Matching bullet weight to gun size

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RealGun

RealGun

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I mistakenly packed a model 60 instead of a model 19 Smith for testing a lite 357 Mag load and was reminded why I use 125 gr instead of 158 grain bullets in loads for the smaller guns.
 
Oh goody, a recoil based physics thread. Powder weight, burn speed. bullet composition, barrel length???????????:what:
 
Im truly curious as to the effect of the lighter bullet. I went from 125s to 147 (and some 158 .357s i had), because i didnt like the flip of my full size 9 with the lighter bullets. Do the lighter bullets feel significantly different in reduced loads from different gun weights?
 
RealGun said:
Want to contribute anything?
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No not really as the topic has been beat to death and you did not give any reason as to why you like one vs the other,

There are many many articles on recoil, perceived or felt recoil ad nausea and the bottom line is that light bullets do not always have less recoil than heavy if in fact that was what you are implying without actually saying anything.

So if "you want to contribute anything to was reminded why I use 125 gr instead of 158 grain bullets in loads for the smaller guns."

Than please do
 
Can you be a little more detailed to help me out? As I'm loading 38/357's with both weights for a model DWesson say 8" barl. Did very well w/horn. xtp's 158g w/a light load of 800x for 38 have some plated rmr's both size I want to load next but haven't used the lighter weight.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
And why would that be? If they were light loads what difference will the bullet make?
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RealGun said:
Could you offer information? What do I know?
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My question was serious. You made the statement "you are reminded why I use 125 gr instead of 158 grain bullets in loads for the smaller guns." I wanted to know why you were asking about so I could contribute.
 
He is correct, in general a lighter bullet will give less recoil when propelled at similar speeds
most noticeable in shorter barreled light weight pistols

( jacketed to jacketed, lead to lead )
( comparing lead to jacketed is a whole different story, like comparing apples to oranges )

That is the reason I developed a powder puff load (102gr, 38 SPL ) for beginners
( it has minimum recoil ) to learn to shoot and not scare the stink out of them with recoil
as they gain confidence, I progress to heavier bullets so they can decide which weight bullet
they want to use in their gun
 
firewrench044 said:
He is correct, in general a lighter bullet will give less recoil when propelled at similar speeds
most noticeable in shorter barreled light weight pistols

( jacketed to jacketed, lead to lead )
( comparing lead to jacketed is a whole different story, like comparing apples to oranges )

That is the reason I developed a powder puff load (102gr, 38 SPL ) for beginners
( it has minimum recoil ) to learn to shoot and not scare the stink out of them with recoil
as they gain confidence, I progress to heavier bullets so they can decide which weight bullet
they want to use in their gun
Click to expand...
My small gun and medium-sized gun loads are working in the same velocity range but vary by the bullet weight. I believe E=MV² is somewhat proved by felt recoil.
 
That statement at the beginning would have prevented a lot of confusion. Most people load lighter bullets faster and the combination of recoil and blast often make lighter loads less comfortable to shoot
 
jmr40 said:
That statement at the beginning would have prevented a lot of confusion. Most people load lighter bullets faster and the combination of recoil and blast often make lighter loads less comfortable to shoot
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Rather than put the burden on me, maybe others could be less quick to pounce, making assumptions about the need for disrespect. Actually, I was forced to recall why that rule of thumb was valid, and thus my later post. Let's discuss the topic rather than the process of discussion.
 
"...125 gr instead of 158..." Velocity and firearm weight matters. A 125 at 1209 fps out of a 1.75 pound revolver recoils with 8.9 ft-lbs. A 158 at 1070 fps out of the same revolver recoils at 9.4 ft-lbs. Recoil velocity is within .5 fps too. So just changing the bullet weight doesn't actually do much of anything.
"...proved by felt recoil..." Nobody can prove anything about felt recoil. Felt recoil is subjective. Just changing grips can change felt recoil.
In any case, assuming a 2.125" M60 at 21.4 oz vs a 4"(?) M19 at ~ 39 ounces. The 19 will always have less felt recoil with the same ammo.
"...Than please do..." Then. My little contribution. snicker.
 
Sunray said:
"...125 gr instead of 158..." Velocity and firearm weight matters. A 125 at 1209 fps out of a 1.75 pound revolver recoils with 8.9 ft-lbs. A 158 at 1070 fps out of the same revolver recoils at 9.4 ft-lbs. Recoil velocity is within .5 fps too. So just changing the bullet weight doesn't actually do much of anything.
"...proved by felt recoil..." Nobody can prove anything about felt recoil. Felt recoil is subjective. Just changing grips can change felt recoil.
In any case, assuming a 2.125" M60 at 21.4 oz vs a 4"(?) M19 at ~ 39 ounces. The 19 will always have less felt recoil with the same ammo.
"...Than please do..." Then. My little contribution. snicker.
Click to expand...
If we're to play a numbers game here, the 125 bullet is a ~20% reduction in weight from the 158, while we are considering velocity as pretty much a constant.
 
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