ammo. |
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my plinking load is either 115gr or 124gr, usually by Federal. For carry I have 147gr HST's, I chose these because they were accurate and I prefer the heaviest bullet I can get. My gun isn't really all that picky about brand or bullet weight, it shoots them all equally well so I just decided to stick with federal since it's the easiest to find around here.
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Another for 115's for training and winchester pdx1 124 +p for SD.
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Old school here, I like 115 grain JHP +P or +P+, I carried the WW 115 grain JHP +P+ load on the job for many years. My Department had excellent results using this load. Penetration on hard objects like car doors and glass are dictated by energy and bullet construction. This was a very accurate high energy flat shooting round and the results are duplicated by the Corbon 115 grain +P. A lot of the early 9 MM pistols were very reliable with the 115 grain weight bullets compared to the very light or heavy bullets.
Some of the bonded core bullets have a tactical advantage (penetration) and I would carry 115 grain JHP Gold Dots if I ran out of my 115 grain +P+ ammo. |
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124 or 125 lead round nose over 3.7 of Titegroup runs in all mine and performs well in matches. It also makes the power floor.
147 Ranger bonded for social work. |
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Heavy 147 grain in the winter and 124/115 grain in the hotter months.
Why because more mas can penetrate dense clothing better or something like that. |
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Slim pickings past few months, range time is 115gr & carry is 124/135gr.
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For plinking and competition, I use what ever 115 or 124 gr FMJ is available and affordable.
For defensive ammo in 9mm I use the Winchester Ranger 127 gr +P+ round. It's one of the more powerful 9mm rounds and has a good reputation. |
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For practice, Precision Delta 124 grain FMJ over 4.5 grains of Winchester 231. For carry, Speer 124 grain +P. |
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124 grain - because that is what my gen 4 glock 34 ejects consistently with. 115 grains has ammo coming all over my arms and landing on top of the gun. 124 grain ammo gets me strong ejection to the right.
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Right now it's 124gr +P (HP) for SD/CCW.........and 124gr FMJ for range.
Because that's what I could get |
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For SD go to the ammo section FAQ's and select one of them from the list that your gun likes; for practice I reload 124gr bullets.
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The heaviest bullet available for pistol caliber(s) that the firearm will function with properly. For plinking, anything available and cheap.
Currently only own one 9mm pistol. It's carried with 147gr Gold Dots or HSTs |
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147gr bonded JHP. More push but less snap than lighter loads for faster followup shots & greater penetration.
Tomac |
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147 because I like large for caliber bullets. I'm a .40/.45acp guy. I will only shoot/buy heavy for caliber bullets. For me 180 grain and 230 grain bullets in their respective calibers; have reduced recoil, allow faster follow up shots, and hit hard. This is a winning combination for me whether training, plinking, or carrying... It translates to 9mm too. |
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I reload 115 to 120 with 4.5 grains of Winchester 231. I carry 124 +P Speer.
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i currently have my mags loaded with buffalo bore 147gr +p+ with 147gr gold dots on the shelf. whatever is cheapest for plinking.
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