115gr vs 124gr vs 147gr felt recoil

[odessit]

What is the difference in felt recoil between this loads? Whats your favorable range or self defense loads?

[gdawgs56]

I feel like 124gr has the best balance of feeling. Also gives me best accuracy (in my sp01). I use BErrys 124g HBRN over 4.5grs of 7625 for target/competition and Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P for SD.


-Jason

[Towns]

For my CZs........................
Favorite for practice:  Reloads with 124 gr RN bullet over 4.0 gr Titegroup or 4.1 gr n320.
Favorite carry load:  Factory Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +p

For other handguns:
Practice:  Reloads with 147 gr FP bullet with 3.9 gr of either n340, Autocomp or Unique
Carry:  Factory Federal HST 147 gr standard pressure

Those practice loads of 124 gr move at about 1050 fps, and the 147 gr at about 900 fps.  I like the feel of the 147 gr better, but the CZ seems to like 124 gr better (accuracy and feeding).

I'm just believing what I've read from folks like Massad Ayoob, but the +p 124 gr Gold Dot and the 147 gr HST have good reports from the field (streets).  Of course, I hope I never get to find out personally.

[danno_man]

MG124gr JHP - 4.2gr Win231/HP38

Speer GD 124gr +P.  I have been using this for years and is what many of the local PD's use.

[jameslovesjammie]

While the 9mm isn't a terribly unmanageable cartridge, the consensus is that (loaded to the same Powerfactor) a light, fast bullet will have more perceived recoil than a slow, heavy bullet.  That being said, some complain that the slide speed is slower with the heavier bullet and feel like it needs to "catch up" with the shooter in competitions such as USPSA and IDPA.  The 124 grain is the best of both worlds, and tends to deliver the best accuracy in most CZ's.

[Smitty79]

When I first started loading, I loaded something like 12 different bullets for my CZ85.   My load data is all posted in this forum.

I then did accuracy testing using a bench at 15 yds.   BBI 135's were most accurate with Blue 147's being almost as good.   I then did "Bill Drills" with several weights.   The Bill drills had measurable better splits with the 147's.   I also like flat point holes better than round nose holes.  So I settled on Blue 147 FPs, loaded to 1.120" with 3.7 gns of SR7625 or 3.4gns of Maxam CSB-5 (New stuff that you can still get cheap.   I posted lots of data on this stuff).    If I do my part, this stuff hits where I point the gun and is very soft on recoil.

For defensive use, I use Critical Duty 135s +P.

[Wobbly]

If you like the "idea" of the 124grn, but still want to go a wee tad heavier, then several bullet makers are offering 130grn and 135grn bullets.  These are generally listed under a caliber called 38 Super rather than 9mm.  They may also show these as .001" larger than traditional 9mm bullet diameters, but that is insignificant.

Look at Black Bullet Intl, Berry Mfg, Zero, Remington, etc.

[1SOW]

RECOIL is the direct effect of powder load.  The more powder loaded the heavier the recoil--no matter what bullet weight.
The lighter bullets require MORE powder, and the heavier bullets require LESS powder.  The heavier bullets will have less recoil.

My 9mms function best FOR ME with 124 to 130 grain bullets.  Best FOR ME = Accurate and able to shoot Fast twith the sights moving up and back down onto the target without stringing the shots up or down.
I really enjoy being able to shoot 6-shot steel gongs just as fast as I can possibly pull the trigger.   (Like a kid at a carnival shoot )

[IDescribe]

Given a power factor of 130ish, I prefer the snappier 124 to 147. The 147 too mushy. However, I prefer a147 at a power factor around 137 to a 124 at PF 130. It operates the gun sufficiently fast, but with less flip than the 124. That is my "best of both worlds".  And I have a couple of exceedingly accurate loads for that.

I have had poor accuracy (relatively poor, not outright poor) with 135gr bullets in my CZ ShadowLine. That includes BBI 135 and Hornady Critical Duty. Might be my CZ. I just fired a box of Critical Duty today and saved my last box for the HK VP9 that I get to pick up this Saturday.   Wondering if the Kraut will like it any better than the Czech.

[noylj]

If you load to max or to the same velocity, the lighter bullet will have less recoil.
Power Factor is momentum which is recoil.
If you load to the same PF, the recoil is the "same," but the heavy bullet will give more of a push than a snap.
Thus, what feels best to you? I prefer the snap and fast recovery over the slow push of the heavy bullet.

[vwpieces]

You can also tune the gun with lighter or heavier recoil springs, depending on your desired powder, powder charge & bullet weight. Bullet weight is only part of that equation or part of the felt recoil or recovery speed.  I like the 125 grain flavor but that is based on accuracy in my 75B.

You can tune a load to your gun but you can also tune your gun to a load if there is a certain power factor you need to achieve or +P.

[CZnewbe]

I appreciate that everyone's recoil perception differs, but from my experience, and the experience of everyone I shoot with, the 147 grainers have less perceived recoil than the 124 grainers, which have less than the 115 grainers, all loaded to roughly equivalent power factors.  I have friends who are now loading 160 grain bullets, which sound like bunny farts and have no muzzle flip at 126-130 power factor. 

[odessit]

CZnewbe who sells 160 grain bullets?

[danno_man]

CZnewbe who sells 160 grain bullets?

http://www.snscasting.com/9mm-38-super-160-grain-round-nose-coated-1000ct/

http://www.bayoubullets.net/9mm-160-gr-rn-100-ct/

[Smitty79]

I appreciate that everyone's recoil perception differs, but from my experience, and the experience of everyone I shoot with, the 147 grainers have less perceived recoil than the 124 grainers, which have less than the 115 grainers, all loaded to roughly equivalent power factors.  I have friends who are now loading 160 grain bullets, which sound like bunny farts and have no muzzle flip at 126-130 power factor.

I know that perceived recoil is more than just the physics.    But as a guy who used to teach physics to budding young naval officers, I can do the math.    Power factor is the same as momentum.   Momentum is force times time.   Since the heavier bullet stays in the barrel longer, the force is less because the time is longer at a fixed power factor.   So the heavier bullet has less force and it is more of a push, than a smack.    Both contribute to less perceived recoil.   For the same PF, I usually wind up with a half a grain to a grain less powder too.   That means less gas going out the barrel of the gun, at a lower velocity.   This further lower perceived recoil.

I am sure some people like faster lighter bullets, because if feels better.    Maybe it cycles their gun better.   I know that I can shave 10 to 20% off of my splits with 147's over 124's in my gun at my skill level.