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  #1  
Old 11-09-2021, 06:15 PM
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Default 9mm 124gr or 147 gr

Hi guys
Dumb question but would like opinions. I've reloded 115 gr FMJ, didn't like them so I switched to 124 gr FMJ a couple of years ago
The powder is WSF 4.7gr and is pretty accurate but a bit much recoil. I'm thinking of using 147 gr FMJ or Lead with WSF at minimum load. Other than cost would there be a difference as far as recoil and accuracy. Shooting Ruger SR9c at 7 or 15 yards
Thanks
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Old 11-09-2021, 06:58 PM
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I think WSF puts you in a good place. I also think 9MM lugers wake up with 147gr bullets. My favorite load, however, is a 124gr with which I tried a half dozen powders until I found my sweetheart. I actually settled on Herco with the 147gr ... it shares a very similar burn rate with your WSF.
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Old 11-09-2021, 07:04 PM
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I doubt you'd feel a difference in recoil going to 147 grain bullets. Though your 124 4.7gn WSF load is a starting load according to Hodgdon, it may be near max depending on seating depth. You may try backing down the load a few tenths and see how that does.
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Old 11-09-2021, 09:10 PM
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I used to prefer loading 147 gr with SR 4756 for my CZ-75, but that powder went away (except for the one lb container I'm hording). HS6 was good too, not sure if it's even still around. But I do like the 147 gr 9mm.
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Old 11-09-2021, 09:24 PM
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Recoil is of course a function of bullet weight, bullet velocity and firearm weight. A 147 grain bullet at lower velocity may give you a slower recoil impulse than a faster lighter bullet, although the total ft lbs of recoil may be similar.

Why not try the lighter 115 grain bullet at a minimum load level (assuming it functions the handgun) and see how that works out for you. It would probably have lowest recoil impulse of the three bullets that you mention.

My experience with several 9mm handguns favors the 124 grain projectiles, but I've had good accuracy with all the bullet weights. Years ago, I settled on the 147 grain cast RNFP design sized to .358" as I use it in the 9mm, the 38 Special and mid-range loads in the .357 Magnum. Doing so keeps casting and the bullet inventory simple and it performs well in all three of the cartridges.
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Old 11-09-2021, 10:27 PM
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If you start loading the 9mm 147 gr plated bullets, you need to be very careful
about the bullets shape and length so you don't get into pressure problems.

The Speer 147 TMJ and the Berry RN 147 gr bullets are miles apart on their lengths
and what is a safe minimum seating length !!

Case volume also changes big time when you start setting the bullets at a
OAL of 1.13".

Unique will work with the 147 gr Speer to +P's, but is almost useless with the Berry 147 RN, due to it's length.

Have fun.
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Old 11-09-2021, 10:35 PM
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Think I'll stick with 124 gr
Thanks all
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Old 11-09-2021, 10:59 PM
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I was more accurate with the 125/124 grain bullets. The 147 had less felt recoil, but accuracy “for me” suffered. All my 9mm are M&Ps.
David
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  #9  
Old 11-10-2021, 02:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by len917 View Post
Think I'll stick with 124 gr
Thanks all
Good choice!
I'm loading and carrying 124gr MPR from RMRBULLETS.COM, 4.4gr Win231.

My last chrono results:
Avg. 1123 fp/s
SD 14 fp/s
Ex. Spread 45fp/s
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  #10  
Old 11-10-2021, 09:04 PM
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4.0 GR WSF IS A GREAT 147GR JHP OR FMJ LOAD. WITH HORNADY 147 GR XTP BULLETS IT'S A 50YD MATCH WINNING COMBO. ANY JACKETED OR PLATED 147GR BULLET AT 25YDS OR LESS. SOFT SHOOTING EASY TO LOAD. JP
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Old 11-10-2021, 09:36 PM
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124 grain bullets for me.
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Old 11-11-2021, 01:53 AM
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9mm Pistols are funny animals...........

with the 147 plated bullet , my C9 3.5" actuall likes and shoots better groups
with this heavy bullet than my full size 5" barrel.

Good luck finding a bullet weight that your weapon likes.
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  #13  
Old 11-11-2021, 09:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by len917 View Post
Think I'll stick with 124 gr
Thanks all
Now I think I'll try some 147 gr jacketed with WSF and compare the two at the range
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  #14  
Old 11-11-2021, 10:45 AM
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Here is the facts ...
115 gr. will be faster but it's a lighter bullet .

124 gr. TC was what the 9mm Luger was originaly designed around but during some war some army complained that it killed too well and was against the genevia convention ... they went to 115 RN

Latest is 147 gr. about as heavy as you can go with the 9mm's case capacity . Also you can down load it for silencers ... heavier bullet at slower speed .

I looked at it and loaded a bunch of 9mm loads ...this is my take .
With the 147 gr. load at sucsonic velocities you have a 38 Special .. not a bad round but not what the designer intended .

115 gr. loadings ... fast but lacking weight ...again , not what the original design was intended to do .

Baby Bear ... The 124 gr. Truncated Cone at 1200 fps ...Just Right!

My take is the 124 gr. @ 1100 to 1250 fps is a winner , not too heavy , not too light and not too slow ... Get back to the original basic load !

Gary
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Old 11-11-2021, 10:54 AM
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Just my own opinion of course, but I believe that the 147 grain 9mm is a bit too "caliber heavy" unless it is being used for a specific purpose that a heavy bullet is needed.

