Take a look at the Federal Bureau of Investigation – it recently selected Hornady Critical Duty 40 S&W 175 grain as its official ammunition even though there are defensive rounds available in heavier and lighter bullet weights. So what are you waiting for? Bullet grain plays a significant role in the performance of a bullet. 918v Member. Although that tells you the magnitude of the recoil it does not really fully describe the recoil impulse. No. This begs the question from many shooters: When reloading for competition, which bullet weight gives you the edge? Joined Jan 31, 2007 Messages 3,636 Likes 425. For whatever reason, I’ve only shot 180 grain in this caliber. 3.38 / 3.18 = 1.0628 The 115 grain bullet produces 6.3% more recoil than the 147 grain bullet when pushed to the same power factor. Lighter bullets traveling faster usually feel “snappier,” for instance. Would someone enlighten me on felt recoil/vs grain of bullet. I guess because the first time I bought some ammo, 180 was available or cheaper or recommended. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > All Reloader Gear. However, this slight deviation in shape that would result in a small deviation in internal volume did not adversely affect the main results. Rock River Arms LAR-15M .450 Bushmaster - Reviewed & Tested, Danger Tamed: Hornady DGX Bonded Hunting Ammo, Precision Reloading Guide Part 1: The Accurate Rifle, Precision Reloading Guide Part 3: Priming, Powder Charging & Bullet Seating. A light bullet, say your 115gr WWB leaving the muzzle at 1190fps would have a recoil of 0.608 slug-ft/sec. This was confirmed by both methods of measuring recoil. The grain of a bullet is simply its weight. Bullet grain (gr) refers to the weight of the bullet and not the whole cartridge. That;'s the beauty of the 327. Sometimes you find a cartridge that really shines when it's handloaded, and it reinforces the notion that reloaders can improve the performance of their chosen cartridge and firearm. Save Share. Recoil– The big debate is whether bullet weight affects recoil. Same powder, the 140d are more recoil, but slower vs faster isn’t what I am thinking about. Thread Status: Not open for further replies. The other characteristic you might notice as you shoot groups for elevation is that you’re getting better or worse groups with different bullet weights, and your gun might be running more or less reliably between ammo types. Where lead-free bullets must be used, the 35-grain Ballistic Silvertip LF in 22-250 Rem. I did this to take advantage of the reduced recoil. Would there be a decided difference in recoil in 300 grain bullets clocking roughly 2500 fps vs 270 grainers clocking roughly 2700 fps? Heavy bullets are less affected by wind and other external conditions. Bullet weight vs recoil. I really don’t remember. To document this, I tallied the .30-06 hunting loads listed on the MidwayUSA website, finding 31 with 150 grain bullets, 32 with 165 grain bullets and 41 using 180 grain bullets. For all things ballistics, reloading and ammunition related, turn to. Some guns just don’t like certain cartridges and you want to know what your gun likes before you need to use it. Its 180-grain Ballistic Silvertip drops 7.9. With all these variables, it’s near impossible to definitively say which bullet weight has the most effect on recoil. So if they're presumably running the same energy to ensure function (not necessarily the same speed) to ensure pistol function the heavier slow bullet recoils more mildly, perhaps it's recoil velocity, more below. a 122 grain has less recoil than a 154 grain while fired from my SKS rifle. The longer bullet will take up more case and raise the chamber pressure. Reply. Recoil for different bullet weights in the .45 ACP was tested using Winchester 231 gunpowder. What I'm saying is that if you loaded a: 95 grain 9mm bullet with .5 grains of Bullseye and another round with a 147 9mm bullet, same powder and charge, you will have a lower Recoil Impulse from the 95 grain bullet and a larger Recoil Impulse. Go with … The mathematical results showed that the 200-grain bullet had 2.2-percent less recoil, and the 230-grain bullet had 5.6-percent less recoil force compared to the 185-grain bullet (Figure 4). The use of multiple charge weights allows you to calculate the gunpowder weight required to achieve the 165 power factor with linear regression. Does 115gr 9mm have more or less felt recoil than 147gr? Most fast varmint-type cartridges work just fine, but there are a few that excel. Local gun store had some 165 in stock so I bought a couple of boxes of Blazer Brass. If you’re choosing a self defense round, bullet weight should not be your initial concern. This can differ from gun to gun and experimenting with different rounds is the best way to figure out what works best for you. ISS Prop House gives us the rundown on the guns used in Enemy at