147grain

147grain describes the weight of a single bullet, measured in grains. A grain is defined as 1/7000 of a pound or about 0.0648 grams, so 147 grains is roughly 9.53 grams or about 0.021 pounds. In ammunition terminology, 147 grain is a common bullet weight designation used to specify the mass of the projectile inside a cartridge.

The term is most often associated with 9x19mm Parabellum pistol ammunition, where 147-grain designs are favored for certain applications. Heavier bullets like 147 grains can be used in subsonic loads intended for suppressed firearms, because they typically produce lower velocities while maintaining momentum and penetration characteristics. They are also used in some standard or specialty loads that emphasize specific ballistic profiles, such as hollow-point or full-metal-jacket designs.

Ballistic performance for a 147-grain bullet varies with the cartridge, loading, and firearm. In 9mm, 147-grain bullets commonly run at subsonic or near-subsonic velocities, roughly in the 900 to 1,050 feet per second range, delivering approximately 320 to 360+ foot-pounds of energy depending on the load. Compared with lighter 115–124-grain bullets, the 147-grain design typically travels slower but preserves more momentum at longer ranges, influencing trajectory, recoil feel, and terminal performance.

While 147 grains is most closely associated with 9mm ammunition, bullet weights around this mass are used in other calibers as well, though this weight is less common in rifles and larger handgun cartridges.