Practice Bullet Weight

CBR

CBR

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It makes sense to me, but I'm going to ask anyways. Do you practice with the same grain bullet with which you compete? 9mm specifically. I have a bunch of 115gr that i can reload and practice, but 147 gr "feels" better. Been to only a couple of matches, but am hooked. This community has been very accepting and willing to help. Thanks
 
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Yes, unless the different components are all you can get a hold of, but then wouldn't you be shooting those at the match?. There are drills that you can practice and it wont matter the load because you will only be firing once or firing once and performing a function then firing once again. So you can practice where it shouldn't hurt your timing much if at all. You just have to decide on what you want to practice or make sure you just watch that bump on the front of your slide. Oh hell its 9x19, is it really going to matter ;) Just kidding.
 
Speaking of, which 9mm weight is going to provide less recoil and which .45 ACP weight is going to provide less recoil?
 
Heavy bullets with fast burning powder will always feel softer the light bullets and slower powder. Seems backwards, I know. My 147 9mm lead load makes PF and is so soft it ought to be against the rules. Those that can shoot really fast don't like waiting on the slide, but that's a problem I've yet to acquire.
 
ArGyLe64 said:
Speaking of, which 9mm weight is going to provide less recoil and which .45 ACP weight is going to provide less recoil?
Click to expand...

Bullet weight isn't the only part of the equat hombre, You need to factor in powder and weight and the OAL.

With the original topic in mind, I practice for competition. So i try and keep everything as close as possible. Same bullets/powder/weight for me. In all reality you are only talking a few dollars per thousand.
 
Gotcha. Thanks for the info. So heavier 9mm and lighter .45 bullets. I don't have the luxury of reloading.
 
Recoil is dependent on muzzle energy. The USPSA power factor equation does not equate to muzzle energy. The power factor formula gives a large advantage to heavy bullets. If there is a larger amount of muzzle energy, there is going to be a larger amount of recoil.

Muzzle energy = weight x velocity x velocity. Power factor is only weight x velocity. This makes velocity much less important and favors a heavier bullet.
 
Scott is on track with his post.
Recoil is dependent in a given pistol by the burn of the powder, the wt of the powder charge the wt of the bullet, the bearing surface of the bullet, the material of the bullet, the OAL and the crimp even.
Perceived recoil is subject to the person. That is why a hvy for caliber bullet with a fast powder feels soft and still makes PF. Depending on division one is shooting in they may need faster lighter bullet to work better for their comps. What one prefers is strictly up to them.
My practice bullets are my match bullets and vice versa to get back on topic.
 
CBR - I'd go ahead and shoot up your 115 gr bullets. Then, when you run out, just switch over to the 147 gr if that is what you like. My advice is to practice with a similiar pistol load to what you are going to shoot in matches. Timing of the pistol will be much easier.

Kalani
 
I noticed SGAmmo has some 147gr subsonic. Would these be good buy? I would be using them in my G26 for the conceal carry match at Heartland next weekend.
 
$11.95/box for 147gr. Cheapest I can find anywhere. Of course 115gr is always cheaper.
 
Most of your 147s are sub sonic but that term is misleading since it depends on the weather conditions. That stated I would only have to assume they would be okay. My match bullets run fine in my 26 and I am thrifty.
 
Kalani hit it on the head... its all about learning the timing of the pistol. I can shoot any bullet weight without difficulty, but some just feel a little better than others. Its shooter preference and sticking to one load is always the way to go.

Like he said shoot up the 115's then sample the 124, 125 and 147's... you will find a favorite
 
And simple math is ignored once again. I'm damn sure not a master or grand master shooter, but I know how to use a calculator.

If you are going to reload 9mm, shoot up all of your 115 gr bullets and start reloading 147's for practice and matches. It is going to be less recoil in any gun. Heavier bullets will make the same power factor with much less velocity.
 
147's definitely have more of a push feeling... some prefer the snap of a 124. Its shooters preference, not ignoring your math... its just all about the feel of the gun and being able to track the sights.
 
Sorry. I wasn't trying to be a jackass. I'm an engineer. Usually if the math works out, it translates to the same results on the range. The power factor formula definitely gives heavier bullets the advantage since you can make the same power factor with much less muzzle energy.

I currently shoot production with a 9mm, but I don't reload pistol. I'm about to switch to limited and begin reloading. If I stick with production much longer, I plan to begin reloading with the heavier bullets and see if it makes the difference the math says it will.
 
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