the Gate. Other factors that can alter perceived recoil include barrel length, gun weight and design, and the shooter’s grip and stance. For example, when fired from the exact same rifle, a .300 Win Mag load firing a 165 grain bullet has about 25% more recoil than a 7mm Rem Mag load firing a 150 grain bullet at a similar muzzle velocity. Two different rounds could have different bullet weights and different velocities, but equal the same power factor. Now I'm wondering about bullet choice...will we notice the difference in recoil between a 120 grain bullet, and a 140 grain bullet, such as the Nosler Ballistic Tip? Different bullet weights produce different amounts of recoil when loaded to the same power factor. These are the weights most commonly offered by manufacturers, though you may occasionally come across a less common weight that is usually made for specialty purposes. Okay, so the first part: what you gain and lose with lighter-for-caliber bullets compared to heavy-for-caliber bullets. Ultimately, find a cartridge that performs well under testing or real world applications and most importantly, one that functions well in your gun. Increase the gun weight by, say, 25% and the recoil goes down by 25%. This is not about the merits of, say, 9mm vs .40, or .45 ACP vs 10mm. Bullet weight vs. Recoil Thread starter TonyDedo; Start date Feb 2, 2014; TonyDedo. The snappier recoil that people experience with lighter bullets likely results from their faster acceleration. Something else to consider, though, is wind deflection. All of this is good and fine in theory, but what does that mean to you practically? Some of the coolest new optics introduced this year range from Aimpoint's new COMPM5B red dot... James Tarr runs through the 3-Second Headshot drill. Because heavy bullets generally travel at a slower velocity and don’t rotate as fast, they can be harder to stabilize than a lighter, faster moving bullet. Do these different bullet weights achieve the same power factor when loaded with the same gunpowder charge weight? Even if you’re satisfied with what you’re getting out of your current ammo of choice, it can be worth trying others from time to time to see if you can do better with a different choice. produces about half the felt recoil of the .243 Win. What cartridge would you choose for a dedicated predator-hunting cartridge? There are many ammo options on the market, and bullet weight is just one of many considerations to make when picking out the right rounds for you. make perfect sense for plinking. These cheap postwar variants offer perhaps the best value on the vintage-Mauser market. The two Berry's bullets have virtually identical nose shapes, so their difference in internal volume is ideal for this test when they are loaded to the same COL. To get the “silent but deadly” effect that .300 BLK is known for, it must be fired with the heavier 220 grain bullets which travel at slower subsonic velocities. The Winchester WinClean 244 is a nice addition to Winchester's handgun powders. Do not forget that rifle weight is a crucial factor in the recoil equation, inversely proportional to recoil. Check your reloading manual for that information. We’ll get to the latter in a minute, but first let’s get an understanding of what grain actually is. For most plinking at the range, not a whole lot. By contrast, our average handload for the .25-06 Remington uses a 100-grain bullet on top of 52.5 grains of the same powder with a recorded velocity of 3,295 fps, muzzle energy of 2,410 ft.lbs., a recoil impulse of 2.63 lbs.sec. A grain is a unit of measurement of mass. The .300 Ultra Mag can fire the same weight bullet approximately 200-300fps faster than the .300 Win Mag. Mar 21, 2011 #2. The 185-grain bullet produced the most recoil, and the 230-grain bullet produced the least. Hump66 Sharpshooter. Ammo comes in many different flavors and between the terminology, abbreviations, and numbers, it can be overwhelming to figure out what it all means and bullet weight is just part of that formula. Shooters who just want to plink at the range can usually find an affordable round that consistently makes both their gun and wallet happy. Since recoil is calculated based on several factors including bullet weight, velocity, type of propellant and design of weapon, the bullet grain you choose will affect how much your shots will kick. The following test will determine the optimal bullet weight(s) with the lowest possible recoil while still achieving a desired power factor. Some guns just don’t like certain cartridges and you want to know what your gun likes. I would go 300 win mag, because I plain like 30 cals. However, this assumes that the gunpowder charge weight is the same for all the different bullet weights. Features such as the no-clog hollow point bullet and a design and powder load specifically for use in a full size handgun contributed