115 vs 124 Grain!...9MM Speer Gold Dot Self-Defense Ammo Ballistic Gel Test & Review!

I aways wondered where/what the gold dot was, that's in the ammo's name. lol

Extraordinarily well done. It was an excellent assessment that opened my eyes. Appreciated!

Excellent reviews! Your testing si so consistent and fun to watch! Nicely done. Personally, I'm more of a Federal HST kind-of-guy...

Test some of those G2 rounds through clothing. Curious how they do.

I like the 115 gr Gold Dots. As always a great video and thank you.

The 124 hst is what I keep in all my 9mm, from 5" to 3". Gold dots are good bullets as well though.

Is greater penetration always better for self-defense ammo? It seems like these types of tests assume that. It looks like the gel block is about 18" long. If the ballistic gel is meant to simulate a human target very few people are 18" thick. So the possibility of pass thru and injuring a bystander seems higher with the greater penetration round.

115 smoked the 124

124 all day

What about Silver Dot 136 grain vs Bronze Dot 148 grain?

So is the perp anymore dead cuz 1 was 1200 ft and the other 1150 i mean i dont get it 🔫🔫👽🇺🇸🍕🍔🐽🐷🐖🔥🦅🦅🦅🦅

Gold Dot!

Exactly why I choose 124gr HST over Gold Dot. Also, my guns prefer Federal ammo.

They make 124+P makes up for the Velocity

nna 1inch 32gr stinger 771 fps, 42 ft/lb 2in 940 fps , 63 ft/ lb. 2in yellow jacket 33gr 945fps, 65 ft/lb. Phoenix hp 22with 3in bbl stinger 32gr 1070fps 81ft/lb. yellow jacket 33gr 1003fps, 71ft/lb. I don't own or will own mouse 22_25 guns. now in comparison Beretta Tom cat carbon 60 gr jhp 1000 fps, 130 ft/lb. ruger 380lcp 2.75in 90grjhp 988 fps, 195 ft/lb. next round ball loads I experiment with 44 sp, 38sp, 357mag. for pure penetration they can't be beat.i didn't have a cronygraph then but speer data I used was the rou nd ball loaded for 4in barrel around 560 fps. my 44sp was 3in. at 10 yards shot easily through 3 gallon jugs of water. the round balls having little friction surface works like a drill bit. I think I'm doing to try 9mm and 380acp tests for penetration. if I remember correctly accuracy inside 30 feet was acceptable for self defense. papa wishing you well. 😊

I'll stick with 165gr gold dot

I think the most useful info in this video was the penetration and expansion comparison of these two rounds. The #1 thing I see most civilians not understanding, when discussing self-defense ammo, is this one point....We don't want a lot of penetration. I run into a ton of people who think a heavier round or more velocity is what you want. The reality is, when considering a self-defense load, is reliable expansion and NOT over penetrating your target. The truth about real world, not Hollywood, is that 99.9% of any self-defense shooting is around 2-4 rounds shot at close range with usually less clothing than what was used in the testing in this video.

You have to also consider FBI gel is NOT supposed to be 100% accurate when comparing to a human body. FBI gel does not have empty cavities, bones, tendons, etc. If a round exits a gel block, especially when you use a heavy clothing barrier, it's far too much penetration and should not be considered when choosing your self-defense round. Personally, I like to see around 8"-10" of penetration, which you won't see too often when choosing a 9mm, so get it as minimal as you can but still expanding completely.

Nice test. Thank you.

I am new to gun ownership but I am so confused by this video. To me, the 115g did better in the test because the bullet traveling is faster and doesn't penetrate as far (meaning reduces the chances of the bullet exiting the target) and when it did enter the gel it made a larger wound? I am reading the comments and a lot of people are saying the 124 G is the winner but how are they coming to that conclusion? What am I missing?

