147 Grain 9MM

[Dean1818]

Hello fellow THR's

As I always get great info here and had a question

I really dont wish to start another caliber war, but I am considering
moviing down from a 40 cal to a 9 cal on my CCW piece.

(I am wanting my daughter and wife to shoot the gun as well, and so
far the 40 cals have had too much recoil)

I would like to get very recent results (not rehashed info from 1981)
on the 147 grain 9MM round JHP of course.

Is it "close" to the 165 grain 40 cal in performance?

Does the +P option gain much for me?

Thanks in advance for your inputs

Deano

 

[Z-Michigan]

I have not seen a +P load for 9mm 147gr.

If you're getting a gun with a barrel shorter than 4" I would seriously consider Speer's gold dot - short barrel ammo.

I don't think you'll find a really meaningful answer to your question. With any concealable handgun caliber, it's all about shot placement, and minor variances in bullet weight or diameter are trivial.

BTW, in sectional density the 124gr 9mm better corresponds to 165gr .40, and 147gr 9 to 180gr .40.

A friend has a Kel-Tec P11 and has found it works reliably with 115-124 but jams regularly with 147gr. It seems that the extra bullet weight prevents the stack in the magazine from rising at a fast enough rate to meet the slide, and he gets cartridge nosedives in the magazine. YMMV of course.

 

[Loosedhorse]

"The story" goes that 147 gr was originally designed for suppressed guns: a subsonic bullet helps keep things quieter.

Original 147 loads had a rep for not cycling all guns due to lower slide speed, max OAL, or both. The 147 HPs also had a rep for not opening up a lower speeds, even though they did fine in bare gelatin.

That last point may be better with newer HP designs. And some companies do load them hot: see Double Tap.

 

[rellascout]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=574697

Link above is to a pretty good dicusssion which happened here about a month ago.

 

[minutemen1776]

Federal now makes a +P 147-grain HST load that reportedly performs well in terms of penetration and expansion. I've not seen any available for sale, not even at my local police supply shop.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I would like to get very recent results...

For up to date recommendations see - Service Pistol Duty and Self-Defense Loads at http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887

 

[NG VI]

Federal now makes a +P 147-grain HST load that reportedly performs well in terms of penetration and expansion.

Yeah I think it is the P9HST4 part number. It's great, the +P version is only loaded about 50 feet per second faster than the standard pressure, so it's not like it's some drastic jump in recoil or anything, but the 147 HST works (in the sense of penetration and expansion) as well as some of the better .40 loads, better than a decent number of .40 loads, though it's a small hair behind the best .40 loads. It and other 147s have always functioned perfectly in my 9mms, S&W 9VE, CZ PCR, FNP-9M, and a Glock 27 and 23 with Lone Wolf conversion barrels and 9mm magazines.


147 grain in 2011 with current production ammunition is about as good as it gets for 9mm. It is a better choice for short barreled guns than the 115s and 124s, since in a short barrel the heavier bullet loses less velocity and so is less likely to drop out of its intended velocity window, and since it is a heavier bullet there is more lead for the designer to work with, allowing more expansion without giving up penetration.

 

[mokin]

Sir, you are overthinking the question of buying a new gun. Just buy the gun under the pretext of having one for your wife and daughter to shoot (the issue of having them "try" it first hasn't come up yet). Then buy lots of ammo of different weights and manufacture, including some of the newest 147 +P and see what they can shoot best. Be safe and have fun. Enjoy your new pistol and family activity.

 

[DasFriek]

I love and carry the HST 147gr +P in my Kahr MK9 and the 50 round box is great for costs and reliability testing. Recoil was a non issue and the round hits like a brick.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/cPath/23_61_119/products_id/2311

 

[Jed Carter]

I use 124 gr Speer Gold Dot +P, chances are slim that one shot from any pistol will neutralize a threat. I can shoot my 9mm pistols quite fast with more center of mass hits than either my .40S&W or .45ACP pistols shot at the same rate of fire. I usually carry either a CZ PCR 9mm or a SIG RCS 1911 .45ACP, if the PCR had tritium night sights and came in a single stack, It would be my perfect carry weapon. It don't and the SIG does, so the RCS gets the nod. But I am off subject, I personally cannot recommend the 147 gr 9mm over 165 gr .40, as far as less recoil and similar stopping power, I just feel the 147 gr has more recoil for such a slow moving bullet vs the 124 gr +P. The information I have seen, shows the 124 gr Gold Dot to be a consistant performer. I have had a lot of shots with the 147 gr stuff lately, I bought a foreclosure that used to belong to a retired police officer, he left behind 22 boxes of it. Most is gone now the rest is just sitting with the practice ammo.

 

[soonerboomer]

I too love and carry the HST 147gr. +P (P9HST4). I used to carry the 124gr.+P Gold Dot, but I keep seeing superior test results from the HST. And, after shooting both loads, I can say the HST is so easy to shoot. The recoil is notably less than the Gold Dots. In fact, its almost like shooting light target loads. It's a must for me. These rounds are available at ammunitiontogo.com