147 grain 9mm bullet recommendation

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Pretty soon I will be loading up my remaining 115 FMJ Montana Gold bullets. I think I would like to switch over to 147 grain bullets next.

I have purchased several boxes of 147 grain Hornady XTP rounds that will be loaded for self defense.

Since I will be loading 147 for self defense, I would like to load 147 grain bullets for the range and idpa as well. At this time I do not have any experience with lead, and was planning to go that route until hearing and researching coated lead bullets. I think I would like to go with some 147 grain Hi-Tek coated bullets for range/idpa. Wanting to go with Hi-Tek coating over lubed lead due to cleanliness, smoke reduction, my general inexperience with lead, and my desire to steer clear of headaches I have seen guys having or working out a recipe that does not lead their barrel.

Questions:
1) 147 grain bullet nose profile. Most common seems to be flat point (truncated cone). Does anyone have experience loading that profile in an M&P 9 full size of M&P 9 shield? How do they feed? Can you load them up to a long oal? Currently I like to load my 115gr FMJs 1.160" to 1.165".

2) Wanting a 147 grain Hi-Tek coated bullet, my choices may be limited but should I try to find a bullet with or without a lube groove? Or does it even matter? As I mentioned above I have no experience other than with FMJ bullets.

Thank you for the help.

 

[ljnowell]

I would recommend Missouri Bullets Hi-tek coated. They do have a 147 grain TC coated also.

Though, I still recommend trying your hand at regular lead bullets first. It's really not hard at all.

 

[JamieC]

I have loaded a bunch of 147gr XTPs for SD. I'm using Power Pistol, 5.2gr, 1.100". I load to that length because one of my guns has a short throat. They are kind of warm, about 1,050fps. I've loaded a lot of Bayou Bullets, not 147gr though. I've loaded 124gr, bought a bunch of them in the beginning. They've worked out great, cheap, accurate, no smoke, no leading. No need for a lube groove, the coating is the lube. Check out the Bayou Bullets site, great people to deal with also.

 

[ARJJ]

I use Bayou Bullets nearly exclusively in 124 grain RN and 147 FP. They're cheap, load easy, and shoot well. Shipping is fast too.

 

[rdtompki]

My wife and I use Bayou 147gr in our 9mm 1911s. We're running through almost 4K/month. I've run OAL from 1.08" to 1.16" and both extremes feed in our 1911s. Assuming your preferred OAL plunks with these bullets I can't imagine a feed problem with an M&P (we have four).

Shipping is only $15 (medium flat rate box) for 3000 147gr bullets, but your post"person" won't be your friend as this small box will weight >60 lbs.

I guess lead would be less expensive, but we can run through 500 rounds of coated bullets in a session and the barrel only need a wet patch followed by a dry patch and it's spotless.

 

[wlkjr]

I use Bayou Bullets nearly exclusively in 124 grain RN and 147 FP. They're cheap, load easy, and shoot well. Shipping is fast too.

My experience also with the Bayous. And they can be downloaded for lower recoil. I just loaded up 1000 and they won't last long.

 

[oldreloader]

I would recommend Missouri Bullets Hi-tek coated. They do have a 147 grain TC coated also.

Though, I still recommend trying your hand at regular lead bullets first. It's really not hard at all.

Perzactly! Got to go long and hard to beat MBC. They are tops in my book! I use the plain 147 but am definitely going to try the coated!!

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I would recommend Missouri Bullets Hi-tek coated. They do have a 147 grain TC coated also.

Though, I still recommend trying your hand at regular lead bullets first. It's really not hard at all.

Thanks for responding. I do have some 124 grain RN lead bullets that I purchased as I was starting to reload, but then I thought it best to start with FMJ for ease. I would like to get some coated bullets next and after loading up some of those, I think I will try work up a load for the lead bullets while shooting the supply of coated. Kind of working my way down from easiest to reload (fmj?) to what can be the most finicky, I guess?

I have loaded a bunch of 147gr XTPs for SD. I'm using Power Pistol, 5.2gr, 1.100". I load to that length because one of my guns has a short throat. They are kind of warm, about 1,050fps. I've loaded a lot of Bayou Bullets, not 147gr though. I've loaded 124gr, bought a bunch of them in the beginning. They've worked out great, cheap, accurate, no smoke, no leading. No need for a lube groove, the coating is the lube. Check out the Bayou Bullets site, great people to deal with also.

