Speer Gold Dot

[SCNick]

I decided to use (haven't tried it yet though) Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P in my PM9. I use it for SD in my Glock and XDm. Figured it would be consistent and I would only need one SD round.
Any one got any comments (good or bad) for this round in the PM9?
I'm going to run 20 rounds through it next range visit.
TIA

[Thunder71]

Never ran the +P, but I've ran other Gold Dot through mine and my XDM - worked good. These days I am running Remington Ultimate Home Defense rounds.

If you want consistency in a round, it won't necessarily be by using the same ammo. What works well in a 3.8" barrel will work different in a 3" barrel, etc.

[wyntrout]

I use the Short Barrel version in my PM9. I don't have regular Gold Dots in 9mm, but I have both in 230-grain .45 ACP.

The Short Barrel version has a wider, shallower cavity than the regular. I can only get the short barrel version in 20-round boxes, so it's a bit more costly than the regular Gold Dots, but possibly better performing in a 3" barrel.

Here are some pix of the 230-grain Gold Dots. The 9mm must be somewhat similar.

I shot some of the regular ones in my 4" Champion (SA 1911) last time at the range and need to try the SB's for comparison, especially for muzzle blast or flash.

Wynn:)

[Dietrich]

Speer Gold Dot 124 gr.+P is one of the two types of SD ammo I carry in my PM9.The other is Remington Golden Saber 124 gr.+P. Both feed and eject flawlessly and both expand nicely in my modest testing with wet phone books.water jugs and a nice ham my wife was going to cook for Easter a few years ago.Every once in a while I still get an earfull about that one.That aside,you won`t go wrong with the Speer ammunition.

[WilliamG]

Yep I run the +p in my PM9, too. Works great!

[crazymailman]

... a nice ham my wife was going to cook for Easter a few years ago.:eek:
You sir are lucky to be alive.

[E the B]

A few years ago, I found Speer Gold Dot +p 9mm at $12 a box. I bought 20 boxes at an even better discount. My Kahr PM9 runs it just fine.

[wayneo1]

Nicely done, 12 bucks a box is like stealing now.

[WilliamG]

Crazy price! I pay $19.50+tax for mine.

[wyntrout]

The short-barreled versions are designed to give the same performance as the regular from a short barrel like the PM's... without all of the extra flash from the unburned powder. Matching the powder to the barrel and properly designed bullet cavity is supposed to do this. Plus, you get a well-designed BONDED hollow point defense round.

I paid about $21 a box of 20 SB's and $27 for a 50-round box of the regular 230-gr .45 ACP Gold Dots at GT Distributors.

Wynn:)

[ricklee4570]

Anybody chronograph the Speer Gold Dot +P Short Barrel ammo from the PM9 yet? Im curious as to the velocity from the short barrel.

[OldLincoln]

Gold Dot has a great reputation. I chose it when I got my PM9 but there wasn't a single round to be had anywhere. Once I started looking for an alternative I discovered Federal HST and a site that had it in stock. I think it's a tossup between them and while I favor HST I wouldn't hesitate to carry Gold Dot.

I buy online from Kyle's Gunshop, Inc. (http://www.kylesgunshop.com/) who just got a new shipment of HST. They still have a delay with Gold Dot. I'm not pushing them, they just seem to have HST on a pretty regular basis.

[wyntrout]

http://www.warriortalk.com/archive/index.php/t-27904.html

Tom Givens got this:

Kahr PM9, 3" barrel, 9mm BUG

Speer 124 gr Gold Dot +P
High- 1144 Low- 1140 1140/ 1141/ 1144/ 1143/ 1142/ 1141/ 1140 avg= 1141 fps

Speer 124 gr Gold Dot +P, Short Barrel
High- 1145 Low- 1137 1139/ 1139/ 1141/ 1137/ 1145 avg= 1140 fps

Speer "Homeland Defense" 124 gr HST JHP
High- 1137 Low- 1136 1137/ 1136/ 1137/ 1137/ 1137 avg= 1137 extreme spread= 1 fps!

CorBon DPX 115 gr copper hollow point
High- 1137 Low- 1134 1134/ 1137/ 1137/ 1135/ 1137 avg= 1136



You can find just about anything with Google or other search engines.

