Caliber Closeup: A Look at 9mm Bullet Grain Weights

[Talyn]

The specific weight plays a role in recoil, accuracy, and sometimes reliability in your particular firearm. Some guns will shoot one load better than another, and different loads may hit at different points of aim. This is due to the barrel length and twist rate, as well as the general parts fitment of your firearm.

Caliber Closeup: A Look at 9mm Bullet Grain Weights - The Shooter's Log

The 9mm cartridge has been in development since 1901 and is now available in several different bullet grain weights with unique properties.

blog.cheaperthandirt.com

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

THAT was a top notch writeup, interesting and informative. I have one box left of the Syntech 150 grain. I'm saving it for the right competition. It shoots great but it's kinda expensive to plink with.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Jim Diamantoni]

Good read. I'm a fan of the Federal 147 gr HST.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

Good read! I've seen some lite weight 9mil bullets, but didn't know they had them up to 185.

 

[835mag]

I’ve always loaded 115gr coated round nose for years because I thought they were the most economical. Always run them about 1100-1200 fps. I have recently switched to 147gr flat points around 900fps and I have noticed my scores in matches have been consistently better. Very soft recoil impulse and extremely accurate. I still have a couple thousand 115’s left but I’m only buying 147’s from now on. I use the 115’s for practice and plinking with the grandkids.

 

[belladonna]

Great read. I bookmarked it for future reference. Thanks for posting!

 

[Shibadog]

I had no idea you could find 9 mm that heavy. I shoot a Lot of 9 and .45 acp and shooting steel plates hanging from chain it’s very obvious the 230 gr .45 hits a LOT harder than the 124 9. Be fun to try that heavy 9 tocompare

 

[Blister]

124gr bullets are my preference for range and defense. I use rn lipstick from Acme for the range. I handload those. For defense I use factory hollow points - HST or Hornady.

 

[trader]

good reference article. The author didn't list the energy for the Underwood X treme defender cartridges, in case you're interested it's 489 ft lbs.

 

[youngolddude]

I enjoy reading about the various loads out there. I didn't know there were so light or heavy loads.

 

[Jester560]

124gr for carry
137gr for competition

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

With 357sig being a 9mm I use (mainly) 125 and 147's. However I do load 90 and 115's for some high speed fun. I don't shoot over 124's in 9x19's.

 

[shanneba]

Should have mentioned more about barrel twist rate.
In rifles a faster twist rate is normally more accurate for heavier/longer bullets

I would think the 9mm with a 1:10 barrel would be more accurate with heavier bullets.

The SAAMI specs are 1:10" for 9mm pistols. but S&W used the 38/357 twist rate of 1:18.75" in some models.
Some barrel makers offer 9mm barrels with 1:32" twist

Some early 357 Sig barrels with 1:10 9mm barrels would spin 115 gr bullets fast enough they could fragment.
A change to 1:16" fixed that in most cases

Back in the day many S&W guns were re-barreled with Colt 38/357 barrels with a 1:14 twist for better accuracy with 148 gr wadcutters.

A little more info:

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Handgun Rifling: Bullet Weights & Barrel Twists

Does the rifling-twist rate in your handgun impact accuracy when used with different-weight bullets? Is there a best bullet for your barrel's twist rate? We examine the issue here.

www.shootingillustrated.com