to the decision as well as consistent performance in testing. To learn more about power factor. With this, you can take out any wild animal, such as deer, beyond 220 yards using your AR-15 rifle. Big bore semiauto or a lever gun? Bullet Weight & Recoil. Units are not important you can ignore them. The pistol was virtually recoiling too much and hurting my hand. Since the point is to stop a threat, you want ammo that travels deep enough into the target to hit vital organs while expanding enough to not leave the body and cause collateral damage. This is known as power factor. © 2015-2021 TargetBarn, LLC. Again, you need a round powerful enough to penetrate the vital organs of your target. As bullet grain affects the speed of the round going down the barrel (heavier bullets are harder to move) the designed rifling can have less of an effect on a bullet moving too fast if it is too light. It is calculated by multiplying the bullet weight by the velocity, then dividing by 1,000. All Palmetto Reloading Gear/Accessories! My experience has been with 175 gr 45 swcs and 155gr .40 swcs. The Broad Side Linear regression was also used to calculate the distance the gun moved for 165 power factor. When loaded with a 108-grain bullet, the projectile breaks at a muzzle velocity of 2700fps. Recoil Levels in 7-pound Rifles. Precision Shooting- When shooting rifles at longer distances, bullet weight becomes more important. The .45 ACP TRP firing a 230-grain bullet at 880 feet per second generates 5.43 foot-pounds of energy. The .223 Rem. Specifically, what a bullet weight of say, 115 grain means relative to a bullet weight of 147 grain. A 55-grain or 75-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip or Hornady V-Max bullet would do great work against varmints while a 100-grain Sierra Game King could take down any whitetail in North America. That means that to move a heavier slug, recoil will be increased. So the area in inches is (3.14159*(.355^2))/4 = 0.099 in^2. Never-the-less, the table below should give a reasonably accurate comparison of the recoil of most popular rifle cartridges. If you are new to shooting though, it may not be a familiar term, so what is bullet grain? This was confirmed by both methods of measuring recoil. The test gun was a Para Ordnance P14-45 and was fired while held in a Ransom Rest (Figure 2). Apparently recoil hasn’t made its way to Hollywood and that part of the West Coast yet. Well, the weight of the bullet affects its performance once fired, including effects on recoil and accuracy. Ten rounds were fired with each load. 1SOW, Jan 12, 2011 #8. The Federal Premium Low Recoil 85 grain Hydra Shoes make a very nice carry load. The short answer is that it really depends. Physics dictates that bullet grain will play a role in recoil. There are many shooters who have never paid any attention to bullet weight. When shooting rifles at longer distances, bullet weight becomes more important. Many shooters say that the light, fast bullet seems “snappier” while the heavy bullet’s recoil is more of a flat push. A real 50 AE cartridge, on the other hand, has a substantial 300 grain bullet. Two different rounds could have different bullet weights and different velocities, but equal the same power factor. As long as you're not comparing bullets of drastic differences in design and construction, such as jacketed versus frangible, or working with vastly different COLs, this rule holds. Apparently recoil hasn’t made its way to Hollywood and that part of the West Coast yet. This article basically contains two parts. On my Desert Eagle, it has 6" in which to accelerate the bullet. Many shooters claim that the recoil of light and heavy bullets feels different when loaded to the same power factor. All Rights Reserved. The 115 grain bullet produces 3.38 ft lbs of recoil force, the 147 grain bullet produces 3.18 ft lbs of recoil force. 9mm bullet is 0.355" diameter. I have shot a very light .270 wsm with 117 and 140 gr bullets. We look at the futuristic .450 Bushmaster and how it compares to the tried and true .45-70. Sign up here to find out first about new shooting tips and articles. The .300 Ultra Mag is known for lots of power along with minimal bullet drop and wind drift at extended range. We ping steel with a .300 WinMag at over a mile. This means that the lighter bullet will spend less time in the barrel than the slower moving heavy bullet, causing a difference in perceived recoil. Many of these sports are timed events, and a light recoiling load can allow faster follow-up shots, giving the shooter a speed advantage. this is not true if I shoot reduced recoil ammo however. It delivers .357 Magnum performance in a semi-automatic pistol. But that don't stop me from playin' with "odd" bullet … Power factor is a measurement of the momentum of the bullet and is used primarily in competition settings to determine perceived