180gr. Maybe they’ll get there one day…

a while back I was buying ammo, 10mm, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the 147gr 9mm. Sweet! So I grabbed a box. Didn’t really pay attn to the fine print. Finally I get around to reading the ammo box and I noted that the stated muzzle velocity was notably lower than average for factory 9mm. I don’t remember the specific number, but was a little disappointed

 

180gr. Maybe they’ll get there one day…

a while back I was buying ammo, 10mm, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the 147gr 9mm. Sweet! So I grabbed a box. Didn’t really pay attn to the fine print. Finally I get around to reading the ammo box and I noted that the stated muzzle velocity was notably lower than average for factory 9mm. I don’t remember the specific number, but was a little disappointed

It's simple physics. You can't expect a 147 grain projectile to have the same speed that a 115 grain projectile has out of the same caliber (when you said "factory 9mm", I assume that you mean 115 grain). The energy will be about the same.

 

I like 148, personally. It has worked well for me in all my guns. It is subsonic, as well.

 

I dont care for 115gr unless I had one of the newest crop of smallest lightest pocket 9s where I want good velocity balanced by manageable recoil. 124gr would be my choice in a compact pistol like my 3913 or similar....decent velocity from a sub 4" bbl, plenty of good bullet designs to assure deep penetration and expansion.
In a service sized like my 5906 or bhp clone, the best options seem to be 147gr and I generally favor their accuracy in those guns.

 

In 9mm I have a Glock 17, 19, 26 all Gen 3's. I have ran some extensive test with both factory and my own reloads, they prefer 124g bullets/loads. Every once in a while I will have problems with 115g and 147g loads. Not a lot but enough for me to buy and reload 124g exclusively. My Glocks just run all 124g loads like a champ.

 

124 gr for 9mm

 

In general for 9mm - 124 HSTs. In supressed SBR-PCC 147 HSTs.

Although I wouldn't hesitate to use vice-versa.

 

I like 147 for the recoil impulse. 124 is good to, but 115 is my least favorite

 

I prefer 147s.

 

I generally go for the 124gr. I have a bit of 115gr, most of that is FMJ. I don’t have any 147gr. If I can’t find 124gr, my next preference is the 135gr, where applicable. I wouldn’t feel undergunned with any of it that functioned properly and was reasonably accurate, in my particular weapon. Of course, I have my preferred brands, like anyone.

 

I prefer 124 gr. because I have a pair of six cavity molds that allow me to crank out a good number of bullets in short order.

 

124, 135, or 147 for SD. 115s are fine for the range. Honestly bullet construction and performance matters more to me than weight.

 

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

All rounds put holes in stuff…. and that would suck. I don’t want to get shot with a .22

My concern is more with over-penetration than anything else. I have seen 115gr ball ammo go through several walls. No ball ammo for self-defense or duty ammo. That is about it for me.

 

Barnes makes a 115gr that works really well. Just saying. 9mm has come a long way in the last couple of years.

124gr seems to be the preference of law enforcement.

 

124

 

These days it purdy much whatever you can find. I feel well armed with Hornady Critical defense in my P365 and Taurus GX4

 

Personally compared the diff weight bullets including, 115, 124,135, and 147 a number of years ago in my 19/17/34. Overall liked performance of 147 best. Most accurate and least felt recoil. Seems 124 more readily available. Really don’t care for 115…….although I still own quite a lot from previous bulk purchases.

 

115gr Critical Defense in G43, 135gr +P Critical Duty in G17 and G19.

For range ammo, whatever I can have in bulk.

 

I tried 115 gr., 124 gr. and 147 gr. My choice is 147 grain because of the ability to get back on target a little more quickly. The chart below is another reason!

 

That chart has been posted many times, and each time I marvel at how the 147-grain 9mm round yields the least impressive wound volume of the rounds tested.

 

.

 

For a JHP in any caliber, the heaviest, commonly available (practical) weight to ensure the highest sectional density. In the 9mm, that means 147-grains.

 

124 for me. Lots of good JHPs in the weight and it's generally cheaper to reload (and buy) than 147s and my reloads and even factory ammo in 124 will be closer to what my carry JHPs feel like. The HST 147 is a great JHP though.

In the HSTs in particular there is little difference in performance so the other factors are the reasons I favor 124.

 

They all work so who really cares. The 124HP are the most accurate in my use.

 

I'm sorry, but that is not (always) true.
1. SOME guns will not work with some weight bullets. My wife's Kimber Solo will not work with light bullets. My early Sig P225 will only work with 115 grain bullets.
2. Accuracy differences can be extreme between bullet weights in the same gun. My PPC9's groups at 50 yards are half the size with 147 grain bullets vs. 115s, but my Sig P210A prefers 115s.

 

I like to practice with 115gr. I find training with that helps me when i shoot matches with 150gr or if i need to use my 125gr JHP carry ammo.

 

I like the 124grv+p. Getting a jhp to expand isn't a gimmy, so I like a bit more vel. Most 115gr bullets just don't have quite enough mass for good expansion & penetration, one or the other suffers.

 

124gr +P in my 9mms