Reasons for 124 gr vs 115 gr in 9mm

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Bartojc

Bartojc

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I dipped into my last 1000 round box of 115 gr RN 9mm projectiles last night. Time to resupply. When I bought last time I got 115 because of price and that is what I always used. Mostly practice range shooting what are the reasons to go to 124 ? Slightly less powder I can think of, anything else ? I notice that seems to be the go to weight of a lot of folks here.

-jeff
 
I shot 115 Gr for years because they were the cheapest. Then I tried 124/5s and decided I liked them better. Purely subjective IMHO, but for me a 124/5 at a leisurely 1050ish was accurate, pleasant to shoot and tossed the brass nearby.

Nothing in the world wrong with 115 gr 9MM bullets.

And some folks like shooting the 147 even better. I've never tried them though. Been meaning to, just haven't done it.
 
I believe that124 grains was the original loading when 9mm Luger was introduced. That might have something to do with the continued popularity of 124 grain bullets. I load mostly 115 grain because they shoot very well from all my 9mm pistols. That's my two cents worth.
 
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If you are talking loaded factory ammo, I like either 124grn or 147grn... but usually 115grn is cheaper, and that's what I wind up with, mostly. I handload 124grn bullets. My carry piece has 135grn Hornady in it, only because Hornady discontinued the 147grn defensive load.
 
I like 147's the best but use a lot of 124's and 135's also.
Nothing wrong with 115's when they are a bargain but I prefer the recoil of the heavier bullets.
As Walkalong pointed out, heavier bullet loads don't tend to throw the brass as far.
 
I don't have much to add specifically related to 9mm, but as drunkin poacher points out heavier bullets seem to have a softer recoil (lighter bullets seem snappier).
My experience concerning this is with .357 and 30-30.

Heavier bullets travel slower, but hit harder. Lighter, faster bullets should have a flatter trajectory but I doubt your using your hand gun at ranges that would matter.

Lighter, faster bullets may penetrate deeper?

I'm not an expert, so please feel free to correct me:)
 
Bartojc said:
I dipped into my last 1000 round box of 115 gr RN 9mm projectiles last night. Time to resupply. When I bought last time I got 115 because of price and that is what I always used. Mostly practice range shooting what are the reasons to go to 124 ? Slightly less powder I can think of, anything else ? I notice that seems to be the go to weight of a lot of folks here.

-jeff
Click to expand...
Jeff, you hit on the primary reason I reload my own ammo. Each gun is different. If you get into the hunt (as I do) for the perfect round for your given gun, the variety of projectile in 9mm adds to the fun of tuning a load that works the best. This said, for me target loads designed for accuracy in a faster fire rate are 147 grain. A good all around projectile for me is 124 grain and what I load the most of. I rarely load 115 grain anymore. I just don't do as well on paper as I do with the heaver projectiles.

My current favorite is 124 grain JHP HST. I buy them in bulk from places that pull them from out dated law enforcement rounds, like American Reloading. The HST shoots extremely well for me. I also load a lot of Xtreme 124 grain plated round nose. I purchase these whenever they have specials and is a normal stocked item on my reloading supplies. Xtreme during their specials are not the fastest on shipping. This is normally not an issue for me as I have stock on hand and if the shipment takes a week or two is no big deal.
 
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When I first started shooting pistols about two years ago I went through the same questions. I tried all three factory ammo loads and I couldn't tell the difference. And at my skill level I still don't know if I could. But when I started reloading I just picked the 124 because it was what the 9mm was designed with, and it seemed middle of the road of all the opinions either way. Honestly, I don't think it really matters. Just pick one and practice more.
 
I started shooting with 115gr 9mm as it was all one could get plus it was the cheapest. When I started reloading I started with 115 gr because a friend gave me a box of Hornaday XTPs to get me going. Once I got the basics down I started going out beyond what I was taught and what was initially available, so I came across the RMR 124s and the BE86 combo that so many rave about. To make a long story short, the cost wasn’t much different from the 115s and I like the way they shoot better. To me the recoil feels less or less snappy. The accuracy is good and as mentioned the price isn’t noticbly differt so why not go 124!

Now on my next order I may get some 147s to see how they compare but my current preference is the 124/BE86 combo.
 