IMHO the 124 grain bullets are the best performing and most accurate out of my guns.Velocity is also above the expansion threshold where as I am not so confident about the heavy bullet weight of 147 gr. although some love the heavy bullet.
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Old 11-11-2021, 12:33 PM
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Actually, the original truncated cone bullet was changed to a round nose configuration not because of lethality, but for reliable function. Personally, I prefer 124 to 147 grain bullets in the 9x19. I have found them to generally provide better accuracy than the 115 grain bullets. The new U.S. Army load uses a 115 grain truncated cone bullet at high velocity to provide high energy, yet less penetration, which means the bullet will dump more energy into the target rather than pass through the target.
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Old 11-11-2021, 01:25 PM
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I once had a conversation with Massood about FTF in small Glocks (G43) and he advised me that lighter bullets may cycle the slide too fast, causing stove-piping. He recommended using 147s in the lighter pistols.
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Old 11-11-2021, 02:49 PM
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FWIW; When I start reloading a new to me cartridge I start with the bullet originally used in the cartridge. In 9x19 I started with 124 gr TC FMJ. Worked great, so for the first thousand or so I used 124/125 gr. bullets, first 300 TC FMJ, then JHP. I normally don't notice recoi unless l'm thinking about it but I did notice a bit more with 147 gr bullets and slightly less with 115 gr., neither any great difference. I just got a 9mm 2" bbl revolver I'm expecting different recoil characteristics, but having perhaps 8-10 different 9mm bullets (115 JHP gr., 125 gr. cast/PCed, 124 gr. JHP and TC FMJ, 147 gr. cast nekkid and PCed, and some 147 gr. JHP on order.) I will experiment with all different weights/loads. My small Ruger LC9s has a bit more felt recoil than my full sized Masada, but neither are punishing, uncomfortable recoil..

(when I started reloading 44 Magnum I had a full blown case of "Magnumitis". I loaded most rounds hot and heavy, liked recoil and muzzle blast so 9x19 is no big deal for me).

Last edited by mikld; 11-11-2021 at 02:54 PM.
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  #19  
Old 11-11-2021, 04:26 PM
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I only reload cases with a cannelure in 9mm. If that projectile happens to not have a sufficient crimp to hold the projectile, the pressure can go sky high.



9mm requires a certain amount of power to operate an automatic pistol. Going too low may have you single loading a few hundred mistakes.
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Old 11-12-2021, 10:43 AM
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For semi-auto pistol cases, the taper crimp at the case mouth does not hold the bullet nor is it intended to do so. Case mouth taper crimp is only to press the case mouth against the side of the bullet so that the edge of the case mouth does not snag anything during feeding and allows the cartridge to fully chamber. Case tension holds the bullet and prevents movement of the bullet. A case cannelure, provided it is in contact with the base of the bullet, can reduce bullet setback, but I would not guarantee that it will prevent bullet setback.
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Old 11-12-2021, 12:36 PM
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I will opine that over-expanding cases is the direct cause of many reloading "problems" as they relate to bullet creep or setback. As has been said previously, insuring proper case tension is the 1st step: applying an appropriate crimp, depending upon both caliber and bullet design, is the 2nd step.

Cheers!

P.S. I can't really remember any instances of bullet setback in a semi-auto caliber that didn't 1st involve an obvious bullet hangup (i.e., non-normal feeding). I do use LEE FCDs for almost all revolver and pistol calibers: finished rounds go through a cartridge checker or gauge as well.
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Old 11-12-2021, 02:53 PM
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In my 5" 9mm I have four light target loads to choose from, Xtreme fmj bullets.

115 gr 1033fps, 118 PF ....... 1120, 128PF (power factor)
124 gr 1024fps, 127 PF
147 gr 890fps , 130 PF

For some reason, this pistol likes Green Dot for 3 of the 4 light loads.

Real fast or very slow powders did not do well for minimum loads with accuracy, for this pistol, for some odd reason.
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Old 11-12-2021, 04:31 PM
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Was introduced to 147 grain 9 MM in the Corps. When I retired I tried 115 grain and 124 grain and no joy. Picked up a bunch of 147 grain cast in a estate buy. Then I bought a well used S&W M39. Again tried the 115 and 124 grainers, again no joy. Made up some 147 grain cast and the M39 put them all in the bullseye at 15 yards. Would probably do better if I was 20-30 years younger.
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Old 11-12-2021, 04:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stansdds View Post
Actually, the original truncated cone bullet was changed to a round nose configuration not because of lethality, but for reliable function.
I had a P38 that simply would not reliably function unless it had a TC boolit.
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Old 11-12-2021, 06:27 PM
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147gr @ 870 fps for IPSC competition. Significantly less perceived recoil than 124gr with the same power factor. Almost no muzzle flash and much more quiet due to being sub-sonic. Shoots 0.9" groups at 25 meters out of one of my CZ Shadow 2s and 1.8" out of one of my other CZ Shadow 2s. So it's really up to the use you intend and the gun you have, but I've always had good luck with heavy for calibre bullets.
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Old 11-13-2021, 09:39 AM
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With similar middle of the road loads I nor the majority of my 9’s react much differently with 147’s.

I like them, as they are my first choice in .38 Super too.
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Old 11-13-2021, 09:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GypsmJim View Post
I had a P38 that simply would not reliably function unless it had a TC boolit.
Now that's a weird one! Most semi-auto pistols have the best reliability with round nose bullets, truncated cones being more likely to hang on the feed ramp.
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Old 11-14-2021, 12:26 AM
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For me, reliable cycling with 120 gr TC cast bullets in my 9mm semi-autos is a function of powder load. Light loads tend to jam, while loads closer to maximum cycle just fine.

As a side note. I have also noticed that when shooting Precision Delta FMJ 124 grain bullets, the RN bullets are less accurate than the jacketed hollow points.
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