[ABNAK]

In any caliber, any weight. The expansion (or lack thereof when compared to others) is my issue with them.

Over the years I have tested numerous bullet types/weights/calibers from different pistols and barrel lengths. I used to test into bare water and then with simulated clothing. Yeah, I know water isn't gel, which in turn isn't flesh, but I use 4 layers of a bath towel into my pool so there is a consistency. It is also backed up by gel tests I've watched online as well as did once on my own.

Gold Dots expand great with no "clothing" to go through, as do just about any HP. Add clothing and just about all of them suffer a little less expansion. However, the Gold Dots lose more, consistently, than any other bullet type barring the old Hydra-Shoks.

Now, it is said water isn't a good medium because, if anything, it causes more expansion than you'd see in gel. It certainly doesn't enhance GD expansion after clothing, that's for sure.

Most recent example (and I've noticed this on all GD's over the years): I still have a few Georgia Arms .40 +P+ 155gr GD's. I know, I know, their is no SAAMI "+P+" for .40 and not a good idea to bet on them. The day after Columbine (that's why I remember when it was) I shot one into a block of gelatin a friend brought over that he mixed from a recipe online and it came right from the cooler. Used a few layers of cloth IIRC. Now, say what you will about the GA +P+ but they ARE hot loads, just under 1300fps from a steel-framed Kahr. Expansion sucked, at least considering what I expected to see. Popped one of them yesterday into the pool just for the hell of it and to confirm what I was gonna post today. After 4 layers of bath towel it looked like the one did in gel. Miked it at ~ .56".

Fired a 180gr GD Short Barrel Load under my usual protocol and it only miked at .62" at it's WIDEST point!

Now I know quite a few of you guys and gals swear by GD's, and that's cool by me. I just haven't been a fan for years. What (if you care) do I think the problem is specifically? They fold, rather neatly I might add, down over themselves. Oh they "expand" per se, but not outward. Even the old cup-and-core Sierras and Noslers "flattened" out as they expanded, and of course the newer premium loads blossom OUTWARD and hold it, at least much better than Gold Dots.

[JW1178]

Gold Dot's only real critisisim has been they tend to clog and not expand under a lot of test conditions. This is true of many different rounds. Sometimes I think some test conditions are not very realistic, and well, too far from the truth. for one, 4 layers of denim, who wears that? Nobody wears denim on their upper body.

I did one of my test on a couple wet phone books, with a t-shirt and a windbreaker style jacket over it. The Gold Dot were quite impressive.

[J_Rico]

I could not get gold dots to expand in water jugs out of an LCP. Guess that short barrel limits velocity too much?

Not a GD basher. Love the 135gr load in my 642.

[Quarter Tank]

The 124+p has great expansion and great penetration. Try some Underwood ammo with GD and you'll change your mind.


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[glock_19guy1983]

I load the 124 gr gold dots in .38 super to a bit over 1400fps. I get great expansion through denim into water jugs. I live in the deep south so even in winter time thick clothing is usually not an issue. one of these days im going to try one of the recipes for gel thats floating around on the internet and do some good tests.

[cowboy1964]

If I want the biggest possible diameter I'll take a .45 HST or Ranger.

Order of importance: shot placement, penetration, and a distant third, expansion. Gold Dots excel at penetration, regardless of barrier or not.

Also, keep in mind final expanded diameter is NOT the widest diameter achieved during its travel.

[cowboy1964]

Originally Posted by Quarter Tank

The 124+p has great expansion and great penetration. Try some Underwood ammo with GD and you'll change your mind.


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Actually, the hot Underwood stuff trades off penetration for that huge expansion. There's no free lunch.

Underwood 9mm 115 gr +P+ JHP Ammo Test - YouTube

Underwood 9mm 115 gr +P+ JHP Ammo Test - YouTube

[NEOH212]

I've never had a issue with the Gold Dots. Even out of a short barrel. As with anything, there is a trade off with almost everything. Gold Dot ammo may have a slight bit less expansion than other rounds, but it has great penetration and there have been very few cases of failure to expand and over penetration.

I'll take my Gold Dot and Ranger-T ammo over everything else.

[ABNAK]

Originally Posted by J_Rico

I could not get gold dots to expand in water jugs out of an LCP. Guess that short barrel limits velocity too much?

Not a GD basher. Love the 135gr load in my 642.

Now that might be the only exception for me, and that is mostly because you can't get ANY other JHP to expand from a snubbie as far as I know.

[ABNAK]

Originally Posted by NEOH212

I've never had a issue with the Gold Dots. Even out of a short barrel. As with anything, there is a trade off with almost everything. Gold Dot ammo may have a slight bit less expansion than other rounds, but it has great penetration and there have been very few cases of failure to expand and over penetration.

I'll take my Gold Dot and Ranger-T ammo over everything else.

And that is the crux of it for me. I've never seen one NOT expand, but to what degree is my issue. Again, when compared to other available rounds.

[ABNAK]

Originally Posted by cowboy1964

If I want the biggest possible diameter I'll take a .45 HST or Ranger.

Order of importance: shot placement, penetration, and a distant third, expansion. Gold Dots excel at penetration, regardless of barrier or not.

