What's with all the 124 gr factory 9mm for sale everywhere...

[1BadSmith]

Maybe it's just me, but other than 115 grain being everywhere, you really had to search for 124 or 147 grain it seems like, now it's popping up all over. What gives? Just curious.

 

[Jessie]

It hasn't shown up much here yet

 

[OldOutlaw]

Manufacturers started running the 124 after they finished their 115 loadings.

 

[sheepdawg]

Still priced too high.

 

[fiasconva]

Probably because 115gr is running low since it seems to be the most popular and 124 is what's left.

 

[OldOutlaw]

Still priced too high.

Mike, I kind of think 9mm 115 FMJ isn't going to go lower than perhaps $.28-$.30 per round any time soon. I am talking US made brass cased ammo only.


If Ukraine/Russian situation gets worse, watch ammo go up fast.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Stopped at Cabela's and Academy today, and neither had more than a shopping cart worth of ammo on the shelves, but the most available ammo was 115gr 9mm.
No .38/.357 or 12ga at either. Both had a pile of Winchester 7.62 M80 Ball for $25 a box.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Dave_n]

124 Grain is the NATO standard and was the initial loading for the Luger in 9 mm back in the 1910 time frame. NATO armies use it but the US ? It also is "faster" than the 119 under standard conditions. Look for the little star on the rim of NATO 9mm and it will be 124 grain. Dave_n

 

[OldOutlaw]

124 Grain is the NATO standard and was the initial loading for the Luger in 9 mm back in the 1910 time frame. NATO armies use it but the US ? It also is "faster" than the 119 under standard conditions. Look for the little star on the rim of NATO 9mm and it will be 124 grain. Dave_n

The true US NATO 9mm 124 gr was only made at the Winchester Oxford, MS plant. It has an internally sealed bullet and a sealed primer. The head stamp is always WMA 14 and a NATO Cross. Box Part Number is Q4318.


Now, Winchester did take surplus brass from Oxford and sent to other plants. It was labeled variously, but sold as NATO. However, not every round had a NATO head stamp on it. Like the so called NATO ammo sold at Walmart. So, you never really knew what it was for certain.


In doing a search I found this was discussed years ago on this forum. The OLD style pages. Yep, better have Q4318 on that box.


There was a ton of this Oxford ammo marketed in 2016. Under Q4318. After that came the other I will call mixed brass ammo. Bought a couple of boxes at Wally. Fired in a Ruger P95DC. They just did not recoil like the Q4318 I fired the same day.


Anyway, I bought multiple cases of the Oxford made ammo. It is my stash ammo today. I shoot some every once in awhile and it functions perfectly in all my 9mm pistols. Plus a Carbine and my 9mm AR. Cost just under $.23 per round back then.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

MIL contract overruns would be my guess.

 

[OldOutlaw]

MIL contract overruns would be my guess.

You got it. That is exactly what I found out from a Winchester Rep who was in my LGS years ago. The Q4318.
And, I have not seen any of it for years now.

 

[ruger 22]

At my LGS they have a ton of 9mm---either 150 grain Federal or 115 grain Federal for $24.95. Lots of it. Also Aguila 22lr for $6.96 for 50.

 

[ruger 22]

At my LGS they have a ton of 9mm---either 150 grain Federal or 115 grain Federal for $24.95. Lots of it. Also Aguila 22lr for $6.95 for 50. One box of 20 pcs of 460 S&W for $59.95.

 

[Darkenfast]

124 Grain is the NATO standard and was the initial loading for the Luger in 9 mm back in the 1910 time frame. NATO armies use it but the US ? It also is "faster" than the 119 under standard conditions. Look for the little star on the rim of NATO 9mm and it will be 124 grain. Dave_n

NATO standard is actually a range of weights, not a specific one such as 124. For some years, the US version was the Winchester Q4318, 124 gr. and marked 9mm NATO. In recent years, it seems to get mid-to-high 1100 fps velocity out of service sized pistols. It is being replaced (mostly) by the M1152 round (also loaded by Winchester), a hot 115 gr. flat-nosed FMJ that breaks 1300 fps in the M17 pistol.

Edit to add: I believe the Q4318 is officially called M882.

 

[mscampbell2734]

If we are seeing more 124 gr available I'd say it's because the US military went away from 124 to 115. The left over 124s are being sold to the civilian market.

 

[stansdds]

I prefer 124 and 147 grain bullets in the 9. It has been my experience that my 9mm pistols are more accurate with the 124 and 147 bullets.

 

[OldOutlaw]

NATO standard is actually a range of weights, not a specific one such as 124. For some years, the US version was the Winchester Q4318, 124 gr. and marked 9mm NATO. In recent years, it seems to get mid-to-high 1100 fps velocity out of service sized pistols. It is being replaced (mostly) by the M1152 round (also loaded by Winchester), a hot 115 gr. flat-nosed FMJ that breaks 1300 fps in the M17 pistol.

Edit to add: I believe the Q4318 is officially called M882.

I think you are correct on the M882 as I recall.

 

[Dave_n]

If I run 115 "regular" in my 1918 DMW Luger, it often does not operate well, with at times the next round not being chambered as the toggle does not go back far enough or as rapidly, and since that cocks the firing pin, I stick to 124 grain, currently a Winchester-made ammo that I picked up a few cases of some years ago. Dave_n

 

[fiasconva]

I bought a couple of boxes of the Winchester NATO 124gr a few years ago on sale at Walmart. It was cheaper than the 115 and I wanted to give it a try. Still haven't done it yet.

 

[max]

I have had a case of NATO Winchester on order for 2 years. I may see it later this year, but I am not holding my breath.