leam Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I've been shooting a .45 with a 230 making Major for a while, and am moving to a 9mm in Production. When planning a load, assuming the planned load doesn't push SAMMI specs and cycles the slide reliably, is it better for a lighter bullet going faster or a heavier one going a little slower? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aandabooks Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I prefer a 147gr FP with AA#5. I've loaded with 115gr and 124gr bullets but prefer the pushing recoil of the 147gr. I have not yet experimented with either 135gr or 160gr bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 Heavier and slower is a much better feeling load. More of a soft push compared to a light snappy 115 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck s Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 i would suggest letting your split times and accuracy decide what weight bullet to use. If the gun returns to Zero better with a particular load, that is more important than the feel of the recoil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onepocket Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I think the type of gun you are going to shoot plays a little into the equation. I like the snappy feeling of 124's in production, and I shoot a 34. Most people use 147's, and I would stay away from the 115's a little weak to knock down steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leam Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 I'll be shooting a Sig P320. Brand new and loving it! My matches have historically been slow shooting because I spend too much time ensuring the sight's are on target. That's one of the big challenges I'm working to overcome. When the sights are on the gun goes boom. That's the ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atbarr Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I haven't shot Production with a 9mm in years. I love the minimal recoil and large holes made by my G21SF, G30SF, or my G41. To get the slide to function, my PF is around 145, so I never worry about going Sub-Minor. I'll be shooting my G21 in Carry Optics this Sunday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatJones Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 In my experience, heavy bullets put steel down better than lighter bullets when loaded to similar power factors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 Slow and large. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Stevens Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I have had great performance from the 160 grain Bayou bullet. So soft it is like a 22. I use 3.0 of Universal Clays with no chrono problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhunter Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I started last fall with 125's, then when for the heavy bullets (147's) and liked them. But I shoot a lot and the cost advantage of the 125's was too great to overcome. To be honest, it's very hard to tell the difference. To me it's about cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 Heavier and slower feels softer in the hand, but the muzzle rises more than lighter and faster, and it takes a touch more time to return. In 9mm, I preferred the speed of lighter and faster, but I had problems with poorly or uncalibrated steel. So I used either factory 147 @ 144PF, or custom loaded 124s at 142PF. The 147s did a much better job on steel. I never had to double tap with them to get the steel to fall. Also, the steel falls faster. IMO, that is important if the falling steel activates another target, especially the disappearing ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atbarr Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 Slow and large. Hey, you talking about me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric4069 Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I think the type of gun you are going to shoot plays a little into the equation. I like the snappy feeling of 124's in production, and I shoot a 34. Most people use 147's, and I would stay away from the 115's a little weak to knock down steel. +1 I would just try 124 and 147 and see which is more accurate in your gun. Agree steel doesn't go down as well with 115 although I end up using walmart 115 often enough for local matches when I have been to lazy to load. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAFO Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I started last fall with 125's, then when for the heavy bullets (147's) and liked them. But I shoot a lot and the cost advantage of the 125's was too great to overcome. To be honest, it's very hard to tell the difference. To me it's about cost. I was shooting 124's, and wanted to try 147's. I went through a case of them and really couldn't tell much difference, either (both loaded to ~136PF). Both knocked steel down easily, even on shots several inches below the calibration zone. I went back to the 124's for the economy of it. A case of 147's was 3000 vs the 124's at 3500, so ~17% more bullets for ~5% more in price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhunter Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I started last fall with 125's, then when for the heavy bullets (147's) and liked them. But I shoot a lot and the cost advantage of the 125's was too great to overcome.To be honest, it's very hard to tell the difference.To me it's about cost.I was shooting 124's, and wanted to try 147's. I went through a case of them and really couldn't tell much difference, either (both loaded to ~136PF). Both knocked steel down easily, even on shots several inches below the calibration zone. I went back to the 124's for the economy of it. A case of 147's was 3000 vs the 124's at 3500, so ~17% more bullets for ~5% more in price. Same results and reasoning I had Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leam Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Thanks all! I think the 147s will be the way to go for me. Folks also seem to like VV N320 so that's on the list as well. Moving forward! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vixty Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I've been testing some xtreme 165's in my stock 2 with 2.8gr TG at 133pf. The gun has almost no recoil with a tight grip and a 10lb recoil spring. However I think I will try a 9lb because my brass was barely going 3 feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAFO Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Thanks all! I think the 147s will be the way to go for me. Folks also seem to like VV N320 so that's on the list as well. Moving forward! I know several guys who love that stuff, but it can be really hard to find. Can't hurt to have a backup load for a more available powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillGarlandJr Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 If you're going to be shooting a P320 give 124/125gr bullets a try. When I first got mine I shot 147s over Titegroup through it and they shot very accurately and felt pretty good, but circumstances led me to try some 124s in it and I haven't looked back. The 124/125s shoot just as accurately as 147s, but the gun shoots so much flatter. The sights track so beautifully. The 124/125s paired with a Grayguns FAT Guide Rod and a 14 or 15 pound recoil spring have been the ticket for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Anderson Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 I found that with my 320 it didn't group the way I wanted it to with 147gr loads. I tried about a dozen loads which were all a few 3-4 inches at 25. Then I tried some DC Ammo 115 JHP I had. MG JHP bullet. Ended up just a bit over an inch at 25. And felt good in the Sig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayohee Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I shoot X-treme 147's in my Accu Shadow and while they feel less snappy than 124's they don't group as well. I've shot their 147/124's back to back and found the 124's to be more accurate. That said I'm down to about 5K of my 147's and will be moving to 135's for a change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sdunsworth Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 BB 147s for my production 9 and never worry about steel. Just my $.02 Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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