I was speaking with them about three years ago, and about loaded ammo, not component bullets. Actually, the topic had to do with their .44 Spl load out of a 2.75" Model 69.
Question about Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo
- Thread starter frogg
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I was speaking with them about three years ago, and about loaded ammo, not component bullets. Actually, the topic had to do with their .44 Spl load out of a 2.75" Model 69.
Don't get lost in the velocity issue.
Check out the ballistics data for your ammo at:
luckygunner dot com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/
They even have your Speer ammo featured in a video.
Check out the ballistics data for your ammo at:
luckygunner dot com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/
They even have your Speer ammo featured in a video.
I have shot the 115 and 124gr Gold Dot factory ammo in a 3 & 3.5" 9mm pistol.
The 115 has a higher fps & Ft/lb in the 3" barrel than the 124 Gold Dot.
The 124 Gr bullet works better in the 3.5" barrel for best ft/lbs, over all.
A third option would be the Federal 147 gr. HST in these short barrel 9mm barrels
for a SD load that should work for you.
In the 38 Special department, lots of things can happen, to SD loads
due to the fps and design of the bullets used.
In my M49 38 J frame snub nose, the above can make or break a SD load.
A 110 gr Gold Dot needs 972fps out of a snub nose to expand and penetrate enough, to work properly.
A 125 gr Gold Dot at 836fps out of my revolver did not expand and could have been loaded a 2nd time , after passing through water jugs !!
The 135 Gold Dot worked well for me as did the "FBI" 158 Lead bullet by Remington and Federal.
My latest test with the Federal 130 gr. HST Micro load also passed with flying colors
with very good POA accuracy, low ES and very light recoil for a SD load
out of a J frame revolver.
The recoil of these SD loads, their POA, and how fast you can get back on target for a 2nd follow up shot, if needed, all needs to be taken in by the shooter, as to which load is the best for them to use.
It just takes time at the range and how you and your guns handle the ammo.
Good shooting.
The 115 has a higher fps & Ft/lb in the 3" barrel than the 124 Gold Dot.
The 124 Gr bullet works better in the 3.5" barrel for best ft/lbs, over all.
A third option would be the Federal 147 gr. HST in these short barrel 9mm barrels
for a SD load that should work for you.
In the 38 Special department, lots of things can happen, to SD loads
due to the fps and design of the bullets used.
In my M49 38 J frame snub nose, the above can make or break a SD load.
A 110 gr Gold Dot needs 972fps out of a snub nose to expand and penetrate enough, to work properly.
A 125 gr Gold Dot at 836fps out of my revolver did not expand and could have been loaded a 2nd time , after passing through water jugs !!
The 135 Gold Dot worked well for me as did the "FBI" 158 Lead bullet by Remington and Federal.
My latest test with the Federal 130 gr. HST Micro load also passed with flying colors
with very good POA accuracy, low ES and very light recoil for a SD load
out of a J frame revolver.
The recoil of these SD loads, their POA, and how fast you can get back on target for a 2nd follow up shot, if needed, all needs to be taken in by the shooter, as to which load is the best for them to use.
It just takes time at the range and how you and your guns handle the ammo.
Good shooting.
STORMINORMAN
Member
Ed: What load did you finally end up with on those 130gr Federal "micro"' HSTs?
Cheers!
Cheers!
I find it very difficult to believe grown people find the 9mm recoil too hard to handle!!
If you actually do then you may have to drop down to something less painful. Many people these days are changing over to .22 LR or .22 WMR. Both work well if you stick to head shots. When you consider your chances of NEEDING a self defense firearm are very slim simply have a gun, any gun.
If you actually do then you may have to drop down to something less painful. Many people these days are changing over to .22 LR or .22 WMR. Both work well if you stick to head shots. When you consider your chances of NEEDING a self defense firearm are very slim simply have a gun, any gun.
I can certainly see different skives and maybe thinner jackets on rounds that will have a lower velocity to still allow them to expand at lower speeds. Think 45 ACP in a pocket 3" 1911? I have one and I may need to roll my own.
Many years ago I brought a group of my friends to the range to try out their handguns and get the opportunity to shoot calibers up to 357 Magnum. One was a young lady, maybe weighed 90 pounds. She did great with 22LR and wanted to try a real caliber, so one of my friends had his Browning Hi-Power, loaded with white box 115 grain FMJ. She fired one shot and we grabbed the pistol as it came over her head. She went back to 22, had no interest in anything else, so they are out there.
