11-12-2019, 12:27 AM
I'm pretty new to the gold dot but started looking at them for a deep penetrating bullet that still assured some level of expansion. I'd previously been shooting mostly the lapua 123. Took 3 whitetail a week ago with the gold dots. Ranges from 110-385 yards. I did not recover any bullets. I liked what I saw. The lungs showed definite expansion. Exit wounds were not big but again showed signs of expansion. Everything shot behind the shoulder. Not much of a test shooting whitetail, and certainly not a big sample size, but a good start. Took the new load out to 975 yards this morning with good results. Really hoping to take a cow elk with the gold dot here soon.
I've shot 4 deer with the sst, recovered 3 bullets. Tissue damage was extensive. To me they seem a good, quick killing deer bullet but I wouldn't count on reliable exit wounds if that's what you are after. Again, this is a very small sample size between the two bullets. At this point I would say the gold dot will give deeper penetration and more controlled expansion while the sst will upset quicker and penetrate less.
I've shot 4 deer with the sst, recovered 3 bullets. Tissue damage was extensive. To me they seem a good, quick killing deer bullet but I wouldn't count on reliable exit wounds if that's what you are after. Again, this is a very small sample size between the two bullets. At this point I would say the gold dot will give deeper penetration and more controlled expansion while the sst will upset quicker and penetrate less.