jmtyndall Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I am working up a load for USPSA production class with a 180gr plated bullet. The load data I've found for this is 4.5-5.0gr with a 180gr bullet. I'm currently working up from 3.4gr-4.6gr in to try and find a load that works. I selected the powder because it's what I have and my only other option is unique until I can go buy some new powder. But my question is, why does nobody use Red Dot, when it sits between the burn rate of titegroup and solo 1000, which I've seen several people here talk about? Anyways, I was just going to finish off this half pound of Red Dot then switch to either Clays or N320 if I can find it, but figured I would see why more people aren't using Red Dot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebg3 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I am working up a load for USPSA production class with a 180gr plated bullet. The load data I've found for this is 4.5-5.0gr with a 180gr bullet. I'm currently working up from 3.4gr-4.6gr in to try and find a load that works. I selected the powder because it's what I have and my only other option is unique until I can go buy some new powder. But my question is, why does nobody use Red Dot, when it sits between the burn rate of titegroup and solo 1000, which I've seen several people here talk about? Anyways, I was just going to finish off this half pound of Red Dot then switch to either Clays or N320 if I can find it, but figured I would see why more people aren't using Red Dot. Older Red Dot was a little dirty and smokey, it has been "cleaned up" by Alliant and will work fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Older Red Dot was a little dirty and smokey, it has been "cleaned up" by Alliant and will work fine. People often do things because that's they way they've always done them or because it's the way others have. Sometimes the reasons are good, sometimes they were good but no longer are, and sometimes there's no good reason. It's always a good idea to ask questions, even when you think you know the answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmtyndall Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 People often do things because that's they way they've always done them or because it's the way others have. Sometimes the reasons are good, sometimes they were good but no longer are, and sometimes there's no good reason. That's how I first got this lb of Red Dot. The guy that taught me to reload gave it to me and told me he used it for all of his light pistol loads, then it turns out it's near impossible to find data for 9mm and .40 with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam P. Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 4.3gr pushing a 180gr Bayou Bullet. OAL of 1.135. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebg3 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 From the second edition Modern Reloading by Richard Lee, 5.0 gr of Red Dot with a 180gr jacketed bullet and an OAL of 1.125" gives 980fps and 34,000psi. The pressure is safe, I'm not sure what barrel length was tested. The starting load is 4.5gr for 899fps. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmtyndall Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 From the second edition Modern Reloading by Richard Lee, 5.0 gr of Red Dot with a 180gr jacketed bullet and an OAL of 1.125" gives 980fps and 34,000psi. The pressure is safe, I'm not sure what barrel length was tested. The starting load is 4.5gr for 899fps. EG Provided they used a reasonable barrel length, looks like major is even within safe loads, and my minor load is way under starting. In fact, the highest I worked up to is listed as the start load. And I only need about 730fps-750fps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgj3 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I've used it in .40 and .45 because my Dad had a bunch from his shotgun reloading days. As was mentioned earlier, it may be a little dirty, but it works fine. There is also another budget powder ($90/8 lbs) out, Promo, that has roughly the same burn-rate, but with a lower powder volume/weight. I've been using it for .45 loads and its been fine. Nothing wrong with using stuff different from the other guys; its nice to have some different smells during the match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noylj Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Red Dot, and its bulk twin Promo, are excellent. There is not a load of published load data since Red Dot is sold as a shotgun powder so Alliant doesn't show much data for handguns. You can contact them for load data. The good thing about minor is you are far from Max loads. You can use Bullseye loads and load a bit less for minor. Red Dot, in everything from .32S&W Long to .44 Special, tends to always be among the top three powders in accuracy. Also, when it is accurate, it tends to be accurate over a wide charge range. It is also bulkier than Bullseye, so you can see it in the case easier. I shoot thousands of rounds using Red Dot and Unique through my M52 .38 Special and various .45ACPs between cleanings and have never suffered a failure due to powder residue. I have watched many people shooting, and it seemed to me that they were aware of smoke only because they weren't locked on the target and were actually thinking about smoke. I do, however, see a lot of promise with Solo 1000. I have only loaded a few series of rounds with it, but it has been pretty accurate. In the .40, best accuracy has been 4.0gn with a 175gn bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostinar Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I have wondered this question myself, I run alot of red dot and titegroup for my 9mm loads but have had so much trouble finding any data for .40 that I have been using blue dot which I'm not really a fan of but use because I have it on hand. I'm going to work up some red dot and precision delta 180 fmj's this weekend for my glock 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blu46and2 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Here is some load data for my .40 minor load using a 180gr plated bullet: Powder: VVN320 Bullet: Berry's 180 Plated Length: 1.216 Crimp: 0.42 Charge: 4.00 678 748 809 789 751 731 743 734 705 747 4.10 762 760 745 707 780 748 768 720 756 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now