[Adamz04]

I finally got around to shooting one of my newly aquired 357sig Federal HST rounds into jugs for comparison with others ive done in the past. It was recovered in the 3rd jug like the Underwood gold dot was. I was very impressed on how it held together for not being bonded. Sorry my pics are vertical

Thanks for looking

[dpadams6]

Nice picks. Two of my favorite. Do you know how the underwood gold dot compares to a regular gold dot?

[Adamz04]

Originally Posted by dpadams6

Nice picks. Two of my favorite. Do you know how the underwood gold dot compares to a regular gold dot?

I have some of the regular gold dots as well. Hopefully in a week or two I will put a pic of those up, but for now no, sorry

[Travelin' Jack]

Subscribed. Thanks for the research, OP.

[dpadams6]

Originally Posted by Adamz04

I have some of the regular gold dots as well. Hopefully in a week or two I will put a pic of those up, but for now no, sorry

Thanks. Would love to see what the difference between the two is. Both the hst &underwoods look impressive.

[PghJim]

If you shoot them through denim before the water jugs the GD will lose some of it's expansion, but the HST will still expand the same. At least that is what I found. Both great bullets.

[dpadams6]

Originally Posted by PghJim

If you shoot them through denim before the water jugs the GD will lose some of it's expansion, but the HST will still expand the same. At least that is what I found. Both great bullets.

Yeah, it seems no matter what material it is, the hst expands the most across the board.

[unit1069]

I think both the HST and Gold Dot bullets exhibit excellent expansion reliability.

[spcwes]

Hey while you are at it if you come across the any Speer Gold Dot Part Number 54234 I would be interested in seeing anything you with them especially chrono.

This part number is for the full power LE loading and has a claimed 1375fps out of a 4" barrel leading me to believe that a major brand name ammo company has designed a 357sig loading that will out of a full sized duty weapon (G31 4.5" or a Springer XD with teh 5") possibly see 1400+ fps as an average and that would make me rather happy.

Sorry added the link

http://le.atk.com/ballistics/speer/d...4234&firearm=2

[dkf]

I'm currently carrying the 54234 in my 32.

You guys win, I give. I'll have to order some of those Underwood .357sig GD loads to try out.

[hulk2k8]

Are the Underwood GDs reloads or new brass?

[unit1069]

Originally Posted by dkf

I'm currently carrying the 54234 in my 32.

You guys win, I give. I'll have to order some of those Underwood .357sig GD loads to try out.

I'm carrying the same Speer round in my G-32. Maybe tnoutdoors would run a gel test with the Underwood ammo? That would be interesting.

[dkf]

Originally Posted by unit1069

I'm carrying the same Speer round in my G-32. Maybe tnoutdoors would run a gel test with the Underwood ammo? That would be interesting.

That would be good if he did test the Underwood load. That said I'd like to see the 54234 load tested first. I would like to see how the 54234 stacks up against the 53918 in the same media.

[PghJim]

Originally Posted by hulk2k8

Are the Underwood GDs reloads or new brass?

The Underwood GD 357 sig is new brass. I believe it is Starline. The TMJ 357 sig practice rounds were reloaded brass but Kevin is getting away from that with the high pressure loads.

I also see that Speer must have gotten to Kevin about using the GD name. They are now just called bonded bullet, but they are the correct GD's.

[Adamz04]

Originally Posted by PghJim

The Underwood GD 357 sig is new brass. I believe it is Starline. The TMJ 357 sig practice rounds were reloaded brass but Kevin is getting away from that with the high pressure loads.

I also see that Speer must have gotten to Kevin about using the GD name. They are now just called bonded bullet, but they are the correct GD's.

I noticed the gold name name removed as well from the web site. I was really hoping that he didn't go with another bullet so that is good news

[spcwes]

Originally Posted by dkf

That would be good if he did test the Underwood load. That said I'd like to see the 54234 load tested first. I would like to see how the 54234 stacks up against the 53918 in the same media.

If I had to guess it would be damn near exact. I just subscribe to the thought process of an edge in a gun fight is an edge in a gun fight is an edge in a gun fight. A little more horsepower out of ammo if not made hard to shoot is good by me.

[Happypuppy]

Originally Posted by Adamz04

I noticed the gold name name removed as well from the web site. I was really hoping that he didn't go with another bullet so that is good news

No the Bullet is the same. They can't say it as Gold Dot is a trademarked name


Sent using 2 cans and string

[Glockbuster]

Originally Posted by spcwes

Hey while you are at it if you come across the any Speer Gold Dot Part Number 54234 I would be interested in seeing anything you with them especially chrono.

