Speer GD or GD SB?
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10,861 Posts
I have an XD9sc and an LCP. I have no problems shooting regular Gold Dots in them, but if I can find the "short barrel" Gold Dot's that's what I prefer.
They are designed for a lower recoil and low muzzle flash. However, they have been rather scarce. I don't have any at the present moment.
No problems shooting regular Gold Dot's though if that's all that is available.
They are designed for a lower recoil and low muzzle flash. However, they have been rather scarce. I don't have any at the present moment.
No problems shooting regular Gold Dot's though if that's all that is available.
the GDSB's are little more than marketing hype.
The regular GD's have a slower powder that in 3" guns tends to leave some unburnt and creates a nice cloud of smoke.
The GSDB's use less powder and a slightly faster one from what I understand, this reduces the smoke-cloud signature and leaves the illusion of a more efficient round.
A friend and I tested velocities in a 3" gun and they are nearly identical - waste of time unless you're really bothered by the muzzle flash or powder report of your existing GDs.
The regular GD's have a slower powder that in 3" guns tends to leave some unburnt and creates a nice cloud of smoke.
The GSDB's use less powder and a slightly faster one from what I understand, this reduces the smoke-cloud signature and leaves the illusion of a more efficient round.
A friend and I tested velocities in a 3" gun and they are nearly identical - waste of time unless you're really bothered by the muzzle flash or powder report of your existing GDs.
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381 Posts
I use Speer Gold Dot 9mm LUGER +P 124GR Short Barrel Hollow Point.
S&W M&P 9c
They work fine and that's what I need to know.
S&W M&P 9c
They work fine and that's what I need to know.
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250 Posts
in a short .38 spl. the SB ammo is a better choice. More dependable expansion and a heavier grain bullet than the regular GD.
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10,861 Posts
Thanks for that post. If they are leaving muzzle at same velocity than there's really no difference. I've been shooting regular Gold Dot's for a while since I've been unable to locate the Short Barrel. At least they were at the same price so I wasn't getting ripped off.
But from here on out, I think I'll stick to the regular GD's.
Thanks again for posting your test results!
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5,689 Posts
Just regular GD for me. It is much easier to buy a bunch of regular GD ammo and use it between 3 pistols and a rifle, than it is to keep some short barrel stuff for one gun.
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118 Posts
I have never used the short barrels, the regular Gold Dots shot just fine from my P3AT.
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152 Posts
I guess the difference in the performance may not be big enough to switch to the Gold Dot SB rounds if U have varying sizes of 9mm firearms. But if you only only shirt barrel 9mm pistol then it may be the better choice. It was explained to me that because of the lenth of the barrel the rounds from normal Gold Dots perform different than they would in a 3inch barrel like my G26.
The SB ammo was created to improve the performance of the round in the smaller 9mm handguns that have been produced over the years. Eventually when you start making these guns smaller, youre gona have to start making ajustments to the ammo to insure that the best possible results your weapon can achieve are reachable.
I guess a good example would be buying a suit:
A Taylor Made to fit Italian Suit VS. The Same suit but off the rack in your basic size. The one that is Taylor made will look and feel a lot better as it hangs off your frame than off the rack in your size.
I just bought some of the Speer GDSB 124gr +P 9mm ammo, and fired off a whole box. This was my 1st time shooting any Speer GD ammo. I liked it, and I liked it. Im a beginner and am trying to find the ammo I am most accurate with that can also be found available for regular practice at the range. I figure The Speer Gold Dots in 124gr +p are a good choice even if I cant find the SB variety. I shot the Speer GDSB a lot more accurately than the [email protected] 100gr Pow'RBall ammo I tried as well.
The thing is, I'm just getting started in deciding which ammo I want to use going forward. Changing ammo down the line because they may come out with an ammo that was designed specifically for my G26 (LOL) would not be a smart decision. Sometimes you gotta use what your most comfortable with rather than what seems to be the new & better thing at the time.
The SB ammo was created to improve the performance of the round in the smaller 9mm handguns that have been produced over the years. Eventually when you start making these guns smaller, youre gona have to start making ajustments to the ammo to insure that the best possible results your weapon can achieve are reachable.
I guess a good example would be buying a suit:
A Taylor Made to fit Italian Suit VS. The Same suit but off the rack in your basic size. The one that is Taylor made will look and feel a lot better as it hangs off your frame than off the rack in your size.
I just bought some of the Speer GDSB 124gr +P 9mm ammo, and fired off a whole box. This was my 1st time shooting any Speer GD ammo. I liked it, and I liked it. Im a beginner and am trying to find the ammo I am most accurate with that can also be found available for regular practice at the range. I figure The Speer Gold Dots in 124gr +p are a good choice even if I cant find the SB variety. I shot the Speer GDSB a lot more accurately than the [email protected] 100gr Pow'RBall ammo I tried as well.
The thing is, I'm just getting started in deciding which ammo I want to use going forward. Changing ammo down the line because they may come out with an ammo that was designed specifically for my G26 (LOL) would not be a smart decision. Sometimes you gotta use what your most comfortable with rather than what seems to be the new & better thing at the time.
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152 Posts
I read a 9mm ammo review somewhere, and i said that the diff in gunpowder between the regular GD vs. GDSB makes a difference in performance on the short barrel 9mm vs the long barrel 9mm. I dont think the price is much different (maybe about the same $$). You are just getting the round that fits your weapon better.
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8,647 Posts
Regular GD +ps are good for me and my pistols.
GBK
GBK
I have GDSB for my .38 Spcl, .357 Magnum and .40 S&W, and I believe their value in short-barrel handguns is more than just marketing hype. I do question, though, why Speer chose to use the same bullet in the .38 and .357 loads, given the faster speeds in the magnum round.
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1,727 Posts
after watching a few video's the gold dot out preformed the federal ammo... but I'm sure that the federal ammo would do just fine..
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