I have researched most of the bullets I reload and usually use an original weight/design bullet, at least to start. While I've used 115 (lots) and 147 gr bullets in my 9mms I have a reloaded some thousands 124/125 gr. bullets. Just seems to work well for me (just like 230 and 200 gr. for my 45 ACP, 240-250 for my .44s, 158 gr. for my 38/357 Mag., etc.). But that don't stop me from playin' with "odd" bullet weights...
 
My guns like the 124gr better than the 115grs. I started with 115s , 1000, then I tried the 124gr. With the 124gr the recoil was more of a push (not near as snappy) which made it easer on follow up shots. Now I only use 124gr. I've had several person at the range tell me there gun was shooting low and wanted to adj the sights. I asked what they were shooting and told them to try the 124's. All said it corrected the POI vs POA problem. Now they only shoot the 124's. You can also download the 124's and still work the action on most guns, not the case with 115's.
 
All else being equal, heavier bullets have a softer feel to the recoil impulse, presumed to be due to the lower acceleration rate because they don't exit as fast as lighter bullets. And, when loaded to the same power factor with the same powder, heavier bullets produce less recoil force.
 
Like others have mentioned I only shot 115 gr for a long time till 124 gr was on sale recently, 124 gr seems more stable or a solid feel in Shield and 5906. Discontinued Hornady 124 gr +P JHP performed really well with M&P Shield. I ordered 200 rounds 124 gr from Freedom Munitions and will try it out in SD9VE next week.
0105181425.jpg
First time shooting SD yesterday ,sure is a lot different than the hefty 3rd Gen
 
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For a given power factor (momentum calculation), if your gun does not have a compensator, a heavier bullet with a smaller charge of powder will have less ACTUAL recoil. This is a measurable, objective scientific phenomenon.

Additionally, 115 grain rounds are often supersonic, with adds a bit to the noise from them. And subjective impressions of recoil are heavily influenced by noise (and flash and blast).

In short, for a given power factor, a 124 will actually shoot softer than a 115, and the perceived recoil for most shooters will be an even greater, downward difference.
 
My gun shoots 124 more accurately and its more of a push then flip recoil which I like more.
Click to expand...
In short, for a given power factor, a 124 will actually shoot softer than a 115, and the perceived recoil for most shooters will be an even greater, downward difference.
Click to expand...

Agree, same for me

My 9mms just seem to prefer 124s over 115s.
If you are trying to make 125 PF you can do that with a subsonic 124 gr (or heavier) bullet.

I would say try some, not a big expense.
They may or may not shoot better for you, you may or may not like the recoil feel better. (lot of help with this line:))


Edit:
RMRs new 124 FMJs shoot well for me, both RN and FN.
Currently using their 124 MPR JHPs for matches.
RMR offers THR members a 5% discount with the code.
PM me if you need it.
 
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I may have to grab a few hundred to try. May stick with. 115 who knows. Joined a local range so my shooting is going to go up significantly so good time to try something new. Thanks for the responses.

Jeff
 
EDC Gun: Colt Combat Commander -- 115gr Win. FMJ for practice using the original 9x19 barrel & 125gr Speer Gold Dots for HD & SD using my 9x23 Win. barrel.

The 9x23 is loaded with the 125gr to 1450 fps which puts it in the .357mag class with the recoil of a 9x19+P. Caution when loading to this power use ONLY Winchester brass; Starline's 9x23 cannot take the same pressure! See this link for more info:

Pistol Powerhouse: The 9×23 Winchester:

http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/cartridge-review-9x23-winchester/

gg Colt 9mm-9x23.jpg
 
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Perhaps the popularity of 115 gr. 9mm bullets is because that's what the military uses? Perhaps newer reloaders see that military preference and just go with that. I've also seen bulk ammo from vendors (Cheaper than Dirt, Natchez, etc.) in 115 gr, but none in 124/125 or 147 gr.
 
Current generation defensive 9x19 ammo bullet weights run 124-147 grains. There are some boutique loads that are lighter, but they're outside the mainstream. Older generations of 9x19 defensive ammo included 90-115 grain bullets, but current technology gives expansion with the deeper penetration provided by the additional weight.

My 9x19 carry ammo is Federal's 124-grain +P HST, and I load 124-grain FMJs to get about the same POA/POI.
 
Mine are more accurate with 124's generally from my limited testing. I buy a box of cheap 115 factory loads from time to time but haven't loaded a 115 in years.
 
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