Big Bore Handguns using SPEER GDSP on game

[98s1lightning]

What kind of performance are you guys getting on big game with 44, 45, 475 heavy hitter straight wall revolver cartridges using the SPEER GOLD DOT SOFT POINT bullets.

I've always viewed this as a superior bargain bullet, with the copper plated/bonded to lead core not a cup and core bullet.....

I'm just curious if the hardcast lead options will tremendously outperform or if this GDSP has proved to be a trustworthy choice to bust through big animals such as deer/bear/moose.

 

[buck460XVR]

Speer's Gold Dot line of bonded bullets for handguns are generally for SD. For hunting they call 'em "Deep Curls". Deep Curls were originally also called Gold Dots, but Speer renamed them to avoid the confusion as to what their intended purpose was.

I've used the 270 Deep Curl SPs for hunting deer with my 77/44. They seemed to perform well. Speer's 300 gr Deep Curl is my preferred bullet for deer outta my .460 revolver. They too perform very well terminally and are very accurate.

 

[horsemen61]

Paging @MaxP

he has done enough handgun hunting to know if anybody has an idea on what to use for handgun hunting it’s this dude!

 

[gotboostvr]

Paging @MaxP

he has done enough handgun hunting to know if anybody has an idea on what to use for handgun hunting it’s this dude!

Let's get @CraigC on here as well!

 

[Big Bore TX]

I use Deepcurls in both .41 and .44 and love them. They've never let me down on a handful of deer and hogs. I've never recovered a bullet either - complete pass throughs on every animal and blood trails range from 30-50 yards.

 

[98s1lightning]

I use Deepcurls in both .41 and .44 and love them. They've never let me down on a handful of deer and hogs. I've never recovered a bullet either - complete pass throughs on every animal and blood trails range from 30-50 yards.

Good news.

I'm thinking the 325gr out of the 480 Alaskan is going to be the ticket for my goal of a touch more power than 44 mag but not too much recoil. I'm willing to bet the high 300 grains into 400's have got to kick pretty bad.

 

[CraigC]

The Gold Dot/Deep Curl is a great hunting bullet, especially for thin skinned game. Much better than the XTP. I've used a lot of the 240's and 270's in the .44Mag. The 270gr is particularly good in rifles. Also used the 180gr 10mm at speeds it wasn't designed for. They expand rapidly but still hold together, the benefit of a bonded design. I have a bunch of the 275's to test out of the .480 at Ludicrous Speed but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[black mamba]

I used the 270 Deep Curl in a 629 Classic to take a big Illinois whitetail at about 20 yards off the ground. Excellent penetration, not to mention accuracy!

4-shot group at 75 yards with a 4 minute red dot.


Same load, 5-shot group at 100 yards.

 

[MaxP]

What kind of performance are you guys getting on big game with 44, 45, 475 heavy hitter straight wall revolver cartridges using the SPEER GOLD DOT SOFT POINT bullets.

I've always viewed this as a superior bargain bullet, with the copper plated/bonded to lead core not a cup and core bullet.....

I'm just curious if the hardcast lead options will tremendously outperform or if this GDSP has proved to be a trustworthy choice to bust through big animals such as deer/bear/moose.

The last caliber I used them in was a .500 JRH on a 150 lb hog. Complete pass-through with good damage. I have since migrated towards Swift A-frames.

Nothing wrong with cast bullets, just don’t expect them to hold up to higher velocities.