Hello all, just picked up a new P229 in 357 Sig. Was wondering what the general consensus is on the best ammo for carry, I did some looking around on YouTube at gel tests and it would seem the Underwood loading of the 125gr gold dot is the highest performer. But all I tend to see on the shelves locally lately is the Sig Elite Performance V-crown. Those seem like they worked pretty well too. Thoughts?
I've always run Speer Gold dots, 125 gr. There are 2 common versions, one a limited penetration, and a regular version. 54234, and 23918. I have to do some digging to find which was the deep penetrate that I liked.
A 9mm in MY Hand is better than a 45 at home. SIG P-239 357.. The Modern Martial Arts Pair of 226 Navy's Too many" LOW INFORMATION VOTERS " si vis pacem para bellvm
Posts: 2172 | Location: UN Constitution State | Registered: October 22, 2000
I too like the Gold Dot higher velocity load, but I suspect all the premier offerings are good.
The …4234 is the higher velocity load that I refer to as “standard” (2 as the first digit of the number is for 20 round boxes, 5 is for 50 round boxes). 53972 is also reported to be a standard velocity load with the same specs as 54234, but I have never seen it.
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Posts: 47949 | Location: 10,150 Feet Above Sea Level in Colorado | Registered: April 04, 2002
Another vote for the Gold Dots. That’s what I carry.
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Posts: 17746 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: October 14, 2005
I have some gold dot, but I usually carry Sig Vcrown in .357 Sig.
Gold Dots are good in each of the 9mm offerings, and good in .357 Sig. Their performance is not the best in some other chamberings, including .45 acp. I like Gold Dots, and have carried them and even reloaded with them, for 25+ years, but they're not the be-all and end-all.
Vcrown is a lot easier to get, and a lot less expensive, and for me at least, it's been reliable and functional, and for stuffing several pistols and magazines, I use the vcrown.
When I was policing, we carried P226 in 357SIG. We used the Speer Gold Dot 125.
I can attest to them working. I was once attacked by a 75# Rottweiler and one round went thru it from chest to rump. He changed his mind midair as he was jumping toward me. Was dead within a few minutes. One shot from about ten feet.
I was given my duty gun when I retired, the corporal gave me two boxes of ammo too. I don’t carry it anymore, but I’m sold on the gold dot.
I’ve shot about a 50 deer with them (gold dot) to put them down due to wrecks. But those were headshots and any round would work.
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Federal HST followed by Gold Dots for me. I have had some funky issues with Winchester BJHP, so I am a little tainted against those. Hornady critical Duty and Sig v-crowns would be decent too. I am probably in the minority that wouldn't use Underwood...
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Posts: 586 | Location: Pa. | Registered: April 19, 2001
Originally posted by Sig-nature: Federal HST followed by Gold Dots for me. I have had some funky issues with Winchester BJHP, so I am a little tainted against those. Hornady critical Duty and Sig v-crowns would be decent too. I am probably in the minority that wouldn't use Underwood...
Any particular reason you wouldn't use Underwood?
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Posts: 367 | Location: Auburn, AL | Registered: February 01, 2006
