Switch to 147gr?

[Fire_Medic]

I currently do not have a chrono, but my pet load based on feel of recoil, accuracy, and reliability of pistol operation in my 9mm Glocks is MG 124gr CMJ, OAL=1.125, once fired brass, Wolf/CCI SP primers, and 5.1grs WSF.

i recently starting shooting IDPA and so my monthly round count has changed. I just loaded my last K of the MG tonight, and was curious if it's worth it to switch to the 147gr bullets? What advantage if any would the 147gr offer?

On my end looking at things they would take a lower powder charge which will add up to a good amount more rounds I can load per 8 lb jug. I'm just curious if there would be any other advantage.

I was considering going to the Xtreme 147gr bullets, I have been happy with the 180gr Xtremes in my G20 SF.

Thanks for your input

FM

[Sarge]

Forget about the cost factor. The amount of powder in a case is almost free.

8lbs WSF $121.50 @PV 8lb = 56,000 grains . Cost .002 cents per grain. a load of 5.1 grains cost .0102 cents while a 4.6 load for a 147 would cost .0092 cents per load. Basically a penny any way you slice it. Powder cost would be $10.20 per thousand compared to $9.20. You will get just over 1000 rounds more out of 8lbs. In the quantities we all reload that is not enough to make it a primary reason to switch loads.

Now you will save a little bit by shooting 124's instead of 147's. With MG's you get 750 more bullets in a case going with 124's over 147's. you will save about $25 per thousand loaded.

Now that I have numbed my own brain, the difference between the 124 and 147 will be feel. The heavier bullet will nudge compared to a little sharper rap from the 124. Seems like everybody who shoots 9 eventually tries 147's trying to come up with a load that has no recoil at all. Never gonna happen. Some people stay with 147's while actually quite a few go back to 124's because they found the 147's too sluggish or they found 124's were more accurate or were more reliable in the gun.

[ProGunGuy]

I went the opposite. I went to 124gr from 147. the slide on my g34 was felt sluggish with the 147 in uspsa and idpa. Some of my friends rib me that they can see my slide cycle, its going that slow. I load all my 9mm comp ammo to 130-135 pf.

one advantage about 147 is that if you want a gun to hit higher with the same sites, it an easy way to do it.

[sierra77mk]

You'd need to do the math to see what the powder savings might add up to but the 147's are substantially more than 124's. Like an extra $1.00 for a box of 50 rds.

I use them because I like the recoil of the heavier bullets. Not as much muzzle flip and a "push" recoil. Some people say the slide speed feels sluggish with 147's. You might need to play with recoil springs.

I currently use Hornady 147's and Precision Delta FMJTC's which give me nice groups.

[Hi-Power Jack]

I do not have a chrono, but my pet loadMG 124gr CMJ, OAL=1.125, once fired brass, Wolf/CCI SP primers, and 5.1grs WSF.

if it's worth it to switch to 147gr bullets?

will add up to a good amount more rounds I can load per 8 lb jug. I was considering going to the Xtreme 147gr bullets,

FM, if you're trying to save money, I'd skip the part about "once fired brass" - load 'em over

and over again - you probably won't see much (if any) difference.

Also, if you are reloading - and shooting IDPA - you really should buy

a chrono ...

Aren't Xtreme bullets much more expensive than MG Bullets??? Just another potential savings??

Try out some 147's and see if you prefer them - they do cost more than 124's, everything else

being equal.

[Fire_Medic]

I do not have a chrono, but my pet loadMG 124gr CMJ, OAL=1.125, once fired brass, Wolf/CCI SP primers, and 5.1grs WSF.

if it's worth it to switch to 147gr bullets?

will add up to a good amount more rounds I can load per 8 lb jug. I was considering going to the Xtreme 147gr bullets,

FM, if you're trying to save money, I'd skip the part about "once fired brass" - load 'em over

and over again - you probably won't see much (if any) difference.

Also, if you are reloading - and shooting IDPA - you really should buy

a chrono ...

Aren't Xtreme bullets much more expensive than MG Bullets??? Just another potential savings??

