Speer GDHP Short Barrel .38spl.+P/4in.?

R

REBEL ROUSER

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I carry the Speer LE Short Barrel GDHP .38spl. 135gr. in my snubby. Has anyone any information as to how this ammo will perform fired from a 4 inch barrel?
 
I only have it in my j-frame but I couldn't imagine it working to any lesser performance from a longer barrel.
 
All the numbers I've seen online come from snubbies. Maybe add 50 feet per second or so :confused:? It's not like you're shooting it out of a lever action or anything, I don't think 2" in barrel length will change the stats or mess with the intended performance too much.
 
Good Question

First, I use GDHP short barrel in .38sp, .357 mag, and .45ACP.

It is designed with a deeper than normal HP cavity that will expand more easily at lower velocity, and this appears to be born out by tests. So, I would guess that out of a 4" barrel it will expand sooner than normal HP ammo. This does not make it a bad choice for a 4" barrel, but I guess if you want better penetration then maybe normal HP would be a better choice.

Having said that, I admit this is speculation on my part. I would like to see test results from a 4" barrel.
 
I doubt you're going to get that much higher velocity from a 4" barrel (I would guess there would be less than 100fps difference), so I doubt that the performance will be all that different.
 
One thing bothers me about the SB ammo. I read the results from snub's and it looks good on paper, but do I always want fast expansion? What about against thick winter clothing? Maybe I want better penetration in that case. I know it is an old argument, but if you can't penetrate then you can't do anything.

Maybe I am making it too complicated.

Oh well, when I get too frustrated with all the numbers I just load my G36 with .45ACP FMJ. I figure it will at least get someones attention.:cool:

BTW, the .357 mag. Gold Dot SB stuff is really different than normal .357 mag. It is down loaded and is really only a little hotter than 38sp +P stuff. I usually use it in my 2-3/4" Speed Six.
 
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The Gold Dot 135gr 38+P doesn't go as fat as some of their others packing more energy. Shot from a 4" barrel it should be fine - it'll pick up at least a 75fps speed (and energy) boost which should make up for any faster expansion.

Looking at both carefully, the 357 and 38+P versions of the Speer 135gr slug look the same. Speer says there's a difference but if so it ain't much. The 357 flavor is loaded less than 200fps hotter than the 38+P so it's extremely mild for a 357 round. Very good stuff, and very accurate. Good load for anybody with a lightweight 357 gun, or who has recoil sensitivity issues or is carrying in very people-dense environments...commuting on public transit fr'instance.
 
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