Wynn:)

[ricklee4570]

Thanks for sharing that information.

It is interesting that the +P is about the same as the standard pressure ammo.

[MrToad]

I've used Gold Dots on all my pistols of late. I'm not prejudiced, mind you, they've just worked consistently well for me.

I'm mulling trying the Corbon DPX. In the reports I've read it seems to have very good, very consistent expansion. From casual online checking though it seems to cost a bit more than comparable Gold Dots.

Wyntrout has inspired me to go get a Neiko digital caliper, too.;)

[Dietrich]

OOPS!! I`ve already responded to this thread.Dang,I must be getting old.

[O'Dell]

I have never tried the +p GD, but the standard pressure one work fine in my PM9. However, I prefer GS's or HST 124 gr for carry.

[TonyT]

I have not expereinced any reliability issues with Speer Gold Dots in my PM-9.

[O'Dell]

OOPS!! I`ve already responded to this thread.Dang,I must be getting old.

You think? :D

[Jitterbug]

I've used Gold Dots in .38, 9mm, .45acp, and 10mm ever since they came out.

I was going to order some more this morning for the 9mm and decided I'm not going to jump through the hoops to find it and pay the premium on it anymore.

Federal HST, Winchester Ranger T's, Remington Golden Saber's and or Hornady XTP's in about that order are going to get my money in the future.

$1.00/round for 147 grain 9mm is ridiculous.

[OldLincoln]

I just checked and Kyle's Gunshop has a fair price on Federal 9mm +P 147gn (http://www.kylesgunshop.com/store.php?seller=KylesGunshop&navt1=50216&pd=2241009) at $29 per box of 50. His shipping is reasonable so you might look it up in the link. I've bought a lot (for me) of ammo from him and have been happy with his business.

[dean1818]

I did a "backyard" test using wet newspaper stuffed in milk jugs lined up in a row with 4 layers of denim on the first jug.

(Many times done on youtube)

I shot my K9

I tested several JHP brands including gold dot +p in regular and short barrel

The winner by far for me was the Corbon DPX at 115

Best expansion at nearly 3/4 inch and deepest penetration at 15"
(these results were almost identical to the tests I have seen done on Youtube)

A close second was the Ranger HST

The Gold dots weren't close in my tests. (I actually expected them to be the best before I shot)


So........ for me........ I will always use the Corbon DPX in a 9

[Jitterbug]

Thanks for the link to Kyles

I had already placed an order with SGAmmo.com, for some reasonably priced

9mm Ranger RA9T 147 gr T-series (http://www.sgammo.com/product/winchester/50rds-9mm-ranger-ra9t-147-gr-t-series)

I've tried the standard, 147 Federal HST, (about 4-5 years old) and still have 30 or so rounds left, my hand was tired that day, but I could swear that ammo had significantly more recoil then the standard 147 gr. Gold Dot?

Not sure if I want to go the +P route with that.

Will see how the Ranger T series does, at the price it's a solution if it runs ok.

Dean your results with the Corbon is interesting.

[dean1818]

I am amazed how well the Corbons did.

I think everyone should do this cheap test to see if the round they trust
does as well as they think it does.

The test I listed above was actually part of my sons science project (home schooled) to test bullet performance out of a less than optimal length barrel

Most of the testing done on bullets (expansion & penetration) is done by a bullet manuf. with a pistol that has a 4 inch or longer barrel.
Obviously, a bullet in a 4 inch barrel has a faster speed than a 3 inch barrel
(The gunpowder gets a chance to fully burn within the barrel)

Also, I believe that the bullet is spinning faster as well

The bullet also performs differently with clothing as well (some matierial packs in the HP cavity, with some bullets, and doesn't expand)

Not to many naked burglars these days I bet (I hope)

Test what you shoot..... you will probably be suprised

Remember, the FBI set a minimum of 12 inch penetration

It also appeared that the 147 grain bullets went deeper, but didnt expand near as well as 124 or 115.

In some cases there was a 25 to 30% less expansion vs the Corbon vs the other brands I tested

[MikeyKahr]

The test I listed above was actually part of my sons science project (home schooled) to test bullet performance out of a less than optimal length barrel

Somehow my public school education did not include such a test. :cheer2: