Do you practice with the same grain ammo as you carry?

[aflevine]

To date, I've been practicing with 115 gr ammo, but carry 147 gr HST's.  Considering going to 147 gr practice ammo, so that it's apples to apples.  For practice purposes, I can only see it mattering if I'm practicing at longer range (25 yards+).  Does it matter enough to make the change?

[MadDuner]

I can tell a pretty big difference in felt recoil of my defensive rounds vs the practice FMJs. I occasionally fire my +P defensive stuff - more or less as a function test after I tinker with my firearms.

 I was working towards trying to reload rounds to mimic the defensive rounds for a more realistic practice round - but it was pointed out to me by some of the fine folks right here on this forum that my methods were unsafe.  I was working in the blind without knowing how fast the rounds were going, and probably flirting with disaster.  I heeded their warnings and advice and just accepted the fact that my practice rounds would be different.

[Smitty79]

I loaded some ammo with the same weight and muzzle velocity.   I practice with them sometimes.   I don't feed my gun a steady diet of +p.

[Ma}{imus]

I practice with my carry ammo only when I rotate out of the magazine. That tends to be every 6 months or so.

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[1SOW]

I reload.
I load the same weight and type bullets to the same bullet speeds as my SD ammo.
Accuracy and "feel" are much the same for both cartridges. 
I do believe practicing with your SD ammunition or ammunition that performs the same is a good policy.
A good quality SD pistol, quality ammunition and as realistic as possible practice will be worth the cost and effort.
Just an opinion.

[seebee62]

I’ll practice with 115 or 124 and I carry 124.


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[deadsh0t]

You shouldn't be surprised about another reaction, they should be as similar as possible. For training and competition I use the same ammo, just different quality of bullets, but the reaction is the same

[DWARREN]

Carry 124gr and practice with 124/125gr bullets.
I reload so some of my practice ammo is loaded to carry ammo specs the other for range..

[M1A4ME]

In the 9's I carry the same ammo I sometimes practice with.  If you can call load development "practice" then I sometimes shoot ammo that is not the same as my carry ammo.  I just keep looking for something I can reload cheaper/easier than my carry ammo.

In the .40's I found a load (lead/coated bullet) approximately the same weight that shoots to the same point of aim as my carry ammo.  So I shoot those more for practice.

I want my practice ammo to have the same POA/POI as my carry ammo.  And similar group size as well.

[Vinny]

I practice with fairly hot 9mm 115 and 124's that I believe are closer in velocity and PF to my carry ammo. Usually high 300's in rated energy (when tested from a 6" barrel).

I could be wrong but because my carry pistols are sub-compact 2.9" to 3-1/2" short barreled compact, I'm concerned that 147's wont achieve the necessary velocity to get full penetration and expand properly from a short barrel. So, I'm using 115gr JHP's. I wish I could test velocity, penetration and expansion to see if my theory is correct.

But here's some links to articles that at least indicate I'm on the right path:

https://www.ammoland.com/2017/06/short-barrel-ammo/#axzz5wP0q9KP1

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2010/10/21/snubby-ballistics/

Meanwhile....I found a cost-effective solution that allows me to practice regularly with my carry ammo. I shoot over 20,000 rounds/year so I'm not going to be practicing with 50 cent rounds. S&B 115gr JHP's (SB9C) seem to have good expansion characteristics from gel tests I've seen; yet cost <25 cents in bulk. The nose shape with no sharp edges feeds 100% every time.  JMO

But, I'm here to learn if anyone else can provide factual data.........

[Tok36]

Same grain weight (124g) but different bullet.

[FALer]

I usually shoot 124gr FMJ for practice, I carry 147gr +p.  I do shoot my carry ammo a couple times a year, just a mag or two, the stuff I've been carrying.
I don't notice enough difference in how the gun handles or were the bullet strikes between 5 and 25 yrds to get too wrapped around the axle on it. 

[Wobbly]

Always the same weight bullet, but very rarely the same brand of bullet.

[nettle]

Same bullet weight (124gr) and same powder. Not the usually the same brand bullet.

[recoilguy]

Yes