Thanks for responding. I notice the Bayou and Missouri 147gr Hi-Tek flat points both seem to have the lube groove. I am just not used to this coming from FMJ. Doesn't matter I guess right. It is inside the case and ignored?

I use Bayou Bullets nearly exclusively in 124 grain RN and 147 FP. They're cheap, load easy, and shoot well. Shipping is fast too.

Thanks for responding. Glad to hear more positive feedback for these bullets. My searching and review so far has included Bayou, Missouri, Black Bullets International, SNS Casting, and maybe a couple of others that I am forgetting. Trying to get a sense of prices and perceived quality. I have heard good things about a lot of them, which is nice.

My wife and I use Bayou 147gr in our 9mm 1911s. We're running through almost 4K/month. I've run OAL from 1.08" to 1.16" and both extremes feed in our 1911s. Assuming your preferred OAL plunks with these bullets I can't imagine a feed problem with an M&P (we have four).

Shipping is only $15 (medium flat rate box) for 3000 147gr bullets, but your post"person" won't be your friend as this small box will weight >60 lbs.

I guess lead would be less expensive, but we can run through 500 rounds of coated bullets in a session and the barrel only need a wet patch followed by a dry patch and it's spotless.

Thanks for the response. I am glad to hear you have lots of experience with them. Also glad to hear about your clean results. One of the things that has kept me from loading the lead bullets I initially bought is worry over a big mess.

My experience also with the Bayous. And they can be downloaded for lower recoil. I just loaded up 1000 and they won't last long.

Thank you. Glad to see even more positive experience with these bullet choices. I hear ya. I have been going through about 500 or 600 a month.

So those loading these Hi-Teck 147 and even 124 grainers, will I need to bell more than I have been for 115FMJ. These are kind of like loading lead right? Also I will expect smaller powder charges of course as I have been seeing in my manuals. I would like to start using some WFS for my 147 XTP and range bullet that I end up with. Heard WSF is low flash and works well with 147grain 9mm.

Thanks again.

 

[Chuck R.]

With the Hi-Tek coatings they recommend a decent "bell" and crimping with a separate die as not to scrape/damage the coating. For 9mm I load only 147s "Hi-Tek" bullets, they work fine in my Walther's and M&Ps. I've been using BBI with great results. They have a page for loading tips here:

https://www.blackbulletsinternational.com/loading-basics.html

Chuck

 

[TfflHndn]

Check out SNS Casting also. A mite cheaper than MBC and no lube groove. Quality bullets - I've used many in different calibers. Fast shipping. Can't go wrong.

 

[ljnowell]

Check out SNS Casting also. A mite cheaper than MBC and no lube groove. Quality bullets - I've used many in different calibers. Fast shipping. Can't go wrong.

A buck cheaper on hi-tek and the same price on regular cast. They do make good bullets though.

 

[wlkjr]

I do bell mine just slightly more for the coated so the coating doesn't scrape off.

 

[Potatohead]

Sorry I cant really help with your specific questions, but Im a big fan of Speer's 147 TMJ.

 

[Dudedog]

Shipping is only $15 (medium flat rate box) for 3000 147gr bullets, but your post"person" won't be your friend as this small box will weight >60 lbs.

I think 62 or 63 lb is the max for a MFRB. Always makes me wonder what my post person thinks when I get one full of bullets. By now it's probably "oh no not again"

I have not seen any tests of Coated bullets with and with out the lube grove to see if it really makes any difference. I don't now that you could get a direct apples to apples comparsion anyway.
All the coated bullets I have used have had the lube grove and in my experience it is a not an issue.

I have some MBC 147 Coated bullets already and some RMR "Thick Plated" 147 RN on way. If you want to PM me your address I will be happy to PIF you a sample of each when the RMR get here. Both companies offer THR members a 5% discount and both are great to do business with.

MBC sends MFRBs for $15 and RMR is currently shipping for free so when you add shipping the plated from RMR are about the same price as the coated.
You just need to find out what your pistols like best. (or try one in each range to see what you like.....or use whatever you can find :banghead: )
I have limited testing so far but WSF seems to work well in my pistols with 147s. Also works well with 124s.

You might want to start a thread asking peoples favorite powder for 147s in 9mm.

(However you will probably end up with a list of every powder that can be used in 9mm )

I would look for a trend to see what most people prefer.
Fast (Bullseye, Titegroup range), Medium (Universal, Unique, BE86 range) Slow (Autocomp, HS6, Longshot, 3N37 range) -- that is fast, med and slow for 9mm powders. WSF falls between Med and slow for a 9mm powder IMO.