9mm ammo question for NRA Bullseye shooting

erob3 · July 7, 2012, 08:30 PM

Hey all, I shot my first Bullseye competiton today and did fairly well. The club I belong to shot both .22LR and center fire pistols. Everyone knows
.22LR offers ammo in what is known as "standard velocity"; Is there such a thing for 9mm? I DO NOT want to invest money into buying a pistol just for this, I am having fun but nothing more. I also DO NOT want to reload, they only shoot this competition once a month so it's not that big of a deal. I currently shoot a S&W Pro Series 1911 9mm which is more than sufficient for shooting bullseye. I shot Federal I got from Wally world but if I could find something with less velocity that would be great. I can change the recoil spring if needed. Thanks in advance for any help.

Jim Watson · July 7, 2012, 09:11 PM

The only way I know to get lower velocity 9mm factory loads is to buy heavier bullets.
The 147 grain "subsonic" is a good example. I load bushels of it for IDPA.
The Atlanta Arms subsonic is said to be one of the mildest.
http://atlantaarmsandammo.com/REMAN_...eman_ammo.html

WESHOOT2 · July 8, 2012, 09:29 AM

I find Federal's "Champion" 115g very accurate through a number of platforms.

erob3 · July 8, 2012, 12:25 PM

I am mainly interested in reducing the recoil, I should have mentioned that to begin with. Sorry. Jim, will the 147gr 9mm reduce recoil since I'm guessing the bullet is heavier. Thanks

Jim Watson · July 8, 2012, 12:58 PM

The computed recoil will be the same, or close, recoil is a momentum balance, mass times velocity equal in both directions. A slower, heavier bullet will work out about the same as a faster, lighter bullet.

I find the FELT recoil of subsonics to be less jarring. The muzzle blast is less, too; which is a comfort factor even with ear protection.

July 7, 2012, 08:30 PM	#1
erob3 Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2010 Location: East Tn. Posts: 492	9mm ammo question for NRA Bullseye shooting Hey all, I shot my first Bullseye competiton today and did fairly well. The club I belong to shot both .22LR and center fire pistols. Everyone knows .22LR offers ammo in what is known as "standard velocity"; Is there such a thing for 9mm? I DO NOT want to invest money into buying a pistol just for this, I am having fun but nothing more. I also DO NOT want to reload, they only shoot this competition once a month so it's not that big of a deal. I currently shoot a S&W Pro Series 1911 9mm which is more than sufficient for shooting bullseye. I shot Federal I got from Wally world but if I could find something with less velocity that would be great. I can change the recoil spring if needed. Thanks in advance for any help. __________________ If something is worth doing well, it is worth failing at to get there. Colt 1911 9mm, S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series, Buckmark .22, Lipsey Ruger MKII SS 4", Ruger Mk II Comp Trgt SS, Ruger Mk II Trgt SS, RIA 1911 Tactical 9mm, S&W Mdl 41 .22, H.S. Citation, H.S. Trophy, H.S. Victor E. Hartford, H.S. Victor Hamden, H.S. 103 Space Gun, Speedmaster .22, Savage MKII .22 BTVS, SKB O/U 505

July 8, 2012, 09:29 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 12,927	I bought it used I find Federal's "Champion" 115g very accurate through a number of platforms. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

July 8, 2012, 12:25 PM	#4
erob3 Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2010 Location: East Tn. Posts: 492	I am mainly interested in reducing the recoil, I should have mentioned that to begin with. Sorry. Jim, will the 147gr 9mm reduce recoil since I'm guessing the bullet is heavier. Thanks __________________ If something is worth doing well, it is worth failing at to get there. Colt 1911 9mm, S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series, Buckmark .22, Lipsey Ruger MKII SS 4", Ruger Mk II Comp Trgt SS, Ruger Mk II Trgt SS, RIA 1911 Tactical 9mm, S&W Mdl 41 .22, H.S. Citation, H.S. Trophy, H.S. Victor E. Hartford, H.S. Victor Hamden, H.S. 103 Space Gun, Speedmaster .22, Savage MKII .22 BTVS, SKB O/U 505

July 7, 2012, 09:11 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 9,674	The only way I know to get lower velocity 9mm factory loads is to buy heavier bullets. The 147 grain "subsonic" is a good example. I load bushels of it for IDPA. The Atlanta Arms subsonic is said to be one of the mildest. http://atlantaarmsandammo.com/REMAN_...eman_ammo.html

July 8, 2012, 12:58 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 9,674	The computed recoil will be the same, or close, recoil is a momentum balance, mass times velocity equal in both directions. A slower, heavier bullet will work out about the same as a faster, lighter bullet. I find the FELT recoil of subsonics to be less jarring. The muzzle blast is less, too; which is a comfort factor even with ear protection.