115g vs 124g AMMO

[rx_6jr]

is there truly a big difference in 115 and 124 grain ammo for 9mm? Is 115 grain actually more snappy? Or is the difference barely noticeable? I usually shoot 124s but 115 is at a good price right now so I'm debating

 

[Funjeff]

Shoot 115 for training
124 for defense.
Assuming you have a pistol shouldn't be a big difference. My Pcc 16" does like heavy 147s

 

[rx_6jr]

Shoot 115 for training
124 for defense.
Assuming you have a pistol shouldn't be a big difference. My Pcc 16" does like heavy 147s

Is there a difference in recoil feeling?

 

[Funjeff]

My Glock 17 says No!
And no noticeable change in Poi

 

[Gawernator]

I'm probably just not shooting enough but they don't have much noticeable difference to me. Plus every manufacturer will be different

 

[Jeffro_510]

My comped guns shoot flatter with 124

 

[datdotty]

If you can shoot 115gr well, you can shoot them all. Shoot whatever is cheapest tho.

 

[rx_6jr]

what about your non comp guns?

 

[GeeQ87]

Not much difference but i prefer sending heavier chunks of lead. 124 all day lol

 

[Hindsight]

is there truly a big difference in 115 and 124 grain ammo for 9mm? Is 115 grain actually more snappy? Or is the difference barely noticeable? I usually shoot 124s but 115 is at a good price right now so I'm debating

If we’re talking standard readily available factory ammo none of them are loaded significantly differently enough to really tell too much of a difference in felt recoil to 99% of shooters with a naturally aspirated gun.

Once you get into heavily ported or comped guns, custom hand reloads, boutique loads like competition loads from like Supervel or formula shooting, or something like that then yes you notice a difference.

Anecdotally, 124g FMJ from something like S&B tends to feed reliably out of almost any factory gun I’ve ever shot. PMC 115 is similar, but doesn’t have as stellar a track record with me personally.

 

[Darqhelmet]

unless you’re shooting “nato” 124 i’ve never noticed a difference between 115 and 124 range ammo. I do try to break in with the winchester nato stuff. It’s hotter but still not +p.

 

[chiroken007]

The extra weight helps with breaking in a gun. We had cycling issues with shadow system using 115. 124 fixed that..It was also user error..
Wife’s first time shooting so her wrist was weak. 115 highlighted her wrist. 124 made up for it.

 

[ar15robert]

I don’t feel any noticeable difference in my caniks. Both shoot well also but I do prefer 124 because of weight.

 

[MrWilly]

Grab a box of both and alternate them in your mag starting with 124. When you shoot, just remember that they will come out as 115, 124, 115, 124.....
Every shooter is different and you may find you like one significantly more than the other. Or not.

 

[RustVendor]

The weight is arbitrary without considering the load. S&B is much hotter than blazer, blazer barely makes uspsa power factor but s&b is like 140. The only real difference I have felt is half loading 147s at 900 fps which makes power factor. It's definitely less sharp and it's quieter. But these days I just buy 124s because they are cheaper, it doesn't actually matter to me that much how it feels. If anything with my 2011 since it's so flat no matter the ammo , it's almost better to have more recoil so I don't push the gun down. Gotta be super careful with how much input I put in to stay away from those no shoots

 

[ChallengerScatPackClub]

My comped guns would have a hard time cycling 115. Lots of FTF, FTE, and no slide lock. 124 and up no problem.

 

[miles888]

Heavier grain ammo gives a heavier push, but the slide will cycle slower and smoother…so the recoil impulse is longer vs lighter loads

Heavier loads just feel more correct for me. It’s subtle…but I carry 147gr, and train with 115gr because of the price difference.

Doesn’t really matter honestly. I don’t own comped pistols. I may one day but not really interested as of yet

 

[Z Arms LLC]

Generally the higher the grainage the softer it feels. On the flip side the higher the grainage the dirtier your guns gets. Compensated and ported guns see this the worst. I shoot 124 and 147 most of the time in my ported guns and they get much dirtier quicker than 115

 

[RustVendor]

Generally the higher the grainage the softer it feels. On the flip side the higher the grainage the dirtier your guns gets. Compensated and ported guns see this the worst. I shoot 124 and 147 most of the time in my ported guns and they get much dirtier quicker than 115

I feel like that's just due to the brand, a heavier bullet uses less powder

 

[Z Arms LLC]

I feel like that's just due to the brand, a heavier bullet uses less powder

This is also the case, but I've shot most of the big brands like Magtech, S&B, Federal, CCI, Super Vel, etc. and has been the case. At least for me, anecdotal can only get you so far