ZackJones Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Greetings, I recently picked up an M&P C.O.R.E. along with a 40 to 9 conversion barrel that I'm planning to use for shooting open in steel challenge and pro-am steel matches. I typically go for the heavy/slow bullet combo (180g for .40 and 230g for .45ACP). This morning I was checking Bayou for their 9mm offerings and man they have a bunch! Of the bullet weights listed below which would you recommend or have experience with? I think the 124g and 147g could probably be considered the most popular weights but I thought I'd ask before buying stuff to experiment with. Bullets available are: 105g flat point 115g round nose 124g round nose 135g round nose 147g flat point 150g semi-wadcutter 160g round nose Thanks in advance for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottlep Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I prefer 115 in front of an extremely light load. There is no power factor for SCSA, so most go with the lightest load that will still run their gun, even going to a lighter recoil spring if necessary. I don't have an M&P but the load a run for SC out of my Springfield 5" 9mm 1911 is a 115 with 3.8 grains of 231. Barely makes 900fps, but the gun runs fine with a 9lb recoil spring (stock is 11 lbs). The light load makes for virtually no recoil which in turn means quicker transitions to the next piece of steel and faster following shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokihsa Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Zach I have some 9mm 147 light loads you could try. I think I could get my hands on some 124s also just to test load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I say try the 105s to see if they'll chamber reliably and if not go to the 115s. The reason to shoot heavy bullets is that when the PF is constant a 147gr bullet traveling 850 fps is WAY softer than a 105gr bullet traveling 1,190 fps, but when you don't have to make PF, a 105gr going 850 fps* feels like a bb gun compared to a 147gr bullet going 850 fps. *I'm assuming you're shooting static steel, this load will not knock down poppers reliably Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave33 Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 The 135gr Bayou over either 3.4gr titegroup or 3.4gr e3 feels like shooting a .22 out of my XDM 5.25. Both make about a 134PF too, not that that is needed of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 14, 2014 Author Share Posted May 14, 2014 Thanks for the feedback guys! I was a bit overwhelmed when I saw just how many options there are. I can order 100 sample packs so I will call Donnie and get some one the way. Will let you know how the experimentation goes. I will need just a little bit of power behind the load for the knock down steel matches but for steel challenge as long as it makes a mark on the plate I'm golden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Loaded to the same PF with same or similar powders, heavier bullets will have less felt recoil. The only complaint I've heard with heavy ones is some say they notice the slide cycling slower. Unless your splits are fast enough that slide cycle time might cramp your style, I'd go 147gr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Loaded to the same PF with same or similar powders, heavier bullets will have less felt recoil. The whole point of this thread is that he doesn't have to load to the same PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 15, 2014 Author Share Posted May 15, 2014 Loaded to the same PF with same or similar powders, heavier bullets will have less felt recoil. The only complaint I've heard with heavy ones is some say they notice the slide cycling slower. Unless your splits are fast enough that slide cycle time might cramp your style, I'd go 147gr. Your point about slide cycle speed is a valid one but given that this gun will be used for steel challenge and pro-am falling steel matches I'm not too concerned about slide speed. In both of these matches one hit on steel is all that's needed so there will be shot-transition-shot sequence. I'm sure at my current skill level the gun will be waiting one me and I won't be waiting on the gun . The only gotcha in the works is that for pro-am steel has to fall so I need enough velocity out of the pistol to knock down the steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 The only gotcha in the works is that for pro-am steel has to fall so I need enough velocity out of the pistol to knock down the steel. I think you'll find heavier bullets have the edge in that as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logisticsnightmare Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 The past two steel challenge