Of the 71-grain ball loads on this site, Federal American Eagle keeps the most velocity as the range opens up. It leaves the muzzle at 900 fps with 128 ft-lbs, then holds 847 fps and 113 ft-lbs at 50 yards and 800 fps and 101 ft-lbs at 100. Drop from a 25-yard zero is 2.4 inches at 50 yards and 16.4 inches at 100, the trajectory of a close-range pocket pistol. Recoil energy in the reference pistol is as low as any load in this group. The brass case is reloadable.

CCI Blazer 71 uses the same bullet and matches American Eagle at every checkpoint: 900 fps, 128 ft-lbs, identical velocity, energy and drop at 50 and 100 yards, identical recoil. PMC Bronze 71 also starts at 900 fps but sheds speed faster, trailing by 13 fps and 3 ft-lbs at 50 yards and dropping 0.4 inch more at 100. Winchester USA 71 is 5 fps faster at the muzzle with about 1 percent more recoil energy in the same pistol. Fiocchi Range Dynamics 73 is the one that feels different: 1,000 fps and about 27 percent more recoil energy than American Eagle.

This is the ball load to pick when you want the best downrange numbers among the 71-grain options. It is also a close recoil match for a 71-grain carry hollow point: Magtech's 71-grain JHP at 905 fps produces recoil energy within 1 percent of this load in the same pistol. Shooters at an indoor range that limits exposed lead should take CCI Blazer 71 instead, since its total metal jacket delivers the same 900 fps and 128 ft-lbs with a fully enclosed bullet. For the hottest ball option, Fiocchi Range Dynamics 73 is 100 fps faster at the muzzle.