115 Grain Vs. 124 Grain 9mm Ammo: Know The Difference.
When searching for 9mm ammo, different grain options are available Butthetwo maingraintypesyouwillfindcommonlyare115grain&124grain.
Thecriticalthingtoknowforeverynewshooteris,“whatisthedifferencebetween 115GrainVs.124Grain9mmammo?
And the simple answer to this question is “different bullet weight.” But that is not enoughfornewshooters.
This post will share detailed information about the difference between 115-grain Vs. 124 Grain 9mm ammo. This will help you choose the suitable 9mm grain to buy.
Please check our previous posts, if you want to know about 9mm ballistics & differencebetween9mmJacketedHollowPointVsFullMetalJacket.
What Is A Bullet Grain?
In general, grain is a unit of measurement of mass. Grains are commonly used to measure the mass of bullets and propellants. For ammo, grainmeanstheweightof thebulletofacartridge.
The grain of a bullet refers to the weight of the projectile portion of the ammunition. It is a unit of measurement commonly used in the firearms industry, especiallyforsmallarmsammunitionsuchashandgunsandrifles.
One grain equals 1/7,000 of a pound or 1/437.5 of an ounce. Grain is not the weight of the entire round of ammunition, but just the projectile that leaves the barrel.
Different Types of 9mm Bullet Grains:
There are several types of 9mmbulletgrains(theweightofthebullet)availableon themarket,including:
1 115grain:Thisisacommonweightfor9mmbulletsandisoftenusedfor targetshootingandself-defense.Ithasamuzzlevelocityofaround1,200* feetpersecond.
2. 124grain:Thisweightisalsocommonandisoftenusedbylawenforcement agencies.Ithasaslightlyhighermuzzlevelocitythanthe115-grainbullet,at around1,150feetpersecond**.
3. 135grain:Thisisarelativelynewweightfor9mmbulletsexplicitly designedforself-defense.Ithasamuzzlevelocityofaround1,100*feetper second
4. 147grain:Thisweightisheavierthantheothertwoandisoftenusedfor suppressedfirearmsorshootingatlongerdistances.Ithasamuzzlevelocity ofaround1,000*feetpersecond.
The choice of bullet grain weight depends on thefirearm'sintendedtobeusedand the purpose with the shooter's preferences. Heavier bullets generally have more recoil and lower muzzle velocity, while lighter bulletshavelessandhighermuzzle velocity
Difference Between 9mm 115 Grain Vs 124 Grain?
Themaindifferencebetween115-grainVs 124-grain9mmammoistheweightof thebullet.Ingeneral,a124-grainbulletisheavierthana115-grainbullet,which meansithasmoremassandgenerallytravelsataslightlyslowervelocitythanthe 115-grainbullet.
Thiscanaffecttheperformanceoftheammunitioninafewways.
There isonlya9-grainweightdifferencebetweena115-grainand124-grainbullet. But the shooters will often prefer the 124 grain over 115 because there is less felt recoil,andtheycangetfollow-upshotsontargetquicker.
Because of the different bullet weights from the same manufacturers, you can see the differences in muzzle velocity. We are sharing the table below with the comparisonof2differentbulletweightsfromthesamemanufacturer.
The above table shows that the 115-grain 9mm rounds are light and fast, and the 124-grain9mmammoisheavyandslow.
115 Grain Vs. 124 Grain 9mm Ammo - Recoil Differences
Themostimportantdifferencebetween115grand124gristherecoil&recoil differencedependingonthegundesignorweight.
Becauseofhighweight&slowmovement,the124-grainroundshavelessfelt recoilthan115-grainrounds.
Asimplemethodcalculatestherecoildifferencebetweenthetwobulletweights. Tocalculatethepower,youneedtomultiplythebulletweight(ingrains) by muzzlespeed(fps)&thendividetheresultsby1,000.Bythisyouwillfindthatthe bulletorammowithahigherpowerfactorwillhavemorepowerorrecoil.
