Need more slide speed in 9MM. Heavy or light bullet?

[Religious Shooter]

I need to boost up the slide speed on my 9MM SVI.

Using book data, which would give me the fastest slide speed? Heavier (147) or lighter (124 or 115) bullet? Again... using book data.

115 GR. SPR GDHP Hodgdon Titegroup .355" 1.125" 4.5 1135 29,500 CUP 4.8 1158 30,500 CUP 133 PF

125 GR. SIE FMJ Hodgdon Titegroup .355" 1.090" 4.1 1069 27,300 CUP 4.4 1136 30,600 CUP 142 PF

147 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Titegroup .355" 1.100" 3.2 855 22,500 CUP 3.6 929 27,500 CUP 136.5 PF

Use a load that generates a greater PF or use one with the greater powder charge? Or?

Gracias.

[mlmiller1]

Pure, absolute guess, but I would say a lighter bullet with a greater PF which I guess means higher powder charge. Why don't you use a lighter recoil spring? More importantly, why would you need a faster slide speed? Typical gun will cycle way faster than anyone can shoot splits.

MLM

[Duane Thomas]

All else being equal, a light bullet running a powder with a medium burn rate will give you snappier recoil, and higher slide velocity, that a heavy bullet with a fast burning powder.

[BlackSabbath]

The lighter, the faster.

[buddy_fuentes]

Are you looking for snappy recoil or is your slide not cycling enough? If you want snappy recoil a lighter bullet going faster and if you slide is not cycling then, lighter recoil spring.

Buddy

[George]

+1 to lighter bullet at higher V, I also feel a tad more PF is always in order for a snappy lite bullet load. My fave nowadays is a 124gr at around 140pf, and yet I still like my 150gr loads at about 130-132pf, go figure.

[98sr20ve]

Let me try and answer it this way.

At PF of 132 my G34 runs perfect with a 147 gr bullet.

At PF of 132 my G34 runs perfect with the 115 gr bullet.

At starting loads for a 115 my G34 will choke consistently

At starting loads for a 147 my G34 will normally run.

A heavier bullet seems to help my gun run with out trouble.

YMMV.

[skip62]

Let me try and answer it this way.

At PF of 132 my G34 runs perfect with a 147 gr bullet.

At PF of 132 my G34 runs perfect with the 115 gr bullet.

At starting loads for a 115 my G34 will choke consistently

At starting loads for a 147 my G34 will normally run.

A heavier bullet seems to help my gun run with out trouble.

YMMV.

couldn't that be because the bullet is in the barrel longer thus letting the powder push for a longer time on the slide?

My buddy's trying to work a way to measure slide speed, I'll try and hurry him along.

[George]

132 PF or a bit higher depending on personal pref is where you need to load to at minimum anyway. If the gun runs fine at 132pf with either load I don't see an issue here unless you are looking for a 127.5 PF mousephart load.

For some extra comfort, just bump it to 134-135pf no mattter what bullet and don't look back :-)

[larry cazes]

Let me try and answer it this way.

At PF of 132 my G34 runs perfect with a 147 gr bullet.

At PF of 132 my G34 runs perfect with the 115 gr bullet.

At starting loads for a 115 my G34 will choke consistently

At starting loads for a 147 my G34 will normally run.

A heavier bullet seems to help my gun run with out trouble.

YMMV.

This is my experience as well with all of my 38super open loads. Adjusting loads so that PFs are the same and all else being equal, 124 JHPs generate more slide velocity than 115s. Lower pressures and more positive ejection were the reason I switched to 124s years ago.