Also, keep in mind final expanded diameter is NOT the widest diameter achieved during its travel.

Agreed, but as you put in another post, their ain't no free lunch! That penetration comes because it doesn't expand as large as some others.

God, if this was ARFCOM someone would've ripped my head off by now for dissing Gold Dots! You guys are great! I love the (mostly) civil discourse.

[ABNAK]

I'll say this: I've seen *some* GD's expand pretty well when pushed to obscene velocities. Usually rounds designed for a different caliber. About 17 years ago when I lived in Youngstown, OH, I loaded 90gr GD's in 9mm for my Kel-Tec P-11 (remember when that was our choice for a tiny 9?). I was getting like 1300fps and they were practically flattened.

I have Buffalo Bore 357Sig rounds that I suspect are really 124gr 9mm bullets but they're doing ~ 1500fps from my 4" Storm Lake barrel. Haven't "tested" one yet but I'd wager they would do well (although I do remember one member here who had some and said he wasn't impressed like he thought he'd be).

[Adamz04]

The one thing I do like about gold dots is how well the bonded bullet holds up under high velocities. I prefer carrying loads that are light and fast and while penetration is always past 12 inches they cause a lot of damage.

I prefer the federal hst design over the gold dot, but since I've discovered underwood ammo I've been carrying more gold dots.

So I guess I don't dislike gold dots, they are not my favorite, but I also think they are one of the top 3 out there.

[NEOH212]

In my testing of Gold Dot ammo (some in ballistic gel and some in water jugs) as expected, shorter barrel lengths turn out less velocity and inherently, less expansion.

Never the less, they all have still expanded every time, and pretty well for what they are.

There is no doubt in my mind that should I ever have to call on my carry ammo to perform, the Gold Dot ammo will perform well. I certainly trust my life to them along with countless others across the world.

Gold Dot and Ranger-T series are some of the most proven rounds in existence.

As far as the HST ammo, I know it's gaining a following and it looks promising, but I will have to stay neutral on it until it's around for a while longer and involved in some more real world data before I form a opinion.

So far, it looks very promising though.

[1canvas]

Gold Dot is a controlled expansion round and thats how it is marketed, for more expansion a HST or RangerT is a better choice. I use both [GD and HST] depending on the need.

[dkf]

I like the Gold Dots. Maybe they are starting to get a little dated but overall they are tried and try design and expand reliably.

[NEOH212]

I've never really worried about how much a round expands. As long as it penetrates to adequate depth to reach the vitals and doesn't over penetrate, I'm good to go.

I'm fine with a compromise between expansion and penetration.

That's why my first choice is Gold Dot.

[NEOH212]

Originally Posted by dkf

I like the Gold Dots. Maybe they are starting to get a little dated but overall they are tried and try design and expand reliably.

Yup!

[barth]

I like GDHPs and they have an excellent street record.
Depending on the caliber and gun I'll use it or Ranger Ts.
Which ever produces the best groups.
After shooting cases of both It does seem like the Winchester rounds may feed more reliably.

I tend to favor Winchester for that reason.

[J_Rico]

Originally Posted by ABNAK

Now that might be the only exception for me, and that is mostly because you can't get ANY other JHP to expand from a snubbie as far as I know.

The 135gr short barrel load expanded really well in water for me out of my 642.

[barth]

Originally Posted by J_Rico

The 135gr short barrel load expanded really well in water for me out of my 642.

Speer's Short Barrel GDHP 38 revolver ammo is outstanding.
That's all I run in my S&W 342 ti 38 +P.

[avenues165]

I just found out this last Saturday that my LGS is stocking GDs in 357 sig. Great news for me, I have been wanting to try them out of my G24 for a while.

I am looking for a good load for my G24. I figured the GDs, with their bonded construction, might be able to handle the extra velocity out of the 6" barrel. I am figuring, conservatively, I am getting ~1,450 to ~1,500fps from them.

I still have to test the GDs and the Hornady 124gr xtp to see if they can hold together. I figure both may be a good bet, although I worry about overpenetration with the XTP.

[JW1178]

Originally Posted by avenues165

I still have to test the GDs and the Hornady 124gr xtp to see if they can hold together. I figure both may be a good bet, although I worry about overpenetration with the XTP.

GD's handle the velosity, you should see how big my 165 and 180's get coming out of my G20! They hold together too. XTP's don't expand much, and the jacket comes off of the DoubleTap 10mm 180gr XTP's.

[LawScholar]

Originally Posted by NEOH212

I've never really worried about how much a round expands. As long as it penetrates to adequate depth to reach the vitals and doesn't over penetrate, I'm good to go.

I'm fine with a compromise between expansion and penetration.

That's why my first choice is Gold Dot.

This is why I have Gold Dots in everything I run, save for my Hornady 00 Buckshot.

Most of all, for me, the round is extremely consistent.

[NEOH212]

Originally Posted by barth

Speer's Short Barrel GDHP 38 revolver ammo is outstanding.
That's all I run in my S&W 342 ti 38 +P.

It's arguably the best .38+P load on the market period!