What’s the Best 9mm Bullet Weight? | Gun Talk Radio

[@robertwest4299]

I’m brand new to ported barrels. It is harder than I ever thought to figure out what grain I should use.

[@Narsuitus]

For me, I shoot 147 grain ammo in my 9mm handguns because I occasionally use a noise suppressor. For personal protection, I rely on the following jacketed hollow point ammunition: Federal HST Speer Gold Dot Hornaday XTP Which one I buy depends on which one is available locally.

[@txhuntsman]

Awesome show y'all. Looking forward to that Buc-ees's giveaway!

[@02BLACKTAWS6]

Wouldn't a heavier bullet produce more energy? Federal offers 150 grain for small pistols.

[@polaris6644]

A heavier bullet travelling at the same speed as a lighter bullet will. Typically the heavier rounds are somewhat slower, as it takes more powder to move them at a similar velocity. Typically, if you want a jump from something like 124gr up to 147gr in 9mm with the same velocity, I believe you'd need a +P load. I may be wrong in statistics, but that's the principal.

[@TheExplosiveGuy]

There are also considerations for chamber pressure and case capacity, when you go with heavier projectiles the bullet has to be seated deeper in the case because the bullet is longer, which ends up taking up more case volume, in turn reducing the amount of powder you can use. On top of that, making the bullet heavier increases chamber pressure which also limits the amount of powder that can be used. It's my opinion that a 150 grain bullet in 9mm is only useful as a subsonic load, 125gr projectiles are able to make much more energy. Those super hot +P+ Buffalo Bore rounds that make just short of 600 ft-lbs (basically the peak of 9mm performance) use 124 grain hollowpoints because it's the best combination of bullet weight, case/powder capacity and chamber pressure, it's basically a balancing act to maximize performance.

[@02BLACKTAWS6]

I've been educated, my friends. Thank you!

[@u45.-]

No it wouldn't with a big 150 grain projectile you'd lose cartridge capacity for gun powder. This is the thing gun powder is what gives the projectile energy. If you have less powder you have less energy.

[@Johnny-tq9no]

9mm has plenty of capacity with modern powder that's why you can still have +p+​@@u45.-

[@Mango-h5h]

Literally same decision I’m inbetween rn