125gr bullets vs 105gr

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

We’ve been using 125gr for years. I won 1000 105gr in a raffle.

Whats the difference when shooting them? Pistol or rifle. 
We Started with 158gr and later switched to 125gr. I couldn’t tell any difference. 
Would I notice no difference again?

[Doc Nelson #19958]

My wife appreciates the difference between 125 and 105. She also says in the rifle she cant tell. 

Doc Nelson

[watab kid]

in my humble opp=inion , there is very little difference , a little felt recoil depending on what you load , there will be a lot of opinions on this and i stand willing to hear all as well as consider all adjustments that might add to my enjoyment here because i know there are many here that have far mnore experience with this bullet - i shoot more 45s than 38s , 

 

however , its the loading that may give you motre pause , the OAL of your completed cartridge needs to run in your rifle as well as your revolvers - unless you load seperately for each , i dont i run one single setup and never worry if ive got enough orthe right ones at the loading table , 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Rifle, no. You won’t notice much difference. Pistols, I think you will. But put it on the clock. Time yourself shooting 50-100 rounds of 125 gr. Then the same amount of 105 gr. 

[Lawdog Dago Dom]

Just tried this a few days ago.

 

5 105s in one pistol

 

5 125s in another

 

Told her to fire each gun and tell me which one felt different recoil wise. I did not tell her which gun had which bullets.

 

She said they felt the same.

 

YMMV

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I'd be more interested in knowing what the POI difference is between the two, if any?

[Boggus Deal #64218]

12 minutes ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said:

I'd be more interested in knowing what the POI difference is between the two, if any?

At typical cowboy distances?

[Captain Bill Burt]

I won some 105s a while back. I couldn’t tell the difference from 125s. I only ran them in pistols because I didn’t want to have to deal with any needed OAL tweaks.

Edited December 7, 2025 by Captain Bill Burt

[Rye Miles #13621]

9 hours ago, watab kid said:

in my humble opp=inion , there is very little difference , a little felt recoil depending on what you load , there will be a lot of opinions on this and i stand willing to hear all as well as consider all adjustments that might add to my enjoyment here because i know there are many here that have far mnore experience with this bullet - i shoot more 45s than 38s , 

 

however , its the loading that may give you motre pause , the OAL of your completed cartridge needs to run in your rifle as well as your revolvers - unless you load seperately for each , i dont i run one single setup and never worry if ive got enough orthe right ones at the loading table , 

This^^^^^^

[Preacherman]

There is not much difference. Perceived recoil is relative to the power factor. If the gun weight were the same, a 105g @ 650'/sec = 68.25 power factor, the same as 125g @ 526'/sec or a 160g 45 @ 427'/sec. People think 32s are whimpy, but a 90g @ 775'/sec = a 69.75 power factor and more powerful than the previous. So you can shoot light bullets fast or heavier bullets slower with the same result. Chronograph your ammo so that you know what you're shooting. Have fun!

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

1 hour ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

At typical cowboy distances?

Yes, say 7 - 10 yards

[Boggus Deal #64218]

23 minutes ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said:

Yes, say 7 - 10 yards

You mean feet, right? Not yards?

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

I shot .38s for a lot of years.  Back and fourth between 125Gr and 105Gr Truncated Cone.  I really couldn't tell much if any difference in felt recoil between them.  Both bullets crimp groove resulted in identical overall length so both ran in pistol and rifle without adjustment.

 

I now shoot .45s with 130Gr Barnstormer bullets and they recoil the same as a 125Gr .38, so in essence, it's a moot point.

 

I see typical "cowboy" distance as 7 to 10 yard as well and when your hauling boogie your not shooting groups at all.  As long as you're getting "minute of Pie Plate" yer gold!!

[Choctaw Jack]

Being a .45 shooter, I don't have any practical shooting experience with.38s ,but I have noticed that some of the pards I shoot with that shoot .38s have trouble with knockdowns (mostly plate racks) using the 105s.

A near 20% increase in weight seems to make an appreciable difference.

Of course,YMMV.

Choctaw

Edited December 7, 2025 by Choctaw Jack
Left out a word

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

47 minutes ago, Choctaw Jack said:

Being a .45 shooter, I don't have any practical shooting experience with.38s ,but I have noticed that some of the pards I shoot with that shoot .38s have trouble with knockdowns (mostly plate racks) using the 105s.

