What 9mm, bullets, do the pro's shoot?

[gun'sRgood]

I met a few of the awesome pro shooters at the last NRA. I had a great time chatting with them. By the time it was over, I realized I had failed to ask any of them what 9mm loads they shot. I've heard the slowest or lowest recoil that passed a speed test but no idea it that's true. Or do they have someone load for them, what would that be? 115's, 124's, 147's, or something I saw for the first time, 165's. The 165's, and all the rest, we're on sale at the X-tream booth. Not sure if this goes here or not. Ideas?

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Depends on the game they play.
Some games have a power factor rating that must be meet, some dont.
Open guys typically run 115 as you get more room for powder so you get more gas volume to run the comp.
Guys that shoot steel challenge, with 9mm use heavier bullets like 147 as they carry more momentum.

In some games, 9mm gets penalized, so 40 S&W is the go to caliber.

If I remember right, the number 1 must used bullet in USPSA is blue bullets, a coated lead bullet. Zero and delta precesion for FMJ.

 

[Catcus Jack]

The ones they get for free.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Guys that shoot steel challenge, with 9mm use heavier bullets like 147 as they carry more momentum.

I guess things have changed since the last time I checked.

In Steel Challenge (SC) all you have to do is "ping" the steel, not knock it down. Guys i knew who were serious about competing in SC were all loading 115gr bullets as light as they could, since there was no Power Factor to be met, to speed transitions between targets

 

[jmorris]

The ones they are paid to shoot, the definition of professional.

 

[Mauser lover]

I guess things have changed since the last time I checked.

In Steel Challenge (SC) all you have to do is "ping" the steel, not knock it down. Guys i knew who were serious about competing in SC were all loading 115gr bullets as light as they could, since there was no Power Factor to be met, to speed transitions between targets

Not changed to my knowledge. 9mm loaded down as light as possible to function a slide with an extra-weak return spring! No reason in Steel Challenge to go for heavy bullets. There are probably other games that need them though.

 

[EMC45]

The ones they get for free.

The ones they are paid to shoot, the definition of professional.

Both beat me to it. The ones the companies provide.

 

[Jim Watson]

They used to publish line counts showing the guns, ammo, and components used in the Nationals but it is not in the issue I looked at.

 

[alfsauve]

USPSA does a publishes a survey of their nationals. Now it won’t distinguish the pros from the amateurs, but it will tell the most used bullets. Look on their web site for back issues of their nation publication. Since national are in the summer probably fall issues. Of course it differ by division, e.g. revolver, vs production, vs limited, vs pcc, vs co, vs open.

 

[gun'sRgood]

Depends on the game they play.
Some games have a power factor rating that must be meet, some dont.
Open guys typically run 115 as you get more room for powder so you get more gas volume to run the comp.
Guys that shoot steel challenge, with 9mm use heavier bullets like 147 as they carry more momentum.

In some games, 9mm gets penalized, so 40 S&W is the go to caliber.

If I remember right, the number 1 must used bullet in USPSA is blue bullets, a coated lead bullet. Zero and delta precesion for FMJ.

Hey thx! Never really thought about the extra gas and a comp. Appreciated the lern'n!

 

[LiveLife]

What 9mm, bullets, do the pro's shoot?

They used to publish line counts showing the guns, ammo, and components used in the Nationals but it is not in the issue I looked at.

USPSA does a publishes a survey of their nationals ... it will tell the most used bullets. Look on their web site for back issues of their nation publication. Since national are in the summer probably fall issues. Of course it differ by division, e.g. revolver, vs production, vs limited, vs pcc, vs co, vs open.

USPSA annual equipment survey is published for Dec/Jan issue. 2022 is the latest year and for 2023 survey, change the year on the link to "2024" in January of 2024.

