9mm Reloading ... Hornady 124gr. XTP or 147gr. XTP?

riverwalker76 · May 28, 2010, 11:24 PM

I'm looking for a target round that is accurate and would be good for Bullseye shooting.

I don't like the lighter 115 gr. bullets, and prefer the 124gr. or 147 gr. XTP for reloading for my Beretta M9.

From your personal experience ... what is the better bullet weight for Bullseye shooting?

THanks.

FEG · May 29, 2010, 08:19 AM

In my experience, the 147gr Hornady XTP is a real PITA to seat straight.

I wouldn't load premium JHPs for target practice. I get my best results from bulk 124 gr FMJ. FMJs are also easier to seat, by and large.

riverwalker76 · May 29, 2010, 01:17 PM

Why are the Hollow Points harder to seat?

Ozzieman · May 29, 2010, 01:31 PM

I have numerous 9mm from a Cougar to a Beretta Storm Carbine in 9mm and my best luck using the XTP is with the 124 gr. After trying both I purchased several thousand last year at a very good price.
I think the problem that FEG is talking about is, if like me, you don’t bell your cases much you do tend to deform the tip of the XTP bullets when you seat them which can cause problems seating straight.
I just haven’t found a good bullet seater for my dies that match the XTP very well, everything I have tried the tip hits and not the side. It’s not much but it will deform the tip.
You haven’t said what you’re shooting them in, but my best bullet so far for plinking and accuracy is the 147 GR bullets from PENN bullets. Last winter I pulled a sub 3 inch group at 100 yards with it in my STORM carbine using tightgroup powder.
I would very much agree with FEG on not using premium JHP’s, the cost for plinking is too great. If you’re shooting a gun that can handle lead go to PENN bullets and check out what he offers, with free shipping. They are hard enough that you can push them well past 1000 fps with no leading. And you can also get them in several different diameters for optimum accuracy.
http://www.pennbullets.com/9mm/9mm-caliber.html

mongoose33 · May 29, 2010, 01:49 PM

I'd go w/ the 124gr XTP.

I've loaded both, wasn't impressed with the 147's accuracy in my XD-9. However, the 124gr XTP is now my go-to bullet. In my setup, much better accuracy.

I haven't noticed any problem w/ runout. I should note that the 147gr XTP has a beveled base or boattail design, so it gets started easily without having to bell the case. The 124gr is a flat base.

riverwalker76 · May 29, 2010, 02:20 PM

I'm accustomed to loading 45-70 Gov't straight wall cases. So, I'm getting the impression that as long as I expand the case mouth enough I should be alright.

Is that right?

FEG · May 30, 2010, 05:14 AM

There really isn't a seating die that matches up well to 9mm JHPs with a straighter ogive and wide mouth. They tend to deform and seat crooked.

Reloading 147gr bullets is generally not as easy as 115-124 gr for a lot of reasons. They occupy more case volume, are more sensitive to slight variations in OAL (bumping the slide stop), etc. I avoid them.

wingman · May 30, 2010, 08:24 AM

The 124xtp is an excellent bullet,accurate in my Kahr and CZ75B I prefer it over the 147.

psyshack · May 31, 2010, 10:17 PM

Loading up 124gr. xtp's right now.

iblong · June 2, 2010, 12:05 PM

Ive found that the 124gr xtp to be verry accurate,in all my nines.

May 28, 2010, 11:24 PM	#1
riverwalker76 Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 993	9mm Reloading ... Hornady 124gr. XTP or 147gr. XTP? I'm looking for a target round that is accurate and would be good for Bullseye shooting. I don't like the lighter 115 gr. bullets, and prefer the 124gr. or 147 gr. XTP for reloading for my Beretta M9. From your personal experience ... what is the better bullet weight for Bullseye shooting? THanks.

May 29, 2010, 01:31 PM	#4
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	I have numerous 9mm from a Cougar to a Beretta Storm Carbine in 9mm and my best luck using the XTP is with the 124 gr. After trying both I purchased several thousand last year at a very good price. I think the problem that FEG is talking about is, if like me, you don’t bell your cases much you do tend to deform the tip of the XTP bullets when you seat them which can cause problems seating straight. I just haven’t found a good bullet seater for my dies that match the XTP very well, everything I have tried the tip hits and not the side. It’s not much but it will deform the tip. You haven’t said what you’re shooting them in, but my best bullet so far for plinking and accuracy is the 147 GR bullets from PENN bullets. Last winter I pulled a sub 3 inch group at 100 yards with it in my STORM carbine using tightgroup powder. I would very much agree with FEG on not using premium JHP’s, the cost for plinking is too great. If you’re shooting a gun that can handle lead go to PENN bullets and check out what he offers, with free shipping. They are hard enough that you can push them well past 1000 fps with no leading. And you can also get them in several different diameters for optimum accuracy. http://www.pennbullets.com/9mm/9mm-caliber.html Last edited by Ozzieman; May 29, 2010 at 02:15 PM.

May 29, 2010, 08:19 AM	#2
FEG Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 324	In my experience, the 147gr Hornady XTP is a real PITA to seat straight. I wouldn't load premium JHPs for target practice. I get my best results from bulk 124 gr FMJ. FMJs are also easier to seat, by and large.

May 29, 2010, 01:17 PM	#3
riverwalker76 Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 993	Why are the Hollow Points harder to seat?

May 29, 2010, 01:49 PM	#5
mongoose33 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 228	I'd go w/ the 124gr XTP. I've loaded both, wasn't impressed with the 147's accuracy in my XD-9. However, the 124gr XTP is now my go-to bullet. In my setup, much better accuracy. I haven't noticed any problem w/ runout. I should note that the 147gr XTP has a beveled base or boattail design, so it gets started easily without having to bell the case. The 124gr is a flat base.

May 29, 2010, 02:20 PM	#6
riverwalker76 Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 993	I'm accustomed to loading 45-70 Gov't straight wall cases. So, I'm getting the impression that as long as I expand the case mouth enough I should be alright. Is that right?

May 30, 2010, 05:14 AM	#7
FEG Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 324	There really isn't a seating die that matches up well to 9mm JHPs with a straighter ogive and wide mouth. They tend to deform and seat crooked. Reloading 147gr bullets is generally not as easy as 115-124 gr for a lot of reasons. They occupy more case volume, are more sensitive to slight variations in OAL (bumping the slide stop), etc. I avoid them.

May 30, 2010, 08:24 AM	#8
wingman Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2002 Posts: 2,108	The 124xtp is an excellent bullet,accurate in my Kahr and CZ75B I prefer it over the 147.

May 31, 2010, 10:17 PM	#9
psyshack Junior member Join Date: May 27, 2010 Posts: 159	Loading up 124gr. xtp's right now.

June 2, 2010, 12:05 PM	#10
iblong Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2008 Location: MN Posts: 559	Ive found that the 124gr xtp to be verry accurate,in all my nines.