Difference between 124 grain and 147 grain?

[CompactCroatian]

I am wanting to order some Federal HST hollowpoints for my new XD9 SC and I notice there are 2 different grain types, 124 and 147. As I am new to the world of firearms,(this is my first gun of any type) I am not sure how big of a difference there will be between these to grain numbers. I read somewhere that the higher the grain number, the higher the velocity the bullet will leave the barrel at. Is this true? And if so, will the higher velocity of the 147 grain cause a noticeable amount of increased recoil in my 3" SC?

Sorry for my noobishness

[Sport45]

Difference between 124 grain and 147 grain?

23 grains.

Actually the heavier 147gr bullet will have less muzzle velocity than the 124gr bullet. There probably won't be a real significant difference in recoil but I'm just guessing because I've never shot either of them. Conventional wisdom says to use lighter bullets in shorter barrels. They are probably also about equally effective so the one you want is the one that feeds the most reliably in your gun.

A grain is a unit of weight and 7000 of them is a pound.

I haven't looked but Federal probably has a web page that lists their tested velocity for these rounds.

[Cuda66]

Originally Posted by Sport45

23 grains.

Actually the heavier 147gr bullet will have less muzzle velocity than the 124gr bullet. There probably won't be a real significant difference in recoil but I'm just guessing because I've never shot either of them. Conventional wisdom says to use lighter bullets in shorter barrels. They are probably also about equally effective so the one you want is the one that feeds the most reliably in your gun.

A grain is a unit of weight and 7000 of them is a pound.

I haven't looked but Federal probably has a web page that lists their tested velocity for these rounds.

Once again, conventional wisdom is wrong.

The 147gr rounds are a better choice in shorter barrels; the heavier bullets tend to lose less velocity when fired out of a shorter barrel, and a heavier bullet also tends to have better penetration than a lighter bullet.

I've never really experienced any noticable difference between 147gr and 124gr non+P rounds, even in my G26. However, if recoil is serious consideration (for things such as arthritis, etc), the 147gr round will, all things being equal, have slightly greater recoil.

[*Klutch*]

Originally Posted by Cuda66

Once again, conventional wisdom is wrong.

The 147gr rounds are a better choice in shorter barrels; the heavier bullets tend to lose less velocity when fired out of a shorter barrel, and a heavier bullet also tends to have better penetration than a lighter bullet.

I've never really experienced any noticable difference between 147gr and 124gr non+P rounds, even in my G26. However, if recoil is serious consideration (for things such as arthritis, etc), the 147gr round will, all things being equal, have slightly greater recoil.

+1 The 147gr would be a better choice because of the 3" barrel. If you can get some 124gr+P they would do the job also but they will pack more punch than the 147gr. In the aire of noob +P= plus Pressure, and that means more recoil but they are not that bad. My only 9mm is a Beretta 92fs and I have both Speer GDGP 147gr and Winchester PDX-1 124+P.

[Mercmar]

Originally Posted by Cuda66

Once again, conventional wisdom is wrong.

The 147gr rounds are a better choice in shorter barrels; the heavier bullets tend to lose less velocity when fired out of a shorter barrel, and a heavier bullet also tends to have better penetration than a lighter bullet.

I've never really experienced any noticable difference between 147gr and 124gr non+P rounds, even in my G26. However, if recoil is serious consideration (for things such as arthritis, etc), the 147gr round will, all things being equal, have slightly greater recoil.

Don't know about "conventional wisdom", but I do know that lighter bullets are better for shorter barrels in handguns. Heavier bullets don't penetrate better, unless they've had a chance to achieve whatever velocity they penetrate best at...and that ain't from a short barrel.

[hotpig]

Back in the olden days lighter bullets were needed in shorter barrels. Thanks to modern technology ammo like the Ranger, Gold Dot short barrel and HST are not as velocity dependent as older ammo designs.

You need to try both to see if you and your gun likes them.

