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Posted: 10/11/2014 1:26:43 AM EDT
| Is there a feeling as to which one is better? Mainly in 9mm and 10mm. Do they perform pretty much the same or does anyone know of tests or studies that show one is decisively better than the other? If this has been asked before I tried to search it and couldn't find anything, sorry. Thanks for the help. |
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In recent years, I've tended to use quite of bit of various hornady reloading products (as well as live ammunition) because it's been fairly easy to find and more economical compared to other brands. Their line of XTP pistol bullets are no exception as I've used a lot of their 180 grain .400"/10mm bullets in my .40 S&W reloads. My go-to .40 load is to use about 5.9 grains of unique with either a 180 grain plated or fmj target bullet. For self defense rounds, I'll use 6.1 grains of unique with the 180 grain jhp bullet of my choice (which, again, has tended to be the xtp's in recent years). I chronographed my .40 target and jhp loads a few weeks ago and my target loads (with 5.9 grains of unique) were moving at around 950 fps while the jhp loads (with 6.1 grains of unique) were going around 1010 fps and both loads were clocked out of a full size M&P 40 pistol with a 4.25" barrel. The distance from the muzzle to the chrony was around 15 feet. |
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Read this: Ammo discussion
There's a big spreadsheet about 1/3 the way down the page. Click it to read it. Gold Dot > XTP in 9mm and 40SW but both do very well. What's missing from the reloading database, is velocity recommendations from the bullet makers which optimize the terminal performance of their design(s) for self defense. I think the best way to deal with this is to buy a box of their factory ammo, chrono it, and replicate the numbers in your reloads. |
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The XTP is an older design. It relies more heavily on velocity, meaning if you don't get the velocity the bullet needs, it will not expand well/at all.
The Gold Dot does not rely so much on velocity. It will expand at lower than required velocity, just not as far. Gold Dot is a newer technology. Both are quality bullets, and when reloaded properly both will expand and delivery good energy. That being said, the Gold Dot is the best defensive bullet you can buy as a reloading component. Expensive, and harder to find, but the best. |
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XTPs expand down to 700fps.
In a 45acp that's at over 250 yards with a 230gr at 900fps. In a 9mm , 124gr, at 1100fps it's 500 yards. In a 10mm, 155gr at the same velocity it's still 700fps to 500 yards. What the XTP does, is penetrates further before opening than the Gold Dot, and really it was more for hunting than SD, and one of the best for deer , esp from a 44mag, sort of the go to for that. Personally, I like the deeper penetration. It does expand well unless fully clogged with denim. It takes a few layers to do that, and in that case it expands but the petals break off. This one is 45acp, fired from a 1911 with 5" barrel, hand loaded over Bullseye at 890fps. The target was a dog that had been killing my rabbits, and it was about 30 yards away. It entered the right front shoulder as the animal was facing me, running towards me but slightly to my left. The bullet exited the left rear hip after traveling the entire length of the dog. The dog fell over immediately, and the bullet was laying in the grass about two feet behind it. The exit hole was the size of a ping pong ball. This one measures .680. I have had them measure out to .750. 
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Quoted:
Is there a feeling as to which one is better? Mainly in 9mm and 10mm. Do they perform pretty much the same or does anyone know of tests or studies that show one is decisively better than the other? If this has been asked before I tried to search it and couldn't find anything, sorry. Thanks for the help. Better for what? The Gold dot is a 3rd Generation HP that was designed as a Self-Defense bullet. In general Gold Dots will meet the FBI/IWBA test criteria for penetration, expansion, barriers etc. As with all manufacturers, only the heavier bullets meet these specifications. The XTP is an advanced 2nd generation bullet that was originally designed for hunting. They give nice deep penetration while sacrificing a small amount of expansion. They were never designed to meet the FBI/IWBA test criteria, and will normally fail the 4-layer denim test. I load Gold Dots for my 9mm. I load Gold Dots for my 10mm for in town and XTP (200 grain) for the woods where I might want more penetration. |
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Quoted:
Better for what? The Gold dot is a 3rd Generation HP that was designed as a Self-Defense bullet. In general Gold Dots will meet the FBI/IWBA test criteria for penetration, expansion, barriers etc. As with all manufacturers, only the heavier bullets meet these specifications. The HST is an advanced 2nd generation bullet that was originally designed for hunting. They give nice deep penetration while sacrificing a small amount of expansion. They were never designed to meet the FBI/IWBA test criteria, and will normally fail the 4-layer denim test. I load Gold Dots for my 9mm. I load Gold Dots for my 10mm for in town and HST for the woods where I might want more penetration. Quoted:
Quoted:
Is there a feeling as to which one is better? Mainly in 9mm and 10mm. Do they perform pretty much the same or does anyone know of tests or studies that show one is decisively better than the other? If this has been asked before I tried to search it and couldn't find anything, sorry. Thanks for the help. Better for what? The Gold dot is a 3rd Generation HP that was designed as a Self-Defense bullet. In general Gold Dots will meet the FBI/IWBA test criteria for penetration, expansion, barriers etc. As with all manufacturers, only the heavier bullets meet these specifications. The HST is an advanced 2nd generation bullet that was originally designed for hunting. They give nice deep penetration while sacrificing a small amount of expansion. They were never designed to meet the FBI/IWBA test criteria, and will normally fail the 4-layer denim test. I load Gold Dots for my 9mm. I load Gold Dots for my 10mm for in town and HST for the woods where I might want more penetration. I am assuming you mean XTP and not HST in this post? The HST is newer and more advanced than even the Gold Dot Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Just to help explain the differences between the XTP and GD..... The Gold Dot will be far more tolerant of debris in the HP and still expand at ( typically ) lower velocities.
The XTP is also an excellent bullet.... just for a different use IMHO. The XTP design is over 15 years old... that is a long time in Handgun bullet tech. The Gold Dot has a thickly plated , "bonded" jacket..... while the XTP relies on a more old school, more conventional cup and core. Again , both work well, just differently. I would opt for the GD for SD, and the XTP for handgun hunting. |
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Quoted:
The XTP is also an excellent bullet.... just for a different use IMHO. The XTP design is over 15 years old... that is a long time in Handgun bullet tech. The Gold Dot has a thickly plated , "bonded" jacket..... while the XTP relies on a more old school, more conventional cup and core. Again , both work well, just differently. Gold Dolt just as old, or older... I was loading Gold Dots back in late 1998 when I received my Uzi suppressor.. Just bought a box here a couple month ago and loaded them into 38 Super (Gold Dot) |
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