Speer's new Gold Dot ammo for short barrel pistols

[PsychoSword]

Anyone seen the new 124gr. +P Gold Dot loading by Speer for short barreled handguns? It keeps selling out the same day anyone gets any in.

So how many of you are still against an all stainless Rohrbaugh? I told you guys, but noooooooooooo can't have too much choice, that would be a sin or something...  

http://www.speer-bullets.com/default.asp?s1=3&s2=5

Manufacturer's claimed specs are 1,150 feet per second out of a 3.5 inch barrel.

And all steel framed Rohrbaugh + this fine ammo would IMO be the perfect pocket gun.

[R9SCarry]

Only heard of it and must admit have not rushed to buy and try.

I'll also probably glean further feedback from users before deciding whether sliced bread is at any risk

[PsychoSword]

Hehe, well I have been tempted to order some for my MK9, but I just ordered some Ranger 127gr. +P+ the other day. Might get around to ordering some though if I manage to find any. Demand is still currently way higher than supply. I don't think Speer expected this kind of demand for any of its new ammo. The 135gr. +P .38 spec has really taken off. I have three 50 round boxes of the stuff, ordered it from Mirage Technologies in Florida. Have not shot any yet though.

[R9SCarry]

I guess if the demand is an indicator then maybe it is in fact top notch and useful.  OTOH if production is real slow then maybe as yet - not a vast quantity sold.

I'll wait awhile but hey - if you get some and shoot it - do give feedback

[tingmisun]

According to the Speer site it is +P ammo. Not approved for the R9.

[SAWBONES]

Yeah, but it's +P, and therefore not for the current R-9S.

An all-steel R-9S is neither promised nor, in my case, wanted, since it's a POCKET pistol, and heavier is NOT  better.

It may be good ammo, but I'm content with the availability of Winchester Ranger T 127gr +P+ JHP and Double Tap 124gr +P JHP (Gold Dot bullet) for my standard 9mm pistols and Gold Dot 124gr (standard) JHP for my R-9S.

[Chuck_S]

What's the Gold Dot "part number" of your standard velocity 124gr?  Locak gun shop seems think this is gold ammunition but I can't tell from many web sites what's regular and what's +P.

-- Chuck

[R9SCarry]

In theory at least - headstamp on case should always show +P - so far that has been consistent.

No designation other than 9mm Luger or similar = std pressure.

[sslater]

Chuck S.,
Welcome aboard.  Lots of good info from a good crew on this forum.

Speer's website is http://www.speer-bullets.com/.  
Standard velocity 9mm loads:
GDHP 115 gr. Part# is 23614
GDHP 124 gr. Part# is 23618
GDHP 147 gr. Part# is 23619

Gander Mountain is supposed to be having a sale (20% off) this week on all Speer Gold Dot ammo.  I stopped in to pick up some 124 grain 9mm.  They didn't have ANY Speer 9mm.  "Okay", I said, "give me some .380 Gold Dot."  None of that either.  I finally bought a couple boxes of .40 S&W so the trip wouldn't be a total waste.  

Steve    

[PsychoSword]

Yeah, but it's +P, and therefore not for the current R-9S.

An all-steel R-9S is neither promised nor, in my case, wanted, since it's a POCKET pistol, and heavier is NOT  better.

It may be good ammo, but I'm content with the availability of Winchester Ranger T 127gr +P+ JHP and Double Tap 124gr +P JHP (Gold Dot bullet) for my standard 9mm pistols and Gold Dot 124gr (standard) JHP for my R-9S.

As far as I know, the Double Tap is not optimized for short barrels. I pocket my Kahr MK9 everyday with a spare magazine weak side, so the fuss over a couple extra ounces that an all stainless Rohrbaugh would have always confounds me. I used to pocket a Cop .357 Derringer before I discovered the MK9.

I would like to obtain some of this new short barrel +P Gold Dot ammo and chrono it side by side with the +P+ Rangers out of my MK9. I suspect the +P+ Rangers will still have a little bit more velocity and energy, but in this case the Gold Dot may be close enough to the Ranger not to justify the extra blast and recoil. I do prefer the Ranger Talon bullet to the Gold Dot though.

As you can tell, I'm never content... and always experimenting.

I understand your reasons though for not wanting an all stainless framed Rohrbaugh. But please, respect that I may want something different than you do. It's all about choice. The more choices we have the better off we all are. Thanks.

[SAWBONES]

No disrespect intended, psword. Everyone has different preferences and inclinations, and if you're used to pocket-carrying an MK9, any imaginable iteration of an R9 would definitely weigh less!
I've owned two MK9s, and never found them good choices for pocket carry in my own case; felt like a brick in the pocket. What sort of pants do you wear?

None of the 9mm loads I mentioned in my post above were intended to be thought of as "short barrel" loads; I merely meant to indicate my preferences in 9mm cartridges for use in standard size, robust modern 9mm pistols, eg, Glock 19, HK P7M8.

Interestingly, Double Tap achieves "+P" velocities in much of their ammo line without +P detonation pressures, hence said ammunition has no "+P" headstamp mark, yet is clearly very "hot", and moreso than many +P-marked premium cartridges, in .45ACP, from Winchester, Speer and Federal.
Their 9mm ammunition IS marked "+P", however.
(But even if they somehow manage to come out with a 9mm round not marked or rated "+P" at some time in the future, I'd be very leery of shooting it in the R-9S!)

As experience teaches, TANSTAAFL, and trying to get extra velocity from guns with shorter barrels usually requires extra powder, with correspondingly-increased muzzle blast and flash, not to mention increased wear to the gun compared to standard loads.
The R-9s does fine for my purposes with standard 124gr Gold Dot JHP.