[pleasantguywhopacksAXD]

Originally Posted by CompactCroatian

I am wanting to order some Federal HST hollowpoints for my new XD9 SC and I notice there are 2 different grain types, 124 and 147. As I am new to the world of firearms,(this is my first gun of any type) I am not sure how big of a difference there will be between these to grain numbers. I read somewhere that the higher the grain number, the higher the velocity the bullet will leave the barrel at. Is this true? And if so, will the higher velocity of the 147 grain cause a noticeable amount of increased recoil in my 3" SC?

Sorry for my noobishness

I shoot them in my 9sc and they expand perfectly. The recoil is slightly more than 119 FMJ. You won't notice it really when the time comes to use it in a SD shooting. Point of impact may rise a bit as in my experience is the nature of going heavier.
147 HST's are designed differently than the old style 147 gr. They will expand at lower velocities. Good round.

This is one from my testing through 4 layers of denim into water jugs. No plugging of the HP cavity. I'm going to do some gell testing this spring.

[AZXD]

Originally Posted by Mercmar

Don't know about "conventional wisdom", but I do know that lighter bullets are better for shorter barrels in handguns. Heavier bullets don't penetrate better, unless they've had a chance to achieve whatever velocity they penetrate best at...and that ain't from a short barrel.

Have either of you consider the physics side of everything remaining the same, except projectile weight ??

The heavier bullet will be accelerated more slowely slowly, thus allowing for a more complete burn to occur in the shorter barrel, while a lighter bullet will be accelerated more quickly and thus might not provide for a complete powder burn in a given length of barrel.

Because of this, it is my opinion that there is no correct answer concerning which weight of bullet will work best with a given barrel length.

However, if a proper burn rate powder is added to the equation ... Complete powder burn, and thus maximum efficiency will be acheived for a given length of barrel.

Fast burn = Short barrel
Slow burn = Long barrel

At least, that is how I understand things to be.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by AZXD

Have either of you consider the physics side of everything remaining the same, except projectile weight ??

The heavier bullet will be accelerated more slowely slowly, thus allowing for a more complete burn to occur in the shorter barrel, while a lighter bullet will be accelerated more quickly and thus might not provide for a complete powder burn in a given length of barrel.

Because of this, it is my opinion that there is no correct answer concerning which weight of bullet will work best with a given barrel length.

However, if a proper burn rate powder is added to the equation ... Complete powder burn, and thus maximum efficiency will be acheived for a given length of barrel.

Fast burn = Short barrel
Slow burn = Long barrel

At least, that is how I understand things to be.

True, but you will always achieve the highest vel. w/ the lighter bullets at max pressures. You may lose less going w/ a 147gr, but the lighter bullets will still leave the shorter bbl going faster. That means a better chance for expansion. I wouldn't want to bet on any 147gr to do well @ 850fps or so, about where std. pressure loads will be in a 3" bbl. Maybe the HSt, maybe the RangerT, but not others. You'll still get 1050fps+ w/ a 124gr+P load & better chance of expansion. Recoil, it's all subjective. I don't think a 9mm in any flavor recoils much. PRobably because I shoot a lot of heavier recoiling rounds like 45acp & 44mag, so any 9mm is light recoiling to me, even in the little G26.
FBI gel tests: Interpretation of FBI gelatin tests These are all from 4" bbls. Expect less vel. from your 3"bbl.

[AKSpraya]

well yesterday I was hunting and after shooting a deer with my muzzleloader I had to shoot the deer again after 10min of waiting for it to die I figured I would put it out of its misery so it wouldn't suffer anymore then it had to I fired 2 rounds (124grn +P Fed HST) from my XD9sc right behind the shoulder it took to breaths and died anyway after skinning it and quartering it I found the 2 HST's right behind the shoulder on the opposite side of the animal so if human skin and bones are anything like a deer I am defenitly confident with the penatration of the 124grn +P HST