Speer Gold Dots & Polygonal/Hexigonal Rifling

[Anthony]

Hello Everyone,

Recently I have been testfiring a number of loads from Speer and other top drawer ammunition companies (e.g., DoubleTap, Black Hills) using the Gold Dot line of hollowpoint bullets. I've noticed a consistent pattern with three different autopistols now where the Gold Dot was quite inaccurate when fired through a barrel with either polygonal or hexigonal rifling.

If I change to a weapon with conventional rifling the problem disappears and the accuracy borders on match level.

In my 25 years of shooting I learned a long time ago that each individual gun can prefer a totally different load from the next, but I have never seen anything quite as pronounced as this.

The guns in question are a Glock 20, Glock 29, and a Kahr K-40.

Has anyone else noticed this trend or is it just a conincident with my firearms?

 

[strambo]

Don't all those guns have poly rifling...or do you mean it is poor with all of those? I get good accuracy with 124 GDs in my Kahr K9. Does it happen with all weights of GDs or just a certain weight?

 

[Rob96]

I get very good accuracy using 124gr+p Gold Dots loaded by Black Hills in my two Glock 19s.

 

[Anthony]

All 10mm/.40 caliber bullets so far...

Thus far I have only tested bullets in the 10mm/.40 caliber diameter in the 155 and 165-grain weights. Their performance was poor when fired from my Kahr K-40, Glock 20, and Glock 29 all with hexigonal or polygonal rifling.

When these same weights (and loads) were fired through one of the Smith & Wesoon 10mm pistols as well as Speer's 135-grain Gold Dot load in .38 Special the accuracy was approximately 2 to 2 1/2 times better.

Strange trend, eh?

 

[MachIVshooter]

Glock rifling is not really polygonal. More like conventional L&G that has been "melted".

On that note, I have had good results from Gold Dot's in my Baby Eagle 9mm, as well as conventional L&G pistols.

Using 300 gr. Gold Dot's in my .50 Desert Eagle, I have produced 2-9/16" 5-shot groups at 100 yards from a sandbagged rest (w/scope). Average is closer to 3 MOA.

I'd say your guns just don't like GD's.

 

[Odd Job]

In my Vektor CP1 they were no more inaccurate than various other JHPs.

 

[Anthony]

10mm/.40 Caliber Gold Dots

Has anyone else fired these 10mm/.40 caliber loads through the same guns?

 

[Phil DeGraves]

To be fair, you should shoot the .40 cal rounds (from the same box, preferably) that didn't shoot well in your pistols in someone else's pistols with and without poly rifling. Judging the ammo shooting different calibers just isn't a way you can reach a valid conclusion.

 

[LeonCarr]

Gold Dots are my load of choice in 9mm for my Glock 17 and Glock 26, with accuracy around two inches at 25 yards, even out of the baby Glock .

Every gun is an individual, so maybe your gun just doesn't like them.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Anthony]

I Agree With You Phil

Actually, I agree with you wholeheartedly, Phil.

That said, there are some loads out there that are regarded for their consistently good accuracy in the overwhelming majority of firearms. The Black Hill .40 S&W 165-grain EXP JHPs and Federal Classic .45 ACP 185-grain Hi-Shok JHPs are two that come to mind.

After trying four different loads using Gold Dot bullets and all in the same bore diameter I was starting to wonder if I was seeing the start of a trend.

I just wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing the same results.

If not, that fits into my frame of reference quite nicely.

 

[Skpotamus]

I carry golddots in my Glock 19 and 30 (9mm and 45 auto.) because they were the most accurate HP's I shot through the guns.

Every gun is different though, my friend's 30 shoots better with Federal Hydrashocks than anything else.

 

[Inline_6]

I have shot GDs in 230gr through an HK USP45C and 165gr through a G22 -- no accuracy problems at all.

 

[Anthony]

Anyone Else?

Has anyone else tested their 10mm/.40 diameter Gold Dots for accuracy?