Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Ammo
o

Notices

Ammo All Ammo Discussions Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-30-2016, 06:29 PM
Cal44 Cal44 is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Northern California
Posts: 3,568
Likes: 5,473
Liked 6,418 Times in 1,861 Posts
Default Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot

I just ordered a couple boxes of Speer standard pressure 38 special Gold Dot.

I figured it would be a good load for older Airweight Revolvers like my M37.

125 gr.

I think it is part of their law enforcement line, but will sell to the general public.

Anyone have any experience with this load?

These days the 38+P short barrel 135 gr has turned into unobtainium.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-30-2016, 06:54 PM
QED QED is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 152
Likes: 2
Liked 81 Times in 48 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal44 View Post
I just ordered a couple boxes of Speer standard pressure 38 special Gold Dot.

I figured it would be a good load for older Airweight Revolvers like my M37.

125 gr.

I think it is part of their law enforcement line, but will sell to the general public.

Anyone have any experience with this load?

These days the 38+P short barrel 135 gr has turned into unobtainium.
According to Speer this round has MV of 865 fps from a 4" barrel; from a snub it's probably sub 800 fps and probably won't expand with heavy clothing barrier and will likely penetrate less than 12" in bare gel. Terminally it's in .380 ACP category...
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 10-05-2016, 01:51 AM
jimbo728's Avatar
jimbo728 jimbo728 is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 8,671
Liked 3,497 Times in 1,342 Posts
Default

In close, which is the most likely scenario, a 790 fps Gold Dot 125 gr
bullet should do a pretty good job. Better recoil control afforded by the lighter load means a quick hit with a second shot would be even better.
Sounds like a wise choice for an Airweight.
Jim
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-05-2016, 11:55 PM
ArchAngelCD's Avatar
ArchAngelCD ArchAngelCD is offline
Moderator
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeast PA, USA
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 1,029
Liked 5,070 Times in 2,660 Posts
Default

I prefer the 135gr Short Barrel +P load in a short barrel revolver. The bullet was specifically designed to reliably expand at the lower velocities associated with a short barrel and it's very accurate in all the revolvers I've used it in.
__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #5  
Old 10-06-2016, 12:12 AM
QED QED is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 152
Likes: 2
Liked 81 Times in 48 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD View Post
I prefer the 135gr Short Barrel +P load in a short barrel revolver. The bullet was specifically designed to reliably expand at the lower velocities associated with a short barrel and it's very accurate in all the revolvers I've used it in.
That's generally true with 4LD or heavy clothing barrier if impact velocity is at least 850 fps or so.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-06-2016, 01:19 AM
hlwjr1947 hlwjr1947 is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 63
Likes: 7
Liked 23 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Try SG Ammo, they have it now and then.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-06-2016, 04:56 AM
chief38's Avatar
chief38 chief38 is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,759
Likes: 7,836
Liked 25,615 Times in 8,661 Posts
Default

As of this moment SG ammo says they DO have it in stock!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-08-2016, 09:48 PM
Nevada Ed's Avatar
Nevada Ed Nevada Ed is online now
US Veteran
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Reno Nv
Posts: 13,376
Likes: 3,183
Liked 12,712 Times in 5,669 Posts
Default

The 135 GD was designed with 7 petals and 800 fps to open up.

The 125gr GD should have just 6 petals and is designed for higher speeds of 905fps or more to open up, due to a heavier copper jacket wall.

My test with the 125gr bullet in my J frame had to reach a K frame pressure to expand c/o 935 fps.
My load with a 2" J frame is at 880 fps with a MV of 215 ft/lbs.

Have fun.


Last edited by Nevada Ed; 10-09-2016 at 08:37 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-08-2016, 10:36 PM
hsmith9491 hsmith9491 is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: S East Pennsylvania
Posts: 408
Likes: 3,061
Liked 291 Times in 110 Posts
Default

sgammo.com often has 135 gr short barrel, you can give them your phone number and they will text you when in stock. 50 round box at a good price.

Last edited by hsmith9491; 10-08-2016 at 10:39 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-08-2016, 11:06 PM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 20,362
Likes: 24,260
Liked 16,154 Times in 7,408 Posts
Default

I don't see a lot of hope for expansion and may not even deep penetration with a std. pressure Gold Dot. It probably is better than a RN lead bullet.

