.45acp gold dot/deadly08/23/2008 Byharold v. lute sr. i have been shooting guns nearly 50 years and am a vn vet . i lined up 5 gallon jugs of water placed bluejean material in front and did several fireing test. the gold dot round passed through the bluejean material and stopped in the 4th jug. rounds fired at about 15 to 20 ft. away as a combat shot. round opened up very nicely as a star. this is a black talon without the steel. an absolute for home defense and will be dependable for abount anything else. moderate recoil and noise.