Pretty much everyone agrees that Speer's (ATK) 9x19 124 GDHP+P is a good all around load in it's caliber. So, has anyone done any recent testing of Speer's 115 GDHP+P+ load ? The 9mm in it's 115 +P+ guise has "usually" been a decent round for the caliber, albeit with some fragmentation issues, depending on the manufacturer. ( PLEASE, I don't want to get into the fragmentation issue, as sometimes it's useful, sometimes it's not, depending upon the chosen target. ) In theory, with the GDHP design, combined with the +P+ velocity, it might make it an excellent loading ? If anyone has tested this load recently, and or knows of any links to any testing, I'd appreciate hearing from them. THANK YOU
Best, dpast32
I have seen a lot of this loading on the market recently and while I would say that the blast/flash and muzzle flip may be greater then the 124gr +P version I do not think one would gain any advantage with the lighter faster loading.
On the other hand I hunt varmints up north with a PCC and plan on obtaining and testing a few boxes this fall if able.
That load is a little louder than the 124gr +P, and tests into roughly the same parameters due to the Gold Dot bullet. I wouldn’t go hunting some down just to have, but if I had a source of it for a decent price then I wouldn’t shun it either.
That and the DPX are the two 115gr bullets that I would carry nowadays, all of the others on the market have the issues so well documented in past testing.
The “old ISP” load proved to be a quite reliable round, at least for it’s time. IIRC, it was 115 JHP at @ 1,300 FPS, out of the ISP’s issue S&W M-39’s. I recall that it’s penetration wasn’t all that impressive, but that was to be expected with the type of projectile being used. ( an older design, JHP ) The only reason I was asking is that I’ve noted some of the Speer version available, so figured I’d check as to it’s performance. As we all know, the current crop of 9mm defensive loads tend to use a heavier head, 124 - 147 grs, excepting the Barnes 115 DPX, which has to be lighter due to it’s all copper composition. They way I figured it, was between the 115’s +P+ velocity, combined with the Gold Dot’s bonded type design, it “should” prove to be an excellent self defense loading.