Speer Gold Dot 125gr 357 SIG Gel Test Results

[plouffedaddy]

Finished up the testing of the 125gr 357 SIG Gold Dot (#54234) round. Here are the conditions and results.

Test conditions:
-Glock 22 with G31 barrel (4.48'')
-Test rounds fired from 10 feet
-FBI spec Clear Ballistics gel block (more on this below)
-4 layers of denim

Results:
-1373 fps, 522 ft/lbs energy
-18.75'' of penetration
-Recovered weight: 124gr
-Average expansion: .515''


The manufacture of the gel block, Clear Ballistics, claims their gel meets FBI specs for testing. I calibrate my gel per their specs prior to testing and use 4 layers of denim per IWBA protocol.

However, by no means am I saying this test is a substitute for the great work industry professionals like Dr. Roberts and others do. I'm just a shooter that likes to learn about the products I use.

Here's the video showing the test, the permanent cavity, and a discussion of the results:

357SIG GEL TEST HD VIDEO REVIEW LINK

[ST911]

Very close to a couple of other tests I've seen. That round was pretty devastating in some whitetail, too.

Quite a bit of bark and blast indoors.

[WS6]

That is the tx dps loading. The -918 loading is going to penetrate about 1-2" less, and expand a touch more.

[wrinkles]

plouffedaddy the pic you posted looks like it's an expanding fmj not a gold dot.

[plouffedaddy]

plouffedaddy the pic you posted looks like it's an expanding fmj not a gold dot.

It's a pretty unique bullet design as far as the Gold Dot round is concerned---probably why it looks a little odd.

FWIW, I've got the Underwood loading of this ammo on the way and will be conducting the same test on it in the upcoming weeks; I'm interested to see how the increased velocity impacts performance....

[wrinkles]

It's a pretty unique bullet design as far as the Gold Dot round is concerned---probably why it looks a little odd.

FWIW, I've got the Underwood loading of this ammo on the way and will be conducting the same test on it in the upcoming weeks; I'm interested to see how the increased velocity impacts performance....

I carry 124gr 9mm gold dots they and 180gr .40 neither are silver in color and they a conventional HP cavity, the pic looks to be a guard dog fmj. Maybe it's just the angle but it doesn't look like any gold dot I've seen.

[Nemecsek]

The picture is black and white. It is a normal gold dot for 357 sig.

[WS6]

The picture is black and white. It is a normal gold dot for 357 sig.

It's one of them, the round he tested is the TX DPS load, and it is different from the one you will buy at the store, which is loaded with 0.2gr less powder, and designed to penetrate 1.5" less while expanding slightly more and since it has less powder, having less recoil. The load you buy in the store is the FAMS/FBI load.

[1slow01Z71]

I need to get me one of these. Looks like it could be a fun round for a deer lease sidearm.

[WS6]

I need to get me one of these. Looks like it could be a fun round for a deer lease sidearm.

Out of my P226 Elite ST they shoot 1-1.5" 5-shot groups at 25 yards.
This was shot with the TX DPS load by the nice crew at GGI, I'm not that skilled, but to me, it's a laser-gun. This is the best group they got, telling me most of them hovered around 1.25-1.5". The barrel and slide are 100% factory (and they fit like a bank vault with literally zero movement. I can shake the barrel/slide with no recoil spring and it just stays together, my 9mm Elite ST was floppy and loose, SIG QA/QC sucks, but THIS ONE, is a good one.), no fitting done, except treated with QPQ (you will note despite being an ST model, it's black). I point, it goes where my mind wants it to. Magic.

PS. I got 1355fps from my P226 Elite ST QPQ'ed barrel at about 15' using this load. 4.4" conventional rifled.