Gold Dot 9mm defense load ???

[kmrcstintn]

My current load, Federal Tactical HST 124 grain +p (P9HST3) has become a hard find for me to reacquire. The pistol that the replacement load would be for is a Beretta 9000S with 3 1/2" barrel. I am contemplating Speer Gold Dot 115 grain non +p becasue of its ease to acquire and its bonded construction. The relative stats from Speer on the load look like this: from a 4" barrel, 1225 fps & 383 ft-lbs at the muzzle

Since it is a shorter barrel load, I am shying away from the heavier loads since expansion is a concern...on the other hand, penetration is also a concern; with the bonded construction, will a 115 grain Gold Dot penetrate deep enough to do the job I need it to?

BTW: I do not have access to the stuff necessary nor a range that will alllow any type of wetpack or gelatin testing, so please do not tell me to do my own testing...thank you?

 

[TOADMAN]

Speer Gold Dot self defense ammo is top-shelf and will serve you well.. Speer makes 124grn+P short barrel self defense ammo (23611)..Just make sure that your pistol shoots the stuff with no worries prior to cc.. I like the 124grn+p Gold Dots (23617) from Speer and the 147grn+P Gold Dots from Georgia Arms. Don't really care for the 115 grn..

 

[nitesite]

I, too, subscribe to the heavier bullet theory. It seems like the general population is gaining more and more pounds and I therefore shy away from the 115s. My full size pistol gets 147-gr +Ps but I don't feel bad about 124-gr +P either.

The Gold Dots are impressive and I have heard very little if any problems with them getting excellent expansion and retained weight.

 

[Shoney]

Gold dot is excellent ammo, and I also believe in the heavier bullets.

Read the data at this site for a more informed decision, go down to part II:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/9mm.htm

 

[BsChoy]

127 +P+ Rangers in my G19...works fine and hits hard

 

[kokapelli]

The 124 gr +P Gold Dot for short barrels looks pretty good to me.

This is from the stoppingpower.net forum.

10% Ballistic Gelatin Tests for:
Speer 9mm 124 gr +p GDHP Short Barrel

Testing Platform:
Glock 26

Barrier:
Four Layers of Denim

TEST RESULTS:

Penetration: 16.00”
Recovered Weight: 125.5 gr.
Expansion*: .536 cal.
Velocity: 1212 fps

The Speer website also indicates that this 9mm load produces more energy and a lot more velocity than the GoldDot round for short barrel 45 acp.

 

[Bobo]

You might consider DoubleTap ammo:
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_37