124 gdhp+p edc here

Would like to see this round in caparison with the 115 gdhp+p and the 124 and 115 hst

Excellent straight forward no BS no semantics just solid extremely relevant and equally useful information
I have carried Speer Gold Dots in everything from my 9mm Shield to my 9mm P320's, 9mm PDP's 9mm Carbines and 45acp's about 10 years ago stumbled onto a unbelievable bulk buy on all caliber Gold Dots and I just about maxed out a CC buying them you can not ask for more performance from a PP HG bullet than a Speer Gold Dot
Shot gallon water jugs at 100 and 200 yards with my 9mm Carbines and performance was impressive
I once set up a 2x4 at 300 yards and hit it 4x out of 4 with my 9mm Carbine and all four God Dots blew completely through sure wouldn't want to get hit with a 9mm Gold Dot at even 400 yards

I have three 9mm guns for self defense/home defense: a CZ P10F, a gen 5 Glock 26, and a Glock 45 (the G45 is my only currently-loaded firearm). I always gravitate to the mid-range weights because, while I had a Glock 22, I was always of the opinion that a 165gr load at 1,140-ish FPS was the perfect balance of firepower (or capacity) and velocity. I traded that G22 for the G45, and now I'm carrying over the same beliefs.

I like the 124gr loading in +P velocities. I'm looking at both Federal HST and Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P loadings. This test really helped, so thank you. I might go back into Armed Security, so I should probably make up my mind soon. Or just buy both and see which one is most accurate. But I think, with the Speer Gold Dot, in 124gr weight it would definitely benefit from +P velocities, given the velocity results of this video.

Go ahead

I think most ammo is pussified anymore

I like how humor 😂

165 GD, HST or Ranger T 40

Buy a box of gold dot 9mm bullets and load your own.

I use Fort Scott 125 grain TUI in my EDC.

You’re like me. I like hot rounds too. I run +p+ for my carry gun.

124gn +P Gold Dots chrono at 1182 f/s through 3.7" bbl Kahr CW9.

The lower speed is to increase expansion, not penetration. The quicker it slows, the bigger the wound cavity can expand outward.

I like that Liberty round that you had a few months ago, 2200 ft 50 grain +p😅

I'm late to comments but don't forget about barrier performance. 124gr will do slightly better. Faster isn't always better. Sometimes, that means over expansion and less or unpredictable penenatration. There is a sweet spot and the 124gr hit it. Minimal less expansion, a tad more penenatration. Possibly less muzzle flash and less felt recoil. Do a comparison with the G19 and 124+P vs the 147. Then add the results of this test with them. 😉

why would you think a heavier object would be faster ?

i'll still take the 124.

Shoots great in all 9s and preforms excellent use 124+P in handguns and 147+P my scorpion. Zero complaints.

Big Ammo is scared of any potential civil liability.
Also, less powder, more profit$...

I consider them both winners. With Gold Dots you get sealed primers, nickle plated cases, and a reputation for performance.

The 124+P Gold Dot factory loading does 1230 from my S&W 5906.

Seems the 115 does better than 124 ,and 147 .silvertips

You just taught me something I’ll remember my whole life. Thank you.

So often I look at your test and think I want to see it. Great job! BTW, did that 22 pistol with the barrel leading problem get resolved?

Thank you for the clear and concise tests. Much appreciated.

My carry is an XDM with a 3.8" barrel. It groups better with the lighter ammo probably due to barrel length. Nice to see I'm not giving up much in performance.

manz just talks like he is filling up a 500 word essay

124 standard pressure GD in my EDC's. Main reason is when I was active in LE that's what the department issued. They have their reasons that it is a preferred round. Now as a civilian I follow that lead so that if I ever have the misfortune of a self defence situation and my ammo choice is called into question, I can say I had many years training with it, and it's what an agency determined was the best choice for use in public. Last thing I want is having some crazy hot +P stuff a procecuting attorney can have a field day with. I am confident standard pressure Speer, Federal, Horniday and the like will serve most folks well. My outdoor / woods carry will differ based on that need.

Got 147gr hollowpoints for around 34.cent and never looked back, im glad i ordered thousands of rounds of it.

For all your criticism of the Gold Dot 124 grain round (full disclosure: it’s what I carry), I bet you wouldn’t want anyone shooting at you with it. 🤣

Ever do 147?