Shot the 442 and 640 pro today. The 442 is still 100% as always. Shot Gold dot 135 grain .38 +P from the 442 as well as .38 + P 110 grain DPX. For now my personal preference is to keep the 442 loaded with the DPX.
The 640 has been an interesting journey for me. I wanted to do a thorough test on it today after a) getting the firing pin replaced by s&w; b)losing the sear spring, dislodging the hand torsion spring, replacing and refitting them and tightening it back up.
To test the 640 for defense purposes, I wanted to make sure it would perform today with no FTF's regardless of brand.
The following rounds were fired in various quantities:
Speer Gold Dot 158 grain .357 magnum,
Speer Gold Dot 135 grain .38 + P
Corbon DPX 110 grain. 38 + P
Corbon DPX 125 grain .357 magnum
Corbon Hunter 200 grain hardcast .357 magnum
Remington Golden Sabre 125 grain .357 magnum (super flash on this one)
Remington UMC 125 grain flat nose enclosed base leadless .38 special
Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP .38 + P
So far so good and accuracy is comparable with most of the rounds. The 125 grain .357 DPX round was tearing the paper a bit in ways I'm not accustomed to. I wonder if it was keyholing a little or if the roundish nose profile of the bullet just wanted to tear paper. When examining the paper, the shreds could be pushed back and a circular bullet hole was evident. Still, I'd like to test this round more before carrying.
Although I've shot alot of the 158 grain gold dot .357 in a Gp100, I have never had it as part of a ccw setup. Based on todays performance with the 640, I think I will give it a try. The recoil was pronounced but not terrible - about the same as the other .357 rounds.
Speer provides the following data from a 4" barrel for the 158 gr. GDHP .357:
velocity ft/s: 1235 energy ft/lbs: 535
An older thread from The High Road gives some data for a 2.5" barrel
Shot 1 - Impacted at unknown velocity (chronograph malfunction). Expanded to 0.510" average diameter. Penetrated to 13.2"+. The 'plus' is because the bullet exited the back of the block and penetrated ~ 4" into the polyester bullet arresting box.
Shot 2 - Impacted at 1041 ft/sec. Expanded to 0.506" average diameter. Penetrated to 13.2"+. The 'plus' is because the bullet exited the back of the block and penetrated ~ 4" into the polyester bullet arresting box.
Shot 3 - Impacted at 1052 ft/sec. Expanded to 0.497" average diameter. Penetrated to 13.2"+. The 'plus' is because the bullet exited the back of the block and penetrated ~ 4" into the polyester bullet arresting box.
Seems to be an excellent round for penetration. I wonder if further reducing the velocity as to be expected from a 2" barrel like the 640 would increase or decrease the penetration. Buffalo Bore has a 158 grain .38+P LSWCHP reported at 1000 - 1050 ft/s velocity. However, I prefer JHP to lead and from a 2" barrel I bet the 158 .357 GDHP hits close to 1000 ft/s. Having tested the gold dot for accuracy and controllability, I am interested in your opinions of a 158 gr. GDHP at 1000 ft/s for a self defense application.
Cheers.
-Triple T