Best bullet weight 9mm

[Fat Boy]

I am the proud owner of a "new to me" s&w 439- my understanding of bullet weight in 9mm is that the lighter weight stuff, 115gr is faster than the higher weights, 124 and 147. My question is to do with which one will cause less wear on the gun, given that the frame is alloy?

I am thinking the 147 grain is better in this category and should produce somewhat less recoil but not sure.

In advance, sorry for no pictures -

Thank You

 

[Chuck R.]

IF you're worried about it, I'd stick to the standard pressure ammo, avoiding the +P and +P+.

I shoot 147s, factory for SD and reloads for practice. Not really to save wear and tear, but because the recoil impulse is 'softer" than the HV stuff, so I'm back on target fatser. It's also easier to make power factor with the 147s and cast bullets while avoiding leading. 147s also lose a smaller percentage of velocity when shot in shorter barrels so "in theory" they impact at closer to their designed velocity.

Honestly when it comes to wearing out a pistol, IF you manage it, "good on you" go and buy another one.

Chuck

 

[C0untZer0]

115gr standard pressure

And even within that weight class there is less powerful and more powerful rounds. If you go to Ballistics 101, you can see, for example that 115gr Blazzer Brass if fairly anemic stuff at only 1145 fps - slower than most 124gr loads.

http://www.ballistics101.com/9mm.php

When you get below 115gr you sometimes start to see these ultra-fast lightweight loads, so you can't just go by bullet weight.

One round that is designed to be soft-shooting is Hornady FTX® Critical Defense® Lite - if it will cycle your pistol, its only throwing a 100gr projectile at 1125 fps.

http://www.hornady.com/store/9mm-Luger-100-gr-FTX-Lite/

 

[C0untZer0]

Federal Guard Dog is another soft-shooting cartridge, a 105gr projectile going 1060 fps.

 

[DownInTheDark]

I loaded up some 147 gr XTPs for my Glock 43. It went right through an old deer bone we found on the ground; it was a clean break. I was sold, till I got on the velocity wagon. Now I load 124 gr XTPs for my 357 sig (which is a 9mm bullet). Last time I clocked them they were going about 1450 fps.

 

[herrwalther]

124gr are the most common for carry and store availability. Since they are in the middle they are the better compromise between speed and weight in 9mm. I prefer 147gr HST for my 9mm needs, the issue is finding a reliable source.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Less wear?

If you ever reach the point in any quality gun where the issue of "wear" has become significant, you have well and truly shot the heck out of that gun over decades of use.

Find a bullet mass/velocity/design that you like, that your gun functions flawlessly with, that your gun shoots accurately and consistently, and go with that. These issues are far more important.

If you ever wear it out...proudly retire it and buy another.

 

[GRIZ22]

Find what shoots most reliably and accurate in your gun. I'm not a fan of +P and +P+ in 9mm. More muzzle blast and recoil for very little return in velocity. My idea of a +P+ 9mm is called a 357 SIG.

 

[bangswitch]

I had a 459 many years ago (double stack version of your 439), I put anything and everything through it, and when I sold it, had maybe 4000 rounds through it. It was just as tight and looked as good as new. The only thing I didn't like about the pistol was the long double-action trigger pull on the first shot. Everything else was first rate. Wish now that I still had it.

 

[bannockburn]

My most used 9mm. is my Browning Hi-Power Mk.II which I got many years ago. Handles just about anything I feed it, it probably gives it's best accuracy with Speer Lawman 124 gr. TMJ ammo.

 

[Tallball]

Find which weight it is most accurate with and use that one.

 

[Glock Doctor]

Well, let's see! The new 9 x 19mm cartridge the FBI is now using is a 147 grain JHP; and the NATO 9mm round is 124 grains FMJ.

Because of cost I do most of my paper target work with WalMart's 'range quality' (anemic) 115 grain FMJ's; but, when I carry a 9mm pistol, it's always loaded with either Federal, 124 grain, 'Hydra-Shok', JHP, +P+ cartridges; or Federal, 147 grain, 'HST', JHP cartridges.

As for which cartridge is, 'easier' on your new Smith & Wesson, Model 439? As long as your springs are in good condition I doubt that you'll have a problem with any bullet weight. If I were to go out tomorrow morning to get a Model 439 then the next company I'd be talking to would be Wolff Gunsprings. As long as your recoil spring is of sufficient weight, and in good condition it's not going to matter which bullet weight your pistol is firing.

(If you change the recoil spring, you should also change the firing pin spring; and you MIGHT have to also change the magazine spring(s) as well.)

 

[strambo]

Short of a dedicated competition practice and event schedule, you won't wear it out with standard pressure ammo.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

If it feeds well and is reliable then your good to good. I think a 147gr loaded with a fast burning powder might produce less recoil and inturn wear but it would be so little that you would never be able to notice the wear difference.

 

[GRIZ22]

Well, let's see! The new 9 x 19mm cartridge the FBI is now using is a 147 grain JHP; and the NATO 9mm round is 124 grains FMJ.

Because of cost I do most of my paper target work with WalMart's 'range quality' (anemic) 115 grain FMJ's; but, when I carry a 9mm pistol, it's always loaded with either Federal, 124 grain, 'Hydra-Shok', JHP, +P+ cartridges; or Federal, 147 grain, 'HST', JHP cartridges.

