Speer Gold Dot vs Federal HST LE - Page 5

johnsonabq · June 9th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkwater

I would expect nothing less in the Defensive Ammunition & Ballistics thread!
YMMV

True, this is what the forum is about, but we need to get real. I find the repetitious debating of the minutia of the various bullet test results somewhat tedious. Why isn't the measured time it take for one of us to draw our weapon and place a perfect double tap at center mass examined with such fervor. Or how well this is done while on the move seeking cover. These are the things that we need to focus on. Federal, Speer, Winchester and the others are applying state of the art physics to bring us the best hollow point bullets man can make. The relative effectiveness of the top five or six cartridges out there is about the same. Lets not forget that the most important thing is what we can do with their product.

OK, sorry, I had to get that off my chest.

Darkwater · June 9th, 2009, 01:43 AM

To be sure - the stats are tedious and thankfully is usually is minutia.

I also think you can find crap that is in use. Recall there was a time when your local PD didn't do any testing and went with the advertising claims. It was only when things failed that they were analyzed and evaluated.

Times on moving and shooting are great. We can swap IDPA stories.

Fred · June 9th, 2009, 02:33 AM

They both seem to work. Gold Dots have a longer track record. I use GDHP in both my G23 and S&W 642. HST's have that wicked petal thing going but I chose the GD's because I know they will work as good as anything else. Any of the proven brands (minus the gimmicky stuff) will work well. Remember Pistol rounds poke holes in things, and it may take several shots to get the job done. No super-duper megga blaster handgun rounds. It takes a Rifle to really tear something up.

BikerRN · June 9th, 2009, 02:44 AM

I will admit I've done some hand-wringing and dithering as well.

I have seen the light though, and try not to worry so much about things like this. I do select a bullet that I'm comfortable with though. Sometimes "Brand New" isn't all that great IMHO.

Besides, I need something to post on when I'm drinking my coffee, so keep these threads going.

Biker

johnsonabq · June 9th, 2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikerRN

I will admit I've done some hand-wringing and dithering as well.

I have seen the light though, and try not to worry so much about things like this. I do select a bullet that I'm comfortable with though. Sometimes "Brand New" isn't all that great IMHO.

Besides, I need something to post on when I'm drinking my coffee, so keep these threads going.

Biker

Most certainly... I have too. There are some good discussions here. And yes, there is some crap out there. (Cartridge selection I mean) It's good to find that stuff out. If someone is able to debunk a manufacturers outlandish claims I want to hear about it.

I'm still here sipping my coffee and reading. Keep it up.

DRT · June 19th, 2009, 11:34 PM

You should definitely buy Gold Dot...save the HSTs for the rest of us.

taseal · July 24th, 2009, 12:18 AM

I use Speer GDHP LE 124 +P

one main reason is because this is what I trained with and shot THOUSANDS of rounds on my duty pistol (M&P9) , so I know it works

its on my off duty P226 and on duty M&P9

waredd45 · September 24th, 2009, 04:38 PM

i fired about 500 rounds of this ammo, federal 147 grain hst and no FTF, NO FTE,very accurate. i bought 1000 rounds of this for $13 a box.

4thHorseman · September 24th, 2009, 05:09 PM

For years I was on the best ammo kick. I would buy boxes of expensive stuff, then another good brand came out, I bought that, then another good kind came out...you get what I am say?
It will never end.
My opinion, buy a good quality hollow point that feeds reliably. Buy a few boxes and use hard ball for practice.
You will never catch the "best bullet" craize.
Basically when it comes right down to it, most similiar weight bullets and charges perform much the same.
Good luck friend.

theheater905 · September 24th, 2009, 10:56 PM

I have both the HST and the Gold Dot and consider them my top 2 choices followed by Winchester Ranger T. If I remember correctly the Speer Gold Dot is a bonded bullet and that is why it has slightly better penetration in certain media, the HST is not a bonded bullet. Both cartridges penetrate about the same depth in gelatin, however the HST seems to be more consistent and have better expansion than the Gold Dots. The Ranger T is also Bonded, penetrates well but again seems to have slightly less expansion. With all the comparisons I have seen and the unscientific comparisons I tried myself, there was very little difference between the bullets fragmenting petals, the edge here however does go to the Bonded Gold Dot and Ranger T. The bonded bullets hold better, occasionally the HST sheds one.
The 45 HST 230gr we tested opened up to .85 and .87, we couldnt find the 3 round, all mushroomed perfectly. The 9mm HST 147gr opens up to about .70 if I remember correctly. I have not tried Gold Dot's yet but tests I have seen showed the 9mm 147 gr opened up slightly less varying from .62 to .65. The above info is just my opinion formed by what I have read, seen and tested. All you can do is take the info you find and use it to make a logical choice. Again all that I have tried is unscientific, the bullets were fired into water jugs from about 15 feet. If you buy ammunition from any of the major manufacturers you cant go wrong, they are all good.

