Light 9mm CCW recs

[CMV]

My wife's CCW is a light & small 9mm. Standard 115gr FMJ factory loads are kind of snappy in it. Not crazy, but not nearly as mild as the same round thru something like a Beretta 92. She's small & I've noticed the bigger the gun, the better she shoots and I'm making the assumption that's due to more weight & less recoil (but may very well be the longer sight radius). She'll shoot any of our guns except the .380 and it's due to that snappy recoil - just not enjoyable for her. But she'll gladly shoot a 1911 all day long that has more recoil but pushes back more than snaps up.

So I'm thinking I'll load her something a little on the light side along with a 147 gr bullet to take some of that out - the heavier bullet should have more of a "push back" than a "snap up" recoil even if the overall force is the same. As it is, she isn't going to shoot it much or for more than a mag or two. Problem I see right away with that is a 3" barrel is already a velocity handicap and slowing down a JHP even more is going to result in pretty questionable penetration & expansion performance. Would it make sense in that case to use an FMJ vs something like an XTP or Gold Dot?

 

[beatledog7]

Just my opinion, but the science is sound. Use one of the slower powders with published 9mm data (e.g., BlueDot or HS-6) and load some 147gr bullets to starting charge. This will prove out whether the load cycles and recoils acceptably. Bump up the charge if feasible. The slower powder and heavier bullet should result in more of a push than a snap.

I'm not much into expansion tests, but there are lots of YouTubes and such that review mostly factory rounds for expansion. Many of them can be had as bullets only.

 

[J_McLeod]

I really like HS-6 with 147s, but I mostly shoot MBC with that. Should feel about the same. I'm getting fairly light recoil in my PF9 even from high end loads.

 

[Blue68f100]

Switch to WSF powder, it will take the snappiness away. May not even need to change bullets.

 

[CMV]

All I have for pistol powder is W231. I don't know how that compares to other recs above.

I haven't bought bullets yet. I have a bunch of 9mm brass, the dies, & primers. I have 500 115 gr FMJ to load that I'll use for my other 9mm plinking.

So really, I could use just about any combination out there to make her loads. Would like to stick to W231 just for convenience. I don't know that I'd make 1800+ rounds of light 9mm just for her that 1 lb of powder would yield but if that's what it would take to get the desired results I guess it's worth it.

 

[918v]

3.6grs of 231 under a 147 from 1.100" to 1.125" OAL will make you happy.