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Can you link the test? How much expansion did you get with the 158 grn SWC?
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I just posted three tests that are not consistent with that position. Even ATK's own site shows mediocre expansion for the short bbl Gold Dot in IWBA heavy clothing.
Can you link the test? How much expansion did you get with the 158 grn SWC?
125 and 135 gr Gold Dot test
Speer Gold Dot 125 gr +P and 135 gr +P are fired from a 2" S&W 638 through four layers of denim into calibrated 10% gelatin.
BB calibration: 607 fps, 3.4"
135 gr
Impact velocity: 783 fps
Penetration: 13.8"
Retained weight: 133.8 gr
125 gr
Impact velocity: 752 fps
Penetration: 16.5"
Retained weight: 124.4 gr
No expansion in either
case.
135 gr short barrel redo
I did a previous test with Speer .38 spl +P 135 gr Gold Dot Part no. 53921 from my S&W 638 and it had less than stellar results. This more detailed test confirms the results of the earlier test.
This load is supposed to be one of the few recommended loads for a short barreled .38 revolver and it did not perform as expected. I thought it might have something to do with the colder temperatures the day we did the testing so I redid the test. I left the revolver and ammo in the refrigerator overnight and kept it in the cooler on the way out, then fired a couple shots with it cold and one with it warm. I also fired a shot from a 4" GP-100. All shots were through four layers of denim and impact velocities are noted.
BB calibration: 608.4 fps, 3.5"
589.5 fps, 3.25"
Cold ammo/638:
Impact velocity: 801 fps
Retained weight: 134.7 gr
Penetration: 16.7"
No expansion
Impact velocity: 811 fps
Retained weight: 135.8 gr
Penetration: 15.5"
No expansion
Warm ammo/638:
Impact velocity: 880 fps
Retained weight:133.2 gr
Penetration: 12.1"
Max expansion: 0.532"
Min expansion: 0.388"
Warm ammo/GP-100:
Impact velocity: 1,071 fps
Retained weight: 134.2 gr
Penetration:14.3"
Max expansion: 0.543"
Min expansion: 0.508"
Buffalo Bore 158 gr +P LSWCHP test
Buffalo Bore 158 gr LSWCHP gas checked fired from a 2" berrel S&W 638 through four layers of denim into calibrated 10% gelatin.
BB calibration: 586.8 fps, 3.4"
Impact velocity: 960.4 fps
Penetration: 12.1"
Retained weight: 159.6 gr
Max expansion: 0.695"
Min expansion: 0.599"
I kept the revolver and ammo in a Ziploc baggie submerged in ice water on the trip out to make sure the powder was at a pretty low temperature because of my results with Speer 135 gr +P Gold Dot.
Doc Roberts was involved in the discussion over at Pistol Forum when I posted these tests and he mentioned that almost no JHP performs well from a 2" barrel. 110 gr DPX (which I haven't tested yet) and 135 gr Gold Dot performed best but he agreed that the Gold Dot was marginal when fired through IWBA heavy clothing. It is
probably a good choice for most circumstances, but in my completely inexpert opinion, the BB 158 gr would be better.