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Old October 2, 2012, 08:41 AM   #1
rajbcpa
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Your favorite grain weight plug for 9mm?

..and why?

Thx...
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Old October 2, 2012, 10:45 AM   #2
rg1
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No particular reason other than the 124 grain bullet is what the 9MM luger was originally designed to shoot plus it's the weight of the 9MM Nato. The 147 grain bullet being designed originally for sub-sonic loads is a heavy for caliber weight bullet and I just prefer a middle weight for caliber bullet in most all my guns. I like the 124 grain bullets being a little more deeply seated in the case than 115 or lighter bullets. Plus in my 2 pistols and one carbine rifle the 124 grain bullets have shot well and my sights seem to match the point of aim of the 124 grain bullets impact point. Nothing wrong with the 115's or 147's in 9MM but I've just settled on the 124 grain weight bullet.

Last edited by rg1; October 2, 2012 at 11:19 AM.
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Old October 2, 2012, 11:54 AM   #3
BigJimP
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I load more of the 115 gr ...( but I've loaded a lot of 124gr ) and fired quite a bit of 147 gr as well.....

I have several 9mm's.....Sig 239's and 226's and three 1911's - and my reloads with either 115gr or 124 gr run 100% ...
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Old October 2, 2012, 12:12 PM   #4
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I like both 124gr and 147gr bullets and have shot all types but the one I buy in bulk currently is the 124gr Berrys HBFP. I prefer the HBFP profile and at 8cents/each the price is OK. Sure I could get fmj for a penny more or lead for a penny less but this bullet fits my needs nicely.
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Old October 2, 2012, 12:15 PM   #5
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For practice rounds I use 115 grain LSWC.
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Old October 2, 2012, 01:22 PM   #6
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I cast my own 124g TC and load them by the thousands.
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Old October 2, 2012, 01:32 PM   #7
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I mostly load the 115gr as they are cheaper and they shoot well. They are the best for target shooting. My favorite though is the 124gr FP. They have a little more mass, kind of peak the energy, and the Flat Point helps deliver more energy into the target.

I should mention I like the Berry's plated bullets too.
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Old October 2, 2012, 01:47 PM   #8
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I like 135's. Not sure why they are not more popular, they are heavy-for-caliber but leave you a lot more room for powder than 147's.
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Old October 2, 2012, 02:48 PM   #9
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147gr. All the cool kids are shooting subsonic suppressed 9mm.
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Old October 2, 2012, 02:50 PM   #10
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I shot 125gr LRN almost exclusively because they are accurate, they feed 100%, they are economical and they dump steel plates nicely.

I use the Dardas 125gr LRN and when I buy them, I get 'em 3,000 at a time.

Fantastic bullet.
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Old October 2, 2012, 03:41 PM   #11
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1. 124 HBFP Berrys - punches out a better hole in targets than the next two.
2. 124 HBRNTP Berrys - Jim Dandy groups
3. 115 RNDS Berrys - closest to point of aim when pushed by Power Pistol to around 1200 fps in MY pistol.
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Old October 2, 2012, 03:50 PM   #12
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For plinking I load a lot of 115gr. fmj. Hollow pts. are all 124gr. XTPs.
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Old October 2, 2012, 03:51 PM   #13
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I shoot Production Division ISPC which is why I prefer a heavier bullet. Currently I'm shooting 156 grain cast lead outside and 147 grain plated match bullets for indoor use, both with reduced loads of fast burning powder (n320). The 156 grain chronos to a bit less than 830 fps, still comfortably making minor power factor.

If I was shooting Open Division instead, I'd be using the lightest bullet possible so that I could stuff volumes of powder in there to generate enough gas to make a ported barrel and compensator work efficiently.

For some of us it definitely depends on our intended application. It has nothing to do with "what 9mm was made to originally shoot". 9mm is just a caliber. There are many very different guns that shoot 9mm, many of which are used for applications undreamt of when the 9mm round was invented.
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Old October 2, 2012, 04:02 PM   #14
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I have a full auto subgun that guzzles ammunition. When I take it to the range, I easily consume 500 or 600 rounds of 9mm...and that's when I exercise control.

I prefer 115 grain projectiles, usually jacketed, so I don't have to worry about velocity limitations in a 10 inch barrel, various 9mm pistols, and in the .38 super. They are inexpensive and work well with economical, fast burning powders and the increased velocity gives me a slightly flatter shooting bullet for use at 50 yards.

I can get almost 600 more rounds per lbs out of Bullseye, then say power pistol. It still cycles the weapon just fine and full auto accuracy is much greater due to low recoil.

Last edited by testuser; October 2, 2012 at 04:08 PM.
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Old October 2, 2012, 04:47 PM   #15
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Quote:
I mostly load the 115gr as they are cheaper and they shoot well.
Me too! Where else can I buy can I buy jackets bullets delivered to my door (within a week) for $0.076 each?
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Old October 2, 2012, 06:45 PM   #16
snuffy
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Quote:
Your favorite grain weight plug for 9mm?
..and why?

Thx...
That's a new one to add to my list of what people substitute for the word bullet.

As for what I shoot in 9mm, I've used everything from 90 grain to 160 grainers. It depends on what I'm shooting at, and with which weapon.
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Old October 2, 2012, 07:38 PM   #17
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In my Ruger P94 147 wins the nod because it is the most accurate and hits count more than high power high velocity misses.
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Old October 2, 2012, 09:32 PM   #18
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124 gr for me, and i have been known to swag some heavy 357s down to size and make lead hollow points.
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Old October 2, 2012, 09:42 PM   #19
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I am still looking around myself trying to find "the one" but so far I have had the best results from 147 grain Rainier HPs and I think it was 4.3 of Unique.
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Old October 7, 2012, 07:09 PM   #20
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I really like the 147 gn but I use what ever I get cheap. All I do is target practice.
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Old October 8, 2012, 01:12 AM   #21
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What is a "grain weight plug?"
I have never heard of that--reason I checked the subject.
If you are talking bullets, then:
1) Most accurate--121-125gn 0.355-0.357" JHP bullets, followed closely by 121-126gn 0.356-0.358" L-SWC, followed by 112-118gn 0.356-0.358" L-SWC, followed by 115gn 0.355-0.357" JHP, followed by nothing else good enough
2) Action pistol (for less snap to recoil)--147gn L-RFN or jacketed bullet.
3) Self defense--any premium FACTORY round. I use Hydro-Shoks right now. You spend your money and take your chance. Unless they have started to do controlled shootings on living subjects, it is all guess work.
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Old October 9, 2012, 10:45 PM   #22
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My first batch of 147gr actually went pretty good and had only two problem bullets out of several hundred.
One the primer was in upside down! Got stuck in my Baretta, but did get it out at the range.
Other just was just slight missfeed in the ramp, but did not get stuck.

They shot pretty accurate and the punch through the target was clean and much better than the pile of ammo my Dad gave me from another reloader.

I was elated.
Now I need to go down and load my 1,000 rounds like my original plan. Just had to see how they flew before doing that.
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