Try out some 147's and see if you prefer them - they do cost more than 124's, everything else

being equal.

The Chrono is my next investment, I am VERY new at IDPA, went to my first match last Saturday, and a practice day the one before that. However I'm not worried about my load making power factor, should be way over.

As for the brass, I typed once fired, but all of my 9MM brass except the 1K I loaded last night has been shot many times over the past couple of years, basically I shoot my 9mm brass until it's no good anymore, and I get a lot of loads out of them.

I ordered more bullets and decided to try the Xtreme's for 9mm after talking with a buddy out of state, and my pleasurable experience with the 180's in 10MM. I stuck to the 124'gr as they were a bit cheaper per thousand and it's just what I am use to.

The Xtreme bullets from TJConevera in 124gr RN were $83/K and they ship free. The 124gr from Montana Gold are $320/3,750 or $118/K and if I'm not mistaken the shipping is free to a business address but cost a bit more for residential delivery. We'll see how the Xtreme's work out, hopefully good, as I ordered a good amount of them, lol.

I need to research a chrono, but for now gonna take the charge down a bit with the new bullets when they get here and see how it goes.

Sarge- Everything you said makes sense and played into my decision a lot, thanks for putting stuff into perspective, and like you said I too have found the 124's to be very accurate and reliable so why mess with a good thing. And the money I saved on my order buying 124 over 147gr allowed me to buy another 1K of 124gr, never a bad thing.

FM

[twodownzero]

Switch to moly and you can have both low cost and heavier bullets.

[DRAB81]

Also tried the 147's first, because EVERYONE was doing it & said it was the shizz. Then I tried that 147gr/TG load, along with some 124's with WSF, TG, 231 & WST all at the same match. I liked the 124gr/WSF load more than any of the rest, so I switched & never looked back.

If you're thinking about paying $83/K for plated, I'd seriously consider paying the extra couple bucks for 124gr JHP's from Precision Delta

or Montana Gold. You can buy the PD's @ $86/K with any quantity, but with MG you have to buy a case. I always buy in bulk, so if PD is out of stock, I'll buy MG's. I have found that 9mm is the only caliber I can find Moly/Plated/FMJ/JHP's for about the same price, especially with 124gr.

[blueeyedme]

I run a 147 Bayou Bullet in Production - I like it a lot.

[polizei1]

I'm using 124gr Precision Delta currently. I've tried 115, 124 and 147 and I did not like the feel of the 147's. I switched back to 124's. If you want to try them, you can order a 100rd sample pack from Precision Delta.

Anyway, I would recommend using 124gr, either PD or MG. If you buy MG by the case, it's like $86/k, same as PD, so I'll most likely end up switching.

Edited August 3, 2012 by polizei1

[seaswol]

I'm using 124gr Precision Delta currently. I've tried 115, 124 and 147 and I did not like the feel of the 147's. I switched back to 124's. If you want to try them, you can order a 100rd sample pack from Precision Delta.

Anyway, I would recommend using 124gr, either PD or MG. If you buy MG by the case, it's like $86/k, same as PD, so I'll most likely end up switching.

I had used MG 124gr for my first 3200 rounds. I am using Roze jacked bullets in 10mm 180gr JHP and their 230 gr JHP in .45 ACP. Roze 180 gr in .400 and 230 in .451 are easy to reload, very accurate and open up sufficiently. I am hoping that the Roze 147gr JHP perform as well. BTW, Their service is great!!.

Thanks,

Chris

[frankge]

Math is wrong on the MG 124's they are 85.33 / 1000

[eric nielsen]

Montana Gold makes a 130 grain, Bayou Bullets makes a 135 grain. Back in the 90's most Open guys shot a CP Bullets 135 FMJ but they went out of business. Might not feel much difference but a 130/135 is less likely to break the speed of sound (~1110 FPS at sea level).

Busting the sound barrier dramatically increases the noise of anything: ammo, airplane propellers, weed-eaters etc

Edited August 3, 2012 by eric nielsen