I see the ammo is out and available online but it seems pricey at ~$1/rd. Nothing on Youtube or feedback from any other forums yet. Has anyone bought or fired this round? Looking for some feedback/review before buying and replacing my 135gr Gold Dots.

Is there something unsatisfactory about the Gold Dot ammo?

I would only replace my present carry load if it were no longer produced and unavailable. I read too much about out-of-date bullet construction of the .38 load I use, even though it has a good "street history." So I simply stopped reading...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

The only downside I can see with the 135gr SB-GDHP is their frequent lack of availability, and even then one only has to wait at most a few months before retailers have them in stock again.

Personally, I have no interest in replacing my 135gr Gold Dots, which have a good track record in actual shootings, with a new round that has no such record. If ran out of my Gold Dots, I still have a box of Buffalo Bore's 158gr LSWCHP standard pressure load, as well as a few boxes of Federal 125gr Nyclad. FBI loads in general have a proven track record in actual shootings. Nyclads also have a reputation for performing well. If I ran out of all of that, I'd probably pick some version of the FBI load before something as unproven as the .38 Special HST.

Now, if you want to get some HST to try out, go for it. I just don't see a need to replace a proven carry load with an unproven one.

Slightly off topic tangent...Is anybody aware of any gel results with the new .38 HST? I did a quick Google search and found nothing.

I too scoured the interweb looking for this round. If anyone finds it, please, post it up. I want to try it out myself.
I currently have HST ammo in ALL of my handguns for home/personal protection. IMHO, it's about the BEST ammo out there for personal protection. I can only theorize about this because I have never had to use it in this capacity......YET.

FWIW, my HD gun is a Beretta 92FS loaded with 147gr HST. Good performance in gel as well as a good track record in actual shootings. It's on Doctor Roberts' recommended SD ammo list. It's hard to go wrong with either HST or Gold Dots in most calibers.

The .38 Special HST Micro load is just too new for me to have much interest in it. It doesn't necessarily need to be used extensively in real shootings (though that data would help), but I would like to at least see some gel results so I can see how it compares with proven loads.

I will be interested to see how the new round shakes out. Many of the HST products seem to perform well.

In 38 Special, I just don't see the need to switch from the 135 Gold Dots right now. Perhaps the exception would be for the Buffalo Bore "FBI Load". Both have an extensive, real world, history of actual use.

Gel tests can be a good data point if they are done as close to protocols as possible. Many/most seem not to do that. I carry HST in 40 and 45. Gold Dot in 9 and 38. I see no compelling reason to switch.

As to availability of the Speer? It took a couple of months of internet scouring to find them at a reasonable price (50 round boxes). They seem to come in batches. When I did find them, I bought much more than my immediate needs. I bought 2-3 hundred rounds. Now I'm set.

It could be that Federal will make a significant step forward in street performance. If it proves that over the next few years, I may adjust my thoughts. Time will tell.

I bought several boxes of 50 rounds in 180 gr & 165 gr .40 caliber HST from SGAmmo.com They also sell it in 500 & 1K round lots as well.

That's my go-to supplier as well. I'll usually tack on a couple of self defense boxes to a larger order of range fodder to mitigate shipping. With no sales tax, the shipping usually is a wash costwise. Fantastic pricing online.

That reminds me, they have S&B 45 ACP at $12.95 a box of 50. I need to order some more.