Hillbilly Ballistic Labs testing

[Rick R]

I've been playing with some 180gr Speer Gold Dots and BE-86.  I worked up to my target velocity of 1250fps from the SR1911 and lucked into 1205fps from the 3" GP-100 using the same load.  Using Alliant jhp data I arrived at 8.4gr without any excess pressure indications. Accuracy at 25 yards was decent though not as good as the 180gr XTP at 1190fps (most accurate load to date with jacketed bullets).

I shot two into water jugs today at 20' and began wondering if old Butch was using too much dynamite:



The 1911 bullet penetrated into the fourth jug, is basically .55" diameter and weighs 145.6gr.  The GP-100 penetrated thru the fourth jug, bouncing off the fifth, is .70" diameter and weighs 177.8gr.  I'm thinking about backing the load down a step to @ 1175fps from the SR1911 which will average @ 1140fps from the GP-100.  I know water is hard on bullets but it seems I may be over the Gold Dot's threshold.

Warning! I reload while drinking tequila.  My data is safe in my guns not yours, if you use my data and blow your fool self up we will come to your funeral laugh at you and split your gear amongst us. 

[The_Shadow]

Rick, the 8.4 grain loads of BE-86 is a good load and 1250 is a good velocity from the 1911.  I think older Gold Dots seem to hold together a little better I think than todays.  They do much better in gel, than into water and even better in flesh and bone.  Remember that as they roll back and open up the expansion gets larger (maybe 1 inch+) than the final expansion typically seen as they continue to fold back.  Love the Gold Dots performance and hope that Speer will start to offer the 200 grain as components soon.

[Rick R]

The_Shadow
I believe I'll load up the rest of this box with the 8.4gr load and see how it goes. 

I called Speer/ATK/Federal/Alliant tech support recently and after I got my primary answer asked the support guy if the 200gr Gold Dot was going to be released as a component.  His reply was to ask if that was an old bullet.    He hadn't heard of the current factory round...

Thanks!

[The_Shadow]

May be we will see those 200's soon...

[Pumpkinheaver]

Glad to see this bullet and powder tested. This is my hunting load this year. I generally use 180 XTPs but I like to tinker and hopefully I'll get to bust a deer with one of these.

[Chefgerg]

As soon as the 200gr GD's get out there. I am sure Underwood  and others will work them up. would definately love to see a 200Gr GD doing 1300 fps++++ 

[PCFlorida]

As soon as the 200gr GD's get out there. I am sure Underwood  and others will work them up. would definately love to see a 200Gr GD doing 1300 fps++++ 

It is possible. I was doing some work with the 200 XTP last year and had it at 1260. I need to get back to that one of these days. This was in my Grand Power.

[The_Shadow]

When I tested the old style 200 Gold Dot that were from 40S&W contract pull-down ammo, I loaded some 10mm to test with 9.4 grains of Longshot.
Tested Jan/1/2014 one of the Speer 200 grain Gold Dots I had previously loaded to 1265 fps using 9.4 grains of LongShot.
Projectile penetrated 4 gallon water jugs but was stuck in the partial hole in the back of fourth gallon jug.  One petal was in the third jug but the rest was in the 4th jug.
Then sent some to Intercooler to test
Tested Limited Pro 4.75" 200gr Gold Dot 9.4gr's LongShot 1285, 1299, 1298, 1289, 1274. Average = 1289 FPS/ 738 LBS. Stout and accurate!
Reduced to 9.2 grains
Speer 200gr Gold Dot HP 9.2gr's Long Shot 1235, 1248, 1211, 1252, 1239. Average = 1237 FPS/ 680 LBS Nice!