didn't like gold dot 155 gr.....

[cant shoot straight]

im no ammo expert for sure but picked up a box of gold dots 155 gr. today and ran 10 round's thru the m&p 40 c and it performed well but was much more accurate with the old winchester 180 gr. target loads..what would have caused it? i figured less recoil; better groups. maybe my gun just don't like them.

 

[JohnnieB]

I don't have a M&P40c or any other .40cal, but all guns share a common trait, that being they have individual likes and dislikes in ammo.
The ammo that works best in your gun may, or may not be, the best someone else's gun.
The trick is finding the ammo your gun likes best.

 

[remat457]

I shoot best with 180gr's in general too. Did you feel that the GD 155gr's had less recoil? I felt that they had a little more bark.

 

[OKFC05]

My BRN HP seems happiest with 165gr, but there is not all that much difference in accuracy with quality bullets in 165 and 180.
Your assumption about 155 gr full-power loads having less recoil than 180gr is not automatically true. Recoil is more related to energy(mass times vel times vel), and some of those lighter bullet loads rock out!
At the same power factor (momentum) for IDPA or USPSA, the heavier bullet going slower gves more manageable recoil impulse.

 

[markush]

I've tried the GD 155 and 180 in my M&P .40 along with most of the better known defensive rounds, HST, Ranger SXT, Golden Saber, and a couple others. It likes the Golden Sabers the best so that's what I keep it loaded with.

I've also tried the Gold Dots in 230gr .45 acp in my Les Baer and 250gr .45 LC in the Ruger. The Baer doesn't like them one bit and is the only round it will not feed reliably. Which is funny because it has never hiccuped with HST's. The Ruger tolerates them and is loaded with them since the defensive loadings for .45 LC are so limited.

In both the M&P and LB the Gold Dots seem to shoot softer then all the other defensive rounds that I have used in them.

 

[cant shoot straight]

i got some 155 grain hornady tap's and it didn't like them either.lol i went and loaded up with the old winchester 180 gr. practice ammo and put all 9 shots in the plate.i guess i look for some 180 gr. self defense ammo.

 

[R1_Demon]

Just as a side note, the .40S&W was originally designed around the 180gr bullet.

That doesn't mean that the 155gr or 165gr ammo won't work well. It does seem like a lot of people and places are suggesting the higher velocity 155gr/165gr rounds for the .40S&W. Personally, I stick with the 180gr rounds and have never had a problem. For target practice, I use Federal Champion 180gr rounds and for SD rounds I use the Federal 180gr HST's and I have previously used the CCI 180gr Gold Dots...used all of these in my 40c with no issues on feeding or printing on the target.

Plus, most times you have a snappier recoil on the higher velocity rounds (155gr & 165gr). I'm not sure why most people think that the lower the grain of bullet that the recoil is going to go down. Most times it's the opposite; at least if the velocity goes up.

That's just my take on it. Doesn't mean it's gospel or anything else. I've even shot Remington frangible 125gr .40S&W rounds (for CCW qualifying) out of the 40c & 4006 and the recoil had much more snap than with the 180gr rounds I normally use. I had no feeding issues with them, but personally I only used them because that particular range REQUIRED that ammo to be used. Normally I use 180gr in any of my .40S&W handguns (including my Model 4006) and have never had any feeding or shooting issues and it has always printed well on targets.

Hope this info helps you.
Mat

 

[Mule88]

Mine likes the 165 Gn GD. As mentioned each have there own likes and dislikes on bullet weight. Try different ones out and stick to what your gun likes.