Speer loads the Lawman 115-grain with a total metal jacket bullet at 1,200 fps, producing 368 ft-lbs of energy and a power factor of 138. TMJ differs from ordinary FMJ in one way: the jacket covers the base of the bullet where a standard FMJ leaves lead exposed, and Speer's stated purpose is less airborne lead at indoor ranges. From a 25-yard zero the bullet sits 1.2 inches low at 50 yards and 9.0 inches low at 100, still moving at 1,098 fps at 50. In a 1.9-pound compact pistol the estimated recoil energy is 4.3 ft-lbs.

This is the fastest 115-grain load compared here. Winchester WIN9S is 10 fps behind at 1,190 fps with about 1 percent less recoil, and its steel case is magnetic and not reloadable. CCI Blazer Aluminum and Remington UMC leave the muzzle 55 fps slower at 1,145 fps and produce about 9 percent less recoil energy in the same pistol. The Lawman also has the least drop at 100 yards of this group at 9.0 inches, though at 50 yards every load here is within two tenths of an inch.

Buy this for indoor range sessions and speed drills, where a light, fast 115 keeps split times down and the covered bullet base is asked for or preferred. It runs about 10 percent stiffer than Hornady Critical Defense 115 FTX. If you shoot outdoors and want the softest 115 for a high-round-count day, Blazer Aluminum or Remington UMC cut recoil energy by about 9 percent. If you want practice at the 124-grain weight instead, Norma Range & Training 124 is the pick here at 4.9 ft-lbs of recoil energy.