9mm match loads - which weight bullet?

[Krag]

I recently got a supply of 9mm match ammo loaded with 147 gr. bullets. The recoil, muzzle blast and muzzle flip are all less then the 115 and 124 gr. FMJ loads I normally use. I chronographed them and while they are moving slow, they make USPSA's Minor P.F. When fired from a rest accuracy was better, but not that much.

Have any of you used this type of 9mm for matches and what is your opinion of it versus the lighter bullets?

 

[Jeeper]

Pretty much everyone uses 147's for production and other minor. Theya re a lot lighter than anything else.

 

[Jim Watson]

A good reason to handload 9mm, there isn't much economy subsonic. Mild and plesant to shoot. I'm not sure it is more accurate than lighter bullets but it isn't less accurate, either.

 

[MoNsTeR]

147's are totally the way to go in Production.

 

[Tacblack]

147's are the way to go. I use 124's now because I just shoot production for fun and they are cheaper. If I start shooting state level matchs for production Im using the 147's.

 

[peashooter]

Yea baby, 147 JHP!

 

[lycanthrope]

Whatever brings the sights back the fastest and easiest for you. Do some timing drills and find out.

 

[Hoser]

I have done ok shooting 124's around 1100 fps. But, I like a fast snappy recoil.

147's may be soft, but I dont care for them.

 

[CCW1911]

Depends on the shooter and the gun, 147's give you a slower softer recoil. Lighter bullets are snappier. If you want absolute accuracy Sierra and Hornady 115 hp's are the answer.

Ross

 

[Joe D]

Wonder how a 160 gr bullet would feel.

 

[Hoser]

Wonder how a 160 gr bullet would feel.

I would guess it would be like shooting 220's in a 40. I tried them (220's) and hated it. Real soft. Too bad everything was in slow motion. Everything from the slide moving to the steel falling.

Now in a revo, such as a 38 Super/357 trying to make major in ESP or USPSA, that might not be too bad.

 

[Ankeny]

I shot 147's in Production for a couple of years because they are soooo soft. But I really prefer the 124 or the 115 because they aren't so "sluggish". My scoresheet can't tell the difference.

 

[tjtucker]

9mm match

Funny this post should come up. I just got a David Sams match Beretta 9mm. His guns are shooting a group of 10 rounds from rest in under an inch. I contacted him yesterday about match loads. Long story short XTP 115 hollowpoint over 5.0 grains of N330. This is the load he uses to test the barrels he uses in his guns out of a barrel fixture. I'm going to give it a try.

TJ

 

[Tacblack]

My current match 9mm is MG124 with N330 also @1.150 OAL. N330 I was told was the perfect powder for 9mm.

 

[Krag]

I just asked one of the finest USPSA shooters I know - Master Class in Limited and Production - what 9mm load he uses and he told me "...whatever's on sale at Wal-Mart!"

He wasn't kidding. He says he buys 9mm Winchester and UMC 100 rd. Value Packs by the case when they go on sale. Both are loaded with 115 gr. bullets and the W-W is fairly hot. He says both perform equally well in his Glock 34. Go figure.

Oh well, as the old saying goes, "It's not the gun (or ammo), it's the shooter."

 

[Maxinquaye]

"CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information. "


I've had good luck with Rainier 124 RN over 4.8 grains of AA#2 purchased from Bartlett Reloading. Increased OAL from 1.100 to 1.155 for better feeding. Seems to run around 1100 FPS. Very cheap to reload, accurate and will knock down the pepper poppers every time.