I will say yes, but can't say that I've tested it.

There are videos out there where someone shows the recoil differences from different cartridges. It's usually a side view of the pistol against a grid.

I tend to go for the heavier, but slower, 124gr 9mm bullets (HSTs), but I've never compared them to the 115s.

For the carry gun, it's always 230gr HSTs. The .45 has more "push", the 9mm has more "snap".

 

One discussion I read, which seems to make sense, is that the lighter bullet requires more powder, and more powder produces more gas which "adds to the weight of matter being ejected from the barrel (bullet plus gas)", which means more recoil. Also the lighter bullet spends less time in the barrel which means a faster impulse and a bit more muzzle rise. The discussion went on to mention several other factors: grip, overall cartridge length, crimp.

 

Felt recoil is so awfully subjective that it is hard to say. Compounded by the wide variety of loads.

I'm not really in tune enough with my pistol to say that I can even tell the difference between 115, 124 and 147.

I certainly couldn't pick up a 9mm, shoot it and say "oh yeah, that was definitely 115 grain, standard pressure" or "oh that's a 147 grain +P"

From what I've read, written by those who shoot more than me, 147 grain can be tuned for the lowest felt recoil on most pistol systems.

My verdict? "If you say so"

I like shooting 115 for practice, 124 for business.

 

I’ve no measurements to prove this but I always feel quick “jumps” from 115gr and slow “pushes” from 147gr. I believe it’s because 115gr are loaded hotter in order to achieve the equivalent power factor as 147gr. As such, I’ve always liked to shoot 147gr than 115gr.

 

115s are a snap and 147s are a push. But it all comes down to the system you are shooting. Competiton shooters will find the most accurate load with the best recoil. I am working on that right now with my new PDP SF Match. I shot 10s of thousands of 147s out of Berettas and Glocks. Go to bullet weight for those barrels. The new Walther is really liking 135s. 1911 9 mms seem to prefer 124s. My personal experience, not stating it will be yours.

 

"Two bullets of different weights are fired from the same gun at the same velocity, the heavier of the two bullets will produce more recoil."

There is a lot more to felt recoil as this article reveals... NRA Women | Handguns 101: Understanding Felt Recoil

Genitron lists recoil effect for handguns... Walther Model PDP 9 mm Variant-1

 

I don't think most folks shoot different bullet weights at the same velocity. Factory ammo certainty is different FPS /Grain of bullet. Folks that reload try and find a sweet spot for the bullet they are shooting.

 

For self defense I can’t imagine it matters at all. Pick a credible round and ensure it cycles and POA/POI isn’t vastly different. I tend to think the faster bullet is louder indoors than the 147’s but solid data is lacking. Back in the late 90’s if I carried a 9 it was almost always with +P+ Remington 115, which was an issued round for subguns. Now it seems a good bonded 147 seems to be the most widely used in law enforcement.

 

Buy a box all three.
Which ever one is more accurate and faster to get back to target faster with, go with that.
Pray you only practice with it.

 

Me thinks "felt" is nonsense. Regardless of what it "feels" like, 147 is more powerful and harder to control. Like a bucking bronco.

 

Subjective? Sure. Hard to actually tell the difference? I'd agree, too.

Nonsensical? I have a different view.

Once you start looking at the math, there is definitely a difference.

Take HST
147 grains at 1000FPS makes ~326 ft lbs of energy.
124 grains at 1150FPS makes ~364 ft lbs of energy

 

The feel Really depends on the gun. 115 in some guns will feel unpleasant and 124 will feel smooth. The inverse can be true as well. I often have varying grains because I buy the cheapest CPR at any given time and I try some of each in different guns at the range. I usually bring at least 3 pistols with me when I go and it’s surprising how lower grains can “feel” stronger in some guns and heavier grains can in others. My Steyr M9 particularly feels lighter in recoil the heavier the round, FWIW

I wonder if felt recoil depends on what the gun in question was originally designed for (.40 S&W, etc..)

 

Found this -

 

I'm going to try some 135 and 147 grain based on everyone's comments here. I'm also going to switch out the medium backstrap for the large. My PDP compact 4 came with the small backstrap installed and that was a non-starter with my large hands. I understand some people install and aftermarket metal backstrap to add weight to the gun. Maybe that softens the recoil somewhat.

 

Subjective? Sure. Hard to actually tell the difference? I'd agree, too.

Nonsensical? I have a different view.

Once you start looking at the math, there is definitely a difference.

