I bought 150 rounds of this stuff to carry in my M&P 9FS. There is a sticker on the box that warns the user that the rounds are loaded to 22% over SAMMI spec. Is there any danger in using these as defensive ammo? Is there any probability that using these will damage my gun?
Thanks
Mark
I fire a steady diet of Speer GDHP 124 +P’s in my M&P 9’s without issue. Make sure your particular pistol is reliable with this load, but other than that you should be fine.
Should be no problem in a modern pistol.
I was carrying this exact round for awhile. I’ve heard they tend to overexpand and thus don’t penetrate well. I’m currently carrying federal 9BPLE +P+ which seems to have a pretty good rep.
Now that the ammo shortage is over i should probably go pick up some 124 grain gold dots… :o
115 gr +P+ are generally the worst performing 9 mm’s in both lab testing and in OIS shooting incidents…why would you choose to rely on these things when so many better loads are available???
+P+, like Doc said, performs poorly…and I second his question as to why you are choosing it. It is hard on the barrel as it is a VERY hot load. My .02, is if you are going for the hot loadout, just stick with +P
I doubt that 150 rounds would damage your M&P.
In addition to the comments already posted, especially what the Doc said about there being so many good choices available, I offer this thought.
I want my training ammunition to mirror my carry round. Same bullet weight at the same velocity. This is so the point of aim and felt recoil is as close to being the same as the duty round as possible. While you are currently involved in a critical incident is a really bad time to discover your carry ammunition shoots to a different point of aim, or that the recoil and handling of your gun is suddenly different than what it has been while you were training and practicing.
In a perfect world, I would shoot and carry the same round. But unfortunately, life is about compromise.
Swallow your pride, chalk your purchase of this ammunition off as a learning experience, and look for something else. With just a little research, you can find several choices that will be more effective, less stressful on the parts of your gun, easier to locate, and easier to find a training round that’s close to the carry/duty round.
Its been awhile since I saw this stuff tested, so I am going on the IIRC clause, but I remember the 115gr +P+ GD being fairly similar to the 124gr +P GD in performance.
Due to the GD bullet design this isn’t the same sort of load that you see in other 115gr +P+ ammo.
I’ve fired some through various Glocks, never had an issue. I would prefer several other 9mm loadings to this stuff, but if it’s what I had I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
I’d heard good things about 9BPLE… 
I don’t think it’s one of the hotter +P+ loads though. The gold dots were all i could get during the scare for awhile there :rolleyes:
You might want to do some low light fire with it before settling on the Speer… If I remember it was pretty much like shooting a flamethrower when compared at a couple low light classes recently…
I think this factor is often overlooked when choosing SD carry ammo…
Doc does very extensive testing in this arena… I have found his data to be as good as any data in the industry.
You might want to consider the source of your information. There was a lot if bad information circulating in the mid 1990’s.
Unlike some sources in the past, Dr. Roberts’ information is obtained using methods that can be repeated by anyone with access to the same equipment and media. In other words, he didn’t just make the shit up. (Unlike some sources in the past).
I have compared his results on loads of interest to me with the results of the same load from other sources, to include a mini workshop conducted at our facility by a factory representative. The results from several sources, to include Doc’s are very close to being the same.
Hotter doesn’t always mean better. The lighter and faster bullets can often shatter and not consistently penetrate deep enough.
Remember your opponent might be a large individual. He is not a square piece of paper. The suspect might be standing at an angle to you. You might have to shot through an arm to reach the vital organs. So penetration is an issue.
Flash as mentioned by another post is also a concern.
The ability to find a training round that is of the same bullet weight and velocity, so that point of aim and recoil characteristics are going to be the same in training as with your carry load is also a factor.
I would not carry gold dot. Stick with heavy HSTs or Ranger T series.
Why is that?
I’m wondering as well, especially since the Gold Dot bullet, in the service calibers, is one of the most proven and tested police duty bullets ever made.
I wouldn’t carry the 115 gr Gold Dot loading.
But I wouldn’t have any problem carrying the 124gr +P or the 147 gr Gold Dot loading.
But that’s just me.
I 100% can say if you shot someone with your 115+p+ load they would not laugh and proclaim you should have shot them with a better bullet. Sure there are better rounds but I really dont care about barrier performance, Im not a Cop anymore and wont be shooting through windshields or any car doors.
I carry the 124 grain +P, and I haven’t seen the 115 grain around here for sale in years.
I don’t believe the 115gr +p+ is being criticized due to barrier performance. If you’re putting the time, money, and effort into training why not select the best defensive ammunition available, especially when a guy like Dr. Roberts is handing out free, well qualified advice.
I agree ,but what he has now will work fine,he can upgrade to better ammo for next puchase.
well crap i guess i better buy some ammo. 