I picked up a 929 last fall to use this summer at combat matches I run for the local range. Its winter up here and not being a fan of cold weather I have yet to put a round downrange.

I'm looking to stock up on reloading components before spring and am going to buy some bulk FMJ's from Midway for the upcoming season. My question is, in you folks experience, what weight shoots better the 115 grain or 124 grain? I'm leaning towards 115 just for quicker recovery between shots. These won't be loaded heavy, probably just in the neighborhood of 3 or 4 grains of bullseye.

If any of you 929 owners can shed some light it would be much appreciated!

Thank you for your input.

I'm not sure what's best for your 929.
But, I'm using 147 gr. Xtreme plated or SNS coated cast in .356 dia. with 3.5 gr. of Bullseye. This combo runs about 950 fps. in my autos but only a little over 850 out of my 929. I've also used 5 grs. of HS6 with the same bullets with good results.
( always check reloading info. from the internet with a good reloading manual. You surely don't want to trust my fat finger typing ,, or my memory.. )

Recoil is very light and I'm happy with the accuracy of both bullets and powders. I've even had a couple folks comment, that from the sound and recoil ,, looks like I'm shooting a .22.
A friend is using VV340, or maybe VV320, ( don't remember exactly ) with a 124 gr. jacketed and the recoil on that combo is very light also.

Over the years I have found, and prefer, a heavy bullet to make Power Factor with minimum recoil, for non-comp guns.
Switched years ago from the 200 gr 45acp to the 230 gr. ,, makes major with less felt recoil.

Also do a 929 search, several others threads on this forum.

Quick 929 review

Are you trying to make a certain power factor, like minor for USPSA?
If you are, for a given power factor, a heavy bullet moving slower gives less recoil impulse.

However, if you just want to get the bullet out the barrel without regard to making a power factor, then it makes little difference what bullet you use, as long as you don't load light enough to stick the bullet in the barrel.

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Science plus Art

Thanks for the responses. We don't have any power factors, it is pretty informal, no separate categories, its revolver against high cap against single stack! Just a bunch of guys getting together for some trigger time and to generate some income for the range.

My main concerns are having something that will fall into the adjustment range for the sights, and shoot somewhat flat. I don't load powder puff rounds, but not maximum either. I'm leaning toward the lighter bullets, but I don't know what weight the sights are regulated for.

I have only shot factory ammo out of my 929 and find that 147 grain bullets are what it likes the best. This weight in factory ammo is very hard to find around here so I settle for the next heavy weight of 124 grain. Perhaps I should take up yet another hobby and start re-loading.

For mine I have been loading 115gr X-Treme plated over 3.5gr of Win 231. Very mild and super accurate.

I subscribe to the heavy bullet, low felt recoil theory. That's why I use Bayou 160gr RN bullets. Bear in mind that I'm using these loads for ICORE & USPSA where reloads are on the clock, and I need to make power factor. The RN tip makes the reloads a snap.

By the way, I have found that the Revolver Supply .040 thick moon clips work extremely well with F-C brass, and they make for extremely fast reloads in the 929. You can time my reloads for my 627 with a calendar, but this moon clip and brass combo lets me compete with the big boys.

Smith & Wesson 9mm barrels generally are more accurate with 124gr. bullets. I shot Bullseye for years, and the advice I got from the S&W factory shooters was very valuable. All the guns, from the 952, the 3566TSW with 9mm barrel, and my 9mm revolvers….ALL shoot the Montana Gold 124gr.hp VERY accurately….including my 929. With lead bullets, the groups are literally 1-hole. With the jacketed bullets….2"@50yds.
I use VV-N340 (5.1gr) or 231(4.5gr) and a Federal Small Pistol primer.
There is no factory load that can challenge these.

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Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

I have mine loaded with exactly 4g.of bullseye. 115gr xtreme rn.

Thanks for all the responses! It looks like it will either be 115 or 124 and I'm leaning toward 124. I guess it depends on what is available also.

I've done a lot of testing this year with my 929 and using 124/125, 135 and 147 grain bullets.

At minor power factor the 147s have the least felt recoil. Heaviest I'll go although there is load data available for 160 from top shooters.

My 929 actually shoots faster than my Shield for some unknown reason with the same bullets.

I see a big difference when shooting Steel Challenge stages. I though the faster lighter bullets would have less time to target but speeds are so close it doesn't make a hole lot of difference and the less recoil helps transition from target to target.

I like the heavier bullets because their slower speed allows me to hear the hits on steel better than loads that are near supersonic. Just my opinion.

115 grain Zero conical bullets and 4.8 to 5.6 grains of Winchester Autocomp 1.75" at 50 yards.

Tom

Has anybody slugged the barrel on one of these?

Anybody tried the Hornady 125gr .356 HAP?

We have slugged 4 929's all were .358" with a cylinder throat of .3575" which per S&W is in spec.
Have shot a few of the 125 .358 HAP with good results but for now will shoot the 5K 115 9mm projectiles i have.

Tom

Hmmmm... Anyone squeezing .357 or .358 lead 125gr into a 9mm case? Any reason that wouldn't work well?

Shots really well in all my guns….

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Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

Good way to ruin a good gun…The barrels are too tight. Unless you use lead .357 bullets. Why, the 9mm bullets are the same price! if you cast them or buy them. Just because you have some of the .357 bullets is not a reason to exercise any carelessness. Can you get away with it,,,,,,probably, but it is an uncertainty, at best, and potentially dangerous.

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Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

After some research and conversations with "Mark" a engineer at S&W on the 929 I am comfortable shooting .358 projectiles out of my 929 9 mm.

S&W would not say why but the cylinder and barrel specs were changed from the .38 super 627 series guns .3565" cylinder throat and .356" barrel to .3575" cylinder throat and .357" barrel on the 929. Barrel twist rate was also changed from 1/18 on the .38 Super to 1/10 on the 929.

Lothar Walther was the barrel supplier for the .38 super guns and now the barrels are made in house (Smith or Tompson Center). Specs from Lothar Walther on their 9mm barrels .347" land and.355" groove with a 1/9.8 twist. Their .38 special .357 mag barrels are .346" land .355" groove and 1/17.7 twist.

When I proceed with shooting .358" projectiles in my 929 I will send my loads out to be pressure checked.

I shoot NRA Action Pistol with shots to 50 yards. Smith was surprised with my 2" accuracy at 50 yards... as their spec calls for 4" at 25 yards.

Tom