135g GoldDot bullet load data

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NINEX19

New member
I recently got a good deal on 1000 135g .357 GoldDot bullets for .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads.

I did not think that locating load data would be too difficult. I was wrong.

Does anyone have any links to where I can get a starting point for this bullet?

Would it be a horrible idea to start with low 135g cast or 140g XTP data and try to work up or down with those?
 
Google this "135 gr gold dot bullets".


There is a PDF file for load data 38 +P. It's a start.

I love these bullets, if you want to sell them just let me know. :)
 
Thank you, I think I found the PDF you were referring to after some digging.

I was using a different search engine and nothing is turning up except testing of factory made. Load info. is still very sparse. I only have one of the powders listed, and most of the others I have never even seen for sale for years.

Sorry, They are not for sale. I know they are a terrific bullet design, I just need to work up a good load for them.
 
Alliant on line has data using Unique, Power Pistol, and 2400 for that bullet in 357.

You can also use Hodgdon load data for 140 Gr. Hornady XTP as a starting point as the bullet is heavier than yours. The ending point may differ but the starting point will have you in safe territory.
 
I've been trying to get ahold of 135gn GDHP SB bullets since I found out they existed some four years ago. Have never seen them anywhere. I do however, have the factory loaded ammo in both 38+P and 357 - great ammo; but that's for another post.

I would just use Hornady's 140 grain data to start. I would do this with little further thought. A perfectly good starting point. My chronograph, loading experience, and common sense would guide me from there.

I'm curious what you plan on doing with these enigmatic bullets? Purpose? Powder? Gun (barrel length specifically)? Expectations? It would be interesting to know what path you're heading down.
 
It seems to me that they would be good carry loads for ,357, even in the light guns. Smaller powder charge and lowering velocity expectations could make it much easir to shoot than the 125 grain. It's probably going to be lighter recoil than the 158 at equal or similar velocities. You simply can't beat the gold dot, there are a number of bullets that meet expectations,and imo, you might as well call them "perfect" or adequate, and regard them as equals. It's not like you are comparing one to the old LRN police standard, you are comparing top quality tested products that will, from shot to shot, probably have different results with every string of single round comparison. I'd like that load.

I'm not going to touch on the +p 38. I'd like it, I think, but there are some pretty strong beliefs regarding that cartridge. It completely depends on whether the bullet will perform at subsonic levels. I don't think that you can work it out much faster.
 
140 grain data is close enough. Five grains won't make any difference. Is kind of odd there isn't much around for a GD. Mind you, Speer only loads that weight for their 'Short Barrel' brand. See if you can find a Speer manual in a gun shop to have a look at.
However, there's buckets of data 137 grain data here.
http://stevespages.com/357p_4_137.html
 
Mind you, Speer only loads that weight for their 'Short Barrel' brand.
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'xactly.

Which kind of brings me to my questions (post #5) about the OP's load purpose . . .

GDHP SB bullets are plated bullets of somewhat weak construction. They are purposed for expansion at low velocities - in the 800 f/s neighborhood; or even less. They are not built to be driven really hard.

Speer also makes a 110 grain GDHP SB with the same construction and ogive. Their load manual doesn't even have 357 Mag load data for them. And it specifically states to not use them for 357 Mag.

GDHP SB bullets are designed for fast powders and modest velocities. These are not the bullets to pump up.
 
The point to a lot of discussion on many posts that are currently going is that now, more so than ever before, bullets are designed to function in a very controlled manner. No longer just scruff lead in a jacket and call it good. Ever since the mid eighties, I guess, more research and testing goes into a bullets design and development than we could have ever conceived of.

Remember when Sierra was about the only maker of boat tails? Remington made the only tipped bullets? When the best pistol bullet was thought to be the Remington scalloped :-P?

Now, we have our work designed to specific velocity requirements, so that a bullet will function properly within a normal range. You can get good, if not excellent results from them used in their velocity band, but when you push them beyond their design, they just don't work like they should. Slow them down, and they fail too. Everybody who has made a habit of collecting bullets will have seen plenty of failures.
 
the best pistol bullet was thought to be the Remington scalloped :p?
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Good post briandg.

Call me old school. But I still think that Remington's scalloped is a fine design. On a side note, Remington used to load their scalloped 125gn HP's for 357 Mag HOT. They were very potent rounds.

But back to my point: You get an '80's style semi-jacketed hollow point up to the 1000 to 1200 f/s neighborhood, and I still believe they are fine performing bullets.

Getting back to your point: No doubt. Modern bullets are more specific purpose (velocity) designed than ever. An amazing amount of research has been done in the last 20 or so years.
 
NINEX19,

Here's an article on what Briandg was talking about.

Apropos of that, I happened to have a discussion with one of Speer's techs recently on the Gold Dot. He said that because of the soft electroplated jacket, the loads can be higher than for formed jacket bullets in some instances. He doesn't consider it safe to go by weight alone with loads for this bullet as the opposite can sometimes be true, as it is with lead bullets.

For the 135 grain Gold Dot

.357 Magnum:

13.6-16 grains of 2400. I would start at 13.6 plus 8 additional steps of 0.3 grains.

8.2 to 9.6 grains of Power Pistol. I would start all the way down at 8.2 grains and work up in 7 additional steps of 0.2 grains.

6.6-7.8 grains of Unique. I would start at 6.6 grains and work up in 0.2 grain steps.


38 Special +P (only +P loads for this bullet are shown):

5.4-6.4 grains of Power Pistol. I would start at 5.4 grains and work up in 5 additional steps of 0.2 grains.

4.4-5.2 grains of Unique. I would start at 4.4 grains and work up in 4 additional steps of 0.2 grains.

Alliant provided the maximum loads. I used a rule recommended by Western powder to knock maximum loads down 15% rather than the usual 10% when working with straight wall handgun loads. This is partly because of powder measure precision limits. You only need to load one round at each charge level and start with the bottom one and work up, watching for pressure signs. It's not much expense, and even if the bottom loads disappoint, you haven't spent much on them. I use a chronograph and look for the velocity to increase linearly with the powder charge. If it doesn't, that can be a pressure sign. Usually I recommend working up in steps 2% of the maximum, but not smaller than 0.2 grains as you are getting down to scale resolution limits with that.
 
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