Open Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#

• Bullet caliber - 9mm Major 60%, 38 Super Comp 38%
• Factory loaded ammunition - ELEY 44%, Black Dot 11%, Atlanta Arms 11%, Everglades 9% (FYI, ELEY uses RMR jacketed bullets for their centerfire match ammunition)
• Bullet type - Jacketed 81%, Plated 10%, Coated 9%
• Bullet manufacturer - Precision Delta 31%, Montana Gold 25%, RMR Bullets 12%, Zero Bullets 7%, Hornady 4%
  
• Bullet weight - 124/125 gr 88%, 115 gr 6%, 147 gr 3%

Limited/Limited 10 Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=42

• Bullet caliber - 40S&W 86%, 9mm 13%, 45ACP 1%
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 43%, Atlanta Arms 14%, Super Vel 11%
• Bullet type - Coated 59%, Jacketed 32%, Plated 9%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 34%, Berry's MFG 11%, Montana Gold 9%, SNS Coated 9%, Precision Delta 8%
  
• Bullet weight - 180/185 gr 57%, 200/205 gr 19%, 165 gr 5%, 147 gr 10%, 124/125 gr 5%

Production Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=45

• Bullet caliber - 9mm
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 38%, ELEY 20%, Atlanta Arms 9%, Precision Delta 8%, Sig Sauer 5%
• Bullet type - Coated 49%, Jacketed 37%, Plated 14%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 38%, Berry's MFG 11%, SNS Coated 8%, Black Bullets 6%, Precision Delta 4%, Montana Gold 4%
  
• Bullet weight - 147 gr 39%, 124/125 gr 32%, 150 gr 11%, 115 gr 5%, 135 gr 4%

Pistol Caliber Carbine Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=46

• Bullet caliber - 9mm
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 37%, ELEY 15%, Winchester 10%, Blazer 6%
• Bullet type - Jacketed 45%, Coated 31%, Plated 24%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 24%, Berry's MFG 15%, RMR Bullets 11%, SNS Coated 10%, Zero Bullets 10%
  
• Bullet weight - 124/125 gr 35%, 115 gr 23%, 147 gr 22%, 135 gr 14%

Carry Optics Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=49

• Bullet caliber - 9mm
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 38%, ELEY 15%, Precision Delta 12%, Sig Sauer 8%, Atlanta Arms 7%, Super Vel 6%
• Bullet type - Coated 58%, Jacketed 28%, Plated 14%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 33%, Berry's MFG 15%, Black Bullets 11%, SNS Coated 10%, Precision Delta 5%
  
• Bullet weight - 147 gr 39%, 124/125 gr 31%, 150 gr 11%, 135 gr 7%, 115 gr 5%

Single Stack Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=50

• Bullet caliber - 45ACP 40%, 40S&W 34%, 9mm 25%, 38 Super 1%
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 28%, Atlanta Arms 16%, Precision Delta 11%, Winchester 8%, Sig Sauer 6%, Armscor 5%
• Bullet type - Coated 61%, Jacketed 26%, Plated 14%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 31%, SNS Coated 18%, Black Bullets 11%, Zero Bullets 7%, Bayou Bullets 5%
  
• Bullet weight - 230 gr 28%, 180/185 gr 21%, 200/205 gr 17%, 147/150 gr 11%, 124/125 gr 7%

Revolver Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=53

 

[gun'sRgood]

USPSA annual equipment survey is published for Dec/Jan issue. 2022 is the latest year and for 2023 survey, change the year on the link to "2024" in January of 2024.

