Why reduced loads for Speer Gold dot bullets?
- Thread starter willy
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Alk8944
US Veteran
Probably because the Gold Dot seats a bit deeper in the case due to the large hollow-point compared to the RN bullet! This leaves a bit less powder space.
That sounds good,,so,I checked
Gold dot bullet = .659
Lead round nose=.665
Gold dot loaded round oal=1.200
Lead round nose round oal=1.265
Amount of bullet in case gold dot .541
Amount of bullet in case Lead rn. .595
So there is more powder space in case with gold dot.
So back to square one!
Bruce51
Well-known member
FWIW I tried both the Speer gold dot and a FMJ in a S&W 745 with 6 grains of Unique.
The Gold Dot was faster getting to 901 fps while the FMJ topped out at 864 fps
I believe the Gold dot has a longer bearing surface so some increase in pressure is expected.
A FMJ has a .260" straight side and the Gold Dot is around .350" Sounds like that may be the why the loads are different.
Bruce
The Gold Dot was faster getting to 901 fps while the FMJ topped out at 864 fps
I believe the Gold dot has a longer bearing surface so some increase in pressure is expected.
A FMJ has a .260" straight side and the Gold Dot is around .350" Sounds like that may be the why the loads are different.
Bruce
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Some times a load a little slower than factory FPS might be more accurate or
shoot at POA, in a certain pistol.
Eight years ago, I posted a workup on the 9mm Gold Dot bullet, that I did.
It was interesting how each powder did in the fps & POI departments, in this test.
Some times a 100% load is not needed, mostly when you have a 4 or 5" barrel on your pistol, that can take up some of the slack.
Here is what a 3.5" 9mm did in a test, quite a while ago.
Even though it is not a .45 ACP, you might get the idea of what a reduced load can, accomplish.
shoot at POA, in a certain pistol.
Eight years ago, I posted a workup on the 9mm Gold Dot bullet, that I did.
It was interesting how each powder did in the fps & POI departments, in this test.
Some times a 100% load is not needed, mostly when you have a 4 or 5" barrel on your pistol, that can take up some of the slack.
Here is what a 3.5" 9mm did in a test, quite a while ago.
Even though it is not a .45 ACP, you might get the idea of what a reduced load can, accomplish.
That is a good point I should have figured out after doing the measurement on both bullets
I believe you answered it for me ,,
Thanks
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Model19man
SWCA Member
It's all about accuracy rather than speed. You might be able to increase the speed but decrease the accuracy. Never a good idea.
I have tested a FMJ vs JHP in my pistol loads for many years
with the same OAL
the same amount of base, into the case
Low, medium and high fps
different burn rate and type powders
and after all these test, I still don't know what will make the "Best"
accuracy load, in all my pistols.
I just hate it when I go to the range and shoot a few loads with the same bullet
and my #1 choice, comes in 4th place.
Lead-vs-Coated-vs-Jacketed-vs-Plated velocities
Speer's Gold Dot bullets are part of their Uni-Cor family of electro-chemically bonded copper "jacketed" bullets, aka, expensive plated bullets.
Plated bullets perform a little different than traditional cup and core copper jacketed bullets.
They're not as ridge (so the flatten more easily under pressure) & they have more friction going down the barrel than a copper jacket bullet does.
I've never chrono tested any GD bullets & compared them to a JHP but I have tested enough plated -vs- jacketed bullets to know that the plated are always slower with the same weight bullet/profile/powder charge & COAL" -vs- a copper jacketed version.
More friction equals more pressure which is why they reduce the powder charge in the GD 45ACP loads.
Here's an excerpt from a related article showing the plated bullet was the slowest.
.
.
Speer's Gold Dot bullets are part of their Uni-Cor family of electro-chemically bonded copper "jacketed" bullets, aka, expensive plated bullets.
Plated bullets perform a little different than traditional cup and core copper jacketed bullets.
They're not as ridge (so the flatten more easily under pressure) & they have more friction going down the barrel than a copper jacket bullet does.
I've never chrono tested any GD bullets & compared them to a JHP but I have tested enough plated -vs- jacketed bullets to know that the plated are always slower with the same weight bullet/profile/powder charge & COAL" -vs- a copper jacketed version.
More friction equals more pressure which is why they reduce the powder charge in the GD 45ACP loads.
Here's an excerpt from a related article showing the plated bullet was the slowest.
.
.
pbcaster45
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Not really answering the question but here are some results with Power Pistol. I think the difference is bearing surface between the Gold Dot and RN.
Gun: Springfield Armory Trophy Match
Bullet: Speer 230 gr. Gold Dot HP
Powder: Alliant Power Pistol 7.4 grs.
Primer: Federal 150
Case: Winchester 45 ACP
LOAL: 1.200 – 1.205
Velocity: 959.04 fps
ES: 21.55
SD: 7.54
Recoil Spring: Wilson 16 lb. with Dawson Alumna Buffer Pad
Gun: S&W 625-8 Performance Center
Bullet: Speer 230 gr. Gold Dot HP
Powder: Alliant Power Pistol 7.4 grs.
Primer: Federal 150
Case: Winchester .45 ACP (with full moon clips)
LOAL: 1.200 – 1.205
Average Velocity: 910 fps
ES: 37
SD: 10
Gun: Springfield Armory Trophy Match
Bullet: Speer 230 gr. Gold Dot HP
Powder: Alliant Power Pistol 7.4 grs.
Primer: Federal 150
Case: Winchester 45 ACP
LOAL: 1.200 – 1.205
Velocity: 959.04 fps
ES: 21.55
SD: 7.54
Recoil Spring: Wilson 16 lb. with Dawson Alumna Buffer Pad
Gun: S&W 625-8 Performance Center
Bullet: Speer 230 gr. Gold Dot HP
Powder: Alliant Power Pistol 7.4 grs.
Primer: Federal 150
Case: Winchester .45 ACP (with full moon clips)
LOAL: 1.200 – 1.205
Average Velocity: 910 fps
ES: 37
SD: 10
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Transamconvert
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You're looking at the math backwards. 1.200-.659=.541 is the remaining length of case without bullet, not bullet in case. The gold dot seats about .06" deeper in the case than a round nose.
You might also mike the OD of the Gold Dots. I discovered that the GDs produced for use in .357 ammo that I purchased were a tad fat. Certainly within accepted specs, but not 0.357 in. IIRC, 0.3576 in and flatter primers than conventional JHPs with the same loads.
Tried your load of 6 grains of unique,
6 grains = 933 fps
5.8 gr. = 911 fps
5.6 gr. = 858 fps
Speer reloading manual #14 list 6 grain of unique as max for 806fps which is 100 fps less than both your and my loads,
Even though they tested with a 4.5” barrel
And I tested with a 5” barrel
So I tested the same 6 gr load in my 4” 4566 and got an average of 920 fps.
Bruce51
Well-known member
Well that looks pretty close to me as there are a lot of variables.
I run my FMJ bullets at 1.250" and I will assume that the GD was loaded at Speer's recommended 1.200"
My results were from the 90's when I tested everything I loaded.
Different powder lot, pistol, weather and OAL can make for some interesting data.
Bruce
I run my FMJ bullets at 1.250" and I will assume that the GD was loaded at Speer's recommended 1.200"
My results were from the 90's when I tested everything I loaded.
Different powder lot, pistol, weather and OAL can make for some interesting data.
Bruce
My idea....
Gold Dots are designed to expand at slightly lower velocities than 'typical' JHPs.
Gold Dots are designed to expand at slightly lower velocities than 'typical' JHPs.
