Speer Gold Dot 38+p ammo question

TSW Guy

Member
Joined
May 13, 2007
Messages
25
Reaction score
2
Location
Queens, NYC
I just bought 300 rds of 135 gr. +p gdhp stock #53921. Is this SB ammo and if not will it still work at optimum levels with a 3" Model 13?
 
Register to hide this ad
I just bought 300 rds of 135 gr. +p gdhp stock #53921. Is this SB ammo and if not will it still work at optimum levels with a 3" Model 13?
 
My wife has a M64 3" with that exact load as her Go to gun.
that is to say "It's good enough for me"
(i try not to piss her off)
Regards,
Rich
 
If it's 135 gr. rather than 125 gr., it's the short barrel stuff. Larger, easier opening hollow point than the other stuff.

About 850-900 fps from a true snubbie and probably a little over 900 for a 3" barrel.

They load the same bullet in the .357 mag. for short barrels. It is slightly "overdriven" in the magnum case. But it still works pretty good. I don't use the round in magnum because I like bullets that are not "overdriven" even if they are bonded core bullets.

In a 3" .38 special, I would think this ammo is pretty close to ideal. Can't think of anything better for a .38 with 4" or under barrel.

In a .357 magnum short barrel gun - I can think of a couple better.
 
DPX is a more reliable expander in .38 +P. The Speer SB .38 +P choked on heavy fabric in my test. The 135 gr. SB bullet expanded beautifully through heavy cloth when fired from my 1 7/8" 360 PD through heavy cloth in it's .357 incarnation. It also performed perfectly when launched from a 4" 586 into bare Perma-Gel. That bullet is not IMO "overdriven" in it's .357 loading.
 
The #53921 is just the 50 round box of the 20 round #23921 ammo. It's still packaged in those 50 round boxes to bring the cost down somewhat for police departments.

If it's a 135gr bullet it's a SB bullet because all the 135gr Gold Dot bullets are for SB ammo. That bullet was specifically designed to expand at velocities of as little as 800 fps. (as opposed to most .357" jacketed bullets being designed for .357 Magnum velocities)
 
Back
Top