As for which cartridge is, 'easier' on your new Smith & Wesson, Model 439? As long as your springs are in good condition I doubt that you'll have a problem with any bullet weight. If I were to go out tomorrow morning to get a Model 439 then the next company I'd be talking to would be Wolff Gunsprings. As long as your recoil spring is of sufficient weight, and in good condition it's not going to matter which bullet weight your pistol is firing.

(If you change the recoil spring, you should also change the firing pin spring; and you MIGHT have to also change the magazine spring(s) as well.)

Something tells me the engineers at Glock, S&W, SIG, Beretta, or any other manufacturer know more about what weight spring works best in their gun than anyone on this forum.

Going to a heavier recoil spring can upset the timing of your pistol as Glock Doctor noted. The pressure is already out of the end of the barrel in any type of locked breech pistol before the action opens. Do you really think that extra 3 or 4 or more pound spring really delays that opening much in a pistol shooting a cartridge generating over 30,000 psi? The recoil spring's main function is to return the slide to battery. If you have a stock 15 lb spring and go to a 18 lb spring that's 20% more force slamming that slide forward. That could conceivably increase wear and tear on your pistol.

If you look at the manufacturer's charts you will see +P+ really gives you maybe 150 fps more than standard ammo. Usually less. Not much in a round already doing over 1100 fps. Bullet expansion and penetration from manufacturers charts show little, if any, gain.

You get more recoil and muzzle flash using +P or +P+ and more wear on your pistol and bragging rights you're getting maybe 100 fps more velocity.

Not worth it in my opinion.

 

[jmr40]

Speed matters. If it didn't we'd still be shooting 38's at 800 fps. European 9mm loads have always been 124 gr loaded at around 1200 fps and weren't considered +P. Watered down loads here have led to a mindset that anything hotter is a problem. Call it anything you want, but a 124 gr HP bullet at around 1200 fps has proven to be about as effective as anything. 9mm loadings at that speed still have very mild recoil relative to all other effective rounds and if I can afford to shoot enough to wear out a gun so be it.

FWIW the FBI has determined that the better 147 gr loads at near 1000 fps are a better option for their use. I think for LE use where more penetration against vehicles is necessary this may prove to be a good choice. It wouldn't be a bad option for anyone, but the 124 gr load is proven too.

 

[GRIZ22]

Speed matters. If it didn't we'd still be shooting 38's at 800 fps. European 9mm loads have always been 124 gr loaded at around 1200 fps and weren't considered +P. Watered down loads here have led to a mindset that anything hotter is a problem. Call it anything you want, but a 124 gr HP bullet at around 1200 fps has proven to be about as effective as anything. 9mm loadings at that speed still have very mild recoil relative to all other effective rounds and if I can afford to shoot enough to wear out a gun so be it.

FWIW the FBI has determined that the better 147 gr loads at near 1000 fps are a better option for their use. I think for LE use where more penetration against vehicles is necessary this may prove to be a good choice. It wouldn't be a bad option for anyone, but the 124 gr load is proven too.

Europeans don't call their ammo +P because they don't follow SAAMI standards.

Speer lists Gold Dot 124 at 1150 for standard ammo and 1220 for +P. If you think that extra 70 fps added to a round already going over 1100 fps is going to totally change the outcome of something go for it. Speer shows no gain in penetration or expansion between the two loadings.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I split the difference and go with 124s, you know, like NATO did.

 

[Pilot]

I tend to gravitate towards the middle weights of all calibers whether it be rifle or pistol, and I reload. So for me in 9MM it is either 124 or 115 grain bullets.

 

[Dog Soldier]

My favorite 9MM is a Luger. The Luger was engineered to fire the 124 grs. bullets.

 

[Steve C]

Your s&w 439 is a service size handgun that was used by many PD until the polymer handguns became more popular. It will handle any factory ammo you wish to shoot in it but for practice there isn't any real reason to use more than standard pressure ammo. For my shooting I find little difference between 115 and 124gr factory loaded ammo in how it shoots and keep the same point of aim for both. The main difference is 115 gr FMJ is usually a little less expensive than 124gr. Some people say they notice the difference in recoil between the 124 and 115 loads but I don't notice the difference myself any more.

For defense loading I'd suggest you choose a brand and type used by police. You can find good self defense ammo in all 3 bullet weights made by Speer, Federal, Winchester and Remington. Check out some of the ammo test video's on Youtube by Tnoutdoors9 and ShootingTheBull410 for a more scientific test and analysis.

 

[grouselips1]

The 124 gr bullet was the "original" projectile for the 9mm, as released in the Luger.

 

[ritepath]

Ride the middle, I cast and shoot 124's for all my 9mm's.

 

[herrwalther]

Some people say they notice the difference in recoil between the 124 and 115 loads but I don't notice the difference myself any more.

Some people do notice. At one point, my brother and I were both carrying 9mms. He was with his Sig P2022 and I was carrying a Ruger SR9c. We both keep extra ammo in the car and carry a spare magazine. So that caused an impromptu trip to the range to try various ammo and swap firearms for a few magazines. I noticed the 147 gr HST in both handguns fired more similar to my .40 handguns. The 115gr ammo my brother had on hand usually made a more noticeable flash, which is something I try to notice when choosing carry ammo for indoor or night shooting. Because I have always fired heavier rounds, I didn't like the feel of any of the 115 brands he used. Fine for target shooting but I stick to 147 for carry and 124 if I can't find my regular ammo.

 

[jdmb03]

I always use 147 in my G19. I like the recoil push of the 147.