And yet another gun question, Speer short barrel ammo

[fightingquaker13]

Ok
I agree with Jaybet, enough politics, lets talk guns. I am considering buying Speer Gold Dot short barrel ammo for my 9mm G-26 and .357 Bond. Thing is, the stuff ain't cheap and neither is the shipping, and neither of my local ranges stocks it. Has anyone had any experience with this stuff? How does it compare with standard SD rounds?
Thanks

[TAB]

I do out of a colt detective( boy do I miss my cobra  damn thiefs).   there is a little less noise and "blast", no noticable diffrence in flash, but thats on a summers day at the range.   So i have no clue what it would be like in the dark.   no crono either.  Speer makes good stuff, so I have little doubt it is better.  I seem to recall some testing done by some one not to long after it came out.

[Timothy]

I shoot it and carry it in my snubby and so far the function has been perfect.   

Seriously, I looked at a couple dozen ballistics charts for .38 spcl +p and it's about as good as it gets out of a short barrel.  I did have some effort locating it as mail order here (resist political banter, resist, resist, resist...) is illegal for ammo but I have feelers out and managed to find several hundred rounds at a reasonable price.  When ever I find some, I buy a couple of boxes.  I've found some from $25 for 25 rounds down to $21....

[tombogan03884]

What did they do ?
Lighter charge or faster burning powder ?
Some of both ?

[fatbaldguy]

I do out of a colt detective( boy do I miss my cobra .

Check this out for a decent Cobra  http://www.allans-armory.com/aapictures.php?ItemId=060820MG

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

What did they do ?
Lighter charge or faster burning powder ?
Some of both ?

I tried to find the particulars but they're proprietary I'd expect.

In .38 +p they use a 135 gr bullet that's been proven with effective expansion in various situations.

Compared to 4" barrel numbers, they're about 15% lower than Hydrashocks and Golden Sabers.  Speer tests from a 2" barrel and push 860fps @ 222 me vs 950 @ 258 and 975 @ 264 for HS and GS respectively.  Most other cartridges are in the same ballpark from my study.  I've heard and read that you'll lose about 50 fps/inch of barrel length.  I'll take whatever I can get until I can buy another .357.  I think the LCR is a great little gun but it's going to be a bit stout in magnum loads.  Good thing I have the .38 to play with and the .357 on the wish list for serious work...  I think that's where the Speer short barrel are going to shine.

[TAB]

Its not the same as one a family memeber that is no longer with us gave me.   

[kmitch200]

Ok Has anyone had any experience with this stuff? How does it compare with standard SD rounds?
Thanks

I have carried it exclusively in my G27 for years now & just changed over the G23 to them.
(lets me keep the longer mag for reloads, 13rnd, without changing bullet style)
The 40 has a GIANT DEEP hollow point compared to the standard 180gr GD.
The 45 is the same way, very large & deep.
For some reason the 9mms have the same size HP by looking at it. Different lead hardness maybe? Dunno.

I did some tests with them side by side with standard 230gr GDHP in 1911 45s. The Short Barrel GD opened up dramatically at first but left a longer shank. Of course being 'bonded' nothing on the front end got sheared off, just folded back. That's at full 5" velocity. Penetration was the same.  

I think with the shorter barrel the large HP will initiate expansion at the lower velocity. Again, why the 9mm has the same size HP is a mystery to me but I still load them in my shorter barrel SIG P225 with confidence. They are GDs after all.

Look at:  http://www.tds-us.com/catalog.php/tds/pg10243  for them. They don't have any listed right now but if you get on their email list they do come up on sale now and then. They are 20rnd boxes.
They also have 124gr 9mm Federal HSTs for $28/50rnd boxes. That's not a bad deal either.

[fatbaldguy]

Its not the same as one a family memeber that is no longer with us gave me.   

Sorry man, thieves truly suck.