9mm 115gr vs 124gr

[blume357]

I've been shooting 9mm 115gr full metal jacket for years in practice and was thinking about ordering another bulk amount from my vender Georgia Arms and they also offer 124gr for the same price and now I'm wondering if the heaver bullet would actually have less recoil than the 115gr. I have no problem with the recoil but was just asking you experts if there is a difference in the two.... recoil, accuracy and such?

 

[the_leper_colony]

Recoil will likely depend on the specific load - different brands are loaded to different velocities. I've found the following chart to be useful (but don't know if it's current):

9mm Ballistics Chart | Ballistics 101

Accuracy will depend on your firearm - some folks on the forum have reported better accuracy with heavier bullets in their 9mm Ruger PCCs, for example, but YMMV. FWIW, I tend to buy 124 gr ammo if it's close to 115 gr in price, and also load a lot of heavy bullet 9mm reloads (up to 160 gr).

As always IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, one size never fits all, etc.

 

[contender]

I see all kinds of 9mm ammo & bullets used here in competition.

Now,, as noted above,, recoil will depend upon how it's loaded.

But my competition shooters by far,, usually prefer a heavier bullet, loaded to just make the "power factor" because it allows for less felt recoil & quicker return to target times.

 

[pawncop]

I have observed improved groups using 124 gr. 9mm rounds. This was particularly noticeable with my Springfield SA-35. I have not tried them in my P365 yet.

 

[Yaworski]

I shoot whatever is cheap. I haven't noticed a difference between 115 gr and 124 gr 9mm. Maybe now I'll start paying attention.

 

[JohnL]

I shoot 124 grain FMJs and 115 grain JHPs. The slight gain in MV might aid expansion.

 

[Rock185]

There is no consistent difference in recoil, accuracy, etc.; depends on the load. Your particular gun might shoot one or the other better, but that would require testing to determine. I might have a gun of the same make, model and barrel length that did better with ammunition different than what worked best in your gun. Such is life...

 

[t-reg]

I shoot whatever is cheap. I haven't noticed a difference between 115 gr and 124 gr 9mm. Maybe now I'll start paying attention.

Darn internet!

 

[chromatica]

I worked up a collection of loads for 115 and 124 grain bullets using Gordon's Reloading Tool. For the 115 grain loads, most of the velocities were supersonic and most of the loads experienced burnout after muzzle passage. When burnout happens after muzzle passage, you are blowing unburnt powder down range. You are also creating an unwanted signature from muzzle flash. I wanted to find loads where burnout happened just inside the end of the barrel. The 124 grain bullets are giving many more loads that are just under the speed of sound and produce burnout before muzzle passage. One good load is 3.6 grains of Win 231 under a 124 gr JHP. This load produces 4 ft-lbs of recoil energy, which is fairly comfortable for my Max 9 with a 4 inch barrel. I suspect that when you spread the burn across the entire length of the barrel, you can reduce felt recoil.

 

[Hankus]

@vlavalle does your spreadsheet contain entries for Georgia Arms 9mm loads?

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I don't shoot a lot of 9mm though I own a few. My wife and I both carry 9mm compacts (S&W CSX and Shield) . We shoot and carry 147 grain and it seems to me to have a milder report and less muzzle flip than the lighter bullets. Not a scientific evaluation just my observation.

 

[blume357]

Could not find this thread in Semi-autos and finally did find it ... seems I clicked on the wrong section... but thank you all for your input. Maybe a mod. can move it to semi-auto? The reason for asking was I was contemplating ordering some 124gr from Georgia Arms, I have a good bit of 115gr from them and was just wondering if there was a noticeable difference.... I'm only interested in using this for practice ammo or in a class not for self defense... I will probably just order the 124s for the heck of it, no difference in cost and that way I will have both and if I ever get enough time to actually test the difference .... we'll see.

 

[krw]

I would think that if all variables are identical except bullet wt, there will be more recoil the heavier the bullet. Now whether you can actually 'feel' it is a different set of parameters. Laws of basic physics apply

 

[s4s4u]

I recently went to 124 grain for no real reason other than velocity, easier to keep it under 1050 fps

I don't notice much difference in the hand, or the clock. But then I don't race the clock.

 

[9x19]

I've never really noticed a difference between 115 and 124gr bullets in terms of recoil. That ~7% difference in bullet weight just isn't big enough to gain my notice.

 

[OMCHamlin]

I don't shoot a lot of 9mm though I own a few. My wife and I both carry 9mm compacts (S&W CSX and Shield) . We shoot and carry 147 grain and it seems to me to have a milder report and less muzzle flip than the lighter bullets. Not a scientific evaluation just my observation.

I was a devotee of the 124 Gr in 9mm, but some of my IDPA buddies turned me on to their147 fmj or plated loads, which gave the necessary power factor, but were much easier to control in pairs and such. There may be other faults with the 147, but it's softer in my experience.

 

[DGW1949]

As FMJ goes, most of the pistols that I've handled were more accurate with the 124 Grn loads than the 115's.....The difference in recoil between the two is hard for me to detect when fired from a service-size (steel) pistol until you move up to the higher-pressured 124-NATO rounds. Those are right on par with +P SAAMI ammo and can be a bit uncomfortable when used in light-weight guns....In other words, if you shoot a plastic gun and "comfort" is a major consideration, you may want to stick with common 115 FMJ stuff.

DGW

 

[blume357]

Okay, explain to me why the heaver bullet would in theory create a heavier recoil? I was thinking just the opposite. I understand that from the above experts there is no real difference in the two I am asking about but still would like to know why at least two folks here said it that way. I would think the lighter bullet would cause more recoil.

 

[Mobuck]

I doubt the average shooter can tell a difference. I use both 147 & 150 grain sub-sonic 9mm and feel there's a 'less snappy' recoil than the normally hotter loaded 115/124 loads.
My carry loads vary with pistol: Ruger P95's are loaded with 124 Gold Dot and the smaller Taurus G2C with Norma 108 grain HP. I can feel the difference between 108 and 124 in the G2C but not between 115 and 124.

 

[JBP]

My pistols all seem to be more accurate with 115 gr but my PCC definitely prefers a heavier bullet. I normally use a 124 gr.