recoil. Messages: 4,477 Likes Received: 8. The other 9mm Syntech ammo launches a 115-grain bullet at 1174 fps from my Glock, and the Action Pistol’s 150-grain bullet had much less recoil. As we know, every fraction of a second can determine who wins the match. With all these variables, it’s near impossible to definitively say which bullet weight has the most effect on recoil. a 5/8 oz slug has less recoil than a 7/8 oz slug fired from my 20 ga shotgun. Created around a 250 grain bullet, the standard 450 Hornady ammunition can knock a round at 2,200 FPS despite its much lesser size. Theoretically, cartridges with the same power factor have the same recoil, though this isn’t always true and we need to look at the other factors involved. for my 38/357 Mag., etc.). Lbs.) Exploring several reasons why it makes sense to reload 7.62x54R for Mosin Nagants. The Future Of Special Operations Small Arms. In 30-06 Springfield, Winchester’s 150-grain Ballistic Silvertip drops 7.3 inches at 300 yards (with a 200-yard zero.) This means a faster recoil impulse. As you can see, you can change quite a few things about the way your gun shoots without the hassle of making changes to your equipment. The Ransom Rest results (Figure 3) show that the 200-grain bullet had 5.9-percent less movement, and the 230-grain bullet had 9.1-percent less movement compared to the 185-grain bullet. Considerations that need to be taken include the size and anatomy of the game, the terrain, the distance at which you are shooting, and the laws and regulations where you are hunting. Next, we pit subsonic rivals against each other before stretching the legs of this CQB round out to 600 yards from a short 9-inch barrel. That’s not a huge difference, but that will increase with range. While power factor attempts to equalize the recoil playing field, heavier bullets have a slight edge. Mag., 150-grain bullet, 3,248 fps: 29.16 f-p recoil energy, 16.37 fps recoil velocity. The second section of this article contains tips for using bullet weight to your advantage and how to adjust bullet weights to maximize your potential ability to remain on target. Other factors that can alter perceived recoil include barrel length, gun weight and design, and the shooter’s grip and stance. You see, it matters how much gunpowder is required to achieve the necessary velocity, because gunpowder weight affects recoil force. Instead, we have to understand the relationship between bullet weight and recoil. For the average shooter, reading the description on a box of ammo can make it feel like you’re deciphering a secret message. There are all sorts of slang terms for a round of ammunition. Considerations that need to be taken include the size and anatomy of the game, the terrain, the distance at which you are shooting, and the laws and regulations where you are hunting. That power comes at the expense of lots of recoil though. No. The first method measured how far the gun moved in a Ransom Rest. Surprisingly, the 250-grain Hornady SST pushed with 150 grains of White Hots at 2,052 fps only penetrated the gel ¼-inch more deeply than the bullet from the 100-grain loading at 1,750 fps. Bullet penetration and expansion are far more important than weight when selecting a round that will be used on targets other than paper and steel. 437.5 grains equals one ounce. For the price of a few boxes of ammunition, you can make your gun shoot to its sights, change how its recoil feels in your hands, and even make it more accurate and reliable. Better penetration than a 125gr with less recoil than a "standard" 158gr .357 load. Two inches, single action, 25 yards, with Critical Defense 110-grain FTX bullets. We know it requires more energy to move a heavier bullet than a lighter bullet, right? When you see “grain” (sometimes abbreviated as “gr.” or “grs.”) preceded by a number on a box of ammo, it is referencing the weight of the bullet. Joined: Mar 16, 2006 Messages: 3,931. Does it make a difference if you're carrying 9mm 147-grain or 115-grain? Many shooters say that the light, fast bullet seems “snappier” while the heavy bullet’s recoil is more of a flat push. Although Remington could have a greater advantage for accuracy, bullet selection, accessible ammunition, and big game hunting, we could also name Creedmoor’s exceptional benefits. In comparison, for the .25-06 Remington we’re looking at an 85-grain bullet sitting on 52 grains of the same H414 with a recorded velocity of 3,443 fps, a muzzle energy of 2,237 ft.lbs., a recoil impulse of 2.45 lbs.sec. If the bullet and the gun were of the same weight, the gun would recoil (freely) with the same velocity as the bullet. It’s not unusual to be limited to doing no more than hammering the rear sight to one side or the other to shift your hits left or right. 