Okay, notwithstanding that synthetic gel might offer some differences when compared to organic gel blocks ...
A couple of the other major ammo makers who offer their own top end LE loads have reportedly told customers that their JHP designs are optimized to offer the potential for expansion down into the low 700's (depending, obviously, on the actual conditions encountered outside a lab, meaning shooting non-homogeneous gel blocks of any formula
).
However, other "informal" tests have shown that even when using 3"-3.3"-3.6" .45's (shorter than the 3.78" of the G30/30S barrel) the 230gr standard HST can still expand in bare and "4 layer denim covered" (unknown weight of denim layers) synthetic gel blocks.
Randomly grabbed:
https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/...ium-personal-defense-45-acp-hst-self-defense/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q28V7xQoZjc
After having seen how older revisions of the 230gr standard & +P SXT/T-Series loads performed when fired out of my 3.25" CS45, (test-shots of 802 & 839fps, respectively) I'm not at all concerned about using the assortment of RA45T, Golden Sabre or HST in my 3.25" & 3.75" short-barreled .45's.
Personally, I'm more interested in confirming how any particular load feeds & functions in my littlest .45's, especially when shooting 1-handed in "less than ideal" conditions, like rapid shot strings fired 1-handed from a close retention, hip level grip, and while moving within close range.
For me, the harder recoiling RA45SXT & RA45T, and the even harder recoiling RASXTP & RA45TP, offer some really brisk felt recoil in my small CS45 compared to other loads that aren't pushing the bullets quite so fast. I rather like the somewhat mellow felt recoil of the Golden Sabre load in my littlest .45, myself. Accurate, low flash signature, offers reliable functioning and it's accumulated a good record among LE users ... but it may not exactly be the cleanest burning load in the stable.
It's been so long since I've used the 230gr Gold Dot in my CS45 that I can't remember much of it, other than the felt recoil didn't seem bad, at all. I just don't have much of it left, as it's not often seen on store shelves in my general area, and it's not the most affordable load when it is on the shelves, and I haven't seen it being used by many agencies in my general area.
Even though the Speer 230gr GDHP is on the current state LE ammo contract, it's still more expensive than the Federal HST standard pressure load, so anyone wanting to make large orders my still find the HST to be the better deal. The difference may seem relatively minor at just less than sixty dollars per 1000rd case, but that can add up if you're going through a lot of shooters often enough.
Fed-P45HST2/1000rds/$0.3298rd/$329.80 per case
Speer CCI-53966/1000rds/$0.3897rd/$389.70 per case