Letsshareanexampleofthisbyusingthesametable.Seehow thepowerfactors differbetween115-grainVs.124grain9mmammo:
So, we can say that every 124 grain round listed has a higher power factor than the 115 grain round.
115 Grain Vs. 124 Grain 9mm Ammo - Performance & Accuracy Differences
When comparing the accuracy of 115-grain and 124-grain bullets in firearms, it's important to note that several factors can influence accuracy, such as the specific firearm,ammunitionquality,shootingtechnique,andenvironmentalconditions. However, some differences between 115-grain and 124-grain bullets can affect theiraccuracy.Herearesomepotentialfactorstoconsider:
● Recoil:115-grainbulletstypicallygeneratelessrecoilthan124-grainbullets, whichcanmakethemeasiertoshootaccuratelyforsomepeople.
● Velocity:115-grainbulletstypicallytravelathighervelocitiesthan124-grain bullets, which can make them more accurate at longer ranges due to less dropandwinddrift.
● Bullet design: The design of the bullet can also play a role in accuracy. For example, some 124-grain bullets may be designed with a longer, more aerodynamic shape that helps them maintain velocityandaccuracyatlonger ranges.
Ultimately, the best way to determine which bullet weight is more accurate for a particular firearm is to test both types of ammunition and compare the results. Some firearms may perform better withoneweightoveranother,whileothersmay notshowasignificantdifferenceinaccuracybetweenthetwo.
115 Grain Vs. 124 Grain 9mm Ammo Uses
115-grain and 124-grain bullets can be used for various purposes, including self-defense, target shooting, and competition shooting. Here are some specific usesforeach:
Usesof115GrainBullets:
● Self-defense:115-grainbulletsareapopularchoiceforself-defensedueto theirhighervelocityandflattertrajectory.Thiscanhelpensureaccurate shotsinstressfulsituations.
● Targetshooting:115-grainbulletscanbeusedfortargetshootingduetotheir lighterweightandlowerrecoil.Theycanalsobecheaperthanheavier bullets,makingthemamoreeconomicaloptionforsomeshooters.
● Competitionshooting:115-grainbulletscanbeusedinsportsshooting, especiallyinexercisesthatrequirefastshootingandquicktransitions betweentargets.
Usesof124GrainBullets:
● Self-defense:124-grainbulletscanalsobeusedforself-defenseandare popularamongsomeshootersduetotheirslightlybetterpenetrationand ultimateballistics Theycanalsobemoreaccuratethanthe115-grainbullets foundinsomeweapons.
● Targetshooting:124-grainbulletscanbeusedfortargetshooting,especially formoreextended-rangeshootingwhereaheavierweightcanhelpmaintain accuracyatrange.
● Competitionshooting:124-grainbulletsareapopularchoice,especiallyon shootingcoursesrequiringmoreprecisionandaccuracy.
The choice between 115 grain and 124 grain bullets will depend on personal preference and the specific needs of theshooter.Bothcanbeeffectiveforavariety ofpurposesandcanbeusedinawiderangeoffirearms.
Final Words: What 9mm Grain Bullet is Best?
Inconclusion,thechoicebetween115grainVs.124grain9mmammunition ultimatelycomesdowntopersonalpreferenceandtheintendeduseofthe ammunition.Ingeneral,115grainbulletsarelighterandfaster.Thesetypesof bulletsareapopularchoicefortargetshootingandselfdefenseduetotheirhigher velocities
Ontheotherhand,124-grainbulletstendtobeslightlyheavierandslower,which canresultinslightlybetterpenetrationandterminalballistics.Theymayalsobe somewhatmoreaccurateinsomefirearms,makingthempopularforcompetition shooting.
It'simportanttochoose9mmammunitionthatyou'recomfortableshootingandthat meetsyourspecificneeds.Tryoutdifferentbulletweightsandseewhatworksbest foryouandyourfirearm.Withtherightammunition,youcanmaximizeyour accuracyandperformanceontherangeorinaself-defensesituation