Take HST
147 grains at 1000FPS makes ~326 ft lbs of energy.
124 grains at 1150FPS makes ~364 ft lbs of energy

Point taken. I obviously just have a personal bias against 147's for some reason. I

Subjective? Sure. Hard to actually tell the difference? I'd agree, too.

Nonsensical? I have a different view.

Once you start looking at the math, there is definitely a difference.

Take HST
147 grains at 1000FPS makes ~326 ft lbs of energy.
124 grains at 1150FPS makes ~364 ft lbs of energy

Point taken. Just a personal bias against 147's, apparently.

 

Point taken. I obviously just have a personal bias against 147's for some reason. I

Point taken. Just a personal bias against 147's, apparently.

When 147jhp first came out, they did not have a great reputation.

Over time, the bullets and loads have gotten a lot better. The 147jhps, now perform well and are pretty popular with law enforcement.

 

This article has a ton of info with comparisons of performance for many popular (and not so popular) defense cartridges in numerous calibers -

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

 

Short answer....yes.While subjective, and relative to different loadings from various manufactures, felt recoil seems more with the lighter weight projectiles.That is my experience.

 

Muzzle energy, regardless of the bullet grain (weight), would relate most to felt recoil.

Also, lighter grain bullets tend to feel more snappy while heavier grain bullets feel more pushy.

Side note. My daily carry is a Sig P365 with Federal HST Micro 150 grain ammo. Extremely manageable, low recoil yet excellent defensive ballistics. Hornady Critical Defense Lite and Sig 365 V Crown (Micro) are equally very controllable recoil rounds, particularly when under duress, with acceptable defensive ballistics.

I personally train with inexpensive 115gr or 124gr ammo from a reliable manufacturer that has muzzle energy around 325 to 340 ft-lbs which is more energy than my defensive rounds.

 

I took the Pepsi challenge awhile back, 147 felt the same as 115 through my Hellcat.

 

For 9mm, I tend to stick with middle-of-the-road 124 gr target and JHP defensive rounds, unless I find a really good deal on 115gr. target ammo that I can't refuse. I can't say I've noticed much of a difference. I rarely ever shoot 147gr - not against it, just never found a particularly compelling reason to try it, when my trusted 124gr rounds will do the same thing.

As for 'felt recoil' - they all feel pretty much the same to me. I mean, jeez - it's just 9mm after all.

 

I agree with previous poster who opined the 115’s feel snappier than 147’s which has been my experience when loading both to meet USPSA minor power factor. In several blind tests, I found the recoil pulse generated by the 147’s seems to last longer but is somewhat gentler. I doubt it makes much difference in the grand scheme of things. Reliability trumps all other considerations.

 

Funny you should ask. Had a longtime itch for a 9mm S&W Centennial, to go with its twin in .38Spl. Finally tracked one down on Gunbroker.
Being clear here, have an older, small frame .38 Centennial, which is what was used for the 940 as well. The guns are essentially the same weight, though the 9 has a slightly thicker barrel.
Took the 940 to the range, with my standard 1100'sec 115 reloads, and was amazed at the recoil; it was downright snappy. The steel Centennial, with .38 Special loads, isn't nearly as harsh.
Sooooo, I loaded some 147 gr 9mms, at @ 800'sec, and they, not surprisingly, felt about the same as .38 Special 140s in the other pistol.
So, in some arguably objective ways, yes, lighter bullet 9mms have a sharper recoil impulse than heavier bullet versions.
Moon

 

1100 vs 800 is a big dif...

 

A 147 gr bullet at 1100 would be one angry handful.
The 800'sec is about where 152 gr .38 loads live, especially in a snub. There's always a tradeoff between throw weight and velocity.
Moon

 

There's also real recoil energy vs perceived recoil. I find that especially for new shooters, the amount of blast and flash affects their perception. For that reason, among several others, I think +P and +P+ are not good choices.

If you are using a compensator, that's different as the extra gas helps drive the compensator more effectively.

 

I find that especially for new shooters, the amount of blast and flash affects their perception

While I'm several eons from 'rookiedom', the flash and blast of .357s has dampened my enthusiasm for the caliber.
It does add to the perceived recoil.
BTW, for a reminder of what pistol recoil feels like to newbies, fire your carry piece one-handed, weak handed.
Moon

 

I have had newbies tell me that an AR 556 has massive recoil after they shot one at an indoor range. I take them outdoors and they are confused. Then I put them on a 16" 308 bolt gun. Additionally, they usually have poor Hearing Pro so blast and concussion does affect perceived recoil. I have had to shoot an AR from inside a barrel and that rings your bell so for my clubs sanctioned match this fall , you will be shooting your pistol at a few targets from inside a barrel