Red Dot powder for pistol loads

[87manche]

So, recently I came into 4 pound keg of Red Dot shotgun powder.
I found some load data for 40 and 45
How does this stuff behave in a pistol cartridge?
Any worries about fast burn rates and lead boolits?
Currently loading 230 Gr LRN .45
and 180 Gr LRN for .40

Would also like to work up a load for 125 Gr LRN 9mm
and maybe .38 special.

Anyone have any tips/tricks?
Does it burn clean or dirty?
Not that I care, it's 4 lbs of free powder, I'll find something to use it in.

[Doc Holiday13]

For 200 grain 45 cal FMJ's I'm shooting 5.6 grain red dot its about 950 fps. 5.8 grains is max cuz you see some primer flattening at that point

[87manche]

Thanks Doc,
We found some load data for red dot in the .45, probably looking to start out around 5 gr and go from there.

[TNToy]

I used some Red Dot 9mm loads a buddy had worked up in 9mm a year ago or so. They were pretty hot, about like shooting defensive JHPs. You want to know what his load data was?

You should be able to find data for Red Dot and Green Dot pistol data in most any loading manual... I think.

[Pt_Ranger_V8]

I'm using Red Dot under 230gr LRN boolits...

I run 3.9 grains, and it goes bang every time. I ran my test loads all the way up to 4.9, with no specific issues. Being able to crank out almost 2K rounds for under $20 in powder is pretty nice

[87manche]

Originally Posted by Pt_Ranger_V8

I'm using Red Dot under 230gr LRN boolits...

I run 3.9 grains, and it goes bang every time. I ran my test loads all the way up to 4.9, with no specific issues. Being able to crank out almost 2K rounds for under $20 in powder is pretty nice

thank you very much for that info.
We were going to make some each at 4.2, 4.4 and 4.6 for test loads. These are exclusively for my dad's 1911. Right now he shoots 230's over 4.9 gr of Bullseye.

Edit: My loading book shows red dot for all of the older calibers like 38-40 and 32 auto, but nothing for .40/9/.45. Speer edition 13.
I'll have to look through some more books.

[afroman006]

I have used 4.7 gr of red dot under a .45 200 grain Black Bullet (moly coated lead) and like it. I got the powder for free so I gave it a try, and like it well enough to continue using it. It is prety soft shooting and I dont own a crono so I dont have any speed info. From what I remember from my scattergun loading days, red dot was our powder of choice as well. I have loaded some light .38 loads to use up some primers with it too and they worked fine and were clean enough. I experimented with it extensively in 9mm and was not impressed anywhere along the way, and I'm not that experienced.

[85f150dsel]

I'm using 4.5 Grains of RD for .45 LSWC 200 grain bullets. No issues in my XD, don't have a chrono so I kept it on the safe side, not to mention they are jsut plinkg rounds for me.

I use it in the pistol as I started reloading shotgun and have alot of it laying around.

[87manche]

this is awesome infor fomr everyone.

We're gonna work up some loads.
Afro: you are correct, it's primary use is shotgun loads. My uncle came into this 4 lb keg and has no use for it, as he only reloads rifle.
I told him we're find something to load with it. Can't turn down free powder.

[ZjSteveO]

Its not a pistol load but 13 grains of red dot is magic for cast bullets out of almost any 30 caliber rifle.

[87manche]

Originally Posted by ZjSteveO

Its not a pistol load but 13 grains of red dot is magic for cast bullets out of almost any 30 caliber rifle.

I won't tell my uncle, he might want to keep it!
Seriously though, my uncle loads some weird stuff, and does most of it using surplus WWII powder he gets from some good old boy.
Says it's the best ever, I'm inclined to agree with him after seeing his targets. He's been reloading rifle rounds for about the last 30 years.

[Fishslayer]

Originally Posted by 87manche

thank you very much for that info.
We were going to make some each at 4.2, 4.4 and 4.6 for test loads. These are exclusively for my dad's 1911. Right now he shoots 230's over 4.9 gr of Bullseye.

Edit: My loading book shows red dot for all of the older calibers like 38-40 and 32 auto, but nothing for .40/9/.45. Speer edition 13.
I'll have to look through some more books.

Here's info from Alliant's website.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...35&bulletid=63

[Pt_Ranger_V8]

Originally Posted by ZjSteveO

Its not a pistol load but 13 grains of red dot is magic for cast bullets out of almost any 30 caliber rifle.

what kind of primer?


and what would that do to my 30-30?