[jddssc121]

Anybody have experience with these rounds? do they make a difference in 3.5 in barrels? or is it just designed for the 2" snubs...? I am debating them for my M&P compact in .40 (currently i carry the Federal HST in 180 grain )

[guninthewater]

Good question. I once asked the folks at Speer whether I should use their Short Barrel or standard Gold Dot loading for my 3-inch .38 Special, and I was advised to go with the Short Barrel version. I'd think that your 3.5-inch semiauto barrel is comparable to a 3-inch revolver barrel.

[Flopsy]

I fired them out of my Stoeger Cougar. I bought them accidentally not realizing they were for short barrels. I did not notice any difference in performance.

I guess I don't really know the difference in the ammo itself.

[GVMan]

I also emailed Speer about this with 9mm and here is their response that I posted in another thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=333813)

[vanilla_gorilla]

I've tried shooting the Short Barrel GDHB from a 4 and 6 inch barrelled .357 into jugs of water. Expansion was still fine, the bullet is bonded, so it did not come apart. I load them at times for all my .357s(4, 5 and 6 inch barrels).

[mavracer]

the 38+p SBGD from my 4" model 65 were going just under 1000 FPS which is about the same as they advertise from they're .357 SB load out of a 2".
BTW my 65 is kinda a ringer it always chronos on the high side.

[choochboost]

You can use the short barrel stuff if you want but your M&Pc will be fine with a standard load. Your pistol has a 3.5" barrel and .40 ammo is optimized for 4". Not a big deal at all.