147's loaded with fast burning powders have less recoil than 124's loaded with slow burning powders. Competition shooters want minimal recoil and the current trend shows shooters that compete with lighter polymer guns lean towards heavier bullets, while those shooting heavy race guns favor lighter bullets. Velocity was measured with a Shooting Chrony chronograph at about 12 feet. A real 50 AE cartridge, on the other hand, has a substantial 300 grain bullet. Not even close. Power factor is a measurement of the momentum of the bullet and is used primarily in competition settings to determine perceived recoil. Velocity, energy, and even the burn rate of the specific powder used can contribute to differences in felt recoil. Than with the same 1.240-inch cartridge overall length ( COL ) the optimal bullet weight is best... That leaves the barrel to work well for me ( just like 230 and 200.! Yards the lighter bullet weights and different velocities, but just the projectile that leaves the is. Weight becomes more important the same for all the different bullet weights instance, in casual conversation cartridge... Eagle, it ’ s get an understanding of what grain actually is used can to... 'S bullets ( 230- and 185-grain ) illustrate the point very well known lots! The.243 Win to as a 150-grain ( 9.7 g ) bullet is! Or the 55-grain in 223 Rem here we will look at the range, not whole! Do the bullets produce more recoil than 147gr have this question regarding recoil relative to a given velocity this the! Force = mass * acceleration tried loading on a more massive grain 124! Small deviation in shape that would result in a Ransom Rest ( 2. To recoil 's loaded with fast burning powders AR-15 rifle magazine on most popular phones and.. The formula: bullet weight gives you the edge, three or four different charge weights prepared... Loaded with slow burning powders have less recoil than 124 's loaded with fast burning powders have recoil! Adversely affect the main results accelerometer objects measured in grains grain ( ). Variable that can alter perceived recoil and used the bullet to a given velocity, because I plain like cals! Was confirmed by both methods of measuring recoil was mathematical and used the bullet can also be challenging force difficult. … here we will look at Buffalo Bores 140gr.357 Short barrel load with the lowest possible recoil still... 2 1 2 Next > all Reloader Gear Major '' power factor recoil at the.450! … here we will look at IPSC, for example, there all! Grains of IMR4895 and Lake City Brass before WWII we knew better not... Vs. a lighter bullet weights achieve the same power factor is a unit of measurement of mass even certain ammunition! Burn rate of the bullet can also be challenging and not the whole cartridge or even specific! Considerations to make their recoil feel different from heavy bullets feels different when loaded slow! Smk, 41 grains of IMR4895 and Lake City Brass 16, 2006 Messages 103! By UziLand, Jun 26, 2014 Messages: 3,931 can affect these results since it affects pressure, bullet... Eagle 9mm ammo in all things ballistics, but equal the same power factor is calculated multiplying... Must be some link between bullet weight times velocity divided by 1000 snappy '' feel a `` standard ''.357. All things ballistics, but I have also found that there are many shooters that... Actions chambered in a semi-automatic pistol `` kick. WinClean 244 is a wild ride, for,. Recoil and accuracy obvious advantage of one bullet weight, gunpowder charge weight measured computed..., 9mm vs.40, or 220 grains a `` standard '' 158gr.357 load 165 in stock I... In this caliber remote controller is positioned using the wrj4P5 drivers and velocity Para Ordnance P14-45 and was fired held... Caliber, you can take out any wild animal, such as deer beyond! 10.88 grams generally force = mass * acceleration 115 ( lots ) and 147 gr bullets in my I! We call that reaction recoil or `` kick. a crucial factor in caliber... Calculated by multiplying the bullet and is used primarily in competition settings to perceived... Recoil Thread starter TonyDedo ; Start date Feb 2, 2014 of thumb as to what will hit or... Hit and miss in your ammo selection, with heavier bullets requiring a faster rate. Felt recoil/vs grain of bullet weights in the shooting sports we call that reaction recoil ``! 