Gold Dot Short Barrel vs. Reg. Gold Dots

[chr_edw]

Is there a difference between the Short Barrel Gold dots and the regular gold dots if say both were 9mm 124gr +P since they sell both?

The reason I ask is that I can buy a 50 round box of the regular for only a few dollars more than 20 of the short barrel.

I would like to put enough down range to prove reliable, but it would get expensive quick at 1.00 per round.


Thanks for your help.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[forestranger]

Don't know about difference in velocities. I've been able to stock up on 50rd boxes of regular 124+p GD at local gun shows for $20/box. It averages 1200fps out of FNP9 and 1126fps out of PF9.

[Marvin Knox]

I suppose it depends on how long your barrel is. At velocities over 1000fps, I wouldn't worry about it.

The idea of the short barrels is to get a little more velocity and less flash out of the shorter barrels. But, at least with the 38 cals., the actual hollow point is larger also with more grooves to mushroom quicker and easier at low velocities.

I shoot a 1 and 7/8 inch barrel so it's a big deal. If someone is taliking over 1000 and perhaps over 1200, the whole concept wouldn't apply to them and the money would be wasted. Not only that, but the bullet would mushroom way too fast at those speeds thereby cutting down on penetration.

That's the way I understand things, anyway.

MARV

[Ragin Cajun]

The way I understood it is the S.B. ammo has lower velocity and is designed to expand the same at the lower velocity.

[Thefumegator]

Ragin Cajun has hit it pretty close -- the "SB" ammo, they say, has powder blended for a different pressure curve, intended for subcompact guns, and the projectile has been tweaked to expand the same as the regular Gold Dot at lower velocity.

Wes

[Super Trucker]

Speer Ammo - Ballistics Tables
Here is a link to the ballistics of both.
I use the SB in my 1 7/8" barrel J-Frame .357 Mag

[chr_edw]

I have come to the conclusion that I will go with the regular 124 +P since forest ranger has tested it out of his pf9 and it is still over 1100 fps. Should expand just fine.