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About Gold Dot Hollow Point (GDHP) Ammunition

These loadings feature Speer's legendary bonded hollow point bullets designed for reliable expansion and exceptional weight retention in defensive applications. Developed through Speer's proprietary electrochemical bonding process, the Gold Dot Hollow Point bullet permanently bonds the copper jacket to the lead core, preventing separation during expansion while ensuring consistent mushrooming upon impact. The GDHP design provides excellent penetration through barriers and heavy clothing while maintaining controlled expansion for maximum stopping power. These types of loadings are well-suited for law enforcement and self-defense applications where reliable expansion, maximum weight retention, and proven terminal performance are essential for effective threat neutralization and officer safety.

Common Gold Dot Hollow Point (GDHP) Calibers

• 9mm:The 9mm Luger cartridge is easily the most common handgun round in common use. The caliber goes by many names, often being referred to as 9mm NATO, 9mm Parabellum, 9x19mm, or just generically “9mm”. The cartridge’s origins can be traced back to the early 20th century and is the brainchild of Georg Luger. Originally found in firearms such as the Borchardt C-93 and the P-08 Luger pistol, the round has become a common chambering for handguns in civilian and military use from the 20th century onward. Firearms such as pistols and submachine guns in 9mm Luger have commonly been used by military and law enforcement personnel across the globe, leading to the round establishing a reputation for being a reliable service cartridge.
• .380 ACP:The .380 ACP, or .380 Automatic Colt Pistol, was designed by John Moses Browning in 1908. Production of the cartridge began in the same year and saw immediate use in Colt’s Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless handgun. The .380 ACP was derived from the .38 ACP, or .38 Auto cartridge which was introduced in 1900 by Browning. Since its introduction, the cartridge has been used in a variety of firearms such as handguns for concealed carry and even submachine guns. Today, the cartridge is still utilized for defensive purposes and benefits from modern, optimized loadings which increase the effectiveness of the round.
• 10mm:The 10mm Auto, often referred to as 10mm, is a potent handgun cartridge that was introduced in 1983. When compared to standard, non-specialty .357 Magnum loadings, the 10mm Auto is capable of producing higher energies. Specialty 10mm Auto loadings are on par with specialty, high performance .357 Magnum loadings. The cartridge is often compared to the 9mm Luger and .45 ACP as they were common semi-automatic cartridges of the time. The 10mm Auto essentially has high velocities, like 9mm Luger, and larger, heavier projectiles, like .45 ACP, providing shooters with a versatile and capable round. The 10mm Auto will notably have a stout and snappy recoil impulse which is accompanied by flat trajectories.
• .40 S&W:The .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge was introduced in 1990 as part of a collaboration between Smith and Wesson and Winchester. The round is typically denoted by its full name, as .40 S&W, or simply as .40 cal. While effectively a shorter and milder version of the 10mm Auto, the .40 Smith & Wesson is often compared to the 9mm Luger and .45 ACP. The round boasts a greater overall length and projectile size over the 9mm Luger. The .40 Smith & Wesson is capable of higher velocities than the .45 ACP and is ultimately slower than most 9mm Luger loadings. Due to its velocity to projectile size ratio, the .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge is capable of imparting a greater amount of energy on impact. As far as recoil goes, the .40 Smith & Wesson is noticeably snappier than the 9mm Luger and .45 ACP while recoiling less than 10mm Auto.
• .45 ACP:The .45 ACP, or .45 Automatic Colt Pistol, cartridge is the brainchild of prolific firearm designer John Moses Browning. Originally developed in 1904, the cartridge is closely associated with the 1911 pistol, an iconic service pistol chambered in .45 ACP. Beyond its use in handguns, the cartridge is well-known for being used in submachine guns such as the Thompson and M3 “Grease Gun.” The .45 ACP notably served the United States and allied nations throughout both World Wars and in many of the conflicts throughout the 20th century.

Firearms that Use Gold Dot Hollow Point (GDHP) Ammo

• Pistols
• Rifles

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