What's the difference between Speer Gold Dots regular vs the short barrel version?

[hometheaterman]

Ok I have a ammo question. What's the difference between Speer Gold Dot 9mm +P 124 grain for the short barrel and the regular one? I have always used the regular one that doesn't say for the short barrel. I've tested it in a SR9 and it seems to work well. I was at a gun shop tonight and they had some at a pretty good price but after looking at the front of the box I noticed it said short barrel. I was aware they made one for short barrels but didn't know what the difference was. Would you have to retest to make sure your gun shoots them without jamming? Or if they do fine with the regular Speer Gold Dot +P's should they be fine with these? What exactly is the difference? Is the SR9 considered a short barrel or long barrel?

 

[Sport45]

I think the SB version is designed to expand at lower velocities.

On a 9mm, I'd think anything less than 4" would be considered a short barrel. (But I could be wrong)

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Take a peek at this: http://glarp.atk.com/2005New_Product/speer2005.pdf

"Gold Dot short barrel bullets are engineered with large-volume cavities for optimum low-velocity expansion."

 

[hometheaterman]

So I guess the short barreled ones would be what you'd want for a SR9? Any reason not to use the regular ones? I've read over and over how you need to shoot your sd ammo and test it to make sure your gun likes it as some jam on hollow points. Do you need to shoot the short barreled ones to test or if the gun likes the regular ones would it be fine to just carry the short barreled ones no problem?


One thing I did notice is we shot at a target that was a thin and I mean thin layer of metal. It was one of those for sale by owner type signs that are on the frame you can stick in your yard. I found one speer gold dot laying right behind the sign about 3" behind it expanded. The only thing it hit was the paper target and that thing piece of metal the target was stuck on. This worried me that it stopped but out of 15 or so that's the only one that stopped there. I wouldn't think that thing should have even slowed it down.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Do you need to shoot the short barreled ones to test or if the gun likes the regular ones would it be fine to just carry the short barreled ones no problem?

hometheaterman,
The short barrel bullet has a different profile than the other bullets Speer makes so I would test then completely in your pistol before you commit to carrying them.

 

[Sport45]

I found one speer gold dot laying right behind the sign about 3" behind it expanded.

Did you find it expanded or just mashed? I wouldn't expect any JHP bullet to expand when hitting something solid like a piece of sheet aluminum.

 

[calaverasslim]

The story, as Speer tells it, is that LEOs went to Speer because JHPs were not expanding properly in their snubbies. Speer devoloped the Short Barrel (SB) GDs to correct this. True? False? I don't know, you be the judge.

Truth be told, since I have never had the chance to examine a bullet after a shooting, I can't say.

I'm just waiting for the the Hornady "Critical Defense" loads to come out in 45acp. Until they do, I'll keep using the SB versions.

 

[PhrankKastle]

My shooting partner has done wet pack newspaper testing of regular and short barrel 38+P out of his 2" Model 10 and found the regular gold dot was inconsistent in it's expansion whereas the short barrel consistently opened up very nicely.
I have some short barrel 44 magnum on order to try in my Alaskan and am hoping for similar results.

 

[hometheaterman]

It looked expannded. it was bent back into claw looking things around the edges. One side didn't have them as bad though. I was going to save it but I ended up loosing it.

 

[Ol` Joe]

From Speers web site........................

http://le.atk.com/general/speerproducts/handgun/GoldDotShortBarrel.aspx

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The story, as Speer tells it, is that LEOs went to Speer because JHPs were not expanding properly in their snubbies. Speer devoloped the Short Barrel (SB) GDs to correct this. True? False? I don't know, you be the judge.

That's not what I heard. Speer is owned buy ATK which also owns Federal and CCI. They have been involved with Police agencies through Federal for a very long time and are always looking to improve their ammo to stay on top of the game.

I will tell you one thing. We can thank the NYPD for Speer developing the Short Barrel .38 Special +P round. When they were testing the Speer 9mm ammo Speer was asked why they were forgetting about the many NYPD Officers who still carry a J frame in .38 Special. Several months later they came back the the NYPD with their .38 Special Short Barrel Gold Dot round and I'm glad they did!

 

[Hungry Seagull]

So, I can safely fire the short Gold Dot through my full size .45 then?

Or do I have to discard the short barrel 230 grains and stay with the long 230 by part number?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I see no reason not to use the short barrel ammo in a 5" barrel. Just because the bullet was designed to expand at the lower velocities don't disqualify it's use in longer barrels. I'm sure Speer made sure it will perform well over the full spectrum of barrel lengths.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I'll give it a try and keep some peptol bismol on hand in case it gets consipated.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'll give it a try and keep some peptol bismol on hand in case it gets constipated.

I'm guessing by that statement you are thinking the velocity of the SB round is lower than the standard rounds. I don't agree. The bullet is the main change to the SB round, not the velocities. If anything they would try to increase velocities in a short barrel round. There's no way in this Lawyer driven market any company would put out a product that would be dangerous to some guns but not others. Even if they did there would be HUGE warning all over the box.