matches I've been using 147 lead with very good success. I have some 160's from Bayou that I need to test but just haven't had the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 16, 2014 Author Share Posted May 16, 2014 The past two steel challenge matches I've been using 147 lead with very good success. I have some 160's from Bayou that I need to test but just haven't had the time. Let us know how the 160's go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v1911 Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 I tried the bayou 150s, but went back to the 147s. Had to load down to about an OAL of 1.115 to feed reliably. Had to use a Lee FCD to mash that case back into shape. Accuracy wasn't any better or worse than the 147 but they made pretty holes. It may have just been my perception, but the 150s made my slide feel sluggish. It may have only been 3gr heavier, but the reduced charge I think is what made the most notable difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 On Friday the mailman dropped of my bullets from Bayou. I decided to buy 500 each of 115, 124, and 147 grain bullets. I'm going to load up 50 of each today and try them out at the range tomorrow to see how they perform. I'll post an update tomorrow after I've had a chance to shoot them over the chrono and then do some grouping tests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tac_driver Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Glock 19 berrys 147gr prn Clays 3.0gr OAL 1.150 very soft shooting knocks down steel all day long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 Made it out to the range to do some chrono runs with the 115, 124, and 147 Bayou Bullets. I'm leaning towards 125's at this point. I like the way the feel. Obviously this load wouldn't make USPSA minor but it could be used for steel challenge. My M&P Core has a 13# recoil spring in it. Bayou 115 with 3.5g of e3 1 - 1,019 2 - 1,025 3 - 1,036 4 - 1,030 5 - 1,010 6 - 1,016 7 - 1,020 8 - 1,032 9 - 1,020 10 - 1,038 Avg 1,024.6 Max 1,038 Min 1,010 Minor Velocity: 1,086 Major Velocity: 1,434 Bullet: Bayou Bullet Weight: 115 Bullet Caliber: 9mm Gun: CORE - 9mm KKM Minor Power Factor: 125 Major Power Factor: 165 OAL: 1.135 Powder: e3 Generated by Chronograph Log - http://on-core.com/chronographlog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 Bayou 124 with 3.3g of e3. I am going to cut this one back to 3.1 or 3.0 and try it again though the AVG velocity works out to a 133 PF so I may just leave it alone. 1 - 1,085 2 - 1,094 3 - 1,064 4 - 1,079 5 - 1,085 6 - 1,063 7 - 1,100 8 - 1,102 9 - 1,066 10 - 1,064 Avg 1,080.2 Max 1,102 Min 1,063 Minor Velocity: 1,008 Major Velocity: 1,330 Bullet: Bayou Bullet Weight: 124 Bullet Caliber: 9mm Gun: CORE - 9mm KKM Minor Power Factor: 125 Major Power Factor: 165 OAL: 1.135 Powder: e3 Generated by Chronograph Log - http://on-core.com/chronographlog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 Bayou 147 with 2.8g of e3. Last run from yesterday. 1 - 888 2 - 874 3 - 870 4 - 865 5 - 878 6 - 862 7 - 870 8 - 867 9 - 879 10 - 867 Avg 872 Max 888 Min 862 Minor Velocity: 850 Major Velocity: 1,122 Bullet: Bayou Bullet Weight: 147 Bullet Caliber: 9mm Gun: CORE - 9mm KKM Minor Power Factor: 125 Major Power Factor: 165 OAL: 1.135 Powder: e3 Generated by Chronograph Log - http://on-core.com/chronographlog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlincoln Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Bayou 147's knock down steel reliably out of my XDM 5.25 9mm loaded to 1.133 with 3.9 gr Power Pistol and either Win or CCI SPP's. I have a 14lb recoil spring (stock is 18) and they shoot very soft with no problem with slide speed (at least for me). Makes 135PF. That Australian alligator snot coating seems to move them a bit faster than copper and isn't all over you like the moly coatings. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 Bayou 147's knock down steel reliably out of my XDM 5.25 9mm loaded to 1.133 with 3.9 gr Power Pistol and either Win or CCI SPP's. I have a 14lb recoil spring (stock is 18) and they shoot very soft with no problem with slide speed (at least for me). Makes 135PF. That Australian alligator snot coating seems to move them a bit faster than copper and isn't all over you like the moly coatings. JD Thanks for the info about the 147's. What's interesting is I loaded 5 of the 115's, 5 of the 124's and then 5 of the 147's and shot them back to back to back and I couldn't really tell a difference between the three. That gator snot sure is slippery that's for sure. I find it takes about .3g of additional powder to run copper bullets over the gator snot coated ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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