Gelatin test: .38 spl Speer Gold Dot +P 125 & 135 gr

[Andrew Wiggin]

Surprisingly, both Gold Dots failed to expand at all. Also surprising, the lighter bullet penetrated deeper. Now I need to find a better .38 spl load for a short barrel revolver. Maybe the "FBI load"? Anybody have any recommendations?

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6dgkbBxW94

 

[Jim March]

It's the gun. Crappy barrel or huge barrel/cylinder gap. Look at the velocity numbers. You need 850fps or more...and most tests of that ammo get that or a bit more.

 

[Water-Man]

Cor-Bon DPX Barnes 110gr.+P. Expansion and penetration.

 

[Ben Towe]

I agree with Jim, it's got to be the low velocity causing the failure to expand. I'd like to see the same ammo shot through another revolver in the same test.

 

[Andrew Wiggin]

The temperature was about 40 degrees, I think. I'll bet that had a lot more to do with the velocity than the gun. I'll have to test again to see if I can get repeatable results. It sure would be disappointing if this load is only reliable through heavy clothing when it's warm enough that people don't wear heavy clothing.

 

[Nanuk]

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2012/07/speer-gold-dot-38-special-p-125-grain.html

I would try the same lot in another gun or another type of ammo in that gun.