Hot Brass Lower Recoil Ammunition
- Graham Baates
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
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We've shot a wide variety of ammunition at GBGuns over the past decade+ of What's For Dinner tests as a means of finding which loads do or don't work well with various firearms. That experience has also resulted in discovering that not all range ammunition is created equally; showing a range in energy created of over 30% in the range ammunition test series. While high energy levels are important for defensive ammunition, for practice and range high energy can mean more recoil.
Hot Brass has a new, lower recoil load of range ammunitions that, to me, presents an all-around friendlier experience to shooting. How can ammo be "friendly?"
Long 124gr projectiles for reliable feeding
Subsonic performance helps reduce noise
Reduced recoil to help develop shooting skills
Easy-to-open packaging
Classic guide to reading shots printed inside the box lid
Foam hearing protection included in every box
Set of target stickers included in every box
Now I know those more familiar with 9mm ammunition loads are wondering the same thing I did: Subsonic 124gr? Does it even run? Just how soft of a load can this be?
To get a feel for Hot Brass's ammunition I hit the range with a variety of handguns and the chronograph. The Mossberg MC2SC to represent the 3" micro compact guns, BRG Elite Gen 2 as a SAAMI-standard 4" gun and one with a stiff recoil assembly, Grand Power K100 Mk23 to make the test comporable to the massive 9mm range ammunition guide and 124gr range ammo tests done previously, and the Bersa M2XI to have a 5" hammer-fired gun for the ammo to run. You can watch the process in the video below and see comparison points beneath. Rumble Link
Test Results
Firearm | Average Velocity | Standard Deviation | Muzzle Energy |
3" Mossberg MC2SC | 993fps | 14.09 | 271 ft/lbs |
4" BRG9 Elite Gen 2 | 1049fps | 5.2 | 303 ft/lbs |
4.25" Grand Power K100 Mk23 | 1057fps | 9.23 | 308 ft/lbs |
5" Bersa M2XI | 1109fps | 7.6 | 339 ft/lbs |
As you can see, Hot Brass remained subsonic (at test altitude of about 300') even out of the 5" Bersa M2XI and was very consistent. Referencing other 124gr loads, Hot Brass is the softest and most consistent American-made 124gr load we've tested to date.
What good is it? I know at least some readers wonder if there's value for experienced shooters to use softer ammunition. I argue there is. Softer ammunition can help you break past training walls of speed and control and build the confidence and skills you need to accomplish the same feats with hotter ammunition. We KNOW speed and control are training goals of many shooters, otherwise compensators and ports wouldn't be as popular.
Regardless of shooter experience level there is something to be gained from shooting that is more realistic than dry fire, but doesn't deter or slow you down with obnoxious blast and recoil.
Where can you get some? Hot Brass ammunition is currently sold directly from Hot Brass along with a growing collection of functional athletic wear HERE.