Speer Gold Dot 125gr .357 Sig in Clear Ballistics Gel.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Speer Gold Dot 125gr .357 Sig in Clear Ballistics Gel.

Posted: 6/17/2017 9:24:06 AM EDT

The second .357 Sig load my coworker wanted me to try was the Speer 125gr Gold Dot. Test gun was a Glock 31 fired into two 16 inch blocks of Clear Ballistics gel.

The first round into bear gel had an impact velocity of 1415fps, penetrated to 14 inches, and expanded to .70 inches. Round two’s speed was 1409fps with a penetration of 16 inches and expansion of .68 inches.

I didn’t get a velocity of the first round in the heavy clothing but it penetrated to 18 inches and expanded to .58 inches. Round two had a velocity of 1425fps, penetrated to 17.5 inches and expanded to .56 inches.

https://generalcartridge.wordpress.com/

Posted: 6/18/2017 7:44:18 PM EDT

[#1]

Thanks for posting this. I really like the 357 Sig Gold Dot. It works great in my P320 compact, but feeding is sketchy in my Glock 31. The bullet will nosedive when it gets pushed up in the magazine. The rear of the cartridge hits the feed lips, but the front will tilt down so the bullet hits the front edge of the magazine instead of hitting the feed ramp. It's a shame because it's an awesome bullet.

Posted: 6/18/2017 7:52:15 PM EDT

[#2]

Excellent pictures and results OP. I carry the 125 JHP Gold Dots in my G33 with confidence. Plus I have quite a bit of it.

Posted: 6/19/2017 8:18:12 AM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for posting this. I really like the 357 Sig Gold Dot. It works great in my P320 compact, but feeding is sketchy in my Glock 31. The bullet will nosedive when it gets pushed up in the magazine. The rear of the cartridge hits the feed lips, but the front will tilt down so the bullet hits the front edge of the magazine instead of hitting the feed ramp. It's a shame because it's an awesome bullet.

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Interesting ... they feed fine for me but each gun is different. I also use Underwood's loading which is 1475fps so the extra charge may have something to do with it.

And yes, great test OP.

Posted: 6/21/2017 8:47:43 AM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for posting this. I really like the 357 Sig Gold Dot. It works great in my P320 compact, but feeding is sketchy in my Glock 31. The bullet will nosedive when it gets pushed up in the magazine. The rear of the cartridge hits the feed lips, but the front will tilt down so the bullet hits the front edge of the magazine instead of hitting the feed ramp. It's a shame because it's an awesome bullet.

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Are you using G31 mags or G22 mags. Many will argue with me saying that the mag's follower doesn't matter. But I have had similar "nose-diving" jams in my G32 when I used my 40SW mags with 40SW followers. Using specific 357Sig followers solved it for me.

It's ironic that the bottle-neck cartridge was touted to be super jam-resistant but I have found the opposite, at least in Glocks.

Posted: 6/21/2017 10:45:05 PM EDT

[#5]

thanks. Bullet looks El Nasty when it hits someone or thing.

Posted: 6/25/2017 5:21:11 PM EDT

[#6]

Thanks for posting. Do you have the part number to the tested rounds?

Posted: 6/26/2017 12:18:17 PM EDT

[#7]

I do not.

Posted: 6/26/2017 4:00:08 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for posting. Do you have the part number to the tested rounds?

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Go here.

Posted: 6/26/2017 5:35:42 PM EDT

[#9]

Again? That is cool and all, but are there any testing standards you are using? Temperature? Gel consistency? Distance?

Posted: 6/26/2017 7:25:11 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Again? That is cool and all, but are there any testing standards you are using? Temperature? Gel consistency? Distance?

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The gel is shot at ambient room temperature. Clear Ballistics gel always has the same consistency. Distance is 10 feet.

https://www.clearballistics.com/about/

Posted: 6/27/2017 3:48:52 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

Are you using G31 mags or G22 mags. Many will argue with me saying that the mag's follower doesn't matter. But I have had similar "nose-diving" jams in my G32 when I used my 40SW mags with 40SW followers. Using specific 357Sig followers solved it for me.

It's ironic that the bottle-neck cartridge was touted to be super jam-resistant but I have found the opposite, at least in Glocks.

View Quote

I'm using G31 mags with #3 and #4 followers. I've tried G22 mags with similar results. With a full mag as the rounds are cycled out of the mag, the top round (on the feed lips) gets little pressure from the round below. Sometimes there's a gap of a millimeter or two between the front of the cartridge (right before the shoulder starts) and the cartridge below. That gap allows the cartridge to nose dive into the front of the mag. As you get half way through the magazine, this problem corrects itself and there is strong pressure on the top round. HST ammo seems to work better for some reason. I also have a G32, and I haven't noticed this problem in the 13rd mags.

Posted: 6/27/2017 11:51:13 PM EDT

[#12]

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Quoted:

Go here.

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Speer makes 2 versions. I carry the ones you linked. I assume those were the ones tested but was trying to confirm.

Posted: 6/28/2017 3:57:14 AM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Speer makes 2 versions. I carry the ones you linked. I assume those were the ones tested but was trying to confirm.

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I didn't realize there were 2 LE vrrsions. I wonder why they make 2.

Posted: 6/28/2017 10:51:35 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
I didn't realize there were 2 LE vrrsions. I wonder why they make 2.

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The 5 petal 53918 version is supposed to penetrate a little less than the 6 petal version. When testing with 4 layer denim covered milk jugs and my P320c, both versions make it into the 4th jug, FWIW.

Posted: 6/30/2017 10:15:38 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

I'm using G31 mags with #3 and #4 followers. I've tried G22 mags with similar results. With a full mag as the rounds are cycled out of the mag, the top round (on the feed lips) gets little pressure from the round below. Sometimes there's a gap of a millimeter or two between the front of the cartridge (right before the shoulder starts) and the cartridge below. That gap allows the cartridge to nose dive into the front of the mag. As you get half way through the magazine, this problem corrects itself and there is strong pressure on the top round. HST ammo seems to work better for some reason. I also have a G32, and I haven't noticed this problem in the 13rd mags.

View Quote

Yes. Same here. Because of the bottleneck, the cartridge is now tapered like a 7.62X39 round and would be much more reliable in a curved magazine IMO. I rarely get a jam but when I do, it's the bullet nose-diving into the base of the feed ramp due to a lack of support from the other rounds in the mag.