Of the six 115-grain ball loads in this comparison, Magtech's brass-cased FMJ is the slowest and the softest. It leaves the muzzle at 1,135 fps with 329 ft-lbs, a power factor just over 130 that still clears the 125 minor floor for USPSA and IDPA. From a 25-yard zero it drops 1.4 inches at 50 yards and 10.4 inches at 100, and it is moving about 1,034 fps at 50. Estimated recoil energy in a 1.9-pound compact pistol is 3.9 ft-lbs.

CCI Blazer Brass 115 and ZSR 115 are the nearest neighbors, 10 and 13 fps faster with about 2 percent more recoil energy, too little to feel. Winchester 115 and Fiocchi Training Dynamics are the mid-speed picks at 1,190 and 1,200 fps, 55 to 65 fps ahead of the Magtech with about 9 to 10 percent more estimated recoil. Sellier & Bellot 115 tops the group at 1,280 fps and 418 ft-lbs, 145 fps faster with about 23 percent more recoil energy in the same pistol. Drop at 50 yards runs from 1.1 inches for the Sellier & Bellot to 1.4 for the Magtech, a spread of 0.3 inch; at 100 yards the spread opens to 1.7 inches.

This is the load to pick when low recoil is the point: a new shooter, a lightweight subcompact, or a long session where fatigue shows up in the groups. If you want a practice load closer to the feel of a full-power carry round, Winchester 115 or Fiocchi Training Dynamics adds 55 to 65 fps and about 9 to 10 percent more recoil. If steel plates or a pistol with a heavy recoil spring are the concern, Sellier & Bellot 115 delivers 89 ft-lbs more at the muzzle and 40 ft-lbs more at 50 yards.