Testing report,Gold-dot JHPs

[Dave Waits]

For all you Navel-pondering Nabobs out there that are interested, my friend Chuck gave some 357magnum, 158gr.GDJHPs our famous 'Water-Test' Sunday.This extremely scientific test involves four layers of Demin(An old pair of Chuck's jeans legs) and seven one-gallon plastic milkjugs filled with water. This is setup on a special platform(A 12" wide piece of 1/2" plywood and a 2x2 running down each side to hold the jugs in line) designed by us for this purpose.

Distance from Muzzle to Demin was 18feet, with the ProChrono at 12 feet.

Weapon used was Chuck's SP101 Ruger snubbie.

Average velocity was 1104fps for five rounds.

Bullet expansion was, are you ready? Abysmal. Average penetration was six jugs with almost no expansion evident. In every case, the first five and a half jugs showed neat little 357 caliber entrance and exit holes with the round coming to a halt inside jug number six. According to Chuck, only two showed any expansion at all, the other four had slightly flattened or bent noses. The two that expanded, well...one measured .387 caliber and the other a whopping .392caliber.

Gentlemen? This bullet performance sucks!!! While 1100 fps is a little slow by most standards, it is well within the Envelope given by the factory for good expansion with the Gold-Dot bullet.

As a control for comparison, after firing the five Gold-dots, Chuck setup another seven jugs and tested the 357 Defense-load we developed. a 158grain Speer LSWCHP(Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow-Point), a max-charge of Alliant Unique and a standard small-pistol primer. At 1050fps out of Chuck's snub it went through the Demin, literally Blew-up the first five Jugs, split the sixth on both sides and penetrated the seventh,knocking it back about five feet. The bullet was recovered inside the seventh jug and expanded to .692Caliber. I don't think we'll be looking for anymore Gold-dots in the foreseeable future.

Watch this space! As soon as we can generate enough Milkjugs for another test, we'll be testing Winchester Premium 230grain SXT hollow-points out of my five-inch Rock.
Dave

[Lane]

This is good stuff - and sounds like a lot of fun! It probably time consuming to collect all the gear for the tests - but, I'd like to see the 230gr XTP tested. I've read good things about them - but would like to see unbiased reports.

Thanks, Dave!!

[sdmc530]

I use XTP for my "personal" use, really like it....no number for you though, nice job on the gold though dave!

[Dave Waits]

I did the Hornady 230grain TAP XTP a while back guys.

Average velocity 904fps

Penetrated seven Jugs, came to rest in eighth.

Expanded to average of .732

Weight-retension was 190 grains average, almost all separated from the jacket. I think they're driving it too fast.

[Snipersnest]

Nice report Dave. On the Gold Dot as well as the XTP's. It's nice that we have someone who performs test and evaluation on ammo for us.

[Grouse]

I have looked into this a bit. I think this comes down to the snubbie factor and is part of the reason that the FBI went to federal 158 grain Ny-Lock for 38 and 357 snubbie revolvers. This ammo was specifically designed to have reliable expansion and penetration out of snubbies. If i remember correctly they found that 2" snubs simply did not generate enough FPS to reliably ensure consistent hp opening. Basically the bullet is to slow for Jacketed HP out of 2" snubbies. In their testing they tried faster powders but found while they got the speeds they needed they increased pressures to much. So they went with a combo of softer lead, with a protective jacket and a slightly faster powder. Giving something like 860 fps out of a 38spl 2".

It is what i carry in my wife's 642, I even load it in the 627 from time to time.

you can see it next to my wife's 642.


It is a super soft lead hp, jacketed in nylon. it is very accurate ammo, and opens quite reliably. There are a dozen or so video's doing the same test you have done on youtube. It comes in 2 flavors, 357 and 38spl. I typically only buy the 38 spl.

[DaFadda]

Dave, you want to try the test with 125 gr .357 Montana Gold JHP? I'll send you an envelope full. I only got 4000 of them on my bench!!!
Da

[Grizzman]

I'm quite surprised at the results. 1100 fps should definitely be fast enough to cause expansion.

I've been loading Gold Dots for my .40 Short & Weak and .45 Auto for years, partly based on the test results I've been able to locate.

My all purpose .45 load uses a near max load of Unique to drive 230 grain XTPs. I wonder if they're also separating. I checked my chrono data, and my load has them moving at an average of 926 fps from 4 1/4" barrel and 949 fps from 5".

Thanks for the test. I may do the same thing this Spring for some of my loads.

[Big Smoke]

That's great Dave! And it sounds like fun, too. Gives me the idea to mix up some ballistics gel and do some of my own tests.

Thanks for the report!

[Lane]

I've been loading XTP's for self defense. When I get my chrono I'll see where I'm at. Seems like the XTP has pretty decent expansion.

Lane