Conversely, another friend with a 10mm Glock had trouble hitting his targets. His girlfriend asked to try it and she absolutely nailed every target. Everyone has their tolerance level.
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Speer Gold Dot 9mm ammo is very good - I have 5 or 6 boxes of both +P and Std. Vel. That said, I truly believe the Federal HST 124 grain std. vel. does edge out the Gold Dots a tad. I can only go by tests I've seen and articles I've read, but the HST usually comes out a 1/2 notch up on the Speer. I'm sure the Speer would do what it has to do, but as long as I have a choice, I go for the very best. To me that is the HST.
LVSteve
Member
Recoil is a funny thing. The first 9mm my wife fired was the big Star B Super. She said it was no trouble. Next range trip she tried a Star BM and hated it, but found the Ruger LC9s no trouble at all. Color me baffled.
Here is a picture of my finals.
Both load #29 & #30, were close to POA and above the minimum fps
that I wanted in this SD load as well as a low ES for a good load.
One test site stated that 800fps was needed to work in gel out of
the S&W revolver tested as did another test with the revolver and ammo being "Iced" and tested in 42* temperatures, into Gel.
With the deep seating of this bullet, into the 38 case, a crimp is
not, really needed but add if it makes you feel better.
Try both powders if you have them, both work well while load #30 has the best ES, if that matters, to you. (60% vol. )
Note;
The #29 load with Red Dot filled the case 75% with powder.
Good luck.
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STORMINORMAN
Member
Your final choices flat amaze me: I don't have ANY ONE of those four powders...!
I have, pistol-wise...
Bullseye, Longshot, Accurate #2, #5 & #7, WIN231, True Blue, Unique, 700X, 800X, AutoComp, Clays, CFE-Pistol & Universal. Even some IMR4227. None made your finals!
Who'd've thunk?
Cheers!
I have, pistol-wise...
Bullseye, Longshot, Accurate #2, #5 & #7, WIN231, True Blue, Unique, 700X, 800X, AutoComp, Clays, CFE-Pistol & Universal. Even some IMR4227. None made your finals!
Who'd've thunk?
Cheers!
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Your final choices flat amaze me: I don't have ANY ONE of those four powders...!
I have, pistol-wise...
Bullseye, Longshot, Accurate #2, #5 & #7, WIN231, True Blue, Unique, 700X, 800X, AutoComp, Clays & Universal. Even some IMR4227. None made your finals!
Who'd've thunk?
Cheers!
w231 at 4.2 grs of powder just made it to the 800 fps field of play but
it only had a 53% case volume, with the seated bullet, that I do not
feel comfortable using , in a SD loading.
A little more powder got me to 916fps, which was over the factory loading.
I also tried 4227, HS-6 and "Steel" with all the powders used, just to see what might work
with this new style of bullet, for the little 38 snub nose revolver.
With the long 38 & 357 cases, I feel better with loads that fill the case near 68% or more
for any serious loads, that I might use and a low ES is not a bad idea, either.
Even better if it is close to your POA !!
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Guys, this is the Ammo forum, not the Reloading forum. Lets try to stay on topic. The OP is asking about factory ammo.
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I have always found the difference between 115 and 124 grain FMJ ammo from the same manufacturer in terms of recoil is small. A lot of FMJ range ammo is loaded on the mild side. If you are comparing 115 grain FMJ range ammo to premium 124 grain +P ammo for self defense there will be a very noticeable difference in recoil.
If you are concerned about recoil look at the regular pressure ammo instead of +P. The +P variety is more powerful but only about 10% more powerful. Which helps but its not like going from a 38 Special to a 357 Magnum. More power is better than less all else being equal but comes at the cost of increased recoil.
Also try some 147 grain ammo. I have found in short barrels it has a little less recoil and muzzle blast which makes it easier to shoot well. That long bullet takes up so much room in the case it is loaded with smaller amounts of faster burning powder compared to lighter bullets. More of the powder is burned before the bullet leaves the barrel where it does nothing but create muzzle blast and recoil. A lot of the time you will see "short barrel" ammo loaded with heavy bullets for this reason.
STORMINORMAN
Member
Maybe this thread ought to be moved to the Reloading forum...?
At least 25 others have posted to it without complaint: wonder if the OP still has any interest?
Cheers!
At least 25 others have posted to it without complaint: wonder if the OP still has any interest?
Cheers!
I'm sorry.
I was doing fine until I was "Bushwhacked" after my #23 posting.
I was doing fine until I was "Bushwhacked" after my #23 posting.
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