Remington's UMC line pushes this 115-grain FMJ at 1,145 fps with 335 ft-lbs at the muzzle. That is a power factor of 132, over the 125 floor for USPSA minor and IDPA. From a 25-yard zero it sits 1.3 inches low at 50 yards and 10.1 inches low at 100, having slowed to 1,047 fps by the 50-yard line. In a 1.9-pound compact pistol it produces an estimated 4.0 ft-lbs of recoil energy.

Among the 115-grain ball loads on this site it lands in the middle. MaxxTech 115 is within 5 fps and matches its recoil almost exactly. Magtech Steel 115 runs 10 fps slower with about 2 percent less recoil energy, but its steel case is not reloadable. Federal American Eagle 115 goes the other way at 1,180 fps and 356 ft-lbs, about 5 percent more recoil in the same pistol. Drop at 50 yards is within half an inch across all of these loads, so none of them needs a different hold at pistol distances.

This is a training and practice load for full-size and compact 9mm pistols: drills, fundamentals and volume shooting. It is not a self-defense round; the FMJ bullet is built to hold together, not to open up. If you carry a 124-grain hollow point and want practice ammo that feels closer to it, Speer Lawman 124 is the nearer match in recoil. If you want a hollow point that shoots like this load, Hornady American Gunner 115 XTP leaves 10 fps faster with recoil within 2 percent. Federal Hi-Shok 115 +P+ is the other direction: 1,300 fps, 432 ft-lbs, and about 25 percent more recoil than the UMC.