9mm Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo out of Glock 19?

[Fisherman12]

Today I bought a box of 124 grain +p 9mm Speer Gold Dots. I thought they were the regular 124 grain +p stuff, but turns out it's "short barrel" ammo.

This is the only self defense ammo I have in 9mm right now, but it'll be loaded in a G19. Does anyone know how the Short Barrel stuff performs out of a G19 barrel?

 

[C0untZer0]

Yes, it works fine out of longer barrels. There are a few gel tests on YouTube and they are OK.

I don't think they perform as well as the Federal 147gr HSTs, but the Gold Dots are good SD rounds.

 

[Fisherman12]

I see tests with them out of short barrels (and in one out of a 2.5 inch barrel it actually fails to expand) but are there any out of a Glock 19?

Also as a side note, do the 147 grainers have an advantage? I thought about getting Federal HST 147 grains

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I have no scientific statistical evidence to back me up but my feeling is that 124gr vs 147gr comes down to preference. The sectional density is higher and ceteris paribus penetration will be deeper with heavier-for-caliber bullets. I generally carry 147gr HST in all my nines but when I can't get that I switch to 124gr HST. I do like to carry 124gr or heavier, only running 115gr if I have no options. But if you choose a good round (eg HST, Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger, Federal Hyra-Shok, Bonded Remingtons, etc) you should be good.

 

[Steve C]

There is little difference in performance. This ATK comparison link compares the 124gr 9mm +P short barrel load from a 3.5" test barrel to the 124gr 9mm +P load from a 4" test barrel. The velocity difference is 70 fps with the SB ammo being slower which would be expected from a shorter barrel. The standard +P loading and the Sort Barrel loading should perform quite similar from the 4" barrel and probably the 3.5" barrel too.

 

[C0untZer0]

The 147gr bullet has more material to expand.

The performance is very close but the 147gr bullets do get a little larger.

The 124gr:

.520" avg expansion in 4x Denim test w/avg 15.15" penetration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lGqdMdbir0&list=PLgNSGOEQko_M90AMdRCDMgd-w4Yozc27i&index=7


The 147gr:

.601" avg expansion in 4x Denim test w/avg 13.35" penetration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3VfWkWMzOI&index=11&list=PLgNSGOEQko_M90AMdRCDMgd-w4Yozc27i

 

[RustyShackelford]

Top 9x19mm carry/defense...

The Speer Gold Dots will be fine for a Glock 19 9x19mm.
Here are a few defense-carry 9mm loads I would suggest if you buy any new defense ammunition in the near future;

Ranger T/T series 124gr +P or the 127gr +P+ JHP(this round is issued to many LE agencies across the US), the Federal HST 124gr +P, the Corbon DPX or PowRball 9mm, the Hornady Critical Duty +P 135gr(note; check the dates-box for production, some +P 9x19mm had problems, see: Hornady.com), PDX1 9mm 124gr +P.
Some gunners use the 147gr 9mm, I prefer the milspec 124gr.

 

[RainDodger]

Fwiw, I talked directly with Speer about that bullet, as I'm loading it for a 3.3" Springfield XDs. I asked what the optimum velocity is, for expansion with that bullet and he recommended ~950 FPS. Getting that kind of velocity out of a 3" barrel would be somewhat of a challenge I expect. I believe the only difference between the "short barrel" version and the "regular" profile is the size of the cavity. It is larger and shaped a little different, which you'll see if you compare the two.

Since I don't have a chrono that will work with a pistol, I simply load it hot. It's quite a handful in that gun, but it functions 100%.

 

[redbullitt]

I wonder if the short barrel rounds will display less muzzle flash, especially in your longer barrel? Could be a benefit.

 

[C0untZer0]

Fwiw, I talked directly with Speer about that bullet, as I'm loading it for a 3.3" Springfield XDs. I asked what the optimum velocity is, for expansion with that bullet and he recommended ~950 FPS.

I assume you're talking about the 147gr Gold Dot.

As far as what is "optimal", not counting what firearm it is coming out of, Underwood has a hot loading of the 147gr Gold Dot and when they get going around 1150 fps they penetrate through 4 layers of denim, to a depth of 12.75" and expand to .791"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMiI8VcPQ3c