June 9th, 2009, 02:33 AM	#43
Fred Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PNW Posts: 129	They both seem to work. Gold Dots have a longer track record. I use GDHP in both my G23 and S&W 642. HST's have that wicked petal thing going but I chose the GD's because I know they will work as good as anything else. Any of the proven brands (minus the gimmicky stuff) will work well. Remember Pistol rounds poke holes in things, and it may take several shots to get the job done. No super-duper megga blaster handgun rounds. It takes a Rifle to really tear something up. __________________ There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. - General Smedley Butler Romans 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].

June 9th, 2009, 02:44 AM	#44
BikerRN VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: State of Discombobulation Posts: 3,778	I will admit I've done some hand-wringing and dithering as well. I have seen the light though, and try not to worry so much about things like this. I do select a bullet that I'm comfortable with though. Sometimes "Brand New" isn't all that great IMHO. Besides, I need something to post on when I'm drinking my coffee, so keep these threads going. Biker __________________ If I knew I was going to get in to a gunfight I most ceratinly wouln't bring a handgun or two, and I don't know any smart person that does.

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June 9th, 2009, 01:43 AM	#42
Darkwater Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 79	To be sure - the stats are tedious and thankfully is usually is minutia. I also think you can find crap that is in use. Recall there was a time when your local PD didn't do any testing and went with the advertising claims. It was only when things failed that they were analyzed and evaluated. Times on moving and shooting are great. We can swap IDPA stories.

June 19th, 2009, 11:34 PM	#46
DRT Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: usa Posts: 68	You should definitely buy Gold Dot...save the HSTs for the rest of us.

July 24th, 2009, 12:18 AM	#47
taseal Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 291	I use Speer GDHP LE 124 +P one main reason is because this is what I trained with and shot THOUSANDS of rounds on my duty pistol (M&P9) , so I know it works its on my off duty P226 and on duty M&P9

September 24th, 2009, 04:38 PM	#48
waredd45 New Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: merced,ca Posts: 2	i fired about 500 rounds of this ammo, federal 147 grain hst and no FTF, NO FTE,very accurate. i bought 1000 rounds of this for $13 a box.

September 24th, 2009, 05:09 PM	#49
4thHorseman Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: somewhere Posts: 27	For years I was on the best ammo kick. I would buy boxes of expensive stuff, then another good brand came out, I bought that, then another good kind came out...you get what I am say? It will never end. My opinion, buy a good quality hollow point that feeds reliably. Buy a few boxes and use hard ball for practice. You will never catch the "best bullet" craize. Basically when it comes right down to it, most similiar weight bullets and charges perform much the same. Good luck friend.

September 24th, 2009, 10:56 PM	#50
theheater905 Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 65	I have both the HST and the Gold Dot and consider them my top 2 choices followed by Winchester Ranger T. If I remember correctly the Speer Gold Dot is a bonded bullet and that is why it has slightly better penetration in certain media, the HST is not a bonded bullet. Both cartridges penetrate about the same depth in gelatin, however the HST seems to be more consistent and have better expansion than the Gold Dots. The Ranger T is also Bonded, penetrates well but again seems to have slightly less expansion. With all the comparisons I have seen and the unscientific comparisons I tried myself, there was very little difference between the bullets fragmenting petals, the edge here however does go to the Bonded Gold Dot and Ranger T. The bonded bullets hold better, occasionally the HST sheds one. The 45 HST 230gr we tested opened up to .85 and .87, we couldnt find the 3 round, all mushroomed perfectly. The 9mm HST 147gr opens up to about .70 if I remember correctly. I have not tried Gold Dot's yet but tests I have seen showed the 9mm 147 gr opened up slightly less varying from .62 to .65. The above info is just my opinion formed by what I have read, seen and tested. All you can do is take the info you find and use it to make a logical choice. Again all that I have tried is unscientific, the bullets were fired into water jugs from about 15 feet. If you buy ammunition from any of the major manufacturers you cant go wrong, they are all good.