Gold Dots?
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Jim March
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Agreed, the 158 Gold Dot 357 loaded to about 1,250fps in a 4" tube has a LOT of potential. Felt recoil and controllability is better than the wildest 125s @ around 1,500fps, and you've got solid expansion with a "deep punch".
This same basic load at the same speed with the same projectile is sold by Speer, Proload, Georgia Arms, Black Hills and probably more. GA will be cheapest in bulk and good stuff; Proload and Black Hills have excellent reps for quality control and accuracy and Speer aren't incompetent either
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This same basic load at the same speed with the same projectile is sold by Speer, Proload, Georgia Arms, Black Hills and probably more. GA will be cheapest in bulk and good stuff; Proload and Black Hills have excellent reps for quality control and accuracy and Speer aren't incompetent either
.Home defense? You want the wax blown out of your ears and maybe get deaf fast? Fire a magnum indoors! I was present when another man shot a badger with a .45 acp in an Air Force dining hall, and that was all the indoors Ka-BOOM I care to experience. A .357 is even louder.
Try lead HP Plus P .38 rounds. Or, the better 125-130 grain JHP .38 ammo.
If you insist on .357's, I'd use the Federal Hydra-Shok, which should open more quickly than the Gold Dot. But I think Gold Dot will do fine at penetrating heavy clothing, barriers, and for deer hunting at close range. It would be one of my first choices for protection from bear, boar, or cougar.
Lone Star
Try lead HP Plus P .38 rounds. Or, the better 125-130 grain JHP .38 ammo.
If you insist on .357's, I'd use the Federal Hydra-Shok, which should open more quickly than the Gold Dot. But I think Gold Dot will do fine at penetrating heavy clothing, barriers, and for deer hunting at close range. It would be one of my first choices for protection from bear, boar, or cougar.
Lone Star
Jim March
Member
You know, there IS some merit to that.
If you take the best 38+Ps made that work in a 2" barrel, and fling 'em out of a 4" like yours, the odds of them expanding are extremely high. Speer's Gold Dot 135grainers are *possibly* the best there is without cracking the sound barrier. Cor-Bon's 110 and 125 38+Ps both might in your barrel.
If you take the best 38+Ps made that work in a 2" barrel, and fling 'em out of a 4" like yours, the odds of them expanding are extremely high. Speer's Gold Dot 135grainers are *possibly* the best there is without cracking the sound barrier. Cor-Bon's 110 and 125 38+Ps both might in your barrel.
Ben Shepherd
Member
I see I agree with Jim again. In fact his first post is EXACTLY what I carry in my SP101 all the time.
They are handloads, so I could tailor the velocity to that particular gun. Very accurate, with very reliable expansion, and plenty of penetration.
They are handloads, so I could tailor the velocity to that particular gun. Very accurate, with very reliable expansion, and plenty of penetration.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
I am an SP-101 carrier and whilst I have used full .357 loads do feel that a +P Gold Dot will be both effective and more controllable. Gold Dots are IMO the best candidates for expansion at reduced velocities. HydraShoks have disappointed me somewhat.
May I suggest for those who haven't seen it ...... go look at my R9s Rohrbaugh 2nd range report and ammo evaluation and notice the wet pack performance of the Gold Dots ... and I will assume that similar results can and will be had out of 2" tubes in 38 spl.
May I suggest for those who haven't seen it ...... go look at my R9s Rohrbaugh 2nd range report and ammo evaluation and notice the wet pack performance of the Gold Dots ... and I will assume that similar results can and will be had out of 2" tubes in 38 spl.
Jim March
Member
Whoa...you're talking about:
http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/r9s-tests-02/basefile/expand2.htm
The Gold Dots kicked MAJOR amounts of butt!
One big difference between those 9mm slugs and our 38s: the 9s have only a limited possible "nose cone hole size" because of feed reliability issues. Hollowpoint cavities the size of what Speer is doing with the 135 are flat impossible in commercial semi-auto ammo production.
So in order to get peak performance in short tubes, Speer runs a 115 in the 9mm at higher speed, whereas in 38 we can get a 135 at lower speed and get proper expansion.
Interesting, no?
We also see evidence of keyholing in many of the other rounds. Which doesn't speak well of the Rohrbaugh...
http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/r9s-tests-02/basefile/expand2.htm
The Gold Dots kicked MAJOR amounts of butt!
One big difference between those 9mm slugs and our 38s: the 9s have only a limited possible "nose cone hole size" because of feed reliability issues. Hollowpoint cavities the size of what Speer is doing with the 135 are flat impossible in commercial semi-auto ammo production.
So in order to get peak performance in short tubes, Speer runs a 115 in the 9mm at higher speed, whereas in 38 we can get a 135 at lower speed and get proper expansion.
Interesting, no?
We also see evidence of keyholing in many of the other rounds. Which doesn't speak well of the Rohrbaugh...
Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
Some good information above - -
My favorite source of information about the new .38 Spl 135 gr GDHP is in the Speer Technical Data Package, found at - -
http://le.atk.com/pdf/SpeerTech38_135HP.pdf
ALL the dimensions, bullet construction, ISO standards, primer specifications, even the case mouth and primer sealants - -
Side-by side comparisons of this round in S&W model 640 and model 10 four-inch. Comparison of the 135 GDHP from the 640 with the 124 GDHP 9mm from a Glock 19.
Breakdown of the FBI Test Protocol Performance.
Some good stuff - - -
My favorite source of information about the new .38 Spl 135 gr GDHP is in the Speer Technical Data Package, found at - -
http://le.atk.com/pdf/SpeerTech38_135HP.pdf
ALL the dimensions, bullet construction, ISO standards, primer specifications, even the case mouth and primer sealants - -
Side-by side comparisons of this round in S&W model 640 and model 10 four-inch. Comparison of the 135 GDHP from the 640 with the 124 GDHP 9mm from a Glock 19.
Breakdown of the FBI Test Protocol Performance.
Some good stuff - - -
Gold Dots do seem to have reliable expansion charactaristics almost regardless of what cartridge. Although I would feel quite confident with the 125s in a .357, the 158s would be my first choice for the extra weight and penetration. If it were convenient I would like to test these bullets in wetpack myself from a 3".
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