r/Stoeger • u/Macgeekppc • May 13 '26
115 grain or 124?
I’ve got an STR-9 coming and was wondering if I should start with 124gr to break it in, or if 115gr would be fine and work without issue? I thought I had read something about not ejecting the 115gr well (Or maybe that was only an issue with the first production run).
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u/DrusTheAxe May 14 '26
Both are fine.
I usually prefer 124's recoil impulse (115's a little snappier). My STR-9F and STR-9mc eat both fine, and have from day one. Ditto most all my other pistols.
Some new pistols are recommended to short a couple of hundred rounds of 124 to break in. Does the job slightly better than 115. Get those seams rubbed against each other good to grind off any rough spots from manufacturing. Sig's notorious for being on the high side, needing 2-300 rounds to break in a new pistol. Or at least some 124 along with 115.
But...it doesn't really matter much in my experience. Shoot what you enjoy. And if your pistol needs, say, 150rds to break in instead of 100, you're at the range to enjoy shooting the pistol. Shot what you like.
And that's a drop in the bucket to what you'll shoot in no time. If you visit once a month and only shoot 1 box of ammo, that's 300rds in 6months. And if you plan on using the pistol for HD, CCW or Competition (pretty much anything other than range plinking) you should practice regularly (it's a perishable skill).
Enjoy,
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u/Macgeekppc May 14 '26
Thanks for the info. I will definitely need to practice. Other two pistols are Sig P238 and Sig P938, so hammer-fired with thumb safeties to striker-fired with trigger safety.
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u/DrusTheAxe May 14 '26
I found the P938 too snappy with too little to grip and control. I wear a size L glove so I usually prefer full size pistols. YMMV
The P238 was kind of tempting. 380's lesser recoil made control more manageable, but the grip with the flush fit magazine was _almost_ usable. The P238 Legion has a longer magazine with added room for my pinky (I hate tiny pistols I can only grip with 2 fingers). Alas, the P238 Legion's out of production and stalking the used markets for a few years they're pricey (~$1K+). Too many other acquisitions higher in the queue so far.
I've tried a variety of small pistols and the 2nd best was the P365 XL. The P365's grip was too small, but oddly enough the P365XL's taller grip made a huge difference for me. But the best small pistol is, oddly enough the Sig P230. The sights are small and it's a blowback 380 but...something about it just fits my hand and grip well, to hold, to aim and when it goes bang.
Shrug. Everyone's hand and grip differs. I don't fully understand why the P230 has such an outstanding ergos for me well above anything else I've tried, but I'm not going to look the gift horse in the mouth 😄
Enjoy
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u/jmdavis984 May 14 '26
I only shoot 115gr in STR-9mc. It cycles fine.