Speer Gold dots

[40CAL]

Are Speer Gold Dots GD a hollow point? I see a few different types.
GD, GD HP, LE what are the difference?

LE= law enforcement

HP=hollow point?

GD= ?

or GD HP= ?

I was looking to get some Speer Gold Dots in hollow point for home defence.

Thanks.

[dchang0]

Abbreviation Key:
BT - boat tail, FMJ - full metal jacket, FN - flat nose, GD - Gold Dot, HP - hollow point, SP - soft point,
TMJ - encased-core full jacket, RN - round nose, SWC - semi-wadcutter, WC - wadcutter

No mention of LE, but you are probably right. LE=Law Enforcement.

[The Tech-1]

Yea GDHP just means gold dot hollow point.

[PutTogether]

Gold Dot is a type of bullet made by Speer. You can buy actual loaded cartridges that use a gold dot bullet in a multitude of different calibers. I believe that you can also purchase just the bullets and load your own ammo if you were so inclined.

The gold dot is a hollow point. A modern, "high tech" type hollowpoint that is designed to give maximum penetration, while still maintaining reliable expansion. It got it's name "gold dot" because after mushrooming during expansion, a small "gold dot" (actually copper) is visible through the expanded petals.

Many manufacturers make their own high end, high tech type hollow point bullets and give them their own special names. Speer makes the Gold Dot, Remington makes the Golden Sabre, and Winchester makes the Silvertip, and the Ranger-T.

Gold Dot is just Speer's high end version of a hollowpoint.

To simplify it to high school logic class: All Gold Dot's are hollow points, but not all hollow points are Gold Dots.

[PutTogether]

Oh, and since I answered your question, now I feel entitled to give unsolicited advice:

You mention you were "looking to get some gold dots....." for home defense. I can't fault your choice, they are an excellent bullet. But i URGE you (especially if your gun is a semi auto) to NOT just buy a box of them and call it a day.

Buy enough to actually test the round in your gun to make sure you know how it feels, and that your gun will reliably function with the round. I don't care if someone has the most reliable, never failed to fire, glock ever made, if you are going to use a particular load in a pistol for home defense, run at LEAST 150 rounds through the gun, WITH THE SAME MAGAZINE(S) you plan to use in it to make sure it runs right. Don't cheap out on this one.

I would allow that you may not need as many to test function if you are using a revolver, but it is still a good idea if only to know what to expect - how the round will recoil, where it will hit, etc etc etc.

[epic4444]

gold dots are the best hollowpoint/defense ammo in book..never had a problem..but to each his own

[Katana]

For all intents and purposes, all Speer Gold Dot ammo is Hollow Point. I believe some of their heavy hunting bullets (such as 44 Mag.) are Semi-Jacketed Soft Points.

Although Speer does promote GD ammo for LE use, as far as I know they do not have a "For Law Enforcement Use Only" sales policy.

Speer GD ammo has an excellent reputation for reliable and consistent performance.

http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/gold_dot_const.aspx

[FieldsofFire]

It would be a great round for HD. Many LE agencies use it in their service weapons. I keep some on hand as well. You do not have to be LE to possess them.

+1 to what PutTogether said. Buy 150-250 rounds of it. Run a good number through as test rounds to ensure functionality and then load some mags full of it. Keep the rest (at least a box or two) in the boxes, your own case, or your bugout bag in case things deteriorate quickly and you have to leave while taking some with you.

[BillCA]

Actually, I'll agree with the above advice about function-testing the ammo in your gun, but with a way to keep the expense down and still have good confidence that your gun will run reliabily.

Purchase, at a minimum, enough ammo for three magazines full. Load a full magazine and fire 3 rounds for accuracy (slow fire). Now fire the rest of the magazine in "double taps" (rapid pairs). If no malfunctions, stage one is complete.

Load a bullet into the magazine and chamber the round from the magazine. Reload the magazine with 2 HP rounds to be the last ones fired, fill the magazine with FMJ and the "top 3" rounds should be HP rounds. Load the magazine and fire double-taps until empty. This checks the reliability of the gun feeding HP's with a full mag and at the bottom of a nearly empty mag, when spring tension is lightest.

Repeat with your spare magazine(s). This takes about 20 rounds of premium per mag (assuming a 15 rd mag) plus some FMJ range ammo. It tests the reliability of the ammo through all phases of the cycle, especially at the top of the magazine and bottom, where FTFs seem most likely to occur.

When loading magazine on a budget, I suggest loading only the primary magazine with JHP's and using less expensive FMJ or less expensive JHP (WWB, AE, etc) in your spare magazine. This is based on the idea that you're most likely to use less than a full magazine in the first place. And if you're loading a 2nd magazine, you're wasting money with your misses or you need penetration from FMJ.

[TenSeven]

Buy enough to actually test the round in your gun..

This is excellent advice. Do do do test your self-defense pistol AND the ammo as much as you can afford. Worth every dime.

[Vin496]

If you notice Speer GD come in packs of 20, while Speer GD LE come in a pack of 50.

For that matter any LE marked box of HD ammo I have seen, seems to come in a box of 50. I believe that is the difference, just the packaging.

[Gregchico]

+1 on the testing...

Personal story.

I have a S&W 340 that I like to carry 357 loads in. I actually had some other high end bullets "hammer pull" during testing, freezing the cylinder. So far, after 80-ish rounds over 2 years, no Gold Dot 357, 135gr short barrel rounds have exhibited that issue.

[jazman]

I shoot .38+P Gold Dots pretty well exclusively in my 642; from what I have read the round was developed to excel in snub nosed guns and is also used by LE. Good stuff.

[Res]

I shoot .38+P Gold Dots pretty well exclusively in my 642; from what I have read the round was developed to excel in snub nosed guns and is also used by LE. Good stuff.

jazman, have you ever done any "ballistic" testing with your GD's? I shot some out of my 637 into wet newspaper and wasn't satisfied with the results. Hardly any expansion, with only one side of the pedals opening up. All of the ammo was out of one box, so maybe i need to get a few more boxes and try a few from each.

[40CAL]

Sure will test out the gun as much possible. Great feedback and advise from all you. Ive heard nothing but good stuff from speer gold dots. The only thing is finding them. Ive really had no luck. I have some federal fmj 180gr for now it was all i could find. i just needed to have something. What good is it to have a gun if you have no ammo. But im still looking around for the gold dots.

Thanks.