9MM 115 Gr vs 124 Gr Bullets

[stodd]

Hello Everyone,

I've been shooting some 124 Gr RN plated bullets for about 2+ years now in my Smith and Wesson 9MM. I'm thinking about possibly switching to 115 Gr RN bullets, but wasn't sure if there is any pro's or con's between them. I will be using them for range ammo only.

Any input or advise is greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Stodd

 

[Eb1]

None that I can think of.

Possibly your gun will like one over the other.

 

[X-Rap]

Doubt you will see any difference with the extra 9 grs.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Some guns aren't as fond of 115 gr, but I doubt you'll see a difference.

 

[jrdolall]

My experience using multiple guns at practice distance or 5-15 yards is that there is virtually no difference in POI with anything I have bought commercially. I can't speak to any ballistics or "knock down power" but only where the hole is on the paper.

 

[breakingcontact]

I'd buy and shoot whatever replicates best your carry/defense ammo.

 

[TfflHndn]

One of my guns (a SIG 229) doesn't much like the 115 grain bullets. The slide often does not lock back on empty, even with a near-max load. Lighter loads do not reliably cycle. That one needs 124 grainers. My other 9mms aren't picky. You may have to load the lighter bullets more toward the upper end of the range to get full cycling and lock on empty. If it's your carry gun, be sure to work up your load and find out if it is reliable. You don't want to hear "click" instead of "bang" when it counts.

 

[gamestalker]

Heck, I load everything from 90 gr. up to 147 gr. and I like them all, even the 90's. Surprisingly, accuracy has been stellar from all my firearms, and while being pushed at top end velocities with HS6 or Longshot. But I'm also referring to JHP's, not plated.
Just my .02 worth.

GS

 

[SpentCasing]

My 2 Glocks (17,19) and my Beretta 92 shoot 115s high. 124s shoot perfectly at POA/POI. Slightly milder recoil and less powder too.

 

[stodd]

So the take away here is 115 gr bullet needs a little more powder to get performance as the 124 gr?

 

[jmr40]

It's not that simple. For SD purposes I prefer a 124 gr +p HP bullet. For plinking at paper I don't care. The 115 gr bullets usually are much less expensive to shoot. I don't find ANY 9mm load to have any noticeable recoil and have never noted enough difference in POI to worry about regardless of bullet weight.

 

[Eb1]

Springfield XD9 from 2007 would eat liver if you stick a primer behind it and put it in a case. It doesn't care about ammo at all. It has always went BANG!

 

[1SOW]

I've been shooting some 124 Gr RN plated bullets for about 2+ years now in my Smith and Wesson 9MM. I'm thinking about possibly switching to 115 Gr RN bullets, but wasn't sure if there is any pro's or con's between them.

The differences do exist. load a 95gr 9mm at it's normal load range. Shoot them. Load a 147gr at it's normal load range. Shoot them and compare with the 95 gr shooting.

Both shoot and can hit the target nicely. One is waaay snappier than the other.
The 147 gr will normally shoot higher than the 95gr---which may shoot low depending on the powder and loads.
The difference between 115 gr and 124gr is less, but it's there. Both can be accurate.

 

[LiveLife]

IME, some pistols with stiffer recoil springs (especially compacts/subcompacts), lighter 115 gr jacketed/plated bullets need to be pushed at high-to-near max load data to reliably cycle the slide.

With heavier 124/125 gr jacketed/plated bullets, I can reliably cycle the slides with mid-range load data. So if you want milder recoil target loads that will still reliably cycle the slides, use heavier 124/125 gr bullets.

Since different pistols have different recoil spring rates, YMMV.

IMHO, 124/125 gr bullets seem to be more accurate than 115 gr bullets.