Speer Gold Dot 5.7x28 Ballistic Gel Test & Review

This expert-level analysis from Buckeye Ballistics details a comprehensive ballistic gel test comparing Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124gr +P ammunition across four barrel lengths (3.3" to 10.5"). The data reveals how velocity significantly impacts bullet expansion, penetration, and fragmentation, offering crucial insights for ammunition selection based on firearm platform.

This video explores the evolving landscape of handgun calibers, moving beyond the traditional 9mm. The presenter, Ted from Line 45, details several alternative calibers gaining traction in 2025, including 30 Super Carry for increased capacity in compacts, 5.7x28mm for flat trajectory and speed, 10mm for significant power and penetration, 357 SIG for barrier penetration and velocity, and 22TCM for rifle-like speed in a pistol platform. The discussion highlights the specific advantages and use cases for each caliber, suggesting a shift towards more specialized choices for concealed carry and self-defense.

Honest Outlaw, with over a decade of firearm reviewing experience and 1200+ videos, details five popular pistols he would never carry. The review covers the KelTec P50, Derya DY9, Walther PPK, Taurus G3C, and Diamondback DB9, highlighting specific design flaws, reliability issues, and ergonomic problems. He offers alternative recommendations for each category, emphasizing value and performance.

This video provides a detailed ballistic gel test comparing Hornady Black and Hornady Critical Defense 5.7x28mm ammunition. The instructor, demonstrating significant expertise in ballistics testing, highlights the performance differences in expansion, penetration, and weight retention. The Critical Defense round, featuring an FTX bullet, produced a significantly larger wound cavity and better weight retention, making it a recommended carry load for the 5.7x28mm caliber.

The speaker, with over 40 years of firearms experience, discusses various handguns and rifles, offering opinions on brands like Kimber, Glock, and SIG Sauer. He emphasizes the importance of proper firearm maintenance, trigger quality, and the debate between hammer-fired and striker-fired platforms. The discussion also touches on Second Amendment rights, gun control legislation in different states, and personal defense strategies, highlighting the need for firearm safety training regardless of carry laws.

This review of the Smith & Wesson FPC in 5.7x28mm highlights its innovative folding design and affordability, positioning it as a potential survival carbine or PDW. While praising its shootability, accuracy, and low recoil, the review identifies significant reliability issues, particularly with first-round feeding, across multiple magazines and ammunition types. The reviewer suggests the 9mm variant may be a more reliable choice for self-defense.

This video from Buckeye Ballistics provides a practical, albeit unconventional, comparison of five common pistol calibers (.22LR, .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) by shooting watermelons. The expert demonstrates varying levels of terminal performance, from the .22LR's significant splitting to the .45 ACP's complete watermelon fragmentation, highlighting the differences in hydraulic shock and expansion. The test utilizes specific hollow-point ammunition, including Speer Gold Dot, Aguila Super Maximum, and Underwood XTP, showcasing their effects.

This video provides a practical, safety-conscious comparison of common pistol calibers (.22LR, .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) against concrete blocks. The host, demonstrating high authority and expertise, details the testing methodology and results, emphasizing the risks of ricochet. None of the tested pistol calibers fully penetrated the concrete block's second wall, suggesting their limitations for certain penetration scenarios.

This review of the Taurus TX22 .22 LR pistol details its features, including a 16+1 capacity and excellent trigger. While initial testing with CCI Mini-Mags was flawless, subsequent tests with various ammunition types revealed cycling issues and culminated in a catastrophic failure. The failure was attributed to a squib load followed by a second shot, causing a barrel bulge and ruptured casing, highlighting potential ammunition inconsistencies. The review provides a detailed look at disassembly and damage assessment.

This video from Buckeye Ballistics provides an experimental comparison of three popular rimfire calibers: .22LR, .22WMR, and .17HMR, using cantaloupes as ballistic mediums. The host, an experienced shooter, demonstrates the distinct terminal ballistics of each round, highlighting how bullet construction and velocity affect target interaction. The comparison offers practical insights into the performance differences between these rimfire cartridges on soft tissue simulants.