This part number is for the full power LE loading and has a claimed 1375fps out of a 4" barrel leading me to believe that a major brand name ammo company has designed a 357sig loading that will out of a full sized duty weapon (G31 4.5" or a Springer XD with teh 5") possibly see 1400+ fps as an average and that would make me rather happy.

Sorry added the link

http://le.atk.com/ballistics/speer/d...4234&firearm=2

SPCWES, I tried the 54234 item the other day out of my G31. Impressive ammo. Altitude 2,800 feet, temperature around 80 F, the numbers came in between 1410 and 1430 fps, very constant I chronoed 10 shots in my ProChrono digital.
Before it the 53918 chronoes around 1370-1385 in the same gun.
The 54234 also has a wider hollow point which I like better, and a six petal design. Not sure how all that plays out ballistically, I would have thought the wider HP would be better for lower velocity.

[dkf]

You can see the difference in the 5 petal vs 6 petal GD in my pic below. There isn't much difference in the width of the HP cavity. The edge of the 5 petal is a little more rounded. I figure the 5 petal opens up quicker at lower velocities because it has more lead exposed or maybe they are using softer lead.

[unit1069]

Originally Posted by dkf

You can see the difference in the 5 petal vs 6 petal GD in my pic below. There isn't much difference in the width of the HP cavity. The edge of the 5 petal is a little more rounded. I figure the 5 petal opens up quicker at lower velocities because it has more lead exposed or maybe they are using softer lead.

I'm also a bit baffled about the two different .357sig Gold Dot bullets as Speer lists the velocities for the two rounds only at a 25 fps difference.

I would expect the 5-petal round to penetrate less but all the tests I've seen indicate both rounds penetrate about the same amount.

[Glockbuster]

Originally Posted by dkf

You can see the difference in the 5 petal vs 6 petal GD in my pic below. There isn't much difference in the width of the HP cavity. The edge of the 5 petal is a little more rounded. I figure the 5 petal opens up quicker at lower velocities because it has more lead exposed or maybe they are using softer lead.

Took this pic with my iphone which is not as good as yours, but my 54234 seems to have a wider cavity than yours, or maybe not, 53918 on the left. The wider hollowpoint also makes the bullet more "pointy" and less rounded in its whole profile from the case mouth.
And BTW dkf, does your 54234 seem to have a slightly greater cartridge OAL ? I havent measured it but would seem so.

[dkf]

And BTW dkf, does your 54234 seem to have a slightly greater cartridge OAL?

The ones I have are all the same at 1.125" COAL. Length is pretty consistent without much variance.

[spcwes]

Originally Posted by Glockbuster

SPCWES, I tried the 54234 item the other day out of my G31. Impressive ammo. Altitude 2,800 feet, temperature around 80 F, the numbers came in between 1410 and 1430 fps, very constant I chronoed 10 shots in my ProChrono digital.
Before it the 53918 chronoes around 1370-1385 in the same gun.
The 54234 also has a wider hollow point which I like better, and a six petal design. Not sure how all that plays out ballistically, I would have thought the wider HP would be better for lower velocity.

Wow very cool news Glock, thanks for doing the tests! I am not sure about you folks but that info right there says Speer, a big name ammo company with one of the best hollow point designs in the world is loading a full power 357sig loading going over 1400fps out of a full sized weapon.

Love hearing that!! Anyway, if the bullet goes faster and they want the new bullet to perform as well as the other loading they probably needed to ensure the petals started opening sooner in order for it to perform sooner. In theory that means it does not open any differently or technically at a different point in the expansion/penetration area just allows it to happen quicker.

[Glockbuster]

Originally Posted by spcwes

Wow very cool news Glock, thanks for doing the tests! I am not sure about you folks but that info right there says Speer, a big name ammo company with one of the best hollow point designs in the world is loading a full power 357sig loading going over 1400fps out of a full sized weapon.

Love hearing that!! Anyway, if the bullet goes faster and they want the new bullet to perform as well as the other loading they probably needed to ensure the petals started opening sooner in order for it to perform sooner. In theory that means it does not open any differently or technically at a different point in the expansion/penetration area just allows it to happen quicker.

Yeah I wouldnt trade Speer Gold Dot for anything else, call me biased but this ammo performs. Both 53918 and 54234 are great and I use the former in my G32, the later in my G31. The G31 seems to reap the 54234 velocity edge better than the G32, where I find the difference between the two rounds to be closer to 50 fps.

I might add here before Speer started using nickel brass, I still have some 357 Sig Gold dot old style 1996 vintage, the little gold 20 round box 23918 load performed very close to the current 54234 load. Let me see if I can add a pic in this same post later tonight.

[4949shooter]

Has anyone chrono'd the Underwood load? I am wondering how it compares in velocity to the 54234 from Speer.