200 gr. GDHP

[REDLINE]

Simply that they are listed as current production leaves many questions unanswered.

Like;  Why?, and for what niche?  We're talking about a 40S&W load that barely touches weak 9mm energy levels at a measly claimed 372 foot pounds from a 4" barrel.  Why it over any common 180gr load that more than likely penetrates just as far or farther?

What does "still making them" mean, and who is insisting on them?  Clearly for all practical purposes they are RARE!!!  That leads me to suspect some relatively elite group with some "pull" is insisting on them for possibly a very specific niche.  That's all I can come up with.  In my estimation anything else makes less than no sense.

And why doesn't Speer offer the .400 caliber 200gr GDHP bullet as a handload component?  I'ld bet an awful lot of money they would easily sell +100 times more to 10mm handloading enthusiasts than they do in loaded 40S&W ammo to what would seem to be some top secret group for no good reason.

Of interesting note, if they entirely designed that bullet for a claimed 915 FPS, and it expands well at that velocity, what's it gonna do at 1250 FPS?  I have to think it's using a jacket about as thick as the 180gr GD short barrel bullet, if that.

I pretty much see its existence as strange at best.  Not to mention, other than a few getting their hands on some recently, little to nothing is seems to be publically known about it other than a listing with a part number on a website.

[The_Shadow]

They may actually be of thinner plated jackets than the current Speer 180gr GDHP's, but if they remain a bonded bullet they should do very well in various test media! 

Seeing them as Pulled 40 ammo, what was out of spec?  Was it the powder charge? (most likely as it could have been wrong powder or charge weight being off) because primers and bullets tend to be more uniform. 

I posted earlier in this thread;

For those who purchased the 200gr GDHP's what velocity and or loads would you be trying in your quest? 

What velocity will you be looking for? 1240 fps
What make casing?  Any casings, but probably use Winchester
What powder?   Hodgdon LongShot
What charge weight?  9.4 grains
What primer?  CCI 300 or Winchester LP
What COL seating length?  1.255"

Will these be based off of personal loads? yes , factory loads? SwampFox 1240 fps, other? yes

What I would use is added after the ?  in Red or Purple

[REDLINE]

They may actually be of thinner plated jackets than the current Speer 180gr GDHP's, but if they remain a bonded bullet they should do very well in various test media!

We'll see how they fare from those here that got their hands on some.  Hard to say at this point with so many unknowns.  What you listed for a load I think would be a good starting point in finding out.  Hopefully from a 6" barrel too.

[445 supermag]

I am going to give speer a call this week and try to get some answers for me/us and will report back.  I am going to make a list of questions and  try to get to talk to some sort of expert on design of these bullets and see what he says.

I will report back on this page or a new thread so no one misses it.

Brian

[REDLINE]

Cool.   Very curious to find out what they have to say.

[The_Shadow]

News on FaceBook...

Rocky Mountain Reloading
8 hours ago
For those of you who are sick of waiting the two weeks before we ship, you will be glad to hear that I too am kinda getting frustrated with it. SO, I have now approved unlimited overtime for our employees until we get caught up. That said, we are still WAY slammed so please be patient. It is still going to take us some time to get caught up.

[445 supermag]

News on FaceBook...

Rocky Mountain Reloading
8 hours ago
For those of you who are sick of waiting the two weeks before we ship, you will be glad to hear that I too am kinda getting frustrated with it. SO, I have now approved unlimited overtime for our employees until we get caught up. That said, we are still WAY slammed so please be patient. It is still going to take us some time to get caught up.

Excuse my ignorance but who are rocky mtn reloading?

Brian

[The_Shadow]

They are the company who was selling the 40 cal 200 gr Gold Dot's which were pulled and being sold on their site.
http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/

The OP posted the link for those interested in the purchase of these while they were available...

[445 supermag]

Shadow thanks for that info.   

I wonder if there is any damage to the bullet that has been pulled and if it would affect accuracy?


But I called and tried to get to a tech person who would know all the ins and outs of their GD line but ended up leaving a somewhat long message and NO reply yet. 

Maybe I scared them off LOL

Brian

[The_Shadow]

Brian, they are currently sold out for now on the 200gr Gold Dots... these were pulled from 40 S&W law enforcement ammo line.
The bullet may show some slight marks for being pulled and may show a slight crimp line.   I don't think that these minor markings will affect accuracy or performance.   They should load and shoot well if they were not damaged in the pulling process.

[445 supermag]

SHadow I didn't put that right in my last message.  I meant I called SPEER about their 200 Gr GDHP to find some info on them. 

But will see maybe I will get a call back SOMEDAY from SPEER

Brian

[RMM]

I got the 200 GDHPs this afternoon.  They have a very deep HP cavity and are a wee bit longer than 200 XTP because of it.

The black sealant cleans off very easily with paint thinner;  I tumbled the bullets for about two minutes with about 1 oz. of paint thinner in the media and they came out clean.  The base is beveled vs. the flat XTP base.

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[The_Shadow]

They look good enough to be used.  It will be interesting to see if the petals shear off at the crimp line cuts...  

I really think they will be fine even though the crimp lines cut in to the plating as shown. 

[RMM]

They look good enough to be used.  It will be interesting to see if the petals shear off at the crimp line cuts...  

I really think they will be fine even though the crimp lines cut in to the plating as shown. 

I'm planning on launching some into some 2 liter bottles/milk jugs soon.  In my experience if a bullet will fail due to overexpansion/weakness, this will make it fail. 

Going to work up some loads using AA#9, 800x, and Longshot.  1150-1200 out of the factory bbl is the goal.

[The_Shadow]

You know now that I look at them even closer that may not be a crimp line?    I am leaning toward the tool marks of the equipment used to pull the bullets...OUCH!