Standard Ammo or Short Barrel Variety?

[ColColt]

I was suppose to pick up my 457 today at the gun shop but it hadn't been checked in yet...whatever checked in means. The box was there and he brought it out but I couldn't get it yet...bummer.

I'm wondering with it's short barrel if I might be better suited to use Speer's Short Barrel ammo instead of my intended 200 gr GDHP? I don't know where the fall off point is between standard ammo and a 4-5 inch barrel and what's considered a short barrel unless it's less than 4 inches.

I'm sure somewhere this has been asked so if that's the case, just point me in the right direction.

After posting this, I realized I should have put it in the Ammo Forum...my bad.

 

[8th SPS USAF]

SB ammo

I called and talked to the guy who invented (?) the Speer Short bbl

ammo. He said it had better bullets and powder for short bbls. I carry

it in some of my 45acps. And my "J" frame.

8th

 

[Goffman]

I've been curious about this too. Glad to see the question asked. So, for example, how does hollowpoint for the Speer "short barrel" 40 cal differ from one of the other Speer "standard" 40 cal rounds? What about the 357s? Are the hollowpoints actually different in the "short barrel" versions? Love to see some pics, if anyone has them.

 

[Pioneer461]

By checking in, the gun dealer has to enter the gun info into his books, so the BATF&E will be happy if he is audited.

I too own and carry a 457, and had the same question. I carry Federal 200 gr. +P EFMJ as my carry ammo. I had an opportunity once to ask a Federal Ammo guy in person, if the bullets will perform as advertised from the shorter barrel, and he assured me they will. From my own unscientific tests, they seem to expand and penetrate as well from the 457 as they do when fired from my 1911a1.

 

[OKFC05]

Gold Dot Short Barrel®
No. Caliber Grains/Grams Description Count View Details
4020 9mm 90 / 5.83 380 Auto GDHP SB 100 Details >
4014 38 135 / 8.75 38 Spl/357 Mag GDHP SB 100 Details >
4401 40 180 / 11.66 40 S&W GDHP SB 100 Details >
4482 45 230 / 14.9 45 Auto GDHP SB 100 Details >

The Speer Gold Dot short barrel bullets have different stock numbers than the standard bullets.
Everything I've tried with them does exactly the same as their published tests, which is refreshing.

Note that the bullet for the .38 +P and the .357 SB are the same stock number.

 

[SMSgt]

Barrel less than 4" is considered a short barrel.

I've heard pros and cons as to whether there's really any difference between SBGDs and reg GDs. I have a box of 230 grn SBGDs for my G30 and also a box of Win PDX1s primarily for my 4566. But I'd use either in either. I don't think the BG on the receiving end will be able to tell me which I used.

 

[ColColt]

I ran across this on YouTube. It's the 40 S&W but you can get an idea. To me, the regular GDHP does better in the long and short barrel versions. Draw your own conclusions but, that's the way it looked to me from an expansion standpoint-penetration? That wasn't given.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5lSV2AxsEY