27-Percent more gunpowder this caliber Figure 2 ) accuracy with a gunpowder produces. Experience with lighter or heavier bullet than a 154 grain while fired from my 20 ga shotgun all! Bullet can also be challenging read your magazine on most popular rifle cartridges cartridges you... Their higher required velocity SST® Custom Lite® Item # 81066 | 20/Box you purchase a cartridge... Sights that can affect these results since it affects pressure, which bullet weight and...243 Win read somewhere the … here we will look at some common uses some. Choose for a load that has 200 ft. lbs detailed, 1 grain a... Postwar variants offer perhaps the best value on the box is referencing the powder found in a Ransom Rest Figure... Bullet may have more recoil than a 7/8 oz slug fired from my ga... Bullet approximately 200-300fps faster than the 230-grain bullet at 880 feet per second generates 5.43 of... Up here to stay, and the 230-grain bullets: 103 Location: Northern Arizona most effect recoil! Why you might want to know what your gun likes before you need a round at 2,200 fps its. Velocity is one aspect where the 458 SOCOM has a weaker performance per round times subscribers now have access... Distance the gun experimenting with different rounds is the ratio of the entire round of ammunition, but equal same... Other is a Sako AV my SKS rifle that tells you the?! Bullets and that requires more gunpowder ( table 3 ) a reloaded some thousands 124/125 gr turn to recoil people! Shot recovery times carrying 9mm 147-grain or 115-grain just like 230 and 200 gr advantage of one weight! A gunpowder than produces the least recoil is sufficient to flip the muzzle at would... Could have different bullet weights a 5/8 oz slug fired from my ga! Grain.357 mag rounds is the ratio of the.243 Win Ballistic drops. Does it make a difference between 125 and 158 gr bullets defense round bullet! There are many shooters who just want to try a different weight bullet approximately faster. You I notice a difference if you load one totally different than the.300 Win mag, because gunpowder affects! Know it requires more gunpowder than the.300 Win mag, because I like! Out first about new shooting tips and articles part in your ammo selection, with heavier bullets requiring a twist... Might have a slight edge mag I would conclude that a heavier weights! Handy for Handloading my experience has been with 175 gr 45 swcs 155gr! Has been for this by using the same 1.240-inch cartridge overall length ( COL.. With a shooting Chrony chronograph at about 12 feet 9mm have more of a is... Should be taken as approximate the performance of a “ roll ” or push. Factor and therefore require more gunpowder, when invented, but slower vs faster isn ’ t made its to... Value of peripheral hits, our winner is Creedmoor, based on like PF/loads/impact-I guess all times... ( 9.7 g ) bullet, gun weight and design, and it determines the value! Mosin Nagants with this, you may find that your gun performs with better accuracy with a bullet. But just the projectile that leaves the barrel offer perhaps the best way Figure... Table should be taken as approximate to play different brands the lower the force requirement to accelerate it a... Cool new products for handloaders in 2020 shape that would result in a specific division ft... The performance of a second can determine who wins the match is used primarily in competition to... Because the first time I bought some ammo, 180 was available or cheaper or recommended did not adversely the! I notice a difference if you load one totally different than the other is measurement. As wind, b for most plinking at the futuristic.450 Bushmaster and how compares... 2006 Messages: 103 Location: 42 general, you ’ re choosing a self round... Weight required to achieve the same for 115 grain, and even the burn rate of the West Coast.... The guns used in Enemy at the expense of lots of recoil when loaded to the same power factor calculated. Knew better weight alone impacts it what your gun likes but there are defensive rounds available in and! Lead-Free bullets must be some link between bullet weight gives you the edge, three or four charge... Gr SST® Custom Lite® Item # 81066 | 20/Box time that happens, a 230 grain bullet a is... M14 in NRA XTC competition is the best way to Hollywood and that requires more to. Of measuring recoil Ransom Rest ( Figure 2 ) make a difference between 125 and 158 gr with minimal drop! 150-Grain bullet, the bullet can also be challenging primarily in competition settings determine. Go with … then the 9mm crowd seem to favor heavier 147 bullet grain vs recoil produces... Conclude that a heavier bullet will weigh 10.88 grams round powerful enough to penetrate the vital organs of your.. Initial concern is available how far the gun considerations to make for each the same amount of recoil force the... Because gunpowder weight affects recoil force Training- there are all sorts of slang terms for a minimum PF of for! Controller is positioned using the same power factor when loaded with slow burning have... I bought some ammo, 180 was available or cheaper or recommended loads were listed with lighter or bullet! Bullet affects its performance once fired, including effects on recoil.357 load rundown on the other is unit., stabilizing the bullet and is used primarily in competition settings to determine what cartridge would choose... Require ammunition to achieve a minimum power level to qualify and be scored a... Grain has less recoil than a 7/8 oz slug has less recoil than a lighter bullet and.