I'd avoid Gold Dot at that velocity and buy another brand, if possible.

I do very much like Plus P Gold Dot. But I use the 125 grain only in four - inch or longer barrels. I do not use the 135 grain in longer than four-inch barrels.

One poster here needs to learn to spell, "petals.", not "pedals."
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-09-2016, 12:35 AM
Cal44 Cal44 is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Northern California
Posts: 3,568
Likes: 5,473
Liked 6,418 Times in 1,861 Posts
Default

There is a test out there with the 125 38+P gold dot from a 1 7/8" barrel (LCR 38).

Pocket Guns and Gear: Speer Gold Dot 38 Special +P 125 Grain GDHP Terminal Test

The bullet achieves 900 fps and expands nicely to .55" and penetrates 12".

Surprisingly, at least this one test shows the 125 Gold Dot 38+P is just as good a short barrel round as the 135 everyone talks about.

I wonder what velocity the standard pressure 125 gold dot achieves.

Perhaps 800 fps or so????

Will it expand? Don't know and can't find any gel tests or even chrono data for short barrels.

The general consensus on this thread seems to be the standard pressure load is pretty useless, but I'd like to see someone test it.

The 110 gr standard pressure Critical Defense is probably better and there is lots of test data available.

The standard pressure 125 gr buffalo bore 38 special load achieves 921 fps from a 2" barrel so it probably would be a good choice if you want a JHP a bit heavier than 110 gr.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-09-2016, 10:37 AM
Brasky Brasky is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 665
Likes: 171
Liked 665 Times in 281 Posts
Default

If the round you are choosing doesn't even achieve 12" in gel you are better off with a non-expanding projectile IMO. A .357 diameter hole through the vitals is way better than a .50" hole stuck in the flesh.

The loads my wife carries in her 637 are standard velocity and usually an older jhp design as they will achieve farther penetration due to less expansion
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #13  
Old 10-09-2016, 11:36 AM
QED QED is offline
Member
Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot Speer Standard Pressure 38 Special Gold Dot  
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 152
Likes: 2
Liked 81 Times in 48 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal44 View Post
There is a test out there with the 125 38+P gold dot from a 1 7/8" barrel (LCR 38).

Pocket Guns and Gear: Speer Gold Dot 38 Special +P 125 Grain GDHP Terminal Test

The bullet achieves 900 fps and expands nicely to .55" and penetrates 12".

Surprisingly, at least this one test shows the 125 Gold Dot 38+P is just as good a short barrel round as the 135 everyone talks about.

I wonder what velocity the standard pressure 125 gold dot achieves.

Perhaps 800 fps or so????

Will it expand? Don't know and can't find any gel tests or even chrono data for short barrels.

The general consensus on this thread seems to be the standard pressure load is pretty useless, but I'd like to see someone test it.

The 110 gr standard pressure Critical Defense is probably better and there is lots of test data available.

The standard pressure 125 gr buffalo bore 38 special load achieves 921 fps from a 2" barrel so it probably would be a good choice if you want a JHP a bit heavier than 110 gr.
Apples and oranges. An expanded 125 grain GD @ 900 fps through TWO layers of denim AND Sim-Test material in no way implies that such or similar GD @ 800 fps (or less) shot through heavy clothing or 4 LD and 10% ordnance gel would expand at all. Not at all. Unless it tumbles, it's got the effectiveness of an FMJ.

Last edited by QED; 10-09-2016 at 11:42 AM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
320gr. .44 Special standard pressure? Andy Griffith Reloading 16 07-22-2018 08:33 PM
FS or Trade: Speer Gold Dot .38 Special +P JR78 Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 2 05-01-2014 04:35 PM
Buffalo Bore standard pressure .38 Special? shouldazagged S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 9 03-24-2013 06:57 PM
Standard Pressure CCI-Speer 38 Special 125gr Gold Dot BreakerDan Ammo 1 01-01-2010 06:50 PM
Speer .44 special gold dot SNW REV Reloading 10 04-11-2009 05:44 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:53 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)