Magtech's steel-cased 115-grain FMJ is the slowest of the six 115-grain ball loads in this comparison, at 1,135 fps with 329 ft-lbs. Power factor is just over 130, above the 125 minor floor. From a 25-yard zero it drops 1.4 inches at 50 yards and 10.4 inches at 100, still moving about 1,034 fps at 50. Estimated recoil energy in a 1.9-pound compact pistol is 3.9 ft-lbs, the lowest in the group.

PMC Bronze and Wolf Performance are rated 1,150 fps, ZSR 1,148, and CCI Blazer Brass 1,145: 10 to 15 fps faster than the Magtech, 6 to 9 ft-lbs more at the muzzle, and about 2 percent more estimated recoil energy in the same pistol, gaps too small to notice. Winchester WIN9S is the clear step up at 1,190 fps and 362 ft-lbs, 55 fps and 33 ft-lbs ahead of the Magtech with about 9 percent more recoil energy. Drop at 50 yards is 1.2 to 1.4 inches across all six, so holds do not change at pistol distances; at 100 yards the Winchester is 0.9 inch flatter than the Magtech and the rest fall within 0.3 inch of it.

This is a high-volume practice load for shooters whose range allows steel cases and who want the softest-shooting 115 in the group; its 3.9 ft-lbs of estimated recoil is the easiest on a new shooter. If your range refuses steel, ZSR and PMC Bronze are the nearest brass-cased loads at 13 and 15 fps faster. If your pistol has a stiff recoil spring or you shoot steel plates, Winchester WIN9S adds 55 fps and 33 ft-lbs. Shooters who want a subsonic load for a suppressor should look at Speer Lawman 147-grain instead, at 985 fps with about 29 percent more estimated recoil energy.