180 grain Gold Dots for deer. Shot some??
 

Just going thru my bullets. Ive got 75 or so .40 180g Gold Dots, & about the same # of CR 50/40 sabots. Im gonna try them in my Traditions sidelock. Also got a lb of t7. Im gonna try them with 70-80 grains T7 Now these GDs have a real deep Hollow point. Im wondering how the would work on deer if I keep the velocity down around 1600-1700 fps. Or would these be better suited for plinking & paper. It would be a 75 yard gun or so .cuase its got Iron sights. & thats about max for me with iron sights.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

burntmuch

The 10mil/180 grain Gold Dot should certainly work well on a whitetail. I could not get them to shoot accurately from a 1/28 50 cal inline. I was looking for an alternative to the 200 grain XTP.

I did really want to try them from a sidelock with a 1/48 twist but have never got around to that experiment. Let us know what you find out.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

They shot descent out of my X7. But I settled on the 200 gr SST. I figured Id try them in the sidelock. I ll try & get to the range in the next couple days. Kinda cool ,going thru my stuff & reilizing I got everything I need for a range day without spending any $$$

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

burntmuch

That really is cool - two good things in one trip...

Maybe I should agree also, they shot alright but not as good... I have never shot many pointy bullets like the SST/SW from a ML @ ML velocities. i am so much more intereted in performance @ the animal I am hung up on old fashioned blunt nose bullets especially at the ranges I shoot (200 is my self imposed max).

Really would be interested in the sidelock experiment although I would probably shoot them with 90/100 grains of T7 since they are so light.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

I've been wondering the same thing about those Gold Dots. I've shot 180 grain .400XTPs in my 1:30 twist .45 GM LRH Renegade over 105 grains Pyrodex RS. Got a nice tight 1" group at 50 yards, but it opened up to 3 1/2" at 100 yards.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

Semisane

Ditto - It has to do with rotation and stabilty, but I think the 1/48 might maybe just work as the 1/48 really should prefer a short light weight bullet, although I think I have proven that wrong also...

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

[Really would be interested in the sidelock experiment although I would probably shoot them with 90/100 grains of T7 since they are so light.
[/quote]

How fast is gonna be too fast for these GDs. Its a deep hollow point. Im worried about them opening up too fast. Maybe I should just shoot em then worry about the details later

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

shoot em' for accuracy then do the wet newspaper test for performance.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

I used the 180 gr. 44 cal hornaday on deer for years.Not much of a blood trail but they did the job.If that helps any.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

burntmuch

No need to worry about the Gold Dot it is a bonded bullet... I have tortured them into wet soil and the stay TOGETHER...

These 250.s and 300.s are bery good examples of how strong the Gold Dot really is.




I would guess 100 grains of T7 and 180 grain bullet 1900 or there abouts - little less little more....

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

I would use the 180 gold dots inside of 100 yards for deer no problem. Anywhere from 80 - 100 grains of T7 should work just fine. I'd probably avoid shoulder shots & aim for the "boiler room".

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

Shot 3 of the 180 GDs today. Went out behind the house. I shot into a pile of sand by my pond. 50 yards 70 grains t7 traditions sidelock. Fun little gun to shoot. I shot at 3 different targets. If I had to guess Id say a 3 inch group. The GDs were found in 5 inches of sand. they held together but mushroomed out completelyto the size of 1 inch or so. The lack of accuracy didnt bother me. I shot freehand on 1 knee. & these iron sights are pretty tuff for me. The pentitration did bother me. I was expecting better. I may get out later today & try a few with 60 grains. & Ill take my shooting sticks.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

Five inches of sand doesn't seem too bad to me. Sand makes apretty though penetration test.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

burntmuch

70 grains T7 should maybe get you around 1700+ fps with that bullet.

Shooting into sand is a very tough medium and if they held together in that you have no worrys in an animal. Sand will accelerate the speed of the expansion so that in itself will slow the bullet down and limit penetration.

I really think for an less expensive bullet they a really very good. Just hope Speer amps up the available supply to us normal (well at least some of are normal) people.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

I guess I was expecting more penetration. You guys got me wondering about this combo. Its a neat little gun. A little work on the sights & it would make a descent hunting rig.

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

All right Im going out to shoot a few morewith shooting sticks

RE: 180 grain Gold Dots for deer.??
 

60 grains of t7 shot 3 times. This time I put a piece of 2X10 behind the target. Using shooting sticks I got a 2 inch group 2 were touching with 1 flyer .thru the 2X10 & again 5 or 6 inches of pentitration. The bullets held up a little better. Didnt flatten out as much.

This dog may hunt:D