Ammo grain

[Name Taken]

Just wanted to get experienced advice and opinions on grain. do some of you use various grain rounds in your SD9's. I believe the manual states 124 grain and no +P ammo. I plan on using 124 but also want to try lower and higher to see whats better or see and feel the difference. is there anything to avoid completely and anything that has the optimal performance, I'm talking for range use here.

thanks

 

[Disabled1]

I don't ever shoot +P ammo. Everything else is fair game.
I shoot almost everything FMJ for target practice. My CCW/ home/self defense round is Federal Premium HST LE 124 gr.

 

[OKFC05]

"I believe the manual states 124 grain and no +P "


The manual states no such thing. The manual says any SAAMI standard ammo is acceptable, and +P may cause additional wear. RTFM
Owner's Manuals | Smith & Wesson
“Plus-P” (+P) ammunition generates pressures in excess of the


pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures


may affect the wear characteristics or exceed the margin of


safety. Use of “Plus-P” ammunition may result in the need for


more frequent service.


•“Plus-P-Plus” (+P+) ammunition must not be used in Smith &


Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates


that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation


does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore


such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated


and could be DANGEROUS.

 

[Okie21]

I've shot 115, 124 and 147 gr, hp and fmj, brass and aluminum case.

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[Name Taken]

"I believe the manual states 124 grain and no +P "


The manual states no such thing. The manual says any SAAMI standard ammo is acceptable, and +P may cause additional wear. RTFM
Owner's Manuals | Smith & Wesson
“Plus-P” (+P) ammunition generates pressures in excess of the


pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures


may affect the wear characteristics or exceed the margin of


safety. Use of “Plus-P” ammunition may result in the need for


more frequent service.


•“Plus-P-Plus” (+P+) ammunition must not be used in Smith &


Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates


that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation


does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore


such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated


and could be DANGEROUS.

I definitely misread it then lol

 

[Westie1]

For HD, got mine loaded with the Federal 150gr HST. Load was designed for subcompacts like the Shield, but functions well in the SD9. Went with the 150's because it's a very soft shooting load, and is easier for the wife to shoot.

 

[poordevil]

I like the 115gr in 9mm. It can go faster than the other heavier rounds.

 

[Arik]

I shoot all including +P.

If you're buying 124gr NATO it's +P. It causes more wear but you can't measure it in one bullet or one box or even in a 1000 rounds. It's measured in tens of thousands of rounds. If the service life of your gun is 30k rounds (just picking a number). Then shooting ONLY +P will shorten it to 15k - 20k assuming you constantly shoot it. However +P is usually more expensive so people shoot a lot less of it

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[KELSW]

I use 115 grain brass fmj for the range from various brand names . Herters Blazer Brass Federal PMC etc . Have some 124 Federal HST for self defense but also have 115 Critical Defense and Speer GD. So far no +p or hotter loads .

 

[martybee]

I shoot 115gr. FMJ. Higher velocity and cleaner holes in the paper.

 

[Papa_D]

I have shot 115 grain because it is plentiful and cheap, but do not like it's performance out at 50 yards, in my particular gun. I like 147 grain for how soft it shoots, but I have become an advocate for 124 grain after hitting a spray paint cap at the 50 yard mark of my local range.

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[micocyco]

I have shot 115 grain because it is plentiful and cheap, but do not like it's performance out at 50 yards, in my particular gun. I like 147 grain for how soft it shoots, but I have become an advocate for 124 grain after hitting a spray paint cap at the 50 yard mark of my local range.

Sent from my BLU STUDIO ONE using Tapatalk

a spray can cap at 50 yards with a SD9ve ?

 

[micocyco]

Just wanted to get experienced advice and opinions on grain. do some of you use various grain rounds in your SD9's. I believe the manual states 124 grain and no +P ammo. I plan on using 124 but also want to try lower and higher to see whats better or see and feel the difference. is there anything to avoid completely and anything that has the optimal performance, I'm talking for range use here.

thanks

I've had my SD9ve going on 7 years now I got it for training & home defense for my wife & self, during the peak ' or should I say low ' of the ammo shortage, we shot any & every 9mm we could get our hands on. The SD9ve just spit them out & said what else you got, with exception of Tulammo, it did choke on it twice both times it seems it was over size case that did not fire for some reason. I still have 8 boxes that I guess will sit & rust.
Now I mostly shoot federal aluminum case 115 G when I can find it.

 

[federali]

Of Interest

I believe that the original loadings for the 9mm were with 124 grain bullets and the rifling twist of most 9mms was optimized for that bullet weight. I agree with the other responders that you may try any legitimate load your please and if it proves reliable, it may be used. I too find little or no need for either +P or +P+, especially in my Kahr Arms P9.

 

[Papa_D]

a spray can cap at 50 yards with a SD9ve ?

LOL. Yup. I was fairly pleased. I have been trying to hit it using 115 White box and American Eagle for months. I then tried 147 UMC. Again, could get within 6 inches or so, but not any closer. Broke out some Aguilla 124 and danced around it until I hit it. Only 5-6 rounds with that stuff for me to hit it. Admittedly, I did not try to repeat the shot, but I DID make it at least once. Factory trigger with my own $.25 trigger job, and factory sights too.

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[Mark IV]

No need to overthink this, just shoot whatever's cheapest at Wal-mart (which will be steel-cased Tula, followed by aluminum-cased Federal, both of which are 115gr.)
Unless you're ordering from someplace like Sportsmansguide with one of their free shipping coupons, 124gr is generally going to be more expensive, and of no real benefit as just range ammo.

 

[martybee]

Inexpensive 115gr. Ball Ammo is perfect for range shooting and plinking!
The high velocity makes for clean hole in the paper targets. I used to shoot 124, and 147 gr. just to see how much difference they made. None to my limited shooting experience!

 

[Boomer13]

115 gr. winchester, rem, doesnt matter shoots both no problem

 

[dan323]

I shoot 115gr. Brass and Steel. No problems with either. I just don't use reloads because per the manual that will void the warranty. I would assume you would have to tell them you were using reloads, otherwise how would they know.

 

[S&W Rover]

Agree with the comments -- the SD9 will shoot it all.

I stay away from the really cheap imports, e.g., POF from Pakistan, anything from China, etc. as it often has corrosive powder, hard primers, etc.

It makes sense to occasionally shoot a bit of your (expensive) self-defense ammo in the pistol to make sure it works well with the pistol and you have a feel for how it recoils. I keep Speer Gold-Dot 124 grain +P ammo for carry. Best self-defense ammo? That's another thread! But Gold-Dot, Golden Saber, HST, etc., all get good reviews.