TAP vs Gold Dot for M4

[Robert B]

Want to use my 6920 16 in bbl 1:7 twist for HD. I have proven function with .223 75gr TAP FPD and some 5.56 55gr Gold Dot Soft Point ammo. Do I need a barrier blind round? Would the TAP round do more tissue damage? Which round would be better for HD? Thx.

 

[mr.trooper]

Non-Issue.

BOTH will penetrate many interior walls to kill someone three rooms away, BOTH will create a wound many times more nasty than a handgun hollowpoint.

If you insist on splitting hairs, I would expect the 75gr bullet to penetrate a few more layers of sheet rock than the 55gr. I would also expect a bit less fragmentation from the heavier pill.

 

[HOOfan_1]

BOTH will penetrate many interior walls to kill someone three rooms away,.

Most of the testing I have seen show that most .223 ammo will not penetrate walls as badly as other alternatives

http://how-i-did-it.org/drywall/results.html

From these results it looks like the 55 grain Gold Dot will be the least likely to over penetrate

 

[redbullitt]

FWIW I like 223 in the house, especially if you have it suppressed... VERY loud otherwise.

Consider some of the expanding lighter rounds. TAP is supposedly good stuff, though i have never shot anything with it.

I would think anything you shoot inside is going to go through walls if you miss, so my priority would be using something I was very comfortable with. All the deer I have shot with 55 soft points from a 223 at close range have had massive expansion in the wound. Good effect when shot in the lungs. Bullet did not come out the other side very often. Ground hogs tend to totally stop the thin jacketed varmint rounds and hollow points at close range FWIW, maybe a varmint bullet is worth a look if you are worried about over penetration.

I don't want anything barrier blind for typical HD inside. Offense, or outdoors, barrier blind maybe, but that is a different game lol.

As long as you have proven function in your rifle I think either round will do just fine! You have the nice fast twist, so I would probably take advantage of the 75 grainers.

 

[C-grunt]

Depends on if you want a barrier blind round or not. The Gold Dot being a bonded bullet will have a lot of penetration if you miss. But they will also have a lot of penetration if you need it.

The TAP should fragment well and is a devastating round out to reasonable ranges. Should have less penetration through building materials than the Gold Dot. Whether or not that is a good or bad thing is up to you.

Also check out the Federal Fusion line. Its a hunting round that uses the Gold Dot bullets. Its cheaper and easier to find. I currently use the 62 grn Fusion as my HD round.

 

[Reyn]

I think it was a fluke more than anything but I'm assuming you are thinking for self defense? My brother shot a guy in the back upper left region of shoulder from behind with a TAP round and I wasn't that impressed looking back afterwards. Believe his was issued 62gr though. He was out of the hospital in a couple days.

 

[Jackal]

My nightstand AR is loaded with simple Federal 50gr hollow points. I've seen what they do to coyote's and I also know they wont penetrate a 1gal milk jug (they blow it up like it was full of TNT). Devastating on tissue, almost barrier proof and inexpensive.

 

[Robert B]

Going with SP round

Thanks for all the input. Going with SP round based on results on deer and that penetration/drywall link.

 

[ugaarguy]

Robert, the Gold Dot soft points are bonded core, so they aren't going to fragment like the Winchester PowerPoints in the linked test. The Gold Dot soft points are made to stay together and provide deep penetration after passing through barriers. If you want to limit penetration after encountering a barrier you need a conventional, non-bonded, soft point the Winchester PowerPoint.