Speer Gold Dot 9mm Review: Hands-On Range Testing

Public Shooting Range
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I’ve listened to many of my law enforcement buddies rant and rave about Speer Gold Dot for years, so I finally broke down and tested some Speer Gold Dot 9mm in my Smith & Wesson M&P Shield.

I headed to my backyard range to battle angry watermelons and test if the reliability and accuracy of these rounds are as good as all my buddies claimed. This Speer Gold Dot 9mm review is honest thoughts and opinions from that day.

Speer Gold Dot 9mm Review: At a Glance

Speer Gold Dot 9mm is some of the best 9mm self-defense ammo I’ve ever fired. It cycled perfectly through my S&W M&P Shield, was as accurate as expected, and quickly ended the threat of the invading watermelons.

What Is Speer Gold Dot 9mm Best For?

Speer Gold Dot 9mm is best for self-defense. That’s what it is designed for, and it performed flawlessly in the simulated self-defense scenarios I ran it through while training at the range.

Use Case Rating
Self-Defense 9/10
Training 7/10
Target Shooting/Plinking 5/10

Speer Gold Dot 9mm Ballistics

Manufacturer Brand SKU Bullet Barrel Length (in) G1 BC Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lbs) Elevation (in)
0yds 25yds 50yds 75yds 100yds 125yds 150yds 0yds 25yds
Speer Gold Dot 53614 / 23614GD 115gr JHP 4 0.125 1210 1132 1070 1020 979 943 912 374 327 292 266 245 227 212 -0.2 0.8 0.0 -2.6 -7.4 -14.4 -23.8
Speer Gold Dot 53618 / 23618GD 124gr JHP 4 0.134 1150 1088 1038 996 961 930 902 364 326 297 273 254 238 224 -0.2 0.8 0.0 -2.8 -7.8 -15.2 -25.1
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Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 23611GD 124gr JHP +P 3.5 0.134 1150 1088 1038 996 961 930 902 364 326 297 273 254 238 224 -0.2 0.8 0.0 -2.8 -7.8 -15.2 -25.1
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Speer Gold Dot 53617 / 23617GD 124gr JHP +P 4 0.134 1220 1145 1084 1035 994 959 928 410 361 324 295 272 253 237 -0.2 0.7 0.0 -2.6 -7.2 -14.00 -23.1
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Speer Gold Dot Carry Gun 24260 135gr JHP 4 0.153 1120 1070 1029 993 962 935 910 376 343 317 296 278 262 248 -0.2 0.9 0.0 -2.9 -8.00 -15.4 -25.4
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Speer Gold Dot Carbine 59GDC1 135gr JHP Unspecified 0.220 1170 1128 1092 1060 1031 1006 983 410 382 357 337 319 303 290 -1.5 0.1 0.0 -1.9 -5.8 -11.7 -19.8
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Speer Gold Dot 23619GD 147gr JHP 4 0.167 985 957 932 909 888 868 850 317 299 284 270 258 246 236 -0.2 1.1 0.0 -3.6 -9.8 -18.8 -30.6
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Speer Gold Dot 53619 147gr JHP 4 0.164 990 961 935 912 890 870 851 320 302 286 271 259 247 236 -0.2 1.1 0.0 -3.6 -9.7 -18.6 -30.4
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Speer Gold Dot G2 54226 147gr JHP 4 0.150 1020 985 954 927 902 879 858 340 317 297 281 266 252 240 -0.2 1.0 0.0 -3.4 -9.3 -17.9 -29.4
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I tested Speer Gold Dot 124 grain ammo, but it’s also available in 115 grain and 147 grain. As you would expect, the 147 grain has a lower velocity at the barrel (985 fps) than the 115 grain (1,210 fps) or 124 grain (1,150 fps) options. The 115 grain and 124 grain varieties conserve more energy at 25 yards (328 ft-lbs for both), while the 147 grain bullet carries 299 ft-lbs of energy to 25 yards.

When I struck the watermelons I had lined up, the 124 grain JHP bullets caused them to explode. While I understand this isn’t a true ballistics gel test for penetration and expansion, it still illustrates the potential lethality of these rounds.

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3 Likes
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That is good ammo in a .357 mag

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Speer Gold Dots is what my carry ammo has been for years.

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That stuff is good for not being hand loaded rounds.

1 Like