I?ve been questioning if standard pressure 124gr defense ammo out of 3 or 3.5? barrels will expand properly, or if I should be using a short barrel variant such as the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel Personal Protection, Sig Sauer Elite Performance V-Crown, or Federal Premium Personal Defense for short barrels, then I came across this Ammo Quest video testing the standard pressure 124gr Federal HST Tactical LE stuff from a 3? barrel.  I would venture to guess that Speer?s 124gr standard pressure Gold Dot would perform equally as well, but don?t really know. I tend to carry +P in longer barreled 9?s, but getting back on target quickly, with an already snappy little 3 incher is difficult enough, let alone using +P

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-lGqdMdbir0&feature=youtu.be

I think you have to look at gel tests to know for sure. I have never seen HST not expand in any test. I am especially concerned if it's a bonded duty round like Critical Duty. Gold Dot has done well in short barrel tests I've seen but not as well as HST.

I usually want the more powerful round, but in my small Glock 43 I prefer a more pleasant round to shoot. Some +P 115gr has low recoil such as Corbon DPX or Hornady Handgun Hunter monoflex.

I usually carry standard pressure in my GLock 43 but some of the +P like the 115gr monoflex I mention above shoots pleasantly, the pressure rating is because the longer copper bullet seats back further in the case.