Magtech loads this 147-grain subsonic with a flat-nose FMJ bullet at 990 fps for 320 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and a power factor of 146. The flat meplat is built to cut clean, round holes in paper. At 990 fps it stays below the 1,125 fps speed of sound, so a suppressed pistol gets no sonic crack. From a 25-yard zero the bullet is 1.8 inches low at 50 yards and 12.9 inches low at 100, still moving 944 fps at 50. In a 1.9-pound compact pistol it produces an estimated 5.1 ft-lbs of recoil energy.

It is the fastest 147-grain ball load here. CCI Speer Lawman 147 TMJ leaves at 985 fps, 5 fps slower, with recoil within 1 percent of the Magtech in the same pistol. PMC Bronze 147 runs 975 fps with about 2 percent less recoil energy. Armscor 147 is the soft end at 850 fps, 140 fps slower, with about 22 percent less recoil; it drops 17.6 inches at 100 yards against 12.9 for the Magtech.

Suppressor owners and bullseye shooters are the audience for this load. IDPA and USPSA shooters clear minor with over 20 points of margin. Test a magazine first, because the flat nose can hang up on steep feed ramps. If your pistol is picky about feeding, PMC Bronze 147 or CCI Speer Lawman 147 offer a round nose within 15 fps of this load. If you want a carry load with the same feel, Federal HST 147 JHP leaves at 1,000 fps with about 2 percent more recoil. For the softest heavy load, Fiocchi 158-grain at 850 fps gives about 10 percent less recoil, and Armscor 147 about 22 percent less at a power factor of exactly 125.