A near 20% increase in weight seems to make an appreciable difference.

Of course,YMMV.

Choctaw

Many carry a box of full-power 158 grain loads for knockdown targets.  Any hit in the upper half of a plate knocks it over.

[Sedalia Dave]

4 hours ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said:

Yes, say 7 - 10 yards

 

I havet see a 7 yard pistol target since I joined SASS.

 

 

See them all the time in NCOWS but never SASS

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

I shot 125, 130, 145, and 147s for years then I, for whatever the reason prize  or  curiosity, I tried 105s.  For revolvers I did feel some felt recoil difference even in 105 vs 125.  When another shooter came into my life 10 years ago, Sassy Boots, I thought best idea was to stick with the combo.  I also switched to same combo in BP but with difference colors of course.  Prices continue to go up on bullets and the need of extra hump for knockdowns seem to have gone away.  So, I have decided in last few weeks to go 105s straight across.  Yes, two colors for sure.  I have felt that perhaps 125s ran better in rifle but OAL and shape in my choices remained the same.  Time will tell soon if Sassy notices difference.  It will make things simpler for my loading and $$.  I reload with all same except bullet weight.  That is same everything primer, charge, and setter adj.  Only concern to me now is that revolver load makes PF.  I believe there are many who have no idea as to their PF but just that their load shoots well and maybe if used by "so-n-so" so must be right.  (Sorry, PF could be a whole different thread.)   With my tests of accuracy and PF I think 105s will be fine with Clays & Clay Dot as well as BP load.  More time in practice and matches will tell in recoil is satisfactory and rifle feeding is acceptable.  Jacking out live rounds might be on increase I'm thinking, maybe not.

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

6 hours ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said:

I'd be more interested in knowing what the POI difference is between the two, if any?

I think you will find at our differences there will be tiny to none.  

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

16 hours ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said:

We’ve been using 125gr for years. I won 1000 105gr in a raffle.

Whats the difference when shooting them? Pistol or rifle. 
We Started with 158gr and later switched to 125gr. I couldn’t tell any difference. 
Would I notice no difference again?

You and Angel will like the change.  Just check OAL for feeding and charge for PF.

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

16 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

I havet see a 7 yard pistol target since I joined SASS.

 

 

See them all the time in NCOWS but never SASS

Not unusual at the clubs where I shoot.

[Dirty Dog Doug]

i clicked the wrong box and got some 105 grain  the work great for light pistol loads but are too short

 for the right  overall lenght  of 357 our 73 like 

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

2 hours ago, Dirty Dog Doug said:

i clicked the wrong box and got some 105 grain  the work great for light pistol loads but are too short

 for the right  overall lenght  of 357 our 73 like 

DDD,

Are your running OAL shorter than 1.45"? Truncated bullet?

[Boggus Deal #64218]

3 hours ago, Dirty Dog Doug said:

i clicked the wrong box and got some 105 grain  the work great for light pistol loads but are too short

 for the right  overall lenght  of 357 our 73 like 

I’ve used 105 gr in 73s for 15 years. You just seat them to the length your rifles like. I feel a difference if they’re less than 1.55” long. They will run as short as 1.45” but are smoother a touch longer.

[MBFields]

I run 105 bear creek coated and 127 badmans rnfp in pistols and rifles at 1.46 and never an issue with rifles. There is a noticable difference between them. The 127 do give a bit harder kick. Loaded with 2.8-3 of clays or clay dot.

[Dirty Dog Doug]

I loaded a bunch in 38 s  way to short for  rifle but  pistol loves them \

for rifle I use 130 in 357 brass 

[Griff]

105s...125s...  maybe y'all need to make due w/77s!  Pure lead round balls pushed by real black powder and lit by #10 Remington caps will make you rethink what challenge really means.  I've never met a KD that can't be taken down.  Just like in life... aim a little higher... 😜  Life needn't be lived entirely in the fast lane!

[Max Payne]

Ophelia Payne & I shot 125's for 2 or 3 years, then switched to 105's around 2013 or 2014. We've shot some 125's a few times since. The 105's make me feel better because they're a little more pointy, & psychologically make me think they should have an advantage in feeding in the rifle. But, I really can't tell the difference.