Open Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#

• Bullet caliber - 9mm Major 60%, 38 Super Comp 38%
• Factory loaded ammunition - ELEY 44%, Black Dot 11%, Atlanta Arms 11%, Everglades 9% (FYI, ELEY uses RMR jacketed bullets for their centerfire match ammunition)
• Bullet type - Jacketed 81%, Plated 10%, Coated 9%
• Bullet manufacturer - Precision Delta 31%, Montana Gold 25%, RMR Bullets 12%, Zero Bullets 7%, Hornady 4%
  
• Bullet weight - 124/125 gr 88%, 115 gr 6%, 147 gr 3%

Limited/Limited 10 Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=42

• Bullet caliber - 40S&W 86%, 9mm 13%, 45ACP 1%
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 43%, Atlanta Arms 14%, Super Vel 11%
• Bullet type - Coated 59%, Jacketed 32%, Plated 9%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 34%, Berry's MFG 11%, Montana Gold 9%, SNS Coated 9%, Precision Delta 8%
  
• Bullet weight - 180/185 gr 57%, 200/205 gr 19%, 165 gr 5%, 147 gr 10%, 124/125 gr 5%

Production Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=45

• Bullet caliber - 9mm
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 38%, ELEY 20%, Atlanta Arms 9%, Precision Delta 8%, Sig Sauer 5%
• Bullet type - Coated 49%, Jacketed 37%, Plated 14%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 38%, Berry's MFG 11%, SNS Coated 8%, Black Bullets 6%, Precision Delta 4%, Montana Gold 4%
  
• Bullet weight - 147 gr 39%, 124/125 gr 32%, 150 gr 11%, 115 gr 5%, 135 gr 4%

Pistol Caliber Carbine Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=46

• Bullet caliber - 9mm
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 37%, ELEY 15%, Winchester 10%, Blazer 6%
• Bullet type - Jacketed 45%, Coated 31%, Plated 24%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 24%, Berry's MFG 15%, RMR Bullets 11%, SNS Coated 10%, Zero Bullets 10%
  
• Bullet weight - 124/125 gr 35%, 115 gr 23%, 147 gr 22%, 135 gr 14%

Carry Optics Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=49

• Bullet caliber - 9mm
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 38%, ELEY 15%, Precision Delta 12%, Sig Sauer 8%, Atlanta Arms 7%, Super Vel 6%
• Bullet type - Coated 58%, Jacketed 28%, Plated 14%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 33%, Berry's MFG 15%, Black Bullets 11%, SNS Coated 10%, Precision Delta 5%
  
• Bullet weight - 147 gr 39%, 124/125 gr 31%, 150 gr 11%, 135 gr 7%, 115 gr 5%

Single Stack Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=50

• Bullet caliber - 45ACP 40%, 40S&W 34%, 9mm 25%, 38 Super 1%
• Factory loaded ammunition - Federal 28%, Atlanta Arms 16%, Precision Delta 11%, Winchester 8%, Sig Sauer 6%, Armscor 5%
• Bullet type - Coated 61%, Jacketed 26%, Plated 14%
• Bullet manufacturer - Blue Bullets 31%, SNS Coated 18%, Black Bullets 11%, Zero Bullets 7%, Bayou Bullets 5%
  
• Bullet weight - 230 gr 28%, 180/185 gr 21%, 200/205 gr 17%, 147/150 gr 11%, 124/125 gr 7%

Revolver Division - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=53

What an awesome reply! I'm printing this off for the gun room. Just an immense amount of great data. Many appreciations for your time. Thanks!

 

[LiveLife]

What an awesome reply! I'm printing this off for the gun room. Just an immense amount of great data. Many appreciations for your time. Thanks!

After 2021, USPSA annual equipment survey dropped listing of powders used for reloads and only listed powder manufacturers.

So if you want to reload using same powders, reference 2021 year survey here - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2021-00#page=43

 

[gun'sRgood]

After 2021, USPSA annual equipment survey dropped listing of powders used for reloads and only listed powder manufacturers.

So if you want to reload using same powders, reference 2021 year survey here - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2021-00#page=43

Kool Thx buddy!

 

[ParallelCode]

After 2021, USPSA annual equipment survey dropped listing of powders used for reloads and only listed powder manufacturers.

So if you want to reload using same powders, reference 2021 year survey here - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2021-00#page=43

That was very interesting to flip through.