Ballistic gelatin test results : 9x19mm Speer +P Gold Dot

[Brass Fetcher]

Special thanks to loplop for funding this test in full.

Cartridge : 9x19mm Luger Speer 124gr +P Gold Dot JHP

Firearm : Glock 26 (3.5" barrel length)

Block Calibration : All depths corrected (From 11.0cm @ 596 ft/sec)

Shot 1 - Impacted at 1201 ft/sec, penetrated to 11.2" and was recovered at 0.679" average diameter.

Shot 2 - Impacted at 1218 ft/sec, penetrated to 11.2" and was recovered at 0.691" average diameter.

Shot 3 - Impacted at 1216 ft/sec, penetrated to 10.3" and was recovered at 0.704" average diameter.

Shot 4 - Impacted at 1222 ft/sec, penetrated to 10.6" and was recovered at 0.682" average diameter.

Shot 5 - Impacted at 1208 ft/sec, penetrated to 9.9" and was recovered at 0.711" average diameter.

If you liked this test, please drop loplop a line of thanks.

 

[Gordon]

Thanks a nice test! I'll reserve that one for a dog load!

 

[grimjaw]

Phew! Check out the expansion on those.

jm

 

[loplop]

A few thoughts:

1. The round expanded very aggressively, which somewhat surprised me out of the (somewhat) short G26 barrel.
2. The measured impact velocity was nearly what Speer quotes out of a 4" barrel. They're loaded hot.
3. Penetration doesn't match the standard 12"+ figure for compliance. That was somewhat disappointing, but as JE223 pointed out in a PM, this round may have been designed to expand a little less aggressively when fired through barriers.

A clothed test is next

 

[Bob79]

Was this the standard 124 grain +P ammo, or the short barrel ammo that comes in the same weight/+P???

Thanks!

 

[never_summer]

damn thats pretty impressive right there

 

[loplop]

Standard ammo, Bob79.

 

[Headless]

Nice. I got a couple boxes of this stuff but had gone with corbon in my s&w 659. I do believe i may switch it out for these fellas every other round -- The lack of penetration depth is interesting, i'd definetely be curious to see these shot through a layer or 2 of denim.

 

[sm]

loplop thank you for funding and JE223 thank you for conducting and sharing this test.

Results:
How interesting indeed!

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. The work and funding are definitely appreciated.

Best and thanks again.

 

[teombe]

This is why I use GoldDots exclusively in 9mm - for both HD and concealed carry. It's really good to know that the short barrel performance is excellent as well.

 

[boomstik45]

The lack of penetration is somewhat disconcerting, but I have not carried these yet. I've carried the 147gr. version, though. However, I did see that this particular 124 grain load comes recommended by the Dr. Roberts at Tactical Forums. I pretty much listen to what he has to say, as he backs all of his stuff up. I wonder if the ballistic results would change out of a G17 barrel?

 

[boomstik45]

Tell you what, though. Those test results would change your mind about 9mm as a truly effective defensive round if you didn't respect it already. Much as I like my .45s, a G17 loaded with 18 of those suckers ought to make any small group of thugs think twice. Imagine the wounds caused by trained, aimed fire....

 

[loplop]

boomstik: I would expect penetration to be even less, as more velocity typically equals more aggressive expansion, and thus less penetration. There is some correlation in the numbers above with expansion and penetration, as one would expect.

I would expect clothed tests to show less expansion and more penetration. We'll see!

Boomstik45: I used to be a die-hard 45 guy. I've reformed. I do believe the 9mm is quite effective as a defensive sidearm.

 

[The Law]

I've got Doubletap's in my 226. Speer Gold Dots 124g +P.

This is a very impressive test.

Thanks to all.

 

[mdao]

boomstik: I would expect penetration to be even less, as more velocity typically equals more aggressive expansion, and thus less penetration. There is some correlation in the numbers above with expansion and penetration, as one would expect.

Up to a point, more velocity gives more aggressive expansion and less penetration. The bullet can be pushed to a point that exceeds its design parameters, then petals either start folding back or breaking off. That usually increases penetration, while decreasing expanded diameter. Looking at the expanded bullets, I don't think expansion could be any more aggressive. My guess would be that more velocity would cause the petals to fold back more, increasing penetration.

I like the performance though. Very comparable results to JE223's previous test with the .40S&W Glock 27.

 

[CZF]

Rumor is that NYPD is very happy with their issue Gold Dots.
Stopping power with their 9mms has become a non-issue since the adoption of the Speer load. Should this load have problems with penetration.., you'd think such would have surfaced with the 4 season climate, read: deep winter, that NYC gets.

The reason that they went for a JHP over the issue Winchester FMJ, was for
increased stopping power, but foremostly the overpenetration that they
experienced with the Hardball load..incidents that turned into lawsuits.

The 124 Gr. +P load is what I use year round for EDC in my CZ RAMI 2075.
Also something that you can use in a legal aftermath, should the JHP issue
arise.. You can point out that 20,000 plus cops carry such in NYC carry
this load.


Can I carry a larger and heavier full-sized CZ in .40 or .45 , or my 10mm Witness? Yes, but not comfortably nowdays. The GD load is wonderfully accurate and reasonably powerful. Of course, the other pistols are loaded
with Gold Dots, most of them with the Double Tap brand.

 

[Sigdude]

Where haveyou guys been.....?

Speer Gold Dots have been the " Buzz Word " in man-stopping power for at least 2 to 3 years now.They penetrate common barriers and are STILL mushroom-city !

 

[45shooter]

So how does this load rate according to Evan Marshal and Ed Sandow's research?

 

[boomstik45]

LOPLOP,

Thanks for the info and the opinion. While less than the "ideal" penetration bothers me a bit, it can't be such a highly recommended load for nothing. Worse case scenario, I could go with the 147 grain Gold Dot. But I really do want to try the 124 +p. So I will! Right after I get this glock 17....Speaking of which, it means a lot to hear a .45 nut like myself actually speak up for the 9mm. It's not a popular thing to do these days. But I'm okay with the round, especially in high capacity. More shots can't hurt.

Marshall and Sanow? They're tests are very non-scientific, erratic-at-best, found to be false in several cases, and outdated to boot. Everything you hear from them is "get it as light and fast as you can!" I don't believe in that theory in most cases. Since when does velocity and reduced weight mean more than bullet design? Ridiculous. A poorly designed bullet at any weight or speed is destined to fail most of the time.

 

[boomstik45]

CZF, you make a very good point. But if you're a 9mm hater, then you're just not going to believe it.

 

[Wordsmith]

I'll gladly carry my P2000 with 14 rounds of either Federal HST 147 gr. or Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. +P. Bottom line is that both of these rounds just work.

Thanks for the test, JE223 and loplop. I'm going to show this to my USMC buddy who is convinced that the 9mm is anemic. (Truth be told, in FMJ out of a Beretta and against body armor, it probably is.)

 

[loplop]

Wordsmith: I'd call any pistol round "anemic" against body armor, to tell you the truth. I'd want a rifle if I were in a war zone.

boomstik45: please don't take it that I'm disappointed with the performance of this round. I think this was a very impressive result, but perhaps not "perfect." Since perfection doesn't exist, we have a lot of factors to balance to find the "best" load for ourselves. Personally, the performance above is plenty fine for my perceived needs. I am carrying this load.

For LEO's, who have a whole different set of needs than a private citizen, I'd like to see a little more penetration. Perhaps the clothed test will show that.

As I mentioned, I used to be a die-hard 45 guy. I have in all honesty almost completely switched to 9mm. I feel very comfortable with my SIG P239 (8+1), Hk P2000 (13+1), or SIG P228 (15+1). There are a lot of benefits to 9mm, even beyond capacity. Chief among them for me: inexpensive range ammo (more practice for